WAV vs MP3: What's the Difference?
WAV is an uncompressed audio format — every sample is preserved exactly as recorded. This makes WAV the gold standard for audio production, mastering, and archival. The trade-off is file size: a 3-minute stereo WAV at 44.1 kHz / 16-bit is approximately 30–50 MB.
MP3 uses psychoacoustic modeling to discard audio data the human ear is less sensitive to. The same 3-minute track as an MP3 at 320 kbps is typically 7–10 MB — a compression ratio of 70–80%.
Which Bitrate Should You Choose?
Casual Listening
Good for podcasts and background music. Noticeable quality loss on high-frequency content.
General Use
The sweet spot for most use cases. Excellent quality for streaming and everyday listening.
High Quality
Ideal for music distribution and DJ libraries. Virtually indistinguishable from WAV.
Maximum Quality
The highest standard MP3 bitrate. Used by professional DJs and producers.