Read definitive guide by audio software developer Yuri Korzunov about:
• free and commercial hi res audio player software apps on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS and other [computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets],
• online for audiophiles,
• Frequently Answered Questions,
• what is the best music player app,
• supported formats (WAV, FLAC, DSD [DSF, DFF, SACD ISO], MQA, m4a, ....) and others.
HD audio file conversion
Hi res music player software for audiophiles (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, online) for WAV, FLAC, DSD (DSF, DFF, SACD ISO, DoP), MQA, m4a, ....
WARNING: This table can contain errors. It is not an offer or advertising. We are not affiliated with listed products. We guarantee nothing. If you found wrong information, contact us, please. To get exact information, contact with the software developers and/or vendors.
Supported sample rate and bit depth may depend on a file format.
Audio player |
Opera |
Licen |
Suppor |
Samp |
DAC inter |
Desc |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AIMP | Windows | Free | CDA, AAC, ac3, APE, DTS, FLAC, m4a, ogg, mp3, WAV, WMA, WavPack, DSF, DFF, other, web radio |
Direct |
||
Album Player | Windows | Free | WAV, FLAC, APE, WavPack, ALAC, AIFF, TAK, MP3, MP4, OGG, CD, DSD, DVD-A, other |
ASIO, Ker |
||
Amarok | Linux, Unix, Windows, Mac | Free | ||||
Amarra Luxe | Windows, Mac |
Comm |
DSF, mp3, AAC, MQA, WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, strea |
DSD to PCM | ||
Audiogate | Windows, Mac | DSF, DFF, WAV, FLAC, BWF, WMA, ALAC, mp3, other | up to DSD128 |
DAC limi |
||
Audirvana | Mac, Windows |
Comm |
DSF, DFF (inclu |
DoP, DSD to PCM |
Win |
|
Audacious | Linux, BSD, Windows | Free | ||||
Channel-D Pure Music | Mac |
Comm |
up to 384 kHz / 24 bit, up to DSD128 | DSD to PCM, DoP, streaming |
Gap |
|
Daphile |
Run as firm |
Free | DSF, PCM | up to 384 kHz / 24 bit, up to DSD512 | Music server. Stereo only | |
Foobar2000 (with sacd input plugin) | Windows | Free |
DSF, DFF (inclu |
up to DSD512 | ASIO, DSD to PCM | |
Fostex Audio Player | Windows, Mac | Free | DSF, DFF, WAV, FLAC, mp3, AIFF, ALAC | up to DSD128, up to 192 kHz / 24 bit | ASIO, DoP |
De |
Gom Audio | Windows | Free | cda, MPL, mp3, ogg, WMA, APE, FLAC, WAV, m4a, WavPack, AIFF, DSF, DFF | |||
iTunes | Mac, Windows | Free | WAV, ALAC, AAC, mp3, AIFF, CD-audio | |||
JRiver | Windows, Mac, Linux |
Comm |
DSF, DFF (inclu |
ASIO, DoP, DSD over DLNA, DSD to PCM, PCM to DSD |
Gap |
|
Hi-Res Audio Player | Windows | DSD, PCM |
Requi |
|||
HQ Player | Windows, Mac, Linux |
Comm |
DSF, DFF (non-comp |
up to DSD |
DSD to PCM, PCM to DSD, ASIO, DoP | |
Hysolid | Windows | Free | DSF, WAV, FLAC | up to DSD256, up to 384 kHz | ASIO, DoP WASAPI |
To work on music server PC with smart |
Logitech Media Server | Windows, Mac, Linux | PCM, DoP PCM files | Bit-perfect PCM output of DoP |
Need addi |
||
Media Player Classic | Windows | Free | PCM, DSF, DFF | |||
MusicBee | Windows | Free | ASIO, WASAPI | |||
moOde audio player | To run on Raspberry Pi | Free |
Here infor |
|||
Pine Player | Mac | Free | mp3, FLAC, APE, AAC, m4a, WAV, AIFF, ogg, WMA, DSD, SACD ISO, other | up to 768 kHz / 32 bit | ||
Pure Asio Player | Windows 10 |
Do |
WAV, FLAC, DSF |
no special li |
ASIO |
Op |
Resonic Player | Windows |
Free, Comm |
WAV, AIFF, FLAC, WMA, mp3, ALAC, WavPack, MID, DSF, DFF, other | up to DSD512 | ||
Roon |
Windows, Mac; the server on Windows, Mac, Linux |
Comm |
Audio files and streaming service | Bit-perfect, DSD to PCM |
The server may be instal |
|
TEAC HR Audio Player | Windows, Mac | Free | DSF, DFF, PCM | up to DSD256, up to 384 kHz / 32 bit | ASIO, DoP | |
Technics Audio Player | Windows, Mac | DSF, DFF, WAV, FLAC, mp3, ALAC, AIFF |
up to DSD128, |
USB driver |
Read the soft |
|
Volumio |
Run as firm |
Free | MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC, ALAC, DSD | UPNP \ DLNA, Airplay, DoP | Open source music server | |
VLC | Windows, Mac, Linux, other | Free |
