WAV versus FLAC

There is no difference in the data between a FLAC and WAV file. The FLAC is a lossless compression format similar to Zip files, but designed for music.

If one is hearing a difference between the two formats, there are two possible issues.

The first is that any difference is due to the extra load placed on the processor in decoding the FLAC file.

The other possibility is the difference arises from subjective perception.

The more vocal adherents of each school of thought will try to pressure you into their camp - "anyone could hear the difference" or "your system isn't good enough" or "no one can measure a difference" and so on.

The key is to not worry what others think. Experiment for yourself - it is pretty simple in this case to stream FLAC and WAV files of the same song back-to-back. Once you've decided what works best for you, run with it and ignore the naysayers.

FLAC is a lossless compression format. It is possible to hear differences between FLAC and WAV files when played because your computer is decompressing on the fly. But if you take a WAV file and make an SFV of it. Then convert the WAV to FLAC and back, the SFV will match. The file will sound the same when played. It is the exact same file. Different programs can also sound different while playing the exact same file.

Now two WAV files may sound different depending on the way they were created. Just because the file is a WAV or FLAC does not mean that it is lossless. It is the same thing on an Apple. It all depends on the way the file was created in the first place as to whether it is truly lossless or not.

However, recently, I have heard from a person whose opinion I respect highly that sound from WAV files is "warmer" and that from FLAC files is "brighter".

I will have to agree with that person because to my ears and with my audio components I get the same result. And it does not matter what compression level is selected in the FLAC encoder.

IMO again, Monkey's Audio and Apple Lossless are superior and much closer to uncompressed WAV, but they still lack the top-end information (air) of uncompressed WAV which still sounds best to me.

Best,
Alex Peychev

The placebo effect is the greatest enemy to the audiophile...

Well,everyone hears what they hear.