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Which Media Player Is Right For You?

en.wikipedia.org — This is an awesome in-depth guide of all the major media players comparing features and other goodies. Check it out if you wanna know which one suits you best.. and get away from that wmp!!!

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  • debian_, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4It will take moutains of crisp 20 dollar bills to get me to change from Media Player Classic to something new/else. Quick, small, has all the features that I need.
  • Protoss, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0foobar2000 is very nice, I just finished customizing it to look kinda like iTunes, my former media player. iTunes is still my podcast client, but not my primary media player.
  • LazyBoy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Ive been on a search for 3 or more years to find the golden media player... thats acts the way i want it to. And i ahve yet to find one. I still use WMP,VCL if needed.
  • whitesanjuro, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0btw, mplayer still owns for everything except audio (in which case you want foobar2000 or xmms)...no digg for wiki articles though as they arent news
  • generalleoff, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0A lot of players are missing from that list.

    I am an advanced user with an HTPC box so I use Zoom Player on that. I use Media Player Classic for casual stuff. I use XBMC (MPlayer) on my Xbox on the living room TV. On Linux I use MPlayer and Totem (Xine) evenly. For music and podcasts I just use WinAMP (on Windows).

    I would rather convert my HTPC fro Windows over to Linux but I have not found a Linux player with as much freedom. customization, compatibility, and control as Zoom Player.
  • manfesto, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Can't digg, mostly because, as whitesanjuro pointed out, it's just a Wiki article, and I'm hardpressed to call it relevant news (though still interesting and informative enough not to be reported).

    I like VLC on Mac and PC for video playback - it's as close to perfect a movie player as you're gonna get, in my opinion.

    But I can't help but keep going back to Winamp in Windows, if for no other reason than nostalgia. And I have to use iTunes because of all my podcast subscriptions (I just got tired of having separate programs to get the podcast, then play it back).

    Side note - does anybody know of any program besides Winamp that'll render NSV streams? I'd like to watch some in Linux and on my Mac, but VLC's "experimental support" for NSV doesn't work.
  • 4v4l0n42, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Audio: amaroK, simply the best.

    # Quick and simple drag and drop playlist creation
    # Super eye-candy interface
    # Multiple backends supported (GStreamer, xine, NMM, MAS and aRts)
    # 10 band equalizer
    # Automatic cover art download using Amazon services
    # The unique and powerful Context Browser
    # Automatic play-statistics generation (iRate style)
    # Full lyrics download
    # Funky visualisations from libvisual and XMMS
    # Streaming from any KIO source
    # Crossfading
    # Podcasting Support
    # Fully configurable translucent OSD for track changes
    # K3B (CD-burning) integration
    # KDE integration
    # Style your Context Browser with custom CSS styles
    # Save space in your Context Browser with collapsable boxes
    # Show the Context Browser without amaroK open through the Konqueror sidebar!
    # Full support for Audioscrobbler! Share your music taste with friends on the net
    # Generate dynamic playlists based on Audioscrobbler suggestions
    # Support for SQLite and MySQL databases ensuring fast collection access
    # Support for your iPod with the all new media-browser
    # Powerful scripting interface, allowing for easy extension of amaroK
    # Complete DCOP access
    # Translated into more then 35 languages, thanks to the KDE internationalization team.

    Video: mplayer
    Supported Video and Audio Codecs
    most important video codecs:

    * MPEG-1 (VCD) and MPEG-2 (SVCD/DVD/DVB) video
    * MPEG-4 in all variants including DivX ;-), OpenDivX (DivX4), DivX 5 (Pro), XviD
    * Windows Media Video 7/8 (WMV1/2)
    * Windows Media Video 9 (WMV3) (using x86 DLL)
    * RealVideo 1.0, 2.0 (G2)
    * RealVideo 3.0 (RP8), 4.0 (RP9) (using Real libraries)
    * Sorenson v1/v3 (SVQ1/SVQ3), Cinepak, RPZA and other QuickTime codecs
    * DV video
    * 3ivx
    * Intel Indeo3 (3.1, 3.2)
    * Intel Indeo 4.1 and 5.0 (using x86 DLL or XAnim codecs)
    * VIVO 1.0, 2.0, I263 and other H.263(+) variants (using x86 DLL)
    * MJPEG, AVID, VCR2, ASV2 and other hardware formats
    * FLI/FLC
    * HuffYUV
    * various old simple RLE-like formats

    most important audio codecs:

    * MPEG layer 1, 2, and 3 (MP3) audio
    * AC3/A52 (Dolby Digital) audio (software or SP/DIF)
    * AAC (MPEG-4 audio)
    * WMA (DivX Audio) v1, v2
    * WMA 9 (WMAv3), Voxware audio, ACELP.net etc (using x86 DLLs)
    * RealAudio: COOK, SIPRO, ATRAC3 (using Real libraries)
    * RealAudio: DNET and older codecs
    * QuickTime: Qclp, Q-Design QDMC/QDM2, MACE 3/6 (using QT libraries), ALAC
    * Ogg Vorbis audio
    * VIVO audio (g723, Vivo Siren) (using x86 DLL)
    * alaw/ulaw, (ms)gsm, pcm, *adpcm and other simple old audio formats
  • manfesto, on 10/12/2007, -0/+04v4l0n42, as far as mplayer, vlc, xine (I think), and a few other players go, aren't they all using FFMpeg? Not sure how important the file format argument is when comparing video players. Features are what it comes down to, and that is purely subjective.
  • Meshyf, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0Lame no dig. Use winamp
  • manfesto, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0When I say FFMpeg, I mean the libavcodec library (I'm assuming) FFMpeg developed/is based upon.
  • xzen54321, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Amarok for linux, Winamp for windows, Idontcare for mac. Simmple as that.
  • J_Omega, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I second the vote for amaroK for audio.

    I'm a longtime foobar user, and there are aspects of it missing from amaroK though. Most noteably the tagging in foobar is superior.

    foobar also has many more "power-user" audio options, which would be nice to see scripts made for for amaroK.

    Regardless, amaroK >> XMMS. (I'm a Gnome user and use amaroK!)

    for non-*nixers, check out the amaroK liveCD to try it out. There's some OK freebie music included with it too!
  • generalleoff, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"4v4l0n42, as far as mplayer, vlc, xine (I think), and a few other players go, aren't they all using FFMpeg? Not sure how important the file format argument is when comparing video players. Features are what it comes down to, and that is purely subjective."

    Yes many open source players are based on FFMpeg and thus play the same formats really. Even in Zoom Player I use FFDShow which is a Direct Show port of FFMpeg. I use all the Gabest codecs as well so It supports anything Media Player Classic supports (Mostly I care about it's subtitle thing). The format support argument is really rather null and it mostly comes down to personal preference, intended use of the player, and the features supported.
  • Maajid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I can't get away from Winamp.
  • geoboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1foobar is for geeks.

    What? It's the truth!
  • quackdoc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0 4v4l0n42.My vote to this comment. Amarok rocks.
    Though a word of advice for the newbies in Linux. Get the rpms from the KDE website itself.

    Video player- M player. Kaffeine is the best.
  • antiwmac, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0marok is cool but i gotta install all the kde-libs :(
    i'll stick with xmms for audio and xine(gxine) for video :)

    btw, whats the point buying binary only windows only music/video only playing apps...

    mocp(moc) for console audio enjoyment! :D
  • antiwmac, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0>A lot of players are missing from that list.
    its wikipedia, use your brain, add your favourite for other ppl instead of complaining :D
  • generalleoff, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I never complained. I am well aware I can add them myself and in fact I am going too. But that does not change the fact that at this moment in time they are not (yet) on the list so I had to bring them up myself here on Digg for the time being.
  • TVarmy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Wait, iTunes can play DVD-Audio? Does it also rip?
  • nonokiaboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0MPC here, and Winamp / foobar. In change over progress atm.

    BTW.. i reckon DIGG is cool. But the comments are vile and evil and retarded!

    Its like Ghostbusters 2 i think, all the 'dupe', 'whinging' and dumb comments are making an evil river of pink goo under the cities across the world. I could be onto something? I'd make it a story and submitt it, but it'd either get shot down with more whinging comments (more goo) or it'd make the front page, and the curse would be broken.
  • Scott_T, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Media Player Classic with the K-Lite Codec Pack and Ffdshow filter for video. No crap, simple interface and plays it all. It even does quicktime and realmedia stuff.
  • bazuden, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I use iTunes cos its got a plugin for Google Desktop. MPlayer plays pretty much everything i throw at it, unlike that crappy Windows Media Player. Not that I'm anti-Microsoft :p
  • maudib, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I use winamp at the moment, i like its media library and play list functions but the interface is too bloated, this article doesn't actually tell you anything about features like media libraries, can anyone suggest a player ?
  • dsimonpower, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0diggggid, it is not "pointlessly" anti microsoft to not like windows media player. People don't like it because its one of the slowest and annoying pieces of media playing software I've come across, second maybe to realplayer. I find it hard to believe you can have tried a different player and still want to use that piece of rubbish.
    My personal setup is winamp for music and media player classic for video. I've seen different setups and they all seem to work out pretty similar in the end to mine, and I'm so attatched to winamp I cant let go anyway.
  • NickCatal, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Forget about MPClassic, Its all about VLC.
  • Guy0510, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I've tried many other players and seem to always come back to windows media player. And all I've gained in the process is left over entries in my registry after the uninstalls. Sorry no digg.
  • ConEEE, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0It's pretty clear from that list that VLC has the largest and most comprehensive feature set.
  • EricTheGrey, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Am I the only one who likes The Core Media Player? I like it because of the controls.

