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Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music

Posted By: Zamzow

Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music - 12/06/18 04:09 AM

For years (whoa, decades) I've been using both Winamp and Windows media player for music on my PC.

It's always been a case of one or the other working better for a particular file/song.

I'm thinking of stepping my game up and going for payware, but what? Anyone here have any experience there?

I guess I'd be open to freeware recommendations too, but my physical sound gear is now at a point I feel it's time to "get real" with the software playing the music.....
Posted By: CyBerkut

Re: Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music - 12/06/18 04:13 AM

I have had good results with VLC Media player. It's available for multiple platforms, and does a good job of keeping up on various codecs.
Posted By: Zamzow

Re: Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music - 12/06/18 04:24 AM

Originally Posted by CyBerkut
I have had good results with VLC Media player. It's available for multiple platforms, and does a good job of keeping up on various codecs.


I've been using VLC for video for ages, I wasn't impressed with it's music performance last time I tried that but it's been a few years...

I now (actually as of last spring) finally have some "audiophile" quality speakers happening again, and it's to the point I'm even thinking of getting beyond MP3 and into lossless formats.

I'm doing research on the net of course, but, a few ounces of word from Simhq people is worth a pound of anything else on the internet lol!
Posted By: Sluggish Controls

Re: Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music - 12/06/18 05:46 AM

Originally Posted by Zamzow
Originally Posted by CyBerkut
I have had good results with VLC Media player. It's available for multiple platforms, and does a good job of keeping up on various codecs.


I've been using VLC for video for ages, I wasn't impressed with it's music performance last time I tried that but it's been a few years...

I now (actually as of last spring) finally have some "audiophile" quality speakers happening again, and it's to the point I'm even thinking of getting beyond MP3 and into lossless formats.

I'm doing research on the net of course, but, a few ounces of word from Simhq people is worth a pound of anything else on the internet lol!



Been with a TIDAL Hifi package for 8 months or so now; USD20/month streaming lossless and now MQA Masters into my living room. Will ever rarely buy a cd again. Tidal has everything I ever needed besides the most obscure music pieces out there.
Lossless and MQA Masters quality do allow for outstanding listening pleasure.
I did invest quite a bit in my system, running all via an Astell&Kern AK Ultima Digital Player + Chord Qutest DAC + Cronus Magnum II amp and Vandersteen speakers.
Hours wasted away in my fav armchair with Pink Floyd - and many others - playing right there between my speakers :-P

The USD20/month TIDAL Hifi subscription is worth every penny.
My wife doesn't always agree on the hardware part, but I just ignore those bits.

Cheers,
Slug
Posted By: CarstenB

Re: Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music - 12/06/18 07:50 AM

I have been using Foobar2000 for years and it has plugins for just about any file format you could want, from chiptunes like C64, Amiga, Atari, ZX Spectrum et al. over mp3, FLAC and APE to multitrack formats like DTS, AC3 and multitrack high bit-rate (192kHz/24-bit) FLAC. It's look and feel is also highly customizable.
Posted By: Khai

Re: Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music - 12/06/18 08:06 AM

I'd stick with winamp myself, wait I already do wink
Posted By: JohnnyChemo

Re: Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music - 12/06/18 10:34 AM

Winamp is supposed to be coming back sometime next year, with smartphone amps and a new desktop app.

https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/15/winamp-reboot-mobile-app-coming-2019/
Posted By: Chucky

Re: Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music - 12/06/18 12:28 PM

I must be weird because I prefer the Windows media player although if I want to listen to FLAC files I use SM Player.
Posted By: No105_Archie

Re: Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music - 12/06/18 12:48 PM

Been in the local music industry for decades and I use Windows media player. I even have the program files on a jump drive in case MS decides they won't include it in an upcoming update.
Posted By: WangoTango

Re: Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music - 12/06/18 03:23 PM

I like MusicBee for local files on my PC. It has a lot of features. One I like is setting the skins to random, so it looks different every time you use it. It has a ton of editing options, good if you need it. It's free.

MusicBee
Posted By: WangoTango

Re: Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music - 12/06/18 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by No105_Archie
Been in the local music industry for decades and I use Windows media player. I even have the program files on a jump drive in case MS decides they won't include it in an upcoming update.

Is this Groove you are using ? That is the default player for my windows 10 PC.
Posted By: RSColonel_131st

Re: Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music - 12/06/18 03:33 PM

Second vote for MusicBee.
Posted By: Mr_Blastman

Re: Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music - 12/06/18 03:39 PM

Use an old version of Winamp or try Media Player Classic(not made by Microsoft).
Posted By: Zamzow

Re: Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music - 12/16/18 08:16 AM

I'm finding out (now that my old "audiophile" self is coming back) it seems to depend on circumstance.

Windows Media Player seems to have the best stereo separation.

But when you crank things up, Winamp, with it's more "monophonic" presentation works better...

All others seem to reside between these two regimes...

Nothing new under the sun........
Posted By: Khai

Re: Let's talk PC media players - specifically for music - 12/16/18 12:21 PM

theres a solid reason (for me) to carry on using Winamp.

so far, it's the only player I can load up in a second with my entire music/radio/audiobook/audioplay collection, set to random and hit play. thats somewhere in the region of 3500 hours before needing to repeat. it's my own personal radio station...
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