AN INTRODUCTION TO AUDIO CODECS
If you want to know precisely the best Audio formats and use the codecs listed below, check out our list of the best audio Formats. This article only discusses specific types of codecs.
There is no clear answer to the best codec for music playback. Quality mastering of sound will also greatly impact fidelity, but there are many formats that audiophiles tend to use more than others.
Flac and Mp3 (over 320kbps) are the most commonly used in the audiophile community and what I use personally use myself.
One disadvantage of Flac and 320kbps is that the file size is rather large due to the payback being of near-lossless sound quality. If space on your memory card is not at a premium, then we suggest the above codecs; however, if you have a smaller drive or a lot of music, feel free to look at a more compressed music file option.
Lossless music files vs Compressed
Several formats are gaining popularity in recent years, thanks mainly to advances in DAC and Amplifier units handling these more complicated uncompressed music files. Another barrier that caused people to use compressed music files as storage space. Lossless files can take up GBs of data for just one album, and even five years ago, prices of SD cards to use with your audiophile DAPs were extortionate compared to today.
If you want unrivaled and indisputable fidelity, having a sound master track can remove all hints of doubt that you are getting the best sound quality. Still, we have listed many compressed methods that offer virtually indistinguishable variances in fidelity but take up much less space while still being capable of playback on most devices.
Best Audio Codecs
MP3
Type: Lossy
Use Case: Wide – Multiple uses and balances compression and sound quality well.
Device Support: High – One of the most widely used audio codecs
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) is a popular audio codec widely used for music playback on computers, smartphones, and portable audio devices. It is a lossy audio format, which compresses audio files by removing some audio data considered less essential to the human ear.
This compression reduces the file size significantly, making it easier to store and transmit over the internet. The trade-off for the smaller file size is a reduced audio quality compared to the source.
Despite this, MP3 has become one of the world’s most widely used audio formats due to its compatibility with a wide range of devices and software. MP3 files can be easily downloaded or streamed from various online sources, and many music players and streaming services support the format.
While higher-quality audio codecs are now available, MP3 remains popular due to its widespread availability and ease of use.
WMA
Type: Lossy (compressed)
Use Case: Default codec of window devices.
Device Support: Moderate – A somewhat dated codec
WMA (Windows Media Audio) is a popular audio codec developed by Microsoft. It is designed to offer high-quality audio at lower bitrates than other codecs, making it a suitable choice for streaming and downloading music online.
WMA is a lossy codec, which compresses audio files by removing audio data considered less essential to the human ear. This compression reduces the file size significantly, making it easier to store and transmit over the internet.
The trade-off for the smaller file size is a reduced audio quality compared to the original source. A range of devices and software supports WMA, and it is often used for music playback on Windows-based systems. While WMA was once a popular choice for digital music, it has since been largely superseded by other codecs such as AAC and MP3.
It remains a popular choice for some users due to its compatibility with older software and devices.
WAV
Type: Lossless (uncompressed)
Use Case: Good for archiving and editing.
Device Support: Moderate – A specialized codec but more devices are capable of support.
WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) is an uncompressed audio format that is commonly used for storing high-quality audio recordings. It is a standard format that is widely supported by both hardware and software, making it a popular choice for professional music production, sound design, and archival purposes.
WAV files can be saved in different bit depths and sample rates, allowing for high flexibility regarding audio quality and file size. Unlike lossy codecs such as MP3 and WMA, WAV files do not compress audio data, meaning that they preserve the original sound quality of the recording.
WAV files can be large compared to other audio codecs, which can make them challenging to store and transmit, but they offer superior sound quality and are a popular choice for recording, editing, and archiving high-quality audio recordings.
AAC
Type: Lossy (compressed)
Use Case: Designed for Apple devices adapted for many
Device Support: Moderate – A specialized codec but more devices are capable of support.
AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is a popular audio codec that is known for its high-quality sound and efficient compression.
It is a lossy codec, which means it compresses audio files by removing some audio data considered less essential to the human ear. This compression reduces the file size significantly, making it easier to store and transmit over the internet. Despite this, AAC can produce high-quality audio, making it a popular choice for music streaming and downloading services.
AAC is supported by various devices and software, including Apple’s iTunes and iPhone, and it is the default format for many streaming services, such as YouTube and Spotify. The codec can support a range of bitrates and sample rates, allowing for a high level of flexibility regarding audio quality and file size.