mp3, AAC, MLP / TrueHD, DTS, WMA, FLAC (inclu |
|||
Vox | Mac | Free |
DSF, WAV, AIFF, FLAC (inclu |
|||
XMMS | Unix | Free | ||||
Wtfplay | Linux | Free | WAV, FLAC, DSF |
up to DSD128; DSD256, DSD512 are experi |
DoP | |
AIMP | Android | Free | APE, mp3, WAV, ogg, AAC, FLAC, mp4, m4a, WavPack, DSF, DFF, other | |||
Amarra Play | iOS (iPhone, iPad) |
Free, In-App Pur |
AIFF, AIFC, MP3, ALAC, FLAC, MQA | MQA Decode up to 96 kHz with Amarra Luxe license |
No DSD. Amarra Luxe unlocks some fea |
|
FiiO Music | Android, iOS | Free | DSD, PCM | up to 384 kHz / 24 bit | Raw DSD output |
Sup |
Foobar2000 | Android, iOS (iPhone, iPad) | Free | MP3, MP4, AAC, Vorbis, Opus, FLAC, WavPack, WAV, AIFF, Musepack |
Gap |
||
HibyMusic | Android, iOS (iPhone, iPad) | Free |
DSF, DFF (inclu |
up to DSD256, up to 384 kHz / 32 bit |
net driver (Drop |
|
Hi-Res music player-NePLAYER | iOS (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch) |
Comm |
ALAC, FLAC, WAV, mp3, AAC, HE-AAC, DSF, DFF | up to DSD256, up to 384 kHz / 32 bit | DSD to PCM, DoP | Check DSD replay issues at the online store page |
HYSOLID | Android, iOS | Free | WAC, FLAC, DSD | up to DSD256, up to 384 kHz | ASIO, WASAPI, DoP, native DSD |
Music server cont |
Neutron Music Player | Android, iOS (iPhone, iPad) |
Comm |
mp3, ogg, FLAC, AC3, AAC, M4A, MP4, 3GP, 3G2, ALAC, APE, WavPack, WAV, AIFF, other, DSD | UPnP / DLNA, USB DAC, DoP, native DSD, DSD to PCM |
There is evalu |
|
Onkyo HF Player | Android, iOS |
Free, In-App Pur |
DSF, DFF, mp3, ALAC, AAC, WAV, AIFF | up to DSD256, up to 384 kHz | AOA 2.0, DoP, DSD to PCM |
Some limi |
TEAC HR Audio Player | Android, iOS |
Free, In-App Pur |
FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, ogg, DSF, DFF | up to DSD256, up to 384 kHz | DoP, DSD to PCM | |
USB Audio Player PRO | Android |
Comm |
WAV, FLAC, ogg, mp3, AIFF, AAC, m4a, APE, DFF, DSF, other | up to 384 kHz / 32 bit |
DoP, DSD to PCM, native DSD play |
|
VLC | Android, iOS (iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch) | Free | ogg, FLAC, WavPack, AAC, other | |||
Vox |
Free, In-App Pur |
FLAC, ALAC, mp3, DSD, other | ||||
Online audio play |
||||||
High Res Audio |
Free tri |
up to 24 bit | ||||
Primephonic |
Free tri |
up to 24 bit | ||||
PrimeSeat |
Free tri |
PCM, DSD up to 11.2 MHz | ||||
Qobuz |
Free tri |
up to 192 kHz / 24 bit |
strea |
|||
Tidal | PC/Mac, web-player, iOS, Android |
Free tri |
FLAC 44.1 kHz / 16 bit, MQA |
sup |
||
Amazon Prime Music | Free trial |
Allow lis |
||||
Apple Music | Free trial |
Mu |
||||
Datpiff |
Audio plat |
|||||
Google Play Music | Free trial |
Mu |
||||
Jamendo Music | Free trial |
Audio plat |
||||
Noisetrade |
Audio plat |
|||||
Reverb |
Audio plat |
|||||
Sound |
Au |
|||||
Spotify |
Mu |
|||||
Яндекс Музыка |
Free, Com |
Music site "Yandex Music". Offline lis |
Which high-resolution audio player has the best sound quality is your personal choice rather. Some audio players may playback qualitative audio files without altering (bit-perfect). In general, there is no matter, that player is use for it, but some nuances are there. Below how to make the choice is discussed.
An audio player may works in 2 base modes (depend on the software abilities):
In bit-perfect mode, the sound quality is defined by DAC and next audio devices.
This mode consumes minimal computing resources and is desirable for non-powerful computers.
Processing mode sound quality depends on the player and/or processing plug-in.
This mode may consume many computing resources (more quality = more resources), and, sometimes, can't work at lower-performance computers. Also, this mode consumes more electrical energy for calculations and cooling, than a bit-perfect one.
When fans work in intensive mode, they cause more noise.
Some albums (operas, live concerts, etc.) should be played back as a continuous stream.
Some players can begin the next song without DAC re-initialization.
This ability is called as Gapless playback.
It may be applied for as bit-perfect as processed modes (see "Playback modes").