  • PrometheuZ, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0VLC
  • Leonaken, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0For music and podcasts, I use iTunes (since I buy tunes off the iTunes Music Store), and for everything else I use Media Player Classic. Just a damn fine media player all around.
  • Bleek-II, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0WTF there's no ATI media player and no winamp 5.x! Well it's wikipedia so I'll fix in a sec.
  • salmonmoose, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0still waiting patiently for foobar2k 0.9 final :(
  • LeeVal, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Name Company Release Date Stable Version
    Windows Media Player Microsoft November, 1992 10
    /
    ||
    Thats Not right
    None of them are
  • cipnet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0video: mpclassic (plays realplayer and quicktime files and pretty much anything else, plays incomplete files, steps frames, keybinding)
    music: itunes (organises my library better than anything else i've seen, and it's all rated in the xml file so i'm kinda stuck anyway :)

    i did look into wxMusik and it looked like it had great potential but i'm not waiting around forever
  • antiwmac, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0>diggggid
    lol, we are lamers, so we can only make programs in clean code and we can only make good opensource apps.

    how about you mr, MS brain suh?
  • termal, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1On Windows: musikCube...organizes similar to iTunes, but super fast and lightweight. People in love with skins need not apply. Quintessential is my favorite Winamp style player, which I use to play individual audio files I happen to download. I like Foobar too, but haven't taken the time to fiddle with it extensively.

    For video, media player classic w/real and qt alternative, BSplayer, PowerDVD. VLC if nothing else works.

    On Linux, Quod Libet for music, Totem/xine or VLC for video.
  • BenStockwell, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Can't go wrong with VLC, MPlayer, or XINE for video playback. XMMS, and Rhythmbox are nice for music. I suppose Amarok is a good choice for those KDE folk.
  • Quest-Master, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1foobar2k is best for music, hands down. You CAN Wine it in Linux.. but Quod Libet is just about good.

    VLC is the best for video playback as well.
  • mlingojones, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0iTunes, Quicktime, and Realplayer....
    And don't digg Wikpipedia articles. It's not news, it's an article.
  • Bonobo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0WHO CARES THATS ITS WIKPEDIA IT MATTERS WHATS ON IT!!
  • anonymoustroll, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0VLC followed by media player clasic if required.

    ...anything that doesn't play with either of those just doesn't get watched.

    Oh... and I still use winamp for the stream ripper plug-in.
  • AltOpt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0VLC. The Windows version even comes in a .zip file, and doesn’t need an installer. Bonus. Can watch movies at work.

    On the Mac: VLC, followed by Windows Media Player 9. RealPlayer for .rm files. Maybe QT Player as a backup—although I’d startup my PC first.
  • complexigon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0foobar2000 FTW.
  • mlingojones, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0It's a Wikipedia article... it's probably been there for months or years. You don't see Slashdot linking to Wikipedia articles because it's not news.
    digg is a site for news, not for random links.
  • motionblur, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Winamp

    Media Player Classic (with Quicktime and Real Player plugins)

    Nothing else is necessary.
  • pseudojd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Bling Pow. Media Player Classic is the shizzle. gotta roll with real alternative and qt alternative. nothing beats the simple all ways working media player classic.
  • maudib, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Digg isn't for news, its for interesting websites. Who cares what slashdot does ?, i love slashdot but its a completely different site, they don't need to be compared and shouldn't be. BTW its obvious where all the maturity is, /. hasn't mentioned digg AFAIK, whereas everyother day some clown on digg is talking crap about how digg is gonna /.
  • jturner12, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Is there a way to change files names based on ID3 tags in Winamp?
  • ahmerhussain, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I have a very simple solution:

    VLC!!!
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