AVIXA Recognized AV Technologist Test

Which audio format is considered uncompressed?

1. MP3

2. WAV

3. AAC

4. FLAC

The correct answer is: WAV

WAV is considered an uncompressed audio format because it stores audio data in a raw, lossless manner without any loss of quality. This format captures sound in the form of a direct digital representation of the audio waveform, allowing for the highest fidelity playback. WAV files retain all the detail of the original recording, making them ideal for professional audio applications and situations where quality is paramount. In contrast, formats like MP3 and AAC compress audio data by removing certain audio frequencies or details deemed unnecessary for average listening conditions, which can result in a loss of sound quality. FLAC, while still a high-quality format, uses lossless compression, meaning it reduces file size without losing any data, but it is not classified as uncompressed like WAV files. Therefore, WAV's characteristic of storing completely unaltered audio data distinctly qualifies it as the correct answer to the question about uncompressed audio formats.