WAV to M4A Without Quality Loss
Converting WAV to M4A involves lossy compression. Some data will be discarded. Use a high bitrate to keep loss minimal and nearly inaudible.
Drop your WAV file here or click to browse
WAV (.wav) · Max 20 MB
WAV stores audio without any compression artifacts. M4A uses perceptual coding to reduce file size. The encoder discards audio data it predicts you won't hear.
At 320kbps, most listeners can't distinguish M4A from the lossless source in blind tests. Use the highest bitrate your use case allows.
AudioUtils lets you pick the output bitrate. Choose 320kbps for near-transparent quality. Choose 128kbps for smaller files when size matters more than fidelity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much smaller is M4A compared to WAV?
About 85-90% smaller. A 50MB WAV file becomes roughly 5-7MB as M4A at 256kbps AAC.
Is M4A or MP3 better for quality?
M4A (AAC) is better. At the same bitrate, AAC delivers noticeably superior audio quality compared to MP3.
Will my WAV metadata transfer?
Basic metadata (title, artist, album) transfers when available. M4A actually has better metadata support than WAV, including album art.
Can I use M4A in video editing?
Yes. M4A is the audio-only version of the MP4 container. Most video editors accept it directly.
About WAV
Uncompressed audio format. Perfect quality with no data loss. Standard for music production and professional audio work.
About M4A
Apple's preferred audio format. Better quality than MP3 at same bitrate. Default for iTunes and Apple devices.