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# Convert WAV to MP3 at 320 kbps (transparent for almost all listeners)
- URL: https://ffmpeguru.com/convert-wav-to-mp3-at-320-kbps-transparent-for-almost-all-listeners/
- Published: 2026-10-16T09:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-16T09:00:00.000Z
- Author: FFmpeguru
- Tags: ffmpeg

![](https://picsum.photos/seed/ffblog5/1200/630)

WAV is uncompressed and large. MP3 at 320 kbps is the highest MP3 bitrate and is the right choice for archival conversion when you need a smaller file with no perceptible loss. For most music, even 192 kbps is transparent on good equipment, but 320 leaves no room for doubt.

## The command

```
ffmpeg -i input.wav -b:a 320k output.mp3
```

## What it does

FFmpeg decodes the WAV (assumes PCM, which is what WAV almost always is), re-encodes to MP3 via libmp3lame at 320 kbps constant bitrate, and muxes into an MP3 file. The default uses CBR; for variable-bitrate encoding, add `-q:a 0` instead, which targets the highest quality VBR.

## When to use it

Whenever you need a small, widely supported audio file from a master WAV. 320 kbps MP3 is the right choice for music, podcasts, and voice-overs; for spoken word, drop to 96 or 128 kbps. Do not use 320 kbps for music that was already lossy-encoded at lower quality; you cannot recover what was lost.

## Audio requirements

The source must be PCM (uncompressed). FFmpeg can also convert FLAC, AIFF, and other lossless formats with the same command. The output is stereo at the source's sample rate, or downmixed if you add `-ac 2`. For mono podcasts, add `-ac 1`.

## Things to avoid

- Re-encoding already-MP3 files. You will not improve them and may lose quality through decode-encode generational loss. Remux (`-c:a copy`) instead.
- Choosing 320 kbps for spoken word. Use 64 to 96 kbps mono and save 70% of the size with no audible loss for voice.
- Ignoring the source sample rate. A 192 kHz WAV will be downsampled by libmp3lame; if you want to keep the native rate, force it with `-ar 48000` or similar.
- Expecting the output to be byte-perfect. MP3 is lossy; for archival, prefer FLAC.