Best Video Player?

[Cs342]

I was wondering what you guys use to play video files (Bluray, DVD etc) on your PCs. I've tried PowerDVD but it crashes every time I click something while a video is playing. Are there any good programs that are both fast and also increase the quality of the video?

[nishank93]

For disc playback, I've always used PowerDVD (but I haven't used a disc in my computer for VERY long. I have a Blu-Ray player at home, so I just use the TV). For any video file, I use VLC.

[Guest]

I use VLC to play videos. I don't actually play discs on my computer though...

[CatCloud]

Vlc or media player classic :)

[Cs342]

VLC doesn't look as "polished" as PowerDVD though... and btw I don't mind paying for video software

[Gorgatron]

MPC-HC. I cannot vouch for actual DVD's or Blurays as I torrent.

[techswede]

Im not sure actually. Personally i use VLC but i've kinda started moving to the KMP media player and i've had no issues so far

[Cs342]

Im not sure actually. Personally i use VLC but i've kinda started moving to the KMP media player and i've had no issues so far

What does VLC have that is better than WMP? Personally I think WMP has a more attractive user interface

[codytappen]

What does VLC have that is better than WMP? Personally I think WMP has a more attractive user interface

I use VLC because of all the file types it supports(relevant if you don't keep your disc in the computer [you rip it] or if you torrent a bunch)... It has always worked without a hitch, something I can't say for any other media player...

[techswede]

What does VLC have that is better than WMP? Personally I think WMP has a more attractive user interface

i have no idea^^ haven't used wmp in ages. (but when i did i had a car stereo skin for it :D)

Kmp feels like a diet vlc for some reason that's why i like it. it's a middle ground between vlc and wmp

[boogschd]

i use gom player for video playback :)

[smjpl]

What are you looking to do? Is there any reason why the non polished look of VLC is putting you off it? I have found choosing a video player is all about what least annoys you. VLC is by far the least annoying. It opens straight away, it plays straight away. Its function over form.

 

Are there any good programs that are both fast and also increase the quality of the video?

 

 What do you mean increase the quality of the video? As far as I know all quality is related to the video file and not the player? 

 

What does VLC have that is better than WMP? Personally I think WMP has a more attractive user interface

 

Easy ability to add subtitle tracks & audio/video synchronization. I would be under the assumption that VLC is better at playing video files than most other players are. Not too sure how it compares when playing from a disc. I would assume most other players are on a par with it. There are less things to go wrong when playing from a disc. 

[Cs342]

What are you looking to do? Is there any reason why the non polished look of VLC is putting you off it? I have found choosing a video player is all about what least annoys you. VLC is by far the least annoying. It opens straight away, it plays straight away. Its function over form.

 

 

 What do you mean increase the quality of the video? As far as I know all quality is related to the video file and not the player? 

 

 

Easy ability to add subtitle tracks & audio/video synchronization. I would be under the assumption that VLC is better at playing video files than most other players are. Not too sure how it compares when playing from a disc. I would assume most other players are on a par with it. There are less things to go wrong when playing from a disc. 

PowerDVD has software encoding features that increase the quality of the video. If only it wasn't so laggy and crash-prone it would be my favorite program. Do you have any paid video players to recommend?

[smjpl]

PowerDVD has software encoding features that increase the quality of the video. If only it wasn't so laggy and crash-prone it would be my favorite program. Do you have any paid video players to recommend?

 

 Ah you are talking about enhancements of video effects. I can't say much for them. If they are anything like the sound enhancements you get on sound cards then I wouldn't use them. You shouldn't need them. Especially if you are watching blu-ray quality videos. Could be wrong though. 

 

I am afraid I don't know anything to recommend. The best place to look is probably cnet.com

 

http://download.cnet.com/windows/video-players/?tag=mncol%3Bsort&filter=licenseName%3D%22Purchase%22%7C&filterName=licenseName%3DPurchase%7C&rpp=10&sort=userRating+asc

 

Here is a link that is purchase only, and sorted by user ratings. You might find something there. Find one you like and do some research on it. It's the best I can do. 

[Puppet]

Sorry but VLC is the way to go, the reason it doesn't look that good is because it is an intentionally lightweight program designed to give you maximum performance.

 

You cannot increase the quality, there is no software that can "uncompress" video, I would say it's impossible.

 

If you are watching the software and not the content then to be honest you are doing it wrong.

[threee6]

i use VLC but if i'm sat doing nothing other than watching movies or TV shows i use XBMC.

[R4STABAN]

Another vote for VLC.

 

I bought the full version of power DVD once but cyberlink are arseholes and don't supprot older versions from the day they announce the new one (which is like 10 minutes after they announced the one before).

 

Ditto with power dvd crashing, not reading discs properly and generally being rubbish.

 

I rip all my blu rays and dvd to mkv with makemkv, then compress with handbrake, store on my home server and play them with VLC.

[rashdanml]

I use VLC for Blu Ray playback too. Works extremely well with some tinkering.

[dtronicsuk]

you have a few options

 

1. use windows media player, comes with windows and can play most (but not all) formats

 

2. use vlc media player (www.videolan.org), can play most formats than windows media player but can be buggy

 

3. install k-lite media codec, its not a media player as such, it just installs a bunch of codecs that windows media player can use to play file formats it cant do before, it also comes with media player classic if you perfered the older windows media player

 

i use windows media player, it plays dvds, and any videos formats a watch are either mp4 or avi which it can play. for audio i play mainly mp3 or m4a which again windows media player plays

 

(as a word of advice if you are using windows xp or vista it may not be able to play avi or mp4 so in that case use one of the other options i mentioned)

 

hope this helps

[Guest]

VLC doesn't look as "polished" as PowerDVD though... and btw I don't mind paying for video software

 

There's skins for VLC, if that's what you mean.

 

1. use windows media player, comes with windows and can play most (but not all) formats

 

I believe WMP no longer does disc playback in Windows 8.

[bluepoodleguy]

VLC? Me too! It might not have a polished interface but it is robust,supports many file formats  and is comprehensive in its playback options. And it's free!

[dtronicsuk]

There's skins for VLC, if that's what you mean.

 

 

I believe WMP no longer does disc playback in Windows 8.

 

i wouldnt know i dont use windows 8. you cant use windows 8 without a touchscreen monitor (yes i know you can use a keyboard and mouse to nav the "metro" interface but its not ideal)

 

heres why i dont use windows 8

 

1. too touchscreen orentanted - since most of us dont have a touchscreen monitor so why bother having it, if i wanted to have a touchscreen monitor i would get a tablet not a pc

 

2. no start menu - the start menu has been in windows since i can remember and why they removed this i dont know (i know you can download a start menu but you should'nt have to

 

3. locked bootloader - microsoft doing another apple and trying to prevent you changing the os, so in other words forcing you to use windows 8 even thou its a pile of rubbish

 

4. as you stated microsoft stopping you doing stuff that you have been able to do for years (if what you said is true which i hope not)

[The Syndicate]

Windows Media Player Classic

[AvoK95]

VLC

[Slater]

For me personally i use Media Player Classic Home Cinema because it feels more lightweight to me compared to VLC. However i do have VLC as backup in case MPC-HC can't play something which rarely if ever happens. All i know is that VLC practically plays anything you throw at it, but for my personal preference as i've stated before i use MPC from the K-lite codec pack :)