Audio comparisons
Lossy vs lossless audio compression
Lossless codecs reconstruct the source samples exactly; lossy codecs discard selected information to save more space.
Reviewed against current browser behavior and AudioFetcher test fixtures on July 28, 2026.
Quick comparison
| Question | First option | Second option |
|---|---|---|
| Reconstruction | Not sample-identical | Sample-identical |
| Examples | MP3, AAC, Vorbis, Opus | FLAC, ALAC |
| Size | Smallest | Larger |
| Repeated encoding | Adds generation loss | Safe when decoded and re-encoded losslessly |
How to choose
- Keep a lossless master for archives and future edits.
- Create lossy copies for delivery rather than repeatedly transcoding them.
The right choice follows the source and destination. Converting a lossy source to a larger file does not recover removed information, while keeping a lossless master leaves future delivery options open.
Questions about Lossy vs lossless audio compression
What is the short answer to "Lossy vs lossless audio compression"?
Lossless codecs reconstruct the source samples exactly; lossy codecs discard selected information to save more space.
Does the linked AudioFetcher tool upload my media?
The local tools linked from this article process selected media in the browser. Read each tool's limits before using a large or uncommon file.
What is the most important practical point?
Keep a lossless master for archives and future edits.