AAC is a popular choice for digital music due to its efficient compression and high-quality sound.
OGG Vorbis
Type: Lossy (compressed)
Use Case: streaming and downloading.
Device Support: High – A open source codec
Ogg Vorbis is a popular open-source audio codec known for its high-quality sound and efficient compression. It is a lossy codec which compresses audio files by removing some audio data considered less essential to the human ear.
This compression reduces the file size significantly, making it easier to store and transmit over the internet. Ogg Vorbis can produce high-quality audio at lower bitrates than other codecs, making it a suitable choice for streaming and downloading music online.
Ogg Vorbis is supported by various devices and software, including popular media players such as VLC and Foobar2000. It is commonly used for digital music distribution on the internet.
The codec offers a high level of flexibility regarding audio quality and file size, and it can support a range of bitrates and sample rates. Overall, Ogg Vorbis is a popular choice for digital music due to its high-quality sound, efficient compression, and open-source nature.
FLAC
Type: Lossless (uncompressed)
Use Case: Good for archiving and editing.
Device Support: High – The most popular codec for audiophiles
FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is a popular open-source audio codec known for its high quality and ability to compress audio files without any loss in sound quality.
It is a lossless codec, which means that it preserves the original sound quality of the audio file when it is compressed. Unlike other audio codecs, such as MP3, FLAC does not discard any audio data during compression, resulting in a file that sounds identical to the source.
FLAC files are typically larger than other compressed audio formats, but they offer superior sound quality, making them popular among audiophiles and music producers.
FLAC is compatible with a wide range of audio devices and software; many popular music players and streaming services support it. Due to its ability to preserve the original sound quality of audio files, FLAC is often used for archiving and preserving music collections.
ALAC
Type: Lossless (uncompressed)
Use Case: Apples lossless codec
Device Support: Low – An Apple developed codec largely ignored due to Flac
ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) is a lossless audio codec developed by Apple Inc. It is designed to compress audio files without losing any of the original audio data, allowing for high-quality sound in a smaller file size compared to uncompressed formats such as WAV.
ALAC supports bit depths of up to 24 bits and sample rates of up to 192kHz, making it suitable for high-resolution audio. ALAC is compatible with a range of Apple devices and software, including iTunes, QuickTime, and the iPod, as well as third-party media players that support the codec.
Despite its high-quality sound, ALAC has not gained widespread adoption outside of the Apple ecosystem, and it has been largely superseded by other lossless codecs such as FLAC.
However, for users who prefer to use Apple devices and software, ALAC remains a popular choice for high-quality audio playback and storage.
DSD – Direct Stream Digital
Type: Lossless (uncompressed)
Use Case: Audiophiles and Music Production
Device Support: Moderate – A specialized codec with large file sizes
DSD (Direct Stream Digital) is a high-resolution audio codec commonly used in professional music production and popular among audiophiles.
It uses a pulse-density modulation encoding method to convert analog sound waves into digital signals, resulting in a more accurate representation of the original sound. Unlike other audio codecs that use sample rate and bit depth to define the resolution of an audio signal, DSD uses a much higher sampling rate of 2.8 MHz or higher, resulting in an incredibly high level of detail in the sound.
This high sampling rate results in large file sizes, making DSD files challenging to store and transmit. However, the codec can produce incredibly detailed and accurate sound, making it a popular choice for professional recording and mastering applications.
Due to its high quality, DSD files are often used for archival purposes. They are considered to be one of the best formats for preserving the original sound quality of a recording.
MQA
Type: Lossless (uncompressed)
Use Case: Audiophile playback on high resolution devices
Device Support: Moderate – Available to stream via Tidal music service
MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is a high-resolution audio codec designed to deliver studio-quality sound in smaller files.
It was developed by British audio technology company Meridian Audio, and is considered one of the best audio codecs for music streaming. MQA uses a process called “origami folding” to reduce file size without compromising sound quality. This process allows MQA to compress high-resolution audio files into a format that can be easily streamed over the internet.
The codec is compatible with a range of audio devices. It is designed to provide an authentic sound experience, giving listeners the impression that they are listening to music as intended to be heard in the studio.
MQA has gained popularity among audiophiles and music enthusiasts, and many streaming services, such as Tidal, offer MQA-encoded music tracks for their subscribers.
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