MP3 vs WAV
Comparing MPEG Audio Layer III and Waveform Audio File Format — which format should you use?
| MP3 | WAV | |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | MPEG Audio Layer III | Waveform Audio File Format |
| Extension | .mp3 | .wav |
| MIME Type | audio/mpeg | audio/wav |
| Category | audio | audio |
MP3 Pros
- +Universal compatibility
- +Good compression with acceptable quality
- +Small file sizes
- +Supported by virtually every device and app
MP3 Cons
- -Lossy — quality lost during compression
- -Inferior quality to FLAC, AAC at same bitrate
- -Patent issues (expired 2017)
- -No support for high-resolution audio
WAV Pros
- +Perfect audio quality (uncompressed)
- +Universal support on all platforms
- +No encoding/decoding artifacts
- +Industry standard for audio production
WAV Cons
- -Very large files (10 MB per minute at CD quality)
- -No metadata/tag support in basic format
- -Impractical for streaming or mobile use
- -No compression
Use MP3 when...
- -Music distribution and streaming
- -Podcasts
- -Audiobooks
- -Voice recordings
Use WAV when...
- -Audio recording and production
- -Sound effects libraries
- -Master recordings
- -Professional audio editing