Can car audio systems play FLAC format files?
2 Answers
This depends on the specific car model. Some car models can play FLAC format files, while others cannot. Here are the details about FLAC format: 1. Introduction: FLAC is a lossless compression format. Audio encoded and compressed in FLAC does not lose any information. When a FLAC file is restored to a WAV file, it is almost identical to the original WAV file before compression. 2. If the car does not support FLAC format: You can use format conversion software to convert the file format for playback. The loss after conversion is minimal, and the change in sound quality is basically indistinguishable.
After thorough research on this issue, I found that whether a car can play FLAC files mainly depends on the vehicle model and year. Most new cars nowadays can play FLAC, especially models from 2020 onwards which usually come with built-in decoders. You can check your vehicle's manual under the audio format support section – it typically specifies compatibility. If unsure, the most straightforward method is to try inserting a USB drive containing FLAC files. Older cars might struggle though; my 2016 model could only handle MP3. Compatibility largely depends on the infotainment system – Android-based systems generally support FLAC. As a workaround, you can always play FLAC files from your phone via Bluetooth connection. While there might be a slight compromise in audio quality, it's significantly more convenient.
