3 Ways to Compress WAV to Make Audio Files Smaller

By Daniel Smith Apr 24, 2025 Edit Audio

If you've ever worked with audio files, chances are you've encountered WAV files. These files are great for high-quality sound, but they can take up a lot of space on your device. If you’ve been wondering how to compress a WAV file without sacrificing too much of its quality, you’re in the right place!

This article will share 3 methods to reduce WAV audio file size on Windows, Mac, and online. Whether you’re looking to free up some space on your hard drive or need to upload a WAV file to the cloud, you can find an efficient way here.

GUIDE LIST: Way 1: ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate - A Powerful WAV Compressor; Way 2: ArkThinker Audio Compressor Online - The Easy, No-Download Option; Part 3: Zamzar - The Cloud-Based WAV File Compressor; Part 4: Which Method is the Best One; Part 5: FAQs

Way 1: ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate - A Powerful WAV Compressor

ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate is your go-to software for easily converting videos and compressing WAV files. What makes this tool exceptional is its flexibility. You can shrink the size of your audio files from MBs to KBs by adjusting the value or compression rate. Additionally, it supports multiple audio formats like WAV, MP3, FLAC, and others. While compressing, you can tweak various audio settings to strike the perfect balance between file size and audio quality. The preview feature lets you listen to the WAV file before reducing its size.

Step 1

Download and Install ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate on your Windows or Mac computer.

Free Download For Windows 7 or later Free Download For macOS 10.12 or later

Open the software and navigate to the Toolbox tab from the main interface to select Audio Compressor.

Upload your WAV file by clicking the big plus button on your computer.

Step 2

Adjust the compression settings by moving the slider bar to your desired size. Moreover, you can change the sample rate to get the WAV compression level you want.

Step 3

Afterward, select WAV as the output format and choose a destination folder to save your compressed file. Click the Compress button, and voila! Your WAV file is now compressed and saved in the designated folder.

ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate is a friendly and efficient solution for anyone wanting to compress WAV files without losing quality. Its user-friendly interface, batch processing capabilities, and extensive customization options make it ideal for beginners and advanced users.

Pros :

User-friendly interface.
High-quality output.
Supports batch processing.
Comprehensive functionality.

Cons :

Requires a subscription after a 30-day free trial expires.

Way 2: ArkThinker Audio Compressor Online - The Easy, No-Download Option

Sometimes, you must compress WAV files quickly without downloading or installing anything on your computer. This is where ArkThinker Audio Compressor Online comes in. As a web-based tool, you can reduce WAV audio file size from your browser without the hassle of extra software.

Step 1

Head to the ArkThinker Audio Compressor Online website using your computer or mobile phone browser.

Click the Add File to Start button and select the WAV file you want to lower size from your local device.

If you're using a free account without signing up, you can upload WAV files up to 50MB.

Step 2

After uploading the audio file, you can adjust the compression level by clicking on the settings option. Move the compression slide bar at the top to reduce the file size by a percentage. Remember that higher compression will reduce the file size more but might also slightly lower the audio quality.

Step 3

Click OK to save the changes once you've set your compression preferences. Finally, click Compress File to start the compression process. Once done, you can download the newly compressed WAV file to your device.

ArkThinker Audio Compressor Online is a quick and easy solution for reducing WAV file size without installing software. It’s perfect for simple tasks and works from any device. However, a desktop program might be a better option if you need more control over the compression settings.

Pros :

No installation required.
Easy to use.
Accessible from any device with internet.
Quick compression process.

Cons :

Limited to internet connectivity.
May not support batch processing.

Part 3: Zamzar - The Cloud-Based WAV File Compressor

Zamzar is another popular tool for making WAV file size smaller, and it works entirely online. Unlike ArkThinker’s Audio Compressor, Zamzar also supports a wide range of file conversions, making it a solid choice for those who need to convert and compress their audio files.

Step 1

Visit the Zamzar website (https://www.zamzar.com/compress-wav/) and click the Choose Files button to upload your WAV file. You can also drag and drop the WAV audio file here.

Using ZamZar's free service, you can upload up to 50MB WAV files into this online tool.

Step 2

In the pop-up window, select the compression level: Low, Medium, and High.

Then click the Compress Now button to start shrinking the WAV file size. Once the process is done, click the Download button to save the compressed WAV file on your device.

Pros :

No installation required.
Supports various file formats.
User-friendly interface.

Cons :

Limited to internet connectivity.
Require a subscription for large files.

Part 4: Which Method is the Best One

Now that we’ve gone over the three methods, it’s time to figure out which is best for you. Below is a comparison table to help you choose the proper WAV compression method based on your needs.

Here are the test details:

Original file size: The test started with an MP3 file of 50 MB.

Compression rate: The percentage reduction in file size after compression. Higher percentages indicate more compression.

Time taken: The amount of time each tool took to compress the file.

Quality: Rated on a scale from 1 to 10, based on subjective evaluation of audio quality post-compression. A higher score means better preservation of audio quality after compression.

	ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate	ArkThinker Audio Compressor Online	Zamzar
Compressed File Size	12 MB	20 MB	22 MBs
Compression Rate	0.76	0.6	0.56
Time Taken	1 minute	2 minutes	4 minutes
Quality (Rating 1-10)	9/10	8/10	6/10
Ease of Use	Easy, but feature-rich	Extremely simple	Easy, but requires email for large files
Compression Settings	Fully customizable	Limited customization	Limited customization
Speed	Fast	Fast	Slower for large files
Price	Paid (Free trial available)	Free	Free (Paid plan for larger files)
Supported Formats	WAV, MP3, FLAC, etc.	WAV and a few others	WAV, MP3, and many others
Platform	Windows/Mac	Web-based	Web-based

Summary of test insights:

• Best for Quality and Speed: ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate delivers the best performance, especially if you’re compressing larger MP3 files and need high quality with fast results.

• Best for Quality and Speed: ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate is perfect if you’re looking for a quick and easy, free solution, but you won’t get as much control over the compression process.

• Best for Simple Conversion: Zamzar is a good choice if you need a cloud-based solution, but the compression speed and quality can be inconsistent compared to the other two options.

Part 5: FAQs

How can I compress a WAV file without losing quality?

Use a tool like ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate, which allows you to adjust the bitrate and sample rate for minimal quality loss.

Is there a free way to compress WAV files?

Yes! ArkThinker Audio Compressor Online and Zamzar offer free compression options with some limitations.

How to compress a WAV file on a Mac?

ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate works seamlessly on Mac. You can also use ArkThinker Audio Compressor Online from any device with a web browser.

Conclusion

Compressing WAV files doesn’t have to be a headache. Whether you’re using ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate for advanced control, ArkThinker Audio Compressor Online for a quick, web-based solution, or Zamzar for cloud-based conversion, you’ve got plenty of options.

To get the best results without compromising quality, we highly recommend ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate. It’s the most versatile and powerful tool, especially if you’re serious about managing and compressing large audio and video files.

Ready to give it a try? Download ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate today and start reducing WAV file size.

Free Download For Windows 7 or later Free Download For macOS 10.12 or later

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