compac wrote:

I read from multiple sources that WAV will sound the best. But what about uncompressed FLAC? Would that be equivalent to WAV?

Yes.

John Atkinson
Technical Editor, Stereophile

Here are 2 fine format comparison samplers so you can decide what sounds best on your system;

https://www.soundliaison.com/index.php/6-compare-formats

All the different formats have the same source file, DXD 352kHz (Studio Master).
We used the XiSRC app for the conversion to DSD and Steinberg Wavelab for the conversion to the other PCM formats and FLAC.

When you compare different sample rates always start with the lowest resolution.
During listening don't focus too much, hearing is as individual as taste but hearing is also something which can be acquired, like the taste of good wine.

You can choose from the following formats:

1. DXD 352kHz-32bit
2. DXD 352kHz-24bit
3. PCM 192kHz
4. PCM 176kHz
5. PCM 96kHz
6. PCM 88kHz
7. PCM 44kHz
8. DSD 256
9. DSD 128
10. DSD 64
11. FLAC 352kHz
12. FLAC 192kHz
13. FLAC 176kHz
14. FLAC 96kHz
15. FLAC 88kHz

And here is the one from 2L
http://www.2l.no/hires/

Not sure about why one would opt for uncompressed flac other than meta tagging.

And the meta tags may add noise into the datastream, much as sub-code info in CD can add "noise".
Compression level 0 is still 'compressed' and still requires the player to unpack the data prior to playback.

On the topic of lossless compression (flac, etc) vs lossless uncompressed (wav) ... I have been planning some experiments using FLIR imaging and in situ measurements of playing files using a spectrum analyzer (and other instruments).