Hello!
Folk wisdom: how many people - so many opinions!
No matter how the Windows Media Player (built into Windows) is being finalized, it is still far from perfect, and most likely, it will not be soon. Therefore, it is not surprising that many users (who open local video more than once a year ✌) want to find a more convenient player for multimedia files.
In general, it is better to have 2-3 players for different needs (in my opinion):
- for example, watching online videos - in one program;
- watch movies from your hard drive - to another.
In general, the variety of video players is simply amazing today! And in this article, I wanted not only to list the best of them, but also to break them down into 3 categories, the most relevant today. I think the material will be useful to all video lovers ...
Remark!
I also recommend that you install one of the good sets of codecs - //ocomp.info/kodeki-dlya-video-i-audio.html
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Top 10 video players
Players that do not need codecs in the system
These players have made life very easy for all users, without exception. Imagine, before, in order to watch a movie in addition to the player, you had to have and codec (which had to be downloaded and installed separately). Of course, we often came across some videos, during which there was no sound or images (each time we had to "think" where to get this or that codec).
With the advent of players with a built-in set of codecs, this problem disappeared (besides, some of them can automatically load the required codec if they suddenly encounter something unfamiliar ...).
In general, I recommend having at least one of these programs on your computer (for everyone ... 😊).
PotPlayer
Website: //potplayer.daum.net/?lang=ru
Screenshot of the main window
A multifunctional video player with a large number of built-in codecs (that is, when using it, you do not need to bother and "think" about whether you are playing a particular movie).
It is also worth mentioning separately about a very flexible system of settings: there are hundreds of them! The player will satisfy the needs of even the most fastidious users.
Provides high performance with fairly modest system needs (implemented using DXVA, CUDA and QuickSync).
It is impossible not to mention the support for various models of 3D glasses (so popular recently).
The list of supported video and audio formats is so extensive that I do not draw it here in full: 3G2, 3GP, 3GP2, 3GPP, AAC, AC3, AMV, APE, ASF, ASX, AVI, CUE, DAT, DIVX, DPG, DPL, etc.
Stunning design, the ability to customize and change skins. In general, not so important, but still ...
In general, it is rightfully considered one of the best players. I definitely recommend using it!
Gom media player
Website: //www.gomlab.com/
Note: carefully look at all the checkboxes that will be displayed when installing the program (recently, the player comes with "advertising").
Great Picture (Gom Player)
An excellent player for video and audio files for Windows (specializes more in the former). By the way, many are confused by its name - you can ignore it 👌.
Its main difference from many other players is a huge built-in set of codecs, and a convenient cataloger of playable files (i.e., you can easily find all files in the desired folder, for example, sort them by file size and watch one by one).
Capabilities:
- Smooth playback of media files (especially noticeable on older PCs);
- Possibility to feed video to TV or monitor;
- Convenient equalizer;
- Audio effect filters;
- Ability to create a playlist of files by opening any of the folders on the disk;
- Support for a large number of video files: FLV, MP4, MOV, MPG, TS, AVI, DIVX, ASX, WMV, M4V, IFO, VOB, 3GP, 3GP2, RM, RMVB, MKV, OGM, MP3, M4A, AAC, OGG, SMI , SRT, RT, SUB, ASX, PLS, etc .;
- It is possible to set hot keys, etc.
KMPlayer
Website: //www.kmplayer.com/
KMPlayer - example image
Completely free (without any ad modules!) Video player for Windows and smartphones.By the way, it was on its basis that PotPlayer was made (the first on my list).
Main advantages:
- availability of special filters, which are ways to slightly improve the image of the video being played (some films look different in it ...);
- support for 3D video;
- support for skins (you can customize the player for yourself);
- Album Art - quickly create your own media library;
- the ability to memorize the playback point of the file (i.e. when you reopen the same file, the player will start playing from the moment you close the program);
- the ability to play broken and not downloaded until the end of the files;
- auto-shutdown of the computer (mega-cool option for those who fall asleep while listening to their favorite movie or TV series).
Splash HD Player Lite (there is an image quality enhancement filter)
Developer site: //mirillis.com/
Splash HD Player Lite
This player is not as popular as the previous ones, but it has some very interesting features that are not found in other analogues ...
Main advantages:
- the ability to improve the quality of the video being played due to its unique codec: in some cases, the quality improves by an order of magnitude (see the screen below)!
- fairly low system requirements;
- the ability to play High Definition MPEG-2 and AVC / H. 264 without extraneous codecs in the system;
- stylish and user-friendly interface;
- saving battery power - more economical waste of charge (especially important for laptops);
- Windows OS support: XP, 7, 8, 10.
Splash HD Player Lite - before and after picture improvement
Universal
Media Player Classic
Website: //mpc-hc.org/
Media Player Classic - watching a cartoon
One of the best free media players for Windows! At one time, the program was considered almost a reference and was installed on almost all home multimedia computers. Now its popularity has subsided somewhat, but it still works great on both old and new computers ...
