Free Download
AAC VS FLAC: What is the Difference between the Two?
AuthorRecommended by the author
Free Download X

SoftwareHow to & Tips

Video FormatsConvert Video

Resources

AAC VS FLAC: What is the Difference between the Two Audio Formats and How to Achieve Audio Conversion?

Author by Rocabella

Updated on Mar 15, 2024

What are the differences between audio format AAC and FLAC? Can you really tell the differences between AAC vs FLAC while listening to music? Follow this article to get a detailed comparison of FLAC vs AAC. Plus, you'll get to know a handy audio converter that can make format conversions between AAC and FLAC and more formats! Quickly install it here:

How Audio File Formats Differ and What Does This Mean for the Listener?

Q1: Is there a significant difference in the sound quality between FLAC and AAC when using a top-quality hi-fi system?

Q2: Will I notice a difference between AAC vs FLAC, or will I need to get high-end headphones to notice the difference? I’m using the headphone jack on my laptop.

A: AAC is a popular audio format commmonly seen on Apple devices and is also widely used for streaming content. While FLAC is a lossless audio format that compresses audio data without losing quality. So, which audio format should you choose? Is AAC lossless? Is FLAC better than AAC? Keep reading to get the answers to these questions and learn more of the differences between FLAC and AAC.

Hot search: AV1 VS HEVC | OGG Vorbis VS MP3 | AIFF vs FLAC | XAVC S VS AVCHD | AVCHD VS MP4


AAC vs FLAC: What is the Difference between the Two?

AAC: Popular with Apple iTunes, the Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) format is similar to MP3, but with one added benefit of greater efficiency.

AAC is a compressed and lossy audio format with bit rates ranging from 8 kbit/s to a maximum of 320 kbit/s, sample rate ranging from 8 kHz to a maximum of 96 kHz.

ACC also supports up to 48 channels and is widely compatible but not limited to iOS, Android and handheld gaming devices.

FLAC: Developed by the Xiph.Org Foundation, the Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) has much appeal because of its royalty-free licensing and open format.

FLAC is a compressed and lossless audio format with file quality up to 32 bits / 96 kHz (compared to 16 bits / 44.1 kHz for CD). FLAC has the advantage of reducing file size without sacrificing audio quality, making it an ideal medium for digital archiving, which is why people want to rip CD to FLAC.

Recommended Desktop Software for AAC FLAC Conversion

After learning the differences in FLAC vs AAC, you can choose AAC or FLAC depending on your actual needs. Also, with a handy converter, e.g. WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro, you will be enabled to convert AAC audio files to FLAC or FLAC to AAC seamlessly to suit different situations. HD Video Converter Factory Pro is a reliable audio and video converter supporting 500+ output formats and devices, so you can convert file between a wide range of formats without hassle, such as AAC to AC3, APE to FLAC, DSF to FLAC, etc. Free downloadFree download this simple yet efficient converter to achieve FLAC AAC conversion with simple clicks now.

Free Download Free Download

Tutorial on How to Convert AAC to FLAC within 3 Steps

Load AAC Files into Program

Before start, please free downloadfree download and install the audio converter on PC.

Step1: Load AAC Files into Program

Open WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro. Select Converter on the main screen. Click the "Add File" button to browse and select the AAC file. You can also drag and drop audio files directly into the software.

Choose FLAC as the Output Format

Step 2. Choose FLAC as the Output Format

Click on the Output Format image on the right side to open the format library. Then press the Audio tab and choose FLAC icon to convert AAC files to FLAC. 
You can also convert audio files between other formats, such as AC3 to AAC, DTS to AAC, and so forth.

Start the Conversion Process

Step 3: Finish the Conversion Process

Click the bottom inverted triangle button to set an output folder. Finally, click Run to start the conversion.

It is worth reminding that even if the conversion of AAC files to FLAC is successful, the audio quality cannot be changed to lossless sound quality because AAC itself is a lossy format.

At last...

That's all about the comparison of AAC vs FLAC as well as a guide on how to convert AAC audio files to FLAC. With the recommended tool, you can convert AAC and FLAC to any hot audio format you need. Besides, it also allows you to edit, download, and record audio with ease. Try the all-purpose program now!

Free Download Free Download

How to Convert DVD to AAC, FLAC, and other Audio Files

How to Convert DVD to AAC, FLAC, and other Audio Files

WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro

WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro allows you to rip any DVD, whether it's homemade or purchased. If you want to rip audio from a DVD in AAC, FLAC or other audio formats, WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro is your best choice. It supports 300+ output formats and devices to meet your needs.

Free Download DVD Ripper Pro Free Download DVD Ripper Pro

More Related Articles

XAVC S VS AVCHD: Pros and Cons of XAVC S over AVCHD in Different Aspects 9 Best Free FLAC Converters 4K VS 8K: What's the Difference Between 4K and 8K?
H.265 VS H.264 - The Significant Advantages of H.265 over H.264 The Top 12 Best Audio Converter Software (FREE!) MTS vs M2TS / M2TS vs MTS: What is the Difference between MTS and M2TS?