What PC player do you use?

[m00n]

All, just curious to know what player you use when listening to music on your PCs. My guess is that there has to be something better than Windows Media player, WinAmp, Real Player. They are decent players in their own right, but, the quality still lacks.

Anyone know of a player that has superior quality, or do any of those players have plugins that enhance the quality?

And yes, I'm very well aware that I probably should have posted this down in the computer section before anyone points that out. []

[jacksonbart]

its the one that came with my pc.

[nicholtl]

iTunes!!!

But then, I use a Mac.

[Kriton]

I use Music Match.

They have some plug-ins that will act like an equalizer and enhance the sound.

It is of course not free, but it is a decent player with all of the

cataloging and look up functionality. Works well with uploading

to my ancient MP3 player which I only use on the road.

I give it a tired thumbs up.

K

[SteelerFan]

I use iTunes as well. Sounds great to me through my Klipsch 2.0's.[]

[wheelman]

The latest version of windows media player. I also have the latest version of quicktime for downloads of certain web content that only uses quicktime.

[Marvel]

m00n,

I have used Ultraplayer in the past (free). It works/sounds great, but have gone back to media player and winamp. Many of the free programs use the same decoder plugin, so it is mostly bells and whistles, for the features you like.

Ultra Player

[Guest " "]

i tried itunes, tried media player, skipped all the other third party player apps and jumped into a linux based appliance to play mp3s.

quality is amazing...so don't rule out players on linux.

if any one has some recommendations...chime in.

[LarryC]

I use iTunes (Windows version) and Winamp, can't tell much difference between the two.

I have been very struck by how much better music sounds on Macs than on PCs even when using iTunes on both. My music teacher says "there's a reason" he and his fellow faculty members use Macs instead of Windows/PCs.

[j-malotky]

Winamp here. But I do not have much of a sound system on my office PC. Just use it for background music.

JM

[pythagore]

I use J River Media Center with 24bit/Asio output

www.jrivermediacenter.com

[Jay481985]

As theear and I stated in the pc section, we use winamp 5.03 or

whatever version 5 is out with the mad plugin. The mad plugin is one of

the few codecs that can fully process mp3s to their full potential. We

also run the the xfi card which can be brought around 90 dollars and is

the latest and greatest.

http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/thread/693643.aspx

to download the mad plugin http://www.mars.org/home/rob/proj/mpeg/mad-plugin/

the specs of the mad plugin are at http://www.underbit.com/resources/mpeg/audio/compliance/

as for windows media player I find it to be lacking of warmth and true

deep bass (there are bass filters that cannot be disabled)

For itunes I find it heavily v'ed and causes the ear fatigue that everyone talks about with over boasted sound.

I use winamp due to the extensive list of music without taking up the

whole screen. And the fact I can open up more than one winamp (handy

when you have many music files). Also it does not eat memory like

itunes does Maybe 5 megs of ram compared to 30-50 megs of ram for

itunes.

I did like one music player though the interface sucked. Bang &

Olfuson's music player sound good too but that was 4 years ago on cheap

speakers.

[Marvel]

I have been very struck by how much better music sounds on Macs than on PCs even when using iTunes on both. My music teacher says "there's a reason" he and his fellow faculty members use Macs instead of Windows/PCs.

Using the same amplifier and speakers? Using the same D/A on both platforms and running iTunes, you really shouldn't be able to tell the difference

Bruce

[fanbrain]

iTunes here. To me, nothing else compares with its simplicity and ease of use. Then again, I also use Macs, and that's what I'm used to.

[boom3]

itunes. I live in a Mac and Win household, so I use iTunes on the WinBox to play background music in my study (if I am not listening to my secondary sytem) and use the Mac to interface with the iPod that I use on long trips in the car or airplane.

QuickTime is my preferred multimedia player. I stay as far from RealPlayer and Windoze Media Splayer as i can.

[Guest " "]

you have to rember that while that half the D/A is the D/A transmitter in the PC or Mac (assuming you are using optical). MAC's are a constant hardware platform....built by Apple, whereas a PC running windows can have a varying range of equipment that the run on...different audio cards, power supplies, etc.

look at the MAC hardware specs below....not sure what it all means...take a look at part of the spec on mac hardware.... a signal ro noise ratio of 130db and harmonic distortion of less than 0.0003 percent

//////////////////////////////////////

Optical digital audio specifi cations

Input Output

Data format S/PDIF (IEC60958-3) S/PDIF (IEC60958-3)

Connector type Toslink optical (IEC60874-17) Toslink optical (IEC60874-17)

Sample rates

External clock mode 32kHz to 96kHz 32kHz to 96kHz

Internal clock mode 32kHz to 96kHz 32kHz to 96kHz

Bits per sample 16 or 24 16 or 24

Signal-to-noise ratio

External clock mode Greater than 130 dB Greater than 130 dB

Internal clock mode Greater than 110 dB Greater than 130 dB

Total harmonic distortion

External clock mode Less than 0.00003 percent Less than 0.00003 percent

Internal clock mode Less than 0.0003 percent Less than 0.00003 percent

Analog input specifi cations

Line input

Sample rates 32kHz, 44.1kHz, or 48kHz

Bits per sample 16 or 24

Jack type 3.5-mm stereo

Input impedance Greater than 47K ohms

Maximum input voltage 2Vrms (+8.2 dBu)

Frequency response 20Hz to 20kHz, +0.5 dB/3 dB

Signal-to-noise ratio Greater than 90 dB

Total harmonic distortion Less than 0.006 percent

Analog output specifi cations

Line output Headphone jack

Sample rates 32kHz, 44.1kHz, or 48kHz 32kHz, 44.1kHz, or 48kHz

Bits per sample 16 or 24 16 or 24

Jack type 3.5-mm stereo 3.5-mm stereo

Output impedance 24 ohms 24 ohms

Output voltage 1.4Vrms (+4.1 dBu) 1.4Vrms (+4.1 dBu)

Frequency response 20Hz to 20kHz, +0.5 dB/3 dB 20Hz to 20kHz, +0.5 dB/3 dB

Signal-to-noise ratio Greater than 90 dB Greater than 90 dB

Total harmonic distortion Less than 0.01 percent Less than 0.01 percent

Output power (into 32 ohms) 20 mW

Based on typical performance specifi cations.

To learn m

[Duke Spinner]

FOOBAR 2000 .......!!

[Marvel]

I stay as far from RealPlayer and Windoze Media Splayer as i can.

RealPlayer is awful. RealMedia is awful. I remember when NPR only let you listen to shows in rm format. I refused to install it.

[Duke Spinner]

Hi, Bruce .....[]

[BobbyT]

iTunes!!!

But then, I use a Mac.

me too