WavPack is a completely open audio compression format providing lossless, high-quality lossy, and a unique hybrid compression mode. Although the technology is loosely based on previous versions of WavPack, the new version 4 format has been designed from the ground up to offer unparalleled performance and functionality.

WavPack features include:

• Compatible with virtually all PCM audio formats including 8, 16, 24, and 32-bit ints; 32-bit floats; mono, stereo, and multichannel; sampling rates from 6 to 192 kHz (and non-standard rates)
• Multiplatform support including Windows, Linux, and OS X, plus a Flash decoder and Silverlight decoder that can work virtually anywhere, and now a web-based audio converter that can decode WavPack files online
• Instantly seekable and streaming capable (and gapless)
• ReplayGain (including WavPack file scanner and compatible plugins)
• Uses ID3v1 and APEv2 tags for metadata (including ReplayGain)
• Error-tolerant block format conducive to hardware decoding
• Optional "asymmetrical" mode for improved compression
• MD5 audio checksums for verification and identification
• Unique hybrid mode (provides high quality lossy + "correction" file Dynamic noise shaping (dns) for optimum quality at lower hybrid bitrates
• Hybrid mode now operates as low as 2.25 bits/sample (or 196 kbps for CD audio)
• Free and open source with easy to use C library API and unrestrictive license (BSD)
• Intuitive command line interface (with wildcards and destination directory)
• Small, efficient executable (no large programs or dlls to install)
• Special "low latency" version available for custom applications
• Self-extracting archives with cuesheets (Windows only)
• Java and C# decoders and encoders available
• Fully backward compatible to WavPack 1.0
• Complete piping support