Chip in

AMR to AC3 converter

Convert AMR to AC3 in seconds, free and unlimited. No upload, no sign-up, no watermark: your audio never leaves your device.

Last updated

Quick answer: To convert AMR to AC3, add the AMR file to the iHateFiles AMR to AC3 converter and press Convert. The conversion runs in your browser, so the file is never uploaded, and it is free with no sign-up, watermark or size limit. AMR is a format most software has stopped opening. AC3 is not.

Should you convert AMR to AC3?

Yes. Very little current software opens AMR, so converting it is the way to keep listening to it. Pick a generous bitrate.

Both AMR and AC3 are lossy

AMR (AMR narrowband speech) has already discarded some of the sound, and AC3 (Dolby Digital) will discard a little more. The AC3 encoder works from the AMR, not the original recording, so pick a bitrate at or above the source. A lower one saves space and costs quality you cannot get back.

AMR was made for voices

AMR is a phone-call codec that keeps only the frequencies speech needs, roughly up to 4 kHz. Converting to AC3 makes the recording open everywhere, but it will still sound like a phone call, because the rest of the sound was never recorded.

Where the AC3 will play

AC3 plays on DVD players, AV receivers and TVs.

AMR and AC3 side by side

 AMRAC3
Inside the fileAMR narrowband speechDolby Digital
CompressionLossyLossy
Carries soundYesYes
One minute of stereoabout 0.1 MB3 to 5 MB
Plays onNeeds converting firstDVD players, AV receivers and TVs
HereRead onlyRead and write

What usually goes wrong

About the AMR. Converting AMR to a high bitrate does not improve it. The frequencies were never recorded.

About the AC3. Playing a 5.1 AC3 track on stereo speakers can leave dialogue almost inaudible, because the centre channel carrying it is not being mixed in. Downmixing to stereo during conversion fixes that.

How to convert AMR to AC3

  1. Add your AMR file. It is read from your disk and stays there.
  2. Check the settings. The output format is already set to AC3.
  3. Press convert and the AC3 file is saved back to your device.

About AMR files

Questions

How do I convert AMR to AC3?

Open this page, add your AMR file, and press convert. The file is decoded and re-encoded by your own browser and saved back to your device. Nothing is uploaded.

Is this AMR to AC3 converter free?

Yes, completely. There is no account, no sign-in, no watermark and no daily limit, because there is no server doing the work. Your own device does it.

Are my files uploaded anywhere?

No. There is no upload endpoint. The conversion runs inside this browser tab, so your file never leaves your device. You can open your browser's network panel and watch: nothing carrying your file is sent.

Is there a file size limit?

No fixed limit. Because the work happens on your machine there is no server quota. The only ceiling is your own device's memory, which for video means very large files may be slow.

Will converting to AC3 lose quality?

AC3 is a lossy format, so some detail is discarded. The quality control on this page decides how much. The default is set high enough that most people cannot see the difference.

Can I convert several AMR files at once?

Yes. Add as many as you like and they are converted one after another, then offered as a single ZIP.