What Is the Best Format For Your Music: AAC or MP3? GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Streaming > Music, Podcasts, & Audio 350 350 people found this article helpful

What Is the Best Format For Your Music: AAC or MP3?

Which encoding format is best for the average listener?

By Sam Costello Sam Costello Writer Ithaca College Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 6, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Music, Podcasts, & Audio Audio Streaming Spotify Pandora Apple Music Prime Music Music For Your Life Podcasts Radio CDs, MP3s, & Other Media When ripping music from a CD, save your songs in either the AAC or MP3 format. In terms of audio quality, there is little difference between the two file types. The encoding speed has a greater impact on how the track ultimately sounds. Information in this article applies broadly to all devices capable of playing digital music files. Sound quality will vary depending on the device speakers. image credit: Aeriform & Maria Teijeiro/Ikon Images/Getty Images

Do AAC and MP3 Files Work on All Devices

AAC is the preferred audio file format for iTunes and Apple Music, but it is possible to play ACC files on Android and Windows computers. Likewise, the MP3 format also works on any operating system. You should have no problem playing either file type on any device.

AAC vs MP3 Sound Quality and File Size

To examine the differences between the formats, let's compare the song Wild Sage by The Mountain Goats encoded in each format at three different speeds: 128 Kbps, 192 Kbps, and 256 Kbps. The higher the Kbps, the bigger the file, but the better the quality. Format Encoding Rate File Size MP3 256K 7.8MB AAC 256K 9.0MB MP3 192K 5.8MB AAC 192K 6.7MB MP3 128K 3.9MB AAC 128K 4.0MB

AAC vs MP3 at 256 Kbps

The MP3 and AAC versions sound nearly identical. The MP3 version is 1.2MB smaller.

AAC vs MP3 at 192 Kbps

These versions sound a bit muddied compared to the 256 Kbps versions. However, there's no clear distinction between AAC and MP3. The MP3 is almost 1MB smaller.

AAC vs MP3 at 128 Kbps

The AAC file is a bit clearer and brighter than the MP3, which suffers from slight muddiness and slurring some sounds together. The file sizes are almost exactly the same.

AAC vs MP3 Which Is Better

While there are differences in the sound waves of the files, they sound roughly equivalent to the ear. Though there may be a bit more detail in the 256 Kbps MP3, it's difficult for an untrained ear to discern. The only place you're likely to hear a difference is in the low-end 128 Kbps encodings, which aren't recommended. While MP3 files tend to be smaller than AAC files, the differences are not substantial.

Audiophiles vs Compressed Music

Most audiophiles who place great value on the best possible sound quality tend to avoid MP3, AAC, and other digital audio formats because these formats use compression to create smaller files. The trade-off is that the highest and lowest ends of the sound range are lost. Most average listeners don't notice the loss, but it can be a deal-breaker for audio aficionados. If you're used to listening to music on an iPhone or Android device, then you'll probably be satisfied with either AAC or MP3. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire AAC vs. MP3 AC3 File (What It Is & How to Open One) How to Rip Music From CDs Using Windows Media Player 11 What Are MP3 CDs? YouTube Music vs. Spotify: Which Service Better Fits Your Music Needs? What Is the Best Audio Format for My Portable Device? How to Convert iTunes Songs to MP3 in 5 Easy Steps ALAC Audio Format: Is It Better to Use Than AAC? M4P File (What It Is & How to Open One) AAC File (What It Is & How to Open One) What's the Difference Between CBR and VBR Encoding? What Makes MP3 Different From AAC? (Apple Compatible File Types) How Audio File Formats Differ and What This Means for Listeners How to Use Windows Media Player to Copy Music From CDs M4A File (What It Is and How to Open One) M4R File (What It Is & How to Open One) Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies