Question on Music & Play:

Is there a distinct audio performance differences between FLAC and AAC audio compression formats?

Submitted by Reader

Answer:

Between the two file formats you mentioned, FLAC would be a better choice. This is because it is a lossless format, meaning the original audio file will not be modified.

In the case of lossy formats such as AAC, unnecessary audio data is removed during compression.

AAC music files encoded at high bitrates will be sufficient for a portable audiophile setup. Do take note that the Zune HD will not be able to play FLAC files directly. It will only accept AAC files encoded with the Low Complexity (LC) profile.

Still, should you want to max the capabilities of the Zune HD, you can also encode your CDs into the Windows Media Audio Lossless (WMA Lossless) format.