Lossless audio formats are those that compress audio without losing any original quality. Unlike lossy formats (like MP3 or AAC), which discard some data to reduce file size, lossless formats preserve the exact audio waveform. Here’s a breakdown of the main ones:
1. FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)
- Popularity: Very high, especially for music streaming and archiving.
- Compression: Reduces file size by ~30–60% without quality loss.
- Support: Widely supported on Windows, Linux, Android; macOS support is improving.
- Notes: Open-source, free to use.
2. ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec)
- Popularity: High within the Apple ecosystem.
- Compression: Similar to FLAC.
- Support: iTunes, iOS, macOS devices.
- Notes: Best choice for Apple users; fully lossless.
3. WAV (Waveform Audio File Format)
- Popularity: Very common in professional audio editing.
- Compression: Uncompressed; exact digital representation.
- Support: Universal across all platforms.
- Notes: Very large file size; not ideal for streaming.
4. AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format)
- Popularity: Popular in Apple’s pro audio workflows.
- Compression: Typically uncompressed, though there’s AIFF-C which can be compressed.
- Support: macOS, professional audio software.
- Notes: Large files, like WAV, but preserves full audio quality.
5. DSD (Direct Stream Digital)
- Popularity: Niche audiophile format, often on SACDs.
- Compression: Uses 1-bit audio at a very high sample rate; technically lossless.
- Support: High-end DACs and audio players.
- Notes: Best for hi-res audiophiles; files are large.
6. APE (Monkey’s Audio)
- Popularity: Moderate; used by some audiophiles.
- Compression: High compression ratio for lossless.
- Support: Windows mainly; requires special players.
- Notes: Less widespread than FLAC/ALAC.
The most common lossless formats for general music listening are FLAC (cross-platform) and ALAC (Apple ecosystem). WAV and AIFF are more common in professional editing.
For deeper insights into sound quality, don’t miss our Complete guide on lossless audio in AirPods Pro 3
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