FormatDrop
Audio Format

WV

WavPack

WavPack (.wv) is a free, open-source lossless audio compression format with a unique hybrid mode: a lossy base file (.wv) paired with a correction file (.wvc) that together reconstruct the original losslessly. The lossy-only .wv is a valid, standalone compressed audio file — an unusual design that gives WavPack maximum flexibility.

What is WV?

WavPack uses an adaptive prediction + entropy coding pipeline. In pure lossless mode it compresses like FLAC (40–60% of WAV size). In hybrid mode it encodes a lossy approximation first (the .wv file, playable standalone), then stores the difference in a companion .wvc correction file. Combining both gives bit-perfect reconstruction. WavPack supports 8–32 bit depths and sample rates up to 192 kHz, including DSD.

WV pros and cons

Advantages

  • Hybrid mode: lossy + correction file = lossless in two pieces
  • Supports DSD audio natively — unique among lossless codecs
  • Fast encoding and decoding compared to FLAC at high compression
  • APEv2 tags with Unicode support
  • Open source and patent-free

Limitations

  • Poor player support — most devices and apps don't support WV
  • Hybrid correction files (.wvc) are easily separated and lost
  • FLAC has broader ecosystem support and hardware decoding
  • Not supported on iOS, Android, most streaming services, or smart TVs
  • Niche format — limited community and tooling

When should you convert WV files?

Convert WV to FLAC for universal lossless compatibility — FLAC is supported on virtually every platform WV is not. If you're happy with lossy, convert to MP3 or AAC for portable use. Keep WV only if you specifically need DSD or hybrid mode and have a player (foobar2000, VLC) that supports it.

Convert WV files

AUDIO-CONVERTER→

All FormatDrop conversions run entirely in your browser — no file upload, no server processing. Your files stay on your device.

WV FAQ

Is WavPack lossless?
Yes — in pure lossless mode (.wv without a .wvc file) WavPack is lossless. In hybrid mode the standalone .wv is lossy; pairing it with the .wvc correction file makes it lossless. Always keep the .wvc alongside the .wv if you want to preserve the correction data.
How do I convert WV to FLAC?
Use FFmpeg: `ffmpeg -i input.wv -c:a flac output.flac`. FFmpeg decodes WavPack to PCM and re-encodes as FLAC. The conversion is lossless if your .wv is a lossless WavPack file. Alternatively use the official `wvunpack` tool to decompress to WAV first, then encode to FLAC.
Can VLC play WavPack?
Yes — VLC includes a WavPack decoder and plays .wv files. foobar2000 with the WavPack component plays both lossless and hybrid mode. Most other players (Windows Media Player, QuickTime, Apple Music) do not support WV natively.

More formats

HEICWebPAVIFEPUBWebMOpusMP3WAVM4AFLACAACMP4AVIMKVMOVJPGPNGGIFSVGTIFFICOBMPEPSARWOGGWMVPPTXPagesPDFDOCXRAWHEVCH.264AIFFM4VWMA3GPDNGRTFPSDOGVTSFLVAIXLSXCSVZIPAPNGMIDIJPEG XLMPG/MPEGVOBM2TSAC3ALACDTSJP2HEIFAPECBZ3G2SRTDOCPPTXLSODTODSM3URAR7ZM4BAMRTXTMOBITARGZJSONXMLYAMLKEYMTSCR2NEFMXFTGACAFASSVTTDSFRMF4VASFRMVBORFRW2EAC-3TTA