Best Media Player?

CompDude · #1 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2004, 04:16 PM

Hi...im just wonderin what media players are out there...and which one people think is the best....cuz i've used winamp...and i like it...wmp is ok....and real player...well....

**Prosperus** · #2 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2004, 05:27 PM

I use winamp too and I like it enough that I haven't really bothered with anything else.

The only one I have tried is iTunes. It's decent in that it makes the database you can search and sort to your heart's content; however, it still doesn't top the ease and conveniece of winamp. Also I found that it takes a long time to load up, way longer than winamp, and it also forcibly associates all my files with iTunes which is a pain when I don't want to use it.

Unless there's something out there that's much better I woudl stick with winamp.

Just my two cents.

Kairyu · #3 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2004, 05:34 PM

I use Winamp5.05, never had any problems with it so far. Like Prosperus, I haven't really bothered with anything else as well, actually I did mess with windows media player once. I didn't find it very impressive *and it took a while to load for some reason.*

Hmm nothing else to mention... well I am using the D-Reliction skin as of this moment =P. Though I'd have to say the Multipass skin is still my current favorite.

aadadams · #4 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2004, 05:41 PM

I currently use winamp 5 almost exclusively. Winamp really evolved from version 3 during a period where I used MM and WMP. I tried Winamp in anticipation of securing an H140. I have the H140 now and I uninstalled MM some time ago.

CompDude · #5 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2004, 06:10 PM

thx...u've convinmced me to stick with winamp...it is truly a great program that does a lot in a small pkg....burn cds....tag...playlis ts...etc. thx 4 ur help...i dono what my fav skin is....

sharaleo · #6 (**permalink**) September 23rd, 2004, 08:31 PM

I still use Winamp Classic 2.91!

Don't care too much about flash animated skins, and most plugins are compatible anyway, but I found later versions of Winamp were a bit sluggish when opening very large playlists (ie 4000+ tracks). Don't know what 5.05 is like though!

Does anybody actually use Winamp for playback of video media?

TedJ · #7 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2004, 12:02 AM

I'm using xmms which is very similar to Winamp Classic - non-intrusive, light and fast.

**mixin** · #8 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2004, 12:47 AM

I've used winamp ever since i got into this music on computer business. I use iTunes to rip songs off CD, but thats about as far as i stray away from winamp.

I really can't stand Windows Media Player (used to like it when it was really simple and on win98

). And i'm never gonna use real player ever again. Really don't like my computer having links with the devil.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharaleo

Does anybody actually use Winamp for playback of video media?

I've used winamp 5 for video playback many times. I have my computer hooked upto my TV, so i can watch all the videos i download on a bigger screen

sharaleo · #9 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2004, 01:30 AM

That's the go.

Modded Xbox is great for that too!

Mark_W · #10 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2004, 02:25 AM

I can't believe no-one's mentioned foobar2000! Beats winamp, hands down. foobar2000 + columns ui = everything you'll ever need.

www.foobar2000.org

sabaisabai · #11 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2004, 02:45 AM

I use Amarok on Linux. It does what I want and it looks sweet.

Exo · #12 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2004, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark_W

I can't believe no-one's mentioned foobar2000! Beats winamp, hands down. foobar2000 + columns ui = everything you'll ever need.

www.foobar2000.org

Erm, because Foobar doesn't do video right?

I use WinAmp, it replaces my Windows Media Player (which is crap).
WinAmp can do EVERY media I've used, including all my video material.

Exo · #13 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2004, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharaleo

Does anybody actually use Winamp for playback of video media?

YES!, and it's better than Windows Media Player I've found. More codec support and less CPU needed. WinAmp 5 is amazing and very fast (4 was a bit CPU heavy)

**FlameGrilled** · #14 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2004, 05:59 AM

Best media player..???

It dont exist, not as far as general availability is concerned... but as far as the people who do use it is concerned (all ten of use), it beats most of that lot hands-down

*locks the master disc back in the safe....*

WinAmp is ok, i much preferred the earlier 2.xx series versions as it goes. 3.xx, very late 2.xx and 5.xx is simply way too much excess baggage. The generic lite 2.xx you can download is still probably the best one to stick on a DVD or CD-ROM along with your collections of mp3's as it's a nice lightweight 'no install needed' generic free player.

