What is MP3?
A plain-English guide to MP3, lossy compression, bitrate, file size, compatibility, and why encoders such as LAME matter.
Start here when you want definitions, context, and plain-English explanations before diving into comparisons.
Confused by terminology? Start here.
Need a decision? Use Compare.
Need the basics? Visit the Beginner guide.
These pages explain what things are before asking you to choose between them. That makes the whole site easier to use and much less confusing.
Codecs: What is a codec?
Audio quality: What actually matters?
Containers: What is a container format?
Standards: What is THX?
Hi-res: Hi-res audio explained
Playback: What is upsampling? • What is a NOS DAC? • What is a NOS R2R DAC? • Bluetooth audio codecs
Advanced audio: What is DSD?
Production audio: What is DXD?
These pages answer the end-user question: which audio format should I actually use?
A practical guide to AAC, MP3, Opus, bitrate, bandwidth, and playback compatibility.
Why FLAC is usually best for archives, when ALAC makes sense, and when WAV is useful.
AAC for everyday listening, ALAC for lossless Apple libraries, and MP3 for universal compatibility.
These pages explain the building blocks: codecs, containers, formats, and standards.
The simplest starting point: what codecs do, why they matter, and why media files need them.
The most useful terminology page on the site. Start here if you are not sure what each term really means.
A clear explanation of how MP4, MKV, and WebM package audio, video, subtitles, and metadata together.
Understand why THX is not a codec, but a playback and certification standard.
These pages cover bit depth, sample rate, PCM, DSD, DXD, SACD, and the higher-end side of digital audio.
The broad overview: bit depth, sample rate, formats, and whether hi-res audio actually matters in real listening.
A simple-to-advanced guide to sample-rate conversion, smoother playback, DAC filtering, and what upsampling can and cannot improve.
Learn why non-oversampling DACs can sound direct, raw, or era-appropriate for older digital recordings and early electronic music.
A deeper look at resistor-ladder DACs, non-oversampling playback, analogue-like presentation, and how R2R differs from delta-sigma conversion.
An explainer for Direct Stream Digital, the high-frequency 1-bit audio approach used in high-end playback formats. DSD is often discussed alongside DXD because DXD is commonly used for editing and mastering.
A plain-English guide to Digital eXtreme Definition, the ultra-high-resolution PCM format often used when editing and mastering DSD recordings.
A beginner-friendly explanation of FLAC, ALAC, WAV, lossy compression, and what lossless really means.
A plain-English guide to MP3, lossy compression, bitrate, file size, compatibility, and why encoders such as LAME matter.
A focused explanation of the LAME MP3 encoder, VBR settings, 320 kbps MP3, and how encoding software relates to the MP3 format.
A deeper end-user guide to how LAME MP3 works, why it stays compatible, and why encoder improvements did not break old MP3 playback.
Learn how AAC works, why it often lives inside M4A/MP4 containers, and how it relates to streaming, Bluetooth, MP3, and Opus.
A practical guide to SBC, AAC, aptX, LDAC, wireless compression, iPhone support, Android support, latency, and real-world sound quality.
Understand kbps, file size, streaming quality, and why bitrate matters most for lossy audio.
A beginner-friendly explanation of WAV, PCM, studio workflows, file size, and metadata.
A guide to Super Audio CD, its use of DSD, and why it remains a niche but important audiophile format.
A comparison of the two major digital audio approaches, useful once you understand the basics.
A focused comparison explaining why DSD is mainly a playback/distribution format while DXD is usually a production and editing format.
A practical explanation of bit depth, dynamic range, and whether higher numbers make a real listening difference.
A useful companion page for lossless audio workflows, libraries, and playback compatibility.
A practical guide to choosing between compressed lossless files and uncompressed studio-friendly audio.
Use the Glossary for quick terms and short explanations.
Go to Compare if you already know what you are choosing between.
Start from the Beginner guide and work upward.