We've encountered MP3, WMA, WAV, and AAC files and they are also cited in electronic audio devices. We may have a little understanding of these audio formats but sometimes we want to know how do these formats differ from each other and how is the quality affected by these differences? Well let's delve into the basic aspects so we can distinguish one from the other not just in identity but also in 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.On the other hand the latter, "loses" some of its portions (mostly 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 single DIN CZ500, 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Microsoft originally made the Windows Media Audio format to use lossy compression, however, more development was done and lossless can be used now (WMA Lossless), while the MPEG-2 Audio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 has become very popular indeed and rightly the standard to most established software and hardware companies like Microsoft and IBM. Using set bit rates or what is known as the amount of data to be used per second, the MP3 format can be structured to offer a higher quality audio at higher bit rates and then 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 distinction is more significant since lower bit rates are utilized. This audio format is the standard utilized by Apple.
The Common Uses and Their Benefits Each of these formats is preferred in different circumstances as each of them has its own advantages. 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 in all forms are the competitors of the MP3 format. There is still much debate among audiophiles whether or not their quality really does exceed that of the MP3. Although as compressed files go, both formats are highly reliable and well-known and they are also playable in most programs like Windows Media Player, Winamp, RealPlayer, VLC and others.
The growing format for high quality compressed audio files is the AAC format. With its significant edge in audio quality over the MP3 format, it won't be long before popularity will shift to it for as we speak, Apple - the leading promoter for the AAC audio format - continues to gain momentum in its domination over the world of digital technology.
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.On the other hand the latter, "loses" some of its portions (mostly 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 single DIN CZ500, 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 has become very popular indeed and rightly the standard to most established software and hardware companies like Microsoft and IBM. Using set bit rates or what is known as the amount of data to be used per second, the MP3 format can be structured to offer a higher quality audio at higher bit rates and then 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 distinction is more significant since lower bit rates are utilized. This audio format is the standard utilized by Apple.
The Common Uses and Their Benefits Each of these formats is preferred in different circumstances as each of them has its own advantages. 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 in all forms are the competitors of the MP3 format. There is still much debate among audiophiles whether or not their quality really does exceed that of the MP3. Although as compressed files go, both formats are highly reliable and well-known and they are also playable in most programs like Windows Media Player, Winamp, RealPlayer, VLC and others.
The growing format for high quality compressed audio files is the AAC format. With its significant edge in audio quality over the MP3 format, it won't be long before popularity will shift to it for as we speak, Apple - the leading promoter for the AAC audio format - continues to gain momentum in its domination over the world of digital technology.
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JustHeadUnits.com provides information and reviews on a collection of car stereo head units. If you are looking to purchase a head unit give us a visit.
