While many Mac users just opt to use iTunes, things are different on Windows. While Microsoft's operating system has always offered congenital-in options like Windows Media Player or the now-defunct Groove Music, Windows users are more likely to search for their own preferred music actor.

Notwithstanding, if you lot're an audiophile, the search gets trickier. Try searching for a music thespian that supports howdy-res audio in FLAC, MQA, or DSD format, and your options are slim. This is why nosotros've rounded up the best hi-res music player apps for Windows.

1. Hysolid

If you have your PC hooked up to a quality Hi-Fi system, Hysolid could be exactly what you're looking for. This isn't traditional media player software. Instead, information technology transforms your PC into a music histrion that you control with your iOS or Android device. Just kick dorsum on the couch, pick the music you want to hear, and your PC plays it over your How-do-you-do-Fi system.

Hysolid volition play near hello-res formats yous throw at it. The app is compatible with PCM audio, including WAV and FLAC upwards to 384kHz as well every bit DSD from 2.8MHz to 11.2MHz in DSF format. Hysolid tin likewise display the operating manner of the USB DAC you lot're using, every bit well as whether playback is fleck perfect.

Download: Hysolid (Free)

2. Amarra Luxe

If Amarra Luxe seems familiar, information technology'southward because it likewise earned a place on our list of the best hi-res music player apps for macOS. This is a premium music thespian, and equally such it isn't cheap, but it is packed with features. It also supports key howdy-res formats, including FLAC, MQA, and DSD. Unfortunately, MQA is currently but supported on macOS.

This is also a handy app if y'all like to stream hi-res sound as well. In addition to playing back your music collection, Amarra Luxe can stream from Tidal and Qobuz. If y'all want to control all your music with i app, no matter where that music is, this may be what you're looking for.

Download: Amarra Luxe ($99)

3. Audirvana

Some other app that was featured on our macOS listing, Audirvana focuses on giving you control over your audio streaming from source to output. If you lot have a powerful computer you want to put to work processing great-sounding sound, this is an option worth because. For instance, Audirvana supports running higher-functioning algorithms to have the load off your DAC and avoid oversampling.

This app also supports VST3 plugins. Whether you want to add a touch of EQ or you want to view your favorite songs through a spectrum analyzer, this tin can exist handy for audiophiles. Audirvana is another option that isn't cheap, but the sheer power of the app may make it a price worth paying.

Download: Audirvana ($75, with xxx-day free trial)

iv. Foobar2000

I of the nearly pop music players for Windows, Foobar2000 is practically a household name. The interface is a little dated, but this app is fast, configurable, and perhaps most importantly, free. While information technology's non the but free role player on this listing, it is the merely one that resembles a traditional media player.

Foobar supports FLAC out of the box, just not DSD. In club to get support for this, you'll need to add the DSDIFF add-on, which you tin download from the Foobar2000 website. Once the component is installed, this becomes an even more powerful audio player. This information is especially handy if y'all already know and love Foobar200.

Download: Foobar2000 (Gratuitous)

5. Jriver

Jriver is software that tries to exercise many things for a lot of people. Fortunately, it seems to exercise a good job at most everything it aims to do. This supports bit-perfect audio in both lossless PCM and DSD formats. When information technology comes to the audio subsystem, it tin can utilize either ASIO or WASAPI, meaning it will transmit sound perfectly to your DAC.

There are several features hither that seem obvious just are lacking in other players. 1 example is the optional audiophile-grade crossfeed. The developers say this makes listening on headphones sound more natural and less fatiguing, since it'due south more similar what you'd hear from speakers in a room.

Download: Jriver ($59.98 for Windows-only license, $79.98 for Master license)

six. Roon

While most examples of hi-res music player software focus on audio quality solitary, Roon focuses on something else. The developers say that something has been lost in the transition to digital music. To bring back the feeling of date you'd get from poring over liner notes, Roon aims to present a searchable magazine of your music.

Roon doesn't just employ this technique to music stored on your computer. It can practise this to music played from a local NAS or fifty-fifty streamed from Tidal as well. If music isn't a background activeness to you lot but something you want to appoint in, Roon may be worth trying.

Download: Roon ($199/year or $499/lifetime, with a free trial available)

vii. JPLAY FEMTO

If you proudly declare yourself an audiophile to anyone who will listen, this may be the perfect software for you. Developed by self-described "fanatical audiophiles," this software aims to optimize everything to deliver the audio bespeak from the source to your DAC in the highest quality possible. This features support for PCM audio, DSD, and even claims to amend the sound quality of Tidal and Qobuz.

Like Hysolid, this isn't a histrion. Instead, it'southward a server. Once information technology's upward and running, you lot can use it with any UPnP-compatible app or hardware. The developers recommend Bubble UPnP for Android, but Kinsky for Windows, macOS, and iOS has been tested as well.

Among other features, JPLAY FEMTO includes a Hibernate fashion. This aims to reduce groundwork noise created by your PC. Information technology does this by eliminating jitter-producing processes and threads. This means you might not want to use your calculator for much else during playback, but it volition audio fantastic.

Download: JPLAY FEMTO (€149)

Are You lot Looking to Start Your Hello-Res Audio Journey?

Finding the right hello-res music player app is great, only information technology doesn't hateful much if you don't accept how-do-you-do-res music to listen to. These apps will play your MP3 collection as well, but if you've got a great audio setup, you'll get more than out of it by ownership loftier-quality audio.

When it comes to ownership music, at that place are several online stores to cull from. Then there are streaming services, which are beginning to offer hi-res sound too. Some of the about pop include Tidal, Qobuz, and Deezer.

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Well-nigh The Author

Kris Wouk (115 Articles Published)

Kris Wouk is a musician, writer, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. A tech enthusiast for as long every bit he tin can remember, he definitely has favorite operating systems and devices, but uses as many others equally he can anyway, only to stay caught upwardly.

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