by Despite the prevalence of online music streaming in the modern world, many listeners still maintain a modest offline music library. Consequently, music apps that can do more than play these files will be necessary to manage such a large music library.
While it is true that iTunes is primarily a media player, we can all agree that it is also highly useful in identifying Apple devices because it allows us to easily connect Apple devices to the computer. On the other hand, iTunes has a more streamlined and user-friendly design. Thus, its aesthetic shortcomings are not to blame.
Best Music Players For MAC Users
Finding the ideal music player can feel like an insurmountable challenge. Furthermore, the requirements of various consumers vary. See below for an outline of the most important features of each app.
There are many options and features to consider, but we’re confident that only one will satisfy your needs. Here are some potential solutions and explanations of why they might be ideal for you.
1. Swinsian
Swinsian is a great alternative to iTunes that prioritizes media playback over several extraneous features. This top-notch player is also socially integrated, letting you link your last.fm profile.
However, this popular music player stands apart from the crowd thanks to two characteristics found nowhere else. Those two special qualities do include simple ID3 metadata/tag manipulation. This program can quickly identify any available AirPlay connections (if one is available).
Furthermore, if we are discussing the user interface of this player, I should point out that it has a UI very similar to that of iTunes, so if you are already familiar with iTunes, you will find that using this player is a breeze.
2. Elmedia Player
We’ve kept our word and provided the top recommendations for Mac music playback. We’ll kick things off with Elmedia Player, the top-rated Mac music player. This program is incredibly flexible and simple to use, and it was made with the greatest standards for audio playback in mind.
Popular audio file types like MP3, M4A, WMA, AC3, AAC, and WMA are all supported. If we’re talking about high-quality audio files, we should highlight that Elmedia Player has no trouble playing FLAC files, a format not supported by competitors like iTunes.
There’s a 10-band equalizer built in, so you may tune the sound to your exact specifications. Whether you tinker with the equalization by hand or use one of the many carefully crafted presets, the choice is yours.
3. DoubleTwist
DoubleTwist is a one-of-a-kind media player and manager that works across popular operating systems, including Mac, Windows, and Android, and it even syncs its media collection across devices over Wi-Fi.
Therefore, if you own a Mac or an Android phone and wish to synchronize your music library with iTunes, it is one of the most trustworthy options.
The music player function is great, but it lacks numerous capabilities in competing products. It’s got one of those annoyingly easy-to-use interfaces that makes you use it nonetheless.
4. JustPlay
JustPlay is an alternative option for the best Mac audio player. You’ll be pleased to know it’s also a top-notch Mac video player. Users that choose this lightweight app gain access to a wealth of features and capabilities.
It supports numerous audio formats without the need for additional codecs or plugins. The standalone volume control allows you to alter the level without affecting Mac’s global sound settings, among other features, giving you complete command over audio playback.
You may customize your listening experience to your liking by adjusting each of the ten bands on the equalizer that comes included. If you want the finest sound quality, use JustPlay with your professional headphones or your high-end home theater system.
5. Audirvāna Studio
Many people refer to Audirvna Studio as “the audiophile music player.” You may feel both excitement and irritation at the use of this word. It’s not the priciest option here, but Audirvna Studio is still not cheap.
If you sign up for Studio access, you’ll also receive a free three-month trial of Tidal’s streaming service in addition to the free three-month trial of Qobuz.
The major high-resolution audio formats, such as MQA, are all supported in Audirvna Studio (Master Quality Authenticated). To fully appreciate your music, even if you don’t have an MQA-capable audio device, this software was the first to incorporate the MQA Core Decoder.
6. Clementine
To my knowledge, Clementine is the most flexible musical app here. It has sophisticated tools for handling your music collection, and you can even use it to track down tracks stored in online storage like Dropbox or Google Drive.
It can play various audio formats, including MP3, WAV, AAC, and FLAC, and it can also convert between them. ID3 tags containing information about the missing files’ artists, genres, and song titles can also be downloaded.
For the record, if we’re discussing accessibility, I’ll state unequivocally that this popular music player is offered for Mac, Windows, and Linux.
7. IINA
IINA is the next Mac music app we’ll be discussing in detail. It gives a minimalistic approach to how an audio player should appear and work. Therefore the user interface feels natural and gels seamlessly with the macOS general design.
But don’t let the simplicity fool you; IINA supports touch bar controls, gesture controls, and even a dark mode. It’s an open-source music player, so you won’t have to pay to use it.
However, it can play any media, from locally stored files to web broadcasts or YouTube playlists. Another characteristic that sets IINA apart is its browser compatibility.
8. VLC Media Player
In its most basic form, VLC is an excellent media player. It’s free, features a good in-app library manager tool, and supports the same number of file formats as Elmedia Player.
The wrinkles are noticeable, though. Many prefer VLC because its iTunes-Esque playlist feature is familiar and intriguing, but it’s not quite as excellent as Apple’s. Because of the complexity of file tagging, creating in-depth playlists can be challenging.
VLC Media Player has a barebones appearance and feels antiquated on the Mac in 2022. It also has nothing additive: VLC Media Player is just what its name says and nothing more.
9. Fidelia
With only two more music players left on our list of the best Mac apps, we promise that the quality of the recommended programs will not decline. Fidelia arrives to further solidify this assertion with a high-end music player tailored to discerning listeners.
This program organizes and personalizes its customers’ music libraries, allowing them to freely enjoy high-fidelity digital music. Fidelia makes it simple to import your iTunes collection and create custom playlists filled with your favorite songs.
Additionally, AUGraphicEQ is available to users thanks to the software’s compatibility with the 64-bit audio unit. Wirelessly stream your music to any device you like with Fidelia, thanks to its AirPlay compatibility.
10. Colibri
The developers of Colibri for Mac tout it as a native lossless audio player that provides flawless, error-free listening. Not only is your battery life not negatively affected, but you also don’t have to use a ton of system resources.
Surely it must be too good to be true. And you can put your faith in that because the creators got as close as they could to the look and feel of the native macOS applications. As an added bonus, the software can manage cue sheets, allowing you to enter your music library and let the app handle everything else.
In addition to ensuring gapless playback, the cutting-edge BS2B function also lessens stereo fatigue, and it does all of this without requiring additional RAM or CPU power.
