Can cars play FLAC files?
2 Answers
Whether a car can play FLAC files depends on the specific model. Some car models can play FLAC format files, while others cannot. The key factor is whether the installed player in the car supports the FLAC format. Most car models only support MP3 or WAV format playback. Unlike MP3, FLAC is different - MP3 is a lossy audio compression codec, while FLAC is lossless compression. Therefore, audio compressed with FLAC encoding does not lose any information. When a FLAC file is restored to a WAV file, its content is identical to the original WAV file before compression.
I drive a domestic new energy vehicle bought last year, and the system supports playing FLAC files. I usually copy lossless music to a USB drive and listen to it in the car, which sounds much better than Bluetooth. If your car's infotainment system runs on Android, it should generally be compatible with common lossless formats. Some older models may not directly support FLAC, but you can try burning the files to a CD or connecting your phone via an AUX cable for playback. However, Bluetooth transmission compresses audio quality, so for a true lossless experience, it's best to use the car's direct reading capability or CarPlay screen mirroring. By the way, I recently helped a friend check his 2018 Japanese car, and playing FLAC files from a USB drive worked perfectly fine.
