Comparison of M4A vs. FLAC: Choose the Best Audio Format

You don't have to be an audio engineer to gain familiarity with the nuances of different audio formats. Your choice of audio format has a marked difference in your listening experience. Today's audiophiles are no longer limited to MP3 or WAV formats and can choose from a wide array of audio codecs. Two of the most popular choices include M4A and FLAC. Despite their recent meteoric rise, M4A and FLAC are not closely related. In fact, M4A and FLAC bring two different philosophies to audio engineering. Keep reading to learn how they differ and which serves best your needs.

Part 1: Overview of M4A and FLAC Audio File?

1. What is M4A File?

M4A, short for MPEG-4 Part 14, is an audio format developed by Apple to replace MP3. After its invention in 2004, Apple made it the default format for music files on the App Store. Over the years, M4A has been adopted as the default music file format by numerous other platforms. Despite its widespread popularity, M4A continues to be dwarfed by MP3 in worldwide adoption.

M4A format typically uses audio files encoded with AAC codec, which also has found its home in the Apple ecosystem. The primary advantage of M4A is that it supports metatags such as artist name, album, genre, etc. Today, M4A's widespread adoption means it can be played on pretty much every popular music player app, such as VLC, iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc.

M4A generally manages to preserve the near-original quality of music despite the heavy compression required for its small file sizes. So, users who enjoy hi-def audio but cannot spare a lot of storage prefer M4A files.

2. What is FLAC File?

The Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) is a free, open-source audio codec developed by the highly renowned Xiph.Org Foundation. FLAC format, just like many of their other products, has become the industry standard for audiophiles who desire the very highest in audio quality. FLAC is a lossless audio codec, which means that it does not lose the original audio quality of audio, even as it compresses them by 60%.

FLAC audio format is generally supported by audio players that offer hi-def audio experience, including most of the latest music players and Hi-Fi systems. Nevertheless, it's far from the most popular audio format out there. Indeed, many of the common media players and devices do not support this format.

Part 2: Comparison of M4A vs. FLAC

M4A and FLAC formats differ from each other in almost every aspect. Here's a quick overview of their differences:

• Compression Type

M4A format uses an extremely powerful compression algorithm that drastically reduces the size of the audio files but at a huge cost to audio quality. In contrast, FLAC compresses files while preserving their original sound quality, which results in higher file sizes.

• Audio Quality

M4A files deliver good sound quality, certainly better than MP3. However, they cannot match the sheer depth, detail, and lifelike quality of FLAC files.

• File Size

As discussed before, FLAC files can be massive in size, while M4A files are better suited for convenient storage and sharing owing to their small sizes.

• Compatibility

M4A files can be played across the entire Apple ecosystem, most other smart devices, and even many older media players. On the other hand, the FLAC format is supported by a much broader range of devices thanks to its open-source origins.

• Supported Bitrates

Since FLAC files can store vast amounts of original audio data, their bitrates tend to be outsized compared to M4A files.

Part 3: M4A vs. FLAC: Which is the Better One?

Both M4A and FLAC audio formats are popular among two very different groups of users. For their respective users, they happen to be just perfect. To understand which is better suited for you, it's important to take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of the two formats.

Now that you are familiar with the pros and cons of each audio format, you can pick the format that works best for you. Usually, casual users who enjoy high-quality music, especially on Apple devices, will find M4A perfect. But, professionals and music aficionados who seek to listen to music in its original quality, just as their creators intended, need FLAC for their purposes.

Part 4: How to Convert M4A to FLAC and Vice Versa

Sometimes, you may need to convert your music files between M4A and FLAC formats for convenience. For instance, M4A to FLAC conversion would be warranted when playing the files on non-Apple devices. In such instances, you can use HitPaw Video Converter to effortlessly convert your music from M4A to FLAC format.

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• Lossless Conversion: Convert your M4A files to FLAC without losing their original quality
• Batch Conversion: Convert up to 5,000 M4A files to FLAC format in a single batch
• Edit On the Fly: Edit audio, convert audio to text, remove voices, and do more during conversion
• 120X Faster Speed: Use hardware acceleration to convert audio files at lightning speeds
• Control Output Quality: Control the compression rate and quality of output FLAC files

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Guide to Convert M4A to FLAC Free with HitPaw

• Step 1: Import M4A Files

Install HitPaw Video Converter and launch it. Upload the M4A files to the tool as follows: Add Files (Under the "Convert" tab) >> Add Audio. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the files into the window directly.


• Step 2: Select Output Format

Using the dropdown menus, choose your output file format and quality preservation efficiency under the "Audio" tab. In this case, the output format is FLAC.


• Step 3: Set Preferences

Set technical specs for the output format, such as bitrate, sample rate, etc.


• Step 4: Start M4A to FLAC Conversion

When you're done, click on the "Convert" or "Convert All" button, and you're done!

FAQs about M4A and FLAC

Conclusion

In summary, this article gives a detailed comparison of M4A vs. FLAC, your choice of audio file format determines the quality of your audio experience. So, make the right choice between M4A and FLAC and enjoy your music the way you want. If you need to convert the audio files from one format to another, you can always use HitPaw Video Converter. Try it today.