Why do Wav and Flac Files Sound Different?

From my experience with Tidal, FLAC files overall sound much better than WAV and comparable to MQA (although a much larger selection of FLAC since MQA clearly very selectively started with top tier original recording). MP3s are very subpar/compressed as always and not worthy of a place in this conversation other than a footnote.

@jond

"WAV and Flac sound identical to me and WAV just takes up too much space."

DITTO!

You can't tell the difference in my tests - years ago!

Another nope.....they sound the same. Don't believe the hype.

When I ripped my CD collection (maybe 400 +-) to a hard drive I ripped in both FLAC and WAV. To my complete surprise I could hear a small difference in sound on playback. The FLAC files sounded a little more laid back. Could be how the streamer, a Node 2I, or the DAC, a Bel Canto, process the data, I don't know. I preferred the WAV files. Memory is so cheap these days, 4TB for around $100, file size is not an issue for me.

Jim S.

And of course the listeners were unaware of file type and metadata status for each trial, correct? And the tests were randomized to prevent  observer bias? And the results were corroborated across multiple listeners, using multiple trials? And all listeners were unaware of the nature of the changes? And dummy A/B trials with identical files were conducted randomly during resting to create a baseline?

No, not all that was done? Not any of that was done? Because absent that minimal  level of basic care in the testing protocols, this 'study' has zero credibility. It's just poor experimental design. Worse, the authors propose no causality attributable to metadata, no 'how' to account for any statistically meaningful differences.