In this episode of The Audiophile’s Guide, digital audio CODECs take center stage. What are they, how do they work, and why do they sound different? From lossless formats like FLAC and ALAC to lossy ones like MP3 and AAC, we break down how CODECs compress, preserve, or discard data—and what that means for musical detail, space, and realism. Whether you stream or store locally, understanding CODECs helps you hear more of what the music truly holds.

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