Audio format
The WV format
WV is a flexible lossless (or hybrid) audio codec. WavPack was first released in 1998 and offers lossless, lossy and a hybrid mode with a correction file.
When to use WV
Convert WavPack to FLAC for wide lossless support, or to MP3/M4A for listening anywhere.
It is best for lossless archives and high-resolution recordings, and it opens on foobar2000, VLC and some DAWs.
How to open it: foobar2000, VLC and Audacity open WV files.
| Full name | WavPack |
|---|---|
| Extensions | .wv, .wvc |
| MIME type | audio/x-wavpack |
| Introduced | 1998 |
| Compression | Lossy or lossless |
| Typical quality | lossless or hybrid |
| Support | Specialist format |
| Typical size | Similar to FLAC in lossless mode |
Good at
- Lossless, lossy and hybrid modes
- Handles 32-bit float and many channels
Not so good at
- Little support on phones, cars and mainstream players
The common mistake
Hybrid WavPack keeps the lossless detail in a separate .wvc file; without it next to the .wv, you only get the lossy version.
Questions
What is a WV file?
WV (WavPack) is a flexible lossless (or hybrid) audio codec. WavPack was first released in 1998 and offers lossless, lossy and a hybrid mode with a correction file.
How do I open a WV file?
foobar2000, VLC and Audacity open WV files.