Every Root Wave purchase comes with 24-bit WAV, FLAC, and 320 MP3 in the same download — so technically you never have to choose. But most people still want to know what to actually load onto their gear, so here's the plain version.
What you're actually getting
WAV is the uncompressed master file, exactly as it left mastering. FLAC is the same audio losslessly compressed to roughly half the size — no quality lost, just smaller files. 320 MP3 is a lossy compromise: smaller still, and audibly fine on phones, earbuds, and car systems.
If you're archiving for the long term or running a proper hi-fi setup, grab the WAV. If you want the same fidelity with less storage, FLAC. If you're just filling a phone or a USB stick for the car, 320 MP3 will do the job and nobody in a moving vehicle will hear the difference.
What actually matters more than format
Source quality beats file format almost every time. A well-mastered 320 MP3 from the original master will sound better than a WAV ripped from a compressed stream three times removed from the source. That's the real argument for buying direct — you're getting the file that left our mastering room, not a copy of a copy.