Also played back audio files may be pre-converted in gapless mode too.
This mode has a sense when audio files are resampled or DSD files are processed.
Gapless conversion has a sense, when the audio player works in gapless mode.
ASIO is a kind of audio drivers by audio interface vendors, that provide low latency and use of specific properties of the audio interface. ASIO SDK (programming tools) is provided by Steingberg.
As rule, ASIO driver is provided together with a sound device. Specific functionality management is supported via a special software control panel.
There is universal ASIO-driver ASIO4All. But, as rule, DAC-vendor driver is more recommended.
Latest MacOS versions use their builtin drivers (Core Audio) instead ASIO. So, you no need special drivers to works with a DAC. However, audio device vendors may provide Mac's ASIO drivers for some devices.
Read more:
WASAPI is builtin Windows drivers to direct access to audio interface without operating system processings. May be used instead of ASIO.
WASAPI may use exclusive access to an audio interface to render sound stream directly to the DAC's audio buffer without mixing of audio streams from several applications. So, no operating system's audio processing is there.
Native DSD is sending DSD audio stream from audio file to DSD DAC without conversion to PCM.
ASIO drivers under Windows may support it. Under the latest MacOS version, DSD audio stream should be packed in DoP format. The packing is lossless. Also, DoP format may be used on Windows.
Read more:
DSD audio stream may not be played on PCM DAC. Before sending the stream to the DAC, this stream should be converted to PCM.
It consumes processing resources. In the general case, better sound quality depends on amount of computing resources.
Some computers may have a lack of computing power to realtime DSD to PCM conversion. It may be solved via offline DSD to PCM conversion. Also, it saves free space at hard disk (HDD) of an audio player (allow more songs on the disk). It may be very useful for portable/mobile devices.
Read more:
One of the widespread demands to players are:
Yes. Windows Media player is capable to play high resolution audio files. If your file iss not played back, you can try other players...
It depends on the mode of playback. In bit-perfect mode, a music player app just transports audio data from a sound file to DAC without audio processing.
When audio player software process audio data (resample, alter bit depth, apply dithering, EQ, etc.), it causes different distortion levels. If consider psychoacoustics, distortions may have a different character, which also impacts the final perception of the distortions. Also, the interaction of the distortions with a playback system (DAC, amplifier, speakers) is matter.
EXAMPLE
Some apparatus can cause the audible level of intermodulation distortions, that generated by ultrasound components.
Practically it can cause audible noise.
You can:
General recommendation:
Hi res audio allowing solve some issues of analog filters of ADC or DAC. But actual result is matter of implementation of an audio equipment and software. Read definitive guide...
Read more:
As rule, it's personal choise.
See list of sites with high-resolution audio...
Memory playback doesn't improve "transparency". But the mode can get rid of pauses if file played from slow/overload network or album player in gapless mode.
If an audio player re-initialize DAC, it can cause quiet clicks.
When files played back without re-initializing, there is no kind of clicks.
Digital audio interfaces don't impact sound quality, which may be defined as "sound transparency".
Also, digital interfaces have sample rate and bit depth limitations.
Operating system built-in driver can additionally process sound and impact to sound quality.
But pauses, clicks, serial interruptions are possible when an audio interface doesn't work properly (poor cables, grounding, shielding; hardware issues, etc.).
General recommendations:
Read more:
Analog inter-module cables (linear inputs and outputs) can impact the noise floor, crosstalk and frequency response.
General recommendation:
DAC clock source can impact to analog output jitter of a digital-to-analog converter . But all other factors, including memory playback, cables and interfaces - no. Read details...
General recommendations:
To achieve maximal sound quality, lossless audio file formats are recommended: FLAC, WAV, AIFF, DSF, DFF, SACD ISO. Read details...
It is resolution audio with sample rate 192 kHz and bit depth 24 bit in PCM format (modulation). Read details...
In audio resolution 384 kHz/32 bit and lesser, there is no difference between FLAC and WAV by the sound quality. Watch video...
If you need a higher resolution, WAV can provide it. When file size is more 4 GB, WAV RF64 format may be applied.
Read details about:
Both DSD and FLAC are high-resolution formats, that try solve issues of 44.1 kHz / 16 bit. But, actual result depend on implemengtation of your audio system. Read details...
MQA is high qualitative lossy format, as the author know. FLAC is lossless format, providing output sound quality absolutely identical source. MQA provides better file-size comression ratio. Read details...
Yes, VLC can play hi-res audio. However, as the author know, VLC don't support DSD formats.
April 14, 2021 updated | since December 7, 2018
Copyright © Yuri Korzunov
["Audiophile Inventory" (since 2011), "AudiVentory", "Audiophile Inventory by AudiVentory.com".
Также "Audiophile Inventory by AudiVentory.com" (прежде "Audiophile Inventory") охраняемое коммерческое обозначение],
2010-2021. All Rights Reserved.
All prices at this site in the U.S. dollars without V.A.T. and other applicable taxes and fees. The prices are recommended. All information at this site is not a public offer.
Read about supported formats and third-party codecs