As far as WMP and direct subsitutes go - i prefer Media Player Classic (a nice rebuild of the orignal windows Media Player) for video and simple audio playback, but since it lacks DRM support... it's no use for monitoring streams i have to listen to (for work purposes) and hence it's no good for listening to secure audio i also have to deal with. Then, WMP or MMJB gets used.

Is there a best example of an all-in-one..??

Not yet, methinks, but some of the less well-known ones like JetAudio and others are definately contenders for the audio side... as long as you aint obsessed with having almost every known codec support known to man, animal and aliens from distant worlds.

If massive audio codec support is important, the dBPowerAmp player pretty much slots in as a good contender. If it dont natively support something, either one of the optional downloadable plugins sorts it out... or use the Winamp 2.xx input adaptor plugin and use your WinAmp 2.xx input plugins to make up the differences...

Pretty damn clean and simply answer to what might be heading for being the best - but you gotta use it... to either love it or hate it..

XavierGr · #15 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2004, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharaleo

I still use Winamp Classic 2.91!

Don't care too much about flash animated skins, and most plugins are compatible anyway, but I found later versions of Winamp were a bit sluggish when opening very large playlists (ie 4000+ tracks). Don't know what 5.05 is like though!

Does anybody actually use Winamp for playback of video media?

Yes I do. At start when Winamp 3 got out I tried it out, but it sucked.

So I tried it again at version 5. If you install Power Player II plug-in then you have a very good Video Player.

All in all I love winamp both for audio and video. It is very versatile with lots of options and configurations. Lots of skins (though I dont care

) and of course lots of plug-ins for anyone that wants something specific. (I have seen a plug-in which redirects song tiltles to the Serial port. If you have a LCD screen you can see it there!!)

Next thing Winamp should is be compatible with DVDs. Then I will quit Power DVD fo sure!

ep0ch · #16 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2004, 06:38 AM

Foobar2000 for audio and Window Media Player Classic for Video.

I'm not a fan of bloaty skinned appz like Windows Media Player, Real (is this the most discraceful program ever?!) or Winamp. However if Foobar didn't exist i'd be a Winamp5 user no doubt.

jodypress · #17 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2004, 07:03 AM

i'll be a bit contentious here. as with hardware, i find that convergence is not a good think. a mobile phone works best when it is just that, not when it is a video camera, pda, mp3 player etc.
i find the same with software.
for music i use itunes as i find it an excellent program to find, and play music. its very quick with a nice interface. i find wmp and winamp a bit too slow for me.
for video, i use vlc which is excellent. plays everything.
anyway, just my 2p's worth

Assimalyst · #18 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2004, 07:05 AM

I currently use MediaMonkey, I reckon it's pretty good, good codec support, tagging, file renaming options etc.

Just wondering if Winamp supports Ogg codec?

Tang · #19 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2004, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ep0ch

Foobar2000 for audio and Window Media Player Classic for Video.

I'm not a fan of bloaty skinned appz like Windows Media Player, Real (is this the most discraceful program ever?!) or Winamp. However if Foobar didn't exist i'd be a Winamp5 user no doubt.

Same for me... foobar2k for audio (with column UI)... MPC for video with the adequates dshow filters..

aadadams · #20 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2004, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Assimalyst

I currently use MediaMonkey, I reckon it's pretty good, good codec support, tagging, file renaming options etc.

Just wondering if Winamp supports Ogg codec?

It supports ogg and flac for sure. It may support others.

**necroGL** · #21 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2004, 10:16 AM

winamp is a definate for me
itunes is useful as well its only downfall being the fact there is no OGG support

mascot · #22 (**permalink**) October 1st, 2004, 10:05 AM

i have winamp constintly running and i use the media libary that most people dont seem to use but its alot better than itunes for searching and sorting.winamps video support isnt very good i just use VLC for that its simple quick and supported by my streamzap remote. awsome when watching movies on my projector.

dimatrod · #23 (**permalink**) October 20th, 2004, 07:07 PM

I use foobar2000 for my music and bsplayer for video. Both of these programs running are lighter than WMP10 and both idle are less than winamp idle. You can have foobar running all day and you won't even notice how it slows your computer down. I configured the keyboard shortcuts and on-screen display so that i don't have to open it. I really recommend it to those searching for a lite but great player, though not for inexpirienced people, since I recommended it to 3 of my friends, and 2 got it to xxxx up their comp (don't know how, they usually do when I recommend them something, even mozilla firefox)