How to Play AC3 Audio on Mac

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Updated on: December 30, 2024
Time to read: 7 minutes
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Sometimes you may experience some issues when playing AC3 on Mac. Fortunately, there are easy ways to overcome them. You can either install the AC3 codec or use dedicated software such as Elmedia Player. The right audio player for macOS will play any type of file, while providing you with various functionalities, customization options, and more. Read below to find all solutions recommended to play AC3 file on Mac.

Users situation

“Why can't I play AC3 audio? I've noticed that media files containing AC3 audio tracks will not play in Quicktime or in iTunes. No problem with VLC or other media players. In QT, I get an error message that "The document “my.mp4” could not be opened. An unknown error occurred (1718449215)". I have also seen an alert that opening the file requires lowering a security setting for coreAudio. I can't reproduce that alert to provide the exact wording.”
— Author
Table of Contents

What is .ac3 format?

AC3 (short for Audio Coding 3), is the file extension for surround sound audio files. It was developed by Dolby Laboratories and is mostly used for Dolby Digital audio in movie theaters, DVD and Blu-ray discs, as well as video games, etc. AC3 uses lossy compression to reduce the size of the file, similarly to MP3 and AAC. It features 6 separate sound channels, one for each speaker in a surround sound system.

Five of the channels are dedicated to a normal range, while the sixth one is dedicated to low frequency. AC3 can be played with most media players on Mac and Windows. Let’s consider some of them.

Best AC3 Media Player for macOS - Elmedia

Elmedia Player allows you to play AC3 files on your Mac with minimal effort. Besides AC3, Elmedia Player can handle a large number of audio and video formats, including AAC, WMA, FLAC, ALAC, MP3, FLV, MKV, AVI, WMV.

Furthermore, Elmedia Player allows you to set up media output parameters and offers a number of customizable options, all the while being extremely easy-to-use. The in-built 10-band audio equalizer lets you manually adjust sound settings or use custom presets to fully enjoy your favorite songs. Elmedia Player also supports passthrough for AC3 (Dolby Digital)/DTS hardware decoders to ensure the best sound quality.

How to Play AC3 Audio on Mac

Pros

  • Wide range of audio formats supported
  • Customizable audio equalizer with presets
  • Offers wireless streaming
  • Extensive support for subtitles
  • Passthrough for hardware decoders - AC3/DTS

Cons

  • Available for Mac only
  • To use some advanced features, you need to upgrade to the PRO version

How to Play Xvid Files on Mac using Elmedia Player

1. Download the app directly from the official website or from the App Store.

Install Elmedia

2. Launch Elmedia Player and open an AC3 file.

3. You can do this in several ways:

  • Use the “File” option in the Main menu to locate the file.
  • Drag-and-drop the file into the Elmedia Player window.
  • In Finder, bring up the context menu by right-clicking on the file, choose “Open with” option, then Elmedia.
Opening a file is very simple and there are several ways to do it.

Alternative App to Play AC3 File - VLC

Another AC3 audio player on our list is VLC. It is an open-source cross-platform software that supports a wide range of file formats including AC3, MP3, FLAC, and more. It can be used for DVD and VCD playback as well. With VLC media player, you also get useful features like video conversion, desktop recording, audio and video effects. You can adjust the sound quality using the Equalizer, Compressor, and Expander tabs, or try out the available presets. However, it is also worth highlighting the lack of Chromecast and AirPlay support and the old-fashioned interface.

VLC is AC3 audio player

Pros

  • Support for multiple audio and video formats
  • Absolutely free to use
  • Works on macOS, Windows, Linux, Android and iOS
  • Built-in graphic equalizer

Cons

  • Not as feature-rich as its competitors
  • Outdated interface
  • Some controls are hard to find as they are hidden in a complicated menu

AC3 codec installation: an alternative way to open AC3

Apart from using the AC3 player, there is another way Mac users can try. The AC3 codec is a QuickTime component that allows you to play AC3 audio files in AVI video files. It’s easy to set up and once installed it automatically works with QuickTime.

However, this method is outdated and only works if you’re using a Mac with an older version of QuickTime. The best solution is to use video player with AC3 audio support like Elmedia Player. It will play AC3 without the need to install and add any additional codecs.

Pros

  • Easy to install
  • Solves sound problems in AVI

Cons

  • An obsolete method

Troubleshooting Common AC3 Playback Problems

Playing AC3 audio files on a Mac can sometimes cause difficulties, from playback problems to compatibility issues. Let’s take a look at the most common ones:

  • No sound. There may be no sound or distorted sound when playing AC3 files. To solve this problem, make sure your media player supports the AC3 format.  Also check the audio output settings in your media player and macOS.
  • Playback lag or stuttering. If you encounter this issue, make sure your Mac meets the system requirements for the media player. Close other resource-intensive apps to free up system resources. 
  • File compatibility issues. If this happens, convert AC3 files to another compatible format. Make sure that the conversion settings preserve the original sound quality.
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Conclusion

We hope this article helped you find the right solution for playing AC3. There are quite a few players that support AC3. Just choose what suits you best, install it on your Mac and enjoy high-quality sound on your device. If you are looking for the best way to listen to AC3 audio files, try Elmedia Player. Not only is it easy to use, but it is also capable of playing AC3 without additional codecs.

Frequently Asked Questions

AC3 and AAC are different audio formats. AC3 is older, designed for surround sound, and is often used in DVDs. AAC is newer, provides better sound quality at a lower bitrate and is often used in digital music.

iTunes does not initially support AC3 audio. Although it can play some AC3-encoded content, it often has limitations and may not provide optimal playback.

To convert AC3 to MP3, use offline or online converters, or dedicated software. However, keep in mind that converting to MP3 reduces the sound quality.