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Key Takeaways

  • 5KPlayer is a versatile multimedia player with an inbuilt radio, wireless streaming capabilities, and a user-friendly interface. It is free to use.
  • Winamp, one of the oldest free desktop media players, supports various media formats, offers easy navigation, and supports plugins like Shoutcast for internet radio.
  • VLC Media Player has a minimalist interface, built-in codecs for playing different file formats, advanced equalizer settings, and smooth playback. It also has hidden features.

Lossless audio is an uncompressed format that preserves your songs' original quality. That’s why, as a Windows user, you need a music player compatible with these formats to enjoy your music.

To that end, we’ve created a list of the best music players for any lossless audio format you prefer. We will discuss their key features and show you how to maximize your listening experience.

1. 5KPlayer

Screenshot of 5kplayer interface

5KPlayer is a versatile multimedia player equipped with an inbuilt radio, allowing you to tune into live internet radio from top-tier stations like BBC, Heart, and Capital. It also lets you download videos from online platforms like Vevo, Facebook, and Vimeo to watch offline.

One of 5KPlayer’s unique features is that it supports wireless streaming through the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA). This allows you to share audio files across devices on your home network, including your mobile phone.

This player also has a user-friendly interface that displays all the main features in the middle of the screen. With this, you have full control over the volume and playlist order.

5KPlayer is free to use, making it a great option for music lovers who want the best experience on a budget. Plus, you can take your experience up a notch if you decide to invest in additional equipment to enjoy lossless audio.

Download: 5K Player (Free)

2. Winamp

Screenshot of WinAmp interface

Launched in the late 90s, Winamp is one of the oldest free desktop media players. It supports several media formats, including WMA, WAV, and FLAC.

After installation, Winamp immediately asks permission to scan and import your existing tracks and playlists into the player. This way, you don’t have to add all your favorite audio files to the app manually.

Furthermore, the interface is very easy to navigate, allowing you to seamlessly switch between audio, videos, radio, and podcasts. In addition, you can customize the UI with user-created themes and skins.

Winamp supports plugins, the most popular of which is Shoutcast. This plugin is a streaming media system that helps you find the best internet radio stations and provides guides on creating your own broadcast.

Download: Winamp (Free)

3. VLC Media Player

Screenshot showing equalizer settings on VLC

VLC is a free and popular media player that is easily recognized by its traffic cone icon. Thanks to its built-in codec, you can play different file formats without installing external codecs for individual file types. This built-in option also protects your device from malicious software.

The player has a minimalist yet intuitive interface with powerful audio playback tools. Its advanced equalizer settings let you personalize your listening experience by tweaking sound outputs to suit different genres.

Another key feature of VLC is its ability to deliver smooth, gapless playback, even on mid-range systems, while offering you several functionalities. And VLC is packed with secret features to help you get even more out of the app.

Download: VLC Media Player (Free)

4. AIMP

Screenshot showing AIMP custom themes

With its sleek design and comprehensive functionalities, AIMP is perhaps the most complete lossless audio solution. It has a customizable and highly functional layout to suit your taste. And, it features an audio converter, allowing you to switch your files from one format to another.

In addition to uploading files from your local drive, AIMP allows you to import audio files from Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and other cloud storage services.

If you like to sleep with music playing in the background, AIMP provides a sleep timer feature that allows you to schedule an automatic shutdown or hibernation after a set duration.

The player also has an inbuilt sound engine with an 18-band equalizer, letting you adjust the audio output to suit different moods.

Download: AIMP Player (Free)

5. Foobar2000

Screenshot showing layout setup in foobar

Foobar2000 is renowned for its minimalist design, flexibility, and high performance. It supports portable installation, allowing you to run the player from a USB device on any computer.

This music player offers a simple but customizable user interface, which lets you modify the player’s appearance while listening to your music. It also provides an advanced tagging feature that helps you organize your tracks and playlists effortlessly.

A distinct Foobar2000 feature is its Digital Signal Processing Manager, which gives you access to the equalizer, crossfeed, and other tools to finetune the audio quality. In addition, Foobar200s ReplayGain feature helps you analyze and play your audio at a consistent volume, preventing sudden loud or quiet audio spikes.

Download: Foobar2000 (Free)

6. MusicBee

Screenshot of advanced tagging settings on MusicBee

The harmonious blend of quality design, functionality, and high-quality audio output makes MusicBee a preferred choice for lossless audio lovers. Fitted with a CD ripper, this player allows you to convert your music CDs into digital tracks effortlessly.

MusicBee offers high-end audio features, including WASAPI and ASIO support. These audio drivers work with the Windows interface to enhance lossless playback. They also guarantee an optimal listening experience without system-induced alterations.

MusicBee also offers a wide range of UI skins, allowing you to tailor the player’s layout to your taste. Plus, it sports an excellent track, playlist, and podcast management system with automatic metadata retrieval and advanced tagging tools.

Download: MusicBee (Free)

7. MediaMonkey

Screenshot of playback settings on MediaMonkey

MediaMonkey is an efficient player that supports large media libraries in various formats, including FLAC, ALAC, and WAV. Aside from the playback feature, this player allows you to manage and organize your files in distinct music collections.

One of this player’s impressive features is its auto DJ and secure jukebox mode, which allow you to create and play dynamic party playlists. Media Monkey also synchronizes across your devices, so you always have access to your playlists.

The premium versions of this app allow you to rename media files, automatically convert audio during sync, and encode unlimited MP3 files.

Download: MediaMonkey (Free, premium versions available)

Choosing the Right Player for the Best Windows Music Experience

From old-school players to customizable players with sophisticated organizational systems, these lossless audio players offer features that will surely satisfy your needs. However, before making a choice, it’s important to critically explore their layouts, features, secondary tools, and plugins.