What's your best media player on Windows or Mac or maybe even Linux, Android etc etc. ?

[Jasonovich]

I just upgraded my JRiver media player to v31. My previous version was the 30 series and support was at the end of line, so I thought I take the plunge and download the latest and greatest. JRiver really know how to milk it, yes, as existing subscriber, it costs another £30 for the upgrade and not the full £69 if you were purchasing the licensing from fresh.
Now I understand why Foobar2000 which is absolutely free, is so popular.

Nevertheless, this newer version is really top class, love the interface and so much functionality. If you don't need all the features you're better sticking with Foobar2000, WinAmp, Musicbee and of that ilk.

I have had another look at Musicbee and that has really transformed, when I was using it, there was no ASIO or WASAPI support but now thats built in. Really worth investigating. I can't recall if it was free but worth exploring as an alternative to Foobar2000 and JRiver.

So to sum it up, what is your personal favourite PC/Android/Mac music media player?

 

[Vincent Kars]

Musicbee has always been freeware.
Inherent to jriver businesses model is "active development". With each new version it becomes more bloated. Stopped upgrading years ago.
On Android I used Foobar mobile. Unfortunately it was not able to cope with a large library: https://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/Android/MediaPlayers/Foobar.htm
Switched to https://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/Android/MediaPlayers/OnkyoHF.htm

 

[DougK1]

Don't need anything fandango with bells and whistles so Foobar is fine for me. It is highly customisable with different skins if you are that way inclined... I'm not

 

[Cricketbat70]

I've used bubble UPnP for years. To be fair not really looked at anything else it does what I need it to do.

 

[manicm]

If you're not playing hires there's nothing wrong with Windows Media Player. There I said it.

I find the interfaces of Foobar, JRiver etc all too convoluted and messy.

Then again I'm not a desktop audiophile, but my B&W MM-1s have been the best thing I've ever bought in my life. I'm not exaggerating.

 

[Jasonovich]

If you're not playing hires there's nothing wrong with Windows Media Player. There I said it.

I find the interfaces of Foobar, JRiver etc all too convoluted and messy.

Then again I'm not a desktop audiophile, but my B&W MM-1s have been the best thing I've ever bought in my life. I'm not exaggerating.

You make a really excellent point, sometimes simple is best.
If WMP had plug ins like ASIO and Wasapi. There'll be no reason to look at anything else.

When PC is switched off, my Android based digital transport takes over. The bespoke media player is pretty good also.

 

[ultraminiature]

I used Windows Media Player which had enough features for most of my library. But it started to crash with the increasing number of podcasts and converting all my CDs to digital files. It does not like some of the accent characters or non-Latin based scripts like Chinese and Hindi.

I prefer to look for tracks using Windows File Explorer and then open up VLC. I have speakers with uPnP, DLNA, Airplay 2 and Bluetooth so can cast to them from a PC or mobile phone, until they stopped support for DLNA. I can use BubbleuPnP from my phone. To make the music audio library available on other PCs and laptops I use Home Media Server. I installed Plex and Stream What you hear. My wi-fi speakers are limited to stereo. Over WiSA with a USB WiSA transmitter I can use the surround sound WiSA speakers.