We’ve all heard of MP3, WMA, WAV, and AAC files and they often are mentioned in electronic devices that play audio. We may likely understand them on the surface but what differences does one audio format actually make from another and how does it affect the quality of the sound it carries? To know more about them, let’s dig more into their basic aspects to differentiate one from another and also explore their function.

File Size Large data simply takes up too much space on media playback devices and so technology gave birth to the compression method of such large data, allowing them to be reproduced as files with much smaller sizes.

The WAV format or the Waveform Audio File format is well-known for its standard uncompressed audio format being used by Microsoft operation systems (its Mac OS equivalent is AIFF ). Clearly, this file is bigger than the lossless compressed WMA and lossy compressed MP3 and AAC formats and it even reaches up to 12 times bigger.

Quality of Audio and Compression The two types of compressed data are the lossless and the lossy data. The former denotes that the compressed data keeps the original quality of the uncompressed one and is only a little smaller.The latter however, “loses” some of its portions (mostly those inaudible to humans) in exchange for a much greater compression rate. As a result, its size is comparatively smaller, however, its quality may also affected.

Most good quality after market car stereos and many of the newer factory head units will play many of these formats. We have done a few reviews on some stereos that play some or all of these formats. Just take a look at the double DIN JVC KW-XR810, and the DVD playing Pioneer AVH-P3200DVD.

Microsoft originally made the Windows Media Audio format to use lossy compression, however, more development was done and lossless can be used now (WMA Lossless), while the MPEG-2 Audio Layer III (MP3) and the Advanced Audio Coding format (AAC) are still using lossy compression audio files.

The MP3 format is widely known and used, since it became a standard to most established software and hardware companies like Microsoft and IBM. Utilizing set bit rates – the amount of data to be used per second – the MP3 format can be controlled to provide higher quality audio at higher bit rates and consequently at greater compressed sizes.

The latest format which is the AAC format is not yet well-known but it provides a better quality at a specific bit rate than an MP3 file with the same bit rate. The difference is more significant as lower bit rates are used. Apple uses this audio format as its standard.

The Common Uses and Their Benefits Every format has its own advantages over the other and each format is favored in distinct instances. Files in WAV format which has a large size is not practical in file sharing and transfer. However, they continue to be preferred in instances when storage capacity is of no concern and simple-structured, high-quality audio editing is.

WMA formats are a major competitor of MP3 format. There is still much debate among audiophiles whether or not their quality really does exceed that of the MP3. However, as compressed files go, both of these formats are highly reliable and popular, playable in most programs such as Windows Media Player, Winamp, RealPlayer, VLC, etc.

The AAC format is the growing standard for quality compressed audio files. Since AAC has its edge in audio quality compared to MP3 format, in no time the popularity of it will continue for the reason that, Apple-the leading promoter for the AAC audio format also continues to govern the digital technology world.

JustHeadUnits.com provides articles and reviews on a collection of car stereo head units. If you are looking to purchase a head unit give us a visit.

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