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Lossy compressed audio is not inferior to lossless audio

Key Takeaways

  • Lossless audio is greater high quality, however most listeners will not discover a distinction in comparison with high-quality lossy codecs.
  • Compression makes audio information simpler to retailer and switch, and most streaming companies provide compressed information.
  • Having fun with lossy compressed music is extra sensible for on a regular basis listeners as a result of it saves space for storing and makes use of much less information.



It appears lossless audio has taken audiophile middle stage these days, and for a strong purpose: it is greater high quality than lossy codecs. An attuned ear can tell the difference between lossy and lossless audio information, so audiophiles act prefer it’s the end-all be-all of music enjoyment. And as an creator who has written so much about lossless audio myself, I’ve positively added to the hype. Whereas I believe it is vital to acknowledge the advantages of lossless audio, I additionally assume it is vital to acknowledge the significance of different file codecs, a few of that are lossy.

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What’s compression?

File particulars misplaced, for the sake of storage and transfers

The streaming quality menu on the Spotify app on an iPhone.


Compression, relating to information, means decreasing the dimensions of a file by taking away a few of the particulars which can be perhaps much less vital — as a way to retain the vital data and the larger image of the file — to make it simpler to retailer and switch. Within the case of audio, this implies compressing masters to make these audio information extra usable by the typical one that solely has a lot disk house and bandwidth. A superb analogy for the distinction compression makes in audio information is picture compression, which we are able to extra simply see.

When you’ve got two photographs, a uncooked file and a JPEG, the uncooked file straight from the digicam goes to be extraordinarily prime quality and detailed, however the file measurement will probably be huge. When it will get compressed right into a JPEG, it could look extra pixelated, however you continue to perceive what you are taking a look at, you get the image. Frequent compressed audio codecs embrace MP3, AAC, and Ogg, in addition to FLAC, which, whereas lossless, remains to be compressed.


Compression ensures that the information do not take up a ton of space for storing, whereas sustaining the standard of the audio itself.

All information you may discover on streaming companies are going to be compressed, both lossless or lossy. The identical goes for information you purchase and obtain your self — chances are high, artists aren’t going to be promoting uncompressed WAV information of their albums. Compression ensures that the information do not take up a ton of space for storing, whereas sustaining the standard of the audio itself. Lossless audio information are compressed in a manner that ensures you do not lose the total audio high quality of the observe, whereas lossy compression does take away particulars from the audio, however does so in a manner that makes the bottom affect attainable for the dimensions the file is meant to be.


Why would you hearken to a lossy compressed file?

Trendy issues, fashionable options

The Sony WH-1000XM4 next to a phone with the Sony Headphones app open, showing the equalizer.

Earlier than streaming was the mainstream, you had been possible downloading music (legally, after all), and chances are high you bumped into some MP3 information that sounded completely atrocious. These had been most likely 96kbps MP3s, which might simply sound comparatively undetailed and missing nuance. Examine that to 320kbps MP3 information or Ogg information (the usual on Spotify), which sound genuinely actually good, and are very customary for the typical listener.

Most individuals will not enterprise past that audio high quality, and that is as a result of the best way these information are compressed, although they technically lose some element, really sound good regardless.

Should you’re listening to Spotify utilizing cell information, you are saving a whole lot of that information by streaming extra compressed lossy codecs.


The important thing elements behind the usage of lossy compressed codecs like MP3, Ogg, AAC, and others is that they save space for storing as a result of their decrease bitrate permits for quicker file switch whereas taking on much less house, and it additionally saves you bandwidth when streaming. So, should you’re listening to Spotify utilizing cell information, you are saving a whole lot of that information by streaming extra compressed lossy codecs in comparison with how a lot you would be utilizing should you had been streaming FLAC information over cell information.

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Now, listening to lossy compressed music is not simply worthwhile for the space for storing and information you save. I additionally assume that having fun with lossy compressed music is finest for many listeners as a result of most individuals merely will not get something from listening to lossless audio. The distinction between lossless and lossy (however prime quality) audio information are so minimal to the untrained ear, if in any respect audible, that if you need to spend any extra cash or exit of your strategy to hearken to stated lossless audio, you are most likely losing your time.


In the end, the lossy compressed information we hearken to most frequently are greater than enough.

So, whereas I do assume it is nice that lossless audio is extra extensively out there on extra streaming platforms, and I believe that proudly owning your individual bodily media is nice for lots of causes (together with the truth that CDs are lossless), in case you are already listening to lossy compressed audio, and also you’re proud of it, you actually have little to no purpose to alter what you are listening to. You may put within the work to attempt to hear the distinction between lossy and lossless information or make extra disk house to retailer stated information, however finally, the lossy compressed information we hearken to most frequently are greater than enough.


Do not let any audiophiles on Reddit persuade you in any other case — if one thing works for you, you aren’t obligated to alter it as a result of it is “higher” one other manner. And honestly, the quantity of space for storing and information you save by listening to lossy compressed information is an efficient sufficient purpose alone.

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