Whereas Microsoft’s working system has all the time supplied built-in choices like Home windows Media Participant (identified simply as Media Participant in Home windows 11) or the now-defunct Groove Music, Home windows customers usually tend to seek for their very own most well-liked music participant.
Nonetheless, for those who’re an audiophile, the search will get trickier. Strive trying to find a music participant that helps hi-res audio in FLAC, MQA, or DSD format, and your choices are slim. Because of this we have rounded up the very best hi-res music participant apps for Home windows.
1. Hysolid
You probably have your PC hooked as much as a top quality Hello-Fi system, Hysolid might be precisely what you are in search of. This is not conventional media participant software program. As an alternative, it transforms your PC right into a music participant that you just management along with your iOS machine (there may be an Android app, but it surely’s damaged). Simply sit back on the sofa, choose the music you wish to hear, and your PC performs it over your Hello-Fi system. You do not even must register to Home windows.
Hysolid will play most hi-res codecs you throw at it. The app is appropriate with PCM audio, together with WAV and FLAC as much as 384kHz in addition to DSD from 2.8MHz to 11.2MHz in DSF format. Hysolid also can show the working mode of the USB DAC you are utilizing, in addition to whether or not playback is a bit excellent.
Obtain: Hysolid (Free)
2. MusicBee
MusicBee is what you want in order for you a easy and clear interface with out sacrificing pace. It is a light-weight app that opens immediately however nonetheless packs many options. You may modify the audio with a 10-band or 15-band equalizer and DSP results. Not all software program can do that, however MusicBee can use high-end audio playing cards you probably have one in your pc.
MusicBee additionally helps gapless playback, logarithmic quantity scaling, normalized quantity streaming, and Android machine syncing. Moreover, for those who beforehand used WinAmp with plugins, you possibly can import these plugins into MusicBee to enhance your listening expertise. This music participant consists of skins, Final.fm help, CD ripping instruments, and different options.
Obtain: MusicBee (Free)
3. Tie Luxe
If Amarra Luxe appears acquainted, it is as a result of it is usually the most effective hi-res music participant apps for macOS. This can be a premium music participant, and as such, it is not low cost, however it’s full of options. It additionally helps key hi-res codecs, together with FLAC, MQA, and DSD. Sadly, MQA is at present solely supported on macOS.
That is additionally a helpful app for those who prefer to stream hi-res audio as nicely. Along with enjoying again your music assortment, Amarra Luxe can stream from Tidal and Qobuz. If you wish to management all of your music with one app, irrespective of the place that music is, this can be what you are in search of.
Obtain: Amarra Luxe ($99)
4. Audirvana
One other app that was featured on our macOS checklist, Audirvana focuses on supplying you with management over your audio streaming from supply to output. You probably have a robust pc and wish to put to work processing great-sounding audio, that is an choice value contemplating. For instance, Audirvana helps operating higher-performance algorithms to take the load off your DAC and keep away from oversampling.
This app additionally helps VST3 plugins. Whether or not you wish to add a contact of EQ or view your favourite songs by way of a spectrum analyzer, this may be helpful for audiophiles. Audirvana is another choice that is not low cost (there’s a 30-day free trial), however the sheer energy of the app could make it a value value paying.
Obtain: Audirvana ($119.99)
5. Foobar2000
Probably the most common music gamers for Home windows, Foobar2000 is virtually a family identify. The interface is slightly dated, however this app is quick, configurable, and, maybe most significantly, free. Whereas it is not the one free participant on this checklist, it’s the just one that resembles a conventional light-weight media participant.
Foobar helps FLAC out of the field however not DSD. As a way to get help for this, you will must get the Tremendous Audio CD Decoder add-on, which you’ll be able to obtain from SourceForge. As soon as the part is put in, this turns into an much more highly effective audio participant. This data is very helpful for those who already know and love Foobar200.
Obtain: Foobar2000 (Free)
6. JRiver
JRiver is software program that tries to do many issues for lots of people. Happily, it appears to do a very good job at nearly every thing it goals to do. This helps bit-perfect audio in each lossless PCM and DSD codecs. In terms of the audio subsystem, it may well use both ASIO or WASAPI, that means it can transmit audio completely to your DAC.
There are a number of options right here that appear apparent however are missing in different gamers. One instance is the non-compulsory audiophile-grade crossfeed. The builders say this makes listening on headphones sound extra pure and fewer fatiguing because it’s extra like what you’d hear from audio system in a room.
Obtain: JRiver ($69.98 for Home windows-only license, $89.98 for Home windows, Mac, and Linux mixed license)
7. There
Whereas most examples of hi-res music participant software program concentrate on sound high quality alone, Roon focuses on one thing else. The builders say that one thing has been misplaced within the transition to digital music. To deliver again the sensation of engagement, you’d get from poring over liner notes, Roon goals to current a searchable journal of your music.
Roon does not simply apply this method to music saved in your pc. It could possibly do that to music performed from a neighborhood NAS and even streamed from Tidal as nicely. If music is not a background exercise to you however one thing you wish to interact in, Roon could also be value making an attempt (there is a free trial).
Obtain: Roon ($149.88/yr or $829.99 for lifetime entry)
8. JPLAY FEMTO
In case you proudly declare your self an audiophile to anybody who will hear, this can be the right software program for you. Developed by self-described “fanatical audiophiles,” this software program goals to optimize every thing to ship the audio sign from the supply to your DAC within the highest high quality potential. It options help for PCM audio, DSD, and even claims to enhance the sound high quality of Tidal and Qobuz.
Like Hysolid, this is not a participant. As an alternative, it is a server. As soon as it is up and operating, you should use it with any UPnP-compatible app or {hardware}. The builders suggest Bubble UPnP for Android, however Kinsky for Home windows, macOS, and iOS has been examined as nicely.
Amongst different options, JPLAY FEMTO features a Hibernate mode. This goals to scale back background noise created by your PC. It does this by eliminating jitter-producing processes and threads. This implies you may not wish to use your pc for a lot else throughout playback, however it can sound improbable.
Obtain: JPLAY FEMTO (€149)
Are You Trying to Begin Your Hello-Res Audio Journey?
Discovering the best hi-res music participant app is nice, but it surely does not imply a lot if you do not have hi-res music to hearken to. These apps will play your MP3 assortment as nicely, however for those who’ve received an important audio setup, you will get extra out of it by shopping for high-quality audio.
In terms of shopping for music, there are a number of on-line shops to select from. Then there are streaming companies, that are starting to supply hi-res audio as nicely. A few of the hottest embrace Tidal, Qobuz, and Deezer.