Advantages:
- Support for almost all audio and video file formats: WAV, WMA, MP3, OGG, SND, AU, AIF, AIFC, AIFF, MIDI, MPEG, MPG, MP2, VOB, AC3, DTS, ASX, M3U, PLS, WAX, ASF, WM, WMA, WMV, AVI, CDA, JPEG, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, D2V, MP4, SWF, MOV, QT, FLV, etc.;
- support for such formats (with all functions!), such as: OGM and MKV (many other players freeze when playing them);
- full support for the Russian language;
- the ability to customize hot keys;
- video playback (and capture) from a variety of TV tuner models;
- the ability to play damaged video files (not all players can boast of this);
- arbitrary scaling of the video picture;
- subtitle support and more!
Note!
This player is included in the K-lite Codec Pack (for more details see here - //ocomp.info/kodeki-dlya-video-i-audio.html#K-Lite_Codec_Pack).
5KPlayer (capable of viewing 4K, 5K, 8K, UHD video)
Website: //www.5kplayer.com/
5KPlayer - watching a movie
5KPlayer is a convenient multifunctional video player (a kind of harvester). Combines the following things: video and audio player, converter, radio player, organizer, media library.
Supports audio formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, APE, FLAC, AC3, ALAC, etc.
Video format support: MP4, MOV, M4V, MKV, FLV, AVI, WMV, AVCHD, M2TS, DVD, etc.
It is also worth noting that the player allows you to watch ultra-high definition video: 1080p, 4K, 5K, 8K, UHD (not every player can do this!).
The player also has one more interesting thing -AirPlay... With it, you can organize a broadcast from an iPhone, iPad, iPod to a computer (for example).
You can also note media library: here it is not just to be - with it you can quickly organize and sort your video collection (moreover, this is done very conveniently and quickly).
In general, I can safely recommend the player to absolutely everyone!
Players that can be installed incl. and on old "weak" cars
The concept of "old" is, of course, somewhat arbitrary. The point is that these players work quite well, for example, on Pentium IV with 1 GB of RAM (i.e. on computers no older than 10-15 years old). In any case, their hardware requirements are slightly lower than those of most other programs in this article (though simpler and design - but here either go, or ...).
BS.Player
Website: //www.bsplayer.com/
BS.Player
The most popular video player - used by over 70 million people around the world! It is distinguished primarily by its low system requirements, "omnivorous", great flexibility (a lot of settings).
Main advantages:
- very low system requirements (probably one of the lowest among the other programs I have cited). On the assurances of the developers - special. an algorithm that uses the least CPU (as much as possible);
- support for a huge number of video and audio files: WebM, Xvid, avi, mpg, mpeg-1, mpeg-2, mpeg-4, 3ivx, streaming video from YouTube, AVC HD, QT QuickTime mov, RM Real media, OGM, Matroska, mkv, asf, wmv, DV, m1v, m2v, mp4, mpv, swf, vob and wav, mpa, mp1, mp2, mp3, Ogg, aac, aif, ram, wma, flv and many others;
- advanced work with subtitles: can even download subtitles in the language you need;
- after the first installation, the player will look at your codecs and offer to download those that do not exist (in principle, very convenient!);
- many Windows OS are supported: ME, 2000, XP, 7, 8, 10.
Light alloy
Developers website: //www.light-alloy.ru/ (from 1.08.2019 not available yet)
Alternative link: //light-alloy.ru.uptodown.com
Light alloy
A very popular video player for Windows that supports all the variety of video and audio files that you can find on the net.
The main feature of the program is simplicity and ease of use, with the possibility of sufficiently flexible and fine-tuning the program.
The player is well optimized, therefore it creates a minimum load on the system.
Main advantages:
- WinLIRC - the ability to control the player from the remote control (in my opinion, this program was one of the first to implement this);
- IPTV support - the ability to watch video over the Internet, local network, etc.;
- Internet radio - the ability to listen to hundreds of radio stations on the Internet;
- Blu-ray and DVD support;
- A small set of built-in codecs;
- Full support for the Russian language;
- Windows support: XP, 7, 8, 10.
Players for watching videos from the network, the Internet
They are also called streaming video players.
VLC media player
Website: //www.videolan.org/vlc/
VLC media player
One of the best video players for playing streaming video (i.e. any online broadcasts on the Internet or local network!). Perhaps it is thanks to this that he became so popular!
Main advantages:
- Simple interface in the style of minimalism (but nevertheless flexible enough with a lot of settings);
- fast: files open instantly, even on relatively old PCs;
- can play: files, folders, disks, network broadcasts;
- some files can be played without extraneous codecs at all: MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, MKV, WebM, WMV, MP3;
- supports all popular platforms: Windows, Linux, Android, Mac OS X, iOS;
- the program can amplify the sound by 125% (useful for files where the sound is weak and quiet);
- despite the fact that the program is free, there are no additional advertising modules, no spyware or other additives!
RealPlayer
Website: //www.real.com/ru
RealPlayer
The once very popular audio and video player (yes, in principle, even now, when watching some video formats, for example, ".rm" and ".rmvb" - without it "and not there, and not here" 👌). By the way, RealPlayer is closely connected with the RealNetwork web portal, thanks to which the player informs the user about all the news.
The main direction of the player: broadcasting streaming video and audio, in addition, it supports: QuickTime, Windows Media, MPEG, DVD and VCD files.
It is also worth noting that RealPlayer integrates into browsers and allows them to play videos and music on various sites.
Cons: on some systems, the program is unstable, freezes.
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For additional recommendations and tips - I will be grateful.
Good luck!
👋
First publication: 27.11.2016
Correction: 1.07.2019
