Lossless audio
Audio compression that preserves every bit of the original master, in contrast to lossy formats (MP3, AAC, Ogg) that discard inaudible data to save space.
Lossless codecs (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF) reconstruct the original PCM stream bit-perfectly. Apple Music and Tidal stream most catalog at 16-bit/44.1 kHz lossless minimum; Hi-Res lossless goes up to 24-bit/192 kHz.
Audible difference
The 16/44.1 baseline (CD quality) is widely regarded as transparent — most listeners cannot distinguish from a master in blind tests. The Hi-Res tiers are debated; reliable evidence of audibility above 16/44.1 is thin.
Bluetooth and lossless
Standard Bluetooth codecs (SBC, AAC) are lossy. Wireless lossless requires aptX Lossless + Snapdragon Sound, or LDAC at 990 kbps (near-transparent but technically lossy), or 2.4 GHz dongle systems (USB-C). Hi-Fi over Bluetooth in 2026 is finally close, not yet identical, to wired.
How to use Lossless audio in a real comparison
Audio compression that preserves every bit of the original master, in contrast to lossy formats (MP3, AAC, Ogg) that discard inaudible data to save space. In practice, this is most useful as one part of a decision rather than a standalone quality badge. Compare it alongside the workload, room, ecosystem, budget, and ownership constraints that apply to you; the strongest published figure is not automatically the best outcome for every buyer.
What to check next
Open a product page and check the stated value, configuration, price, and related trade-offs before treating this term as decisive. It is especially relevant in .
Avoid the one-number trap
Manufacturers can describe the same capability under different conditions. Compare like-for-like variants, check the unit and test condition where available, and use a head-to-head page to see whether a measurable difference is material for your own use.
vsMars presents structured catalog values to make trade-offs legible. The linked product and spec pages are the right place to inspect the underlying values before buying.