[Dradder]

The enigmatic Pkshan has been going through a flurry of updates to his variation of Foobar 2000 -- he's now up to what he's labeled as version XE12A:
 
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_72b3301c0100rvot.html
 
Still just as weird and user-hostile as before, no FLAC support, no VST, etc. What's new in the package is a player specifically for 16/44 WAV files, with another player for other than 16/44 WAV.
 
I find the audible differences between Pkshan's crazy little player and plain-vanilla Foobar to be slight, and certainly within the range of the placebo effect, so I can understand why someone wouldn't care to bother with something that has such a high PITA factor. At the same time, I find myself listening to music on it with great pleasure for long periods of time. YMMV.
 

 

[Dradder]

Pkshan's updates continue; he's now up to what he labels as his XE14 version:
 
 
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_72b3301c0100rvot.html
 
Same caveats as before. I find his crazy little player intriguing and enjoyable, despite its PITA factor, but YMMV.

 

[cfuer]

This XE14 is rather good. But I think JieSimplePlayer sounds much better than it.

 

[Pennypacker]

Hello headfiers,

Just want to give my opinion about the "different flavours" of foobar.
Using stock foobar2000 with kernel streaming as my "gold standard" for years.
(Wasapi is fine, i find it somewhat "dry" sounding. Ds has a little less crisp highs/detail, but a "softer/smoother" sound, which some ppl might find to be more "hifi". Also nothing wrong with asio (nice "soundfield"), but i find it a hassle to use, i have to put the volume down in foobar to 5% or else i will blow up my hd600).

I tested most of the releases of mr. Shan. Just tested the latest.

Nothing wrong with them. especially version 2.2 (subjective ofcourse). Detailed and "soft".

My conclusion however is:

Stock foobar2000 with kernel streaming remains my gold standard.

No offense to mister Shan, who in his view, might think that my ears / equipment are simply no match for his fine player =).
 
(and maybe he's right!)
 

 

[pkshan]

Thanks Dradder
 
XR16 just released 
 flac support has been added
[size=16px !important]  
 
[/size]

 

[pkshan]

You may try ReClock XR mod, its a software precision audio clock
the sound will be even better
 
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_72b3301c0100v1xj.html
 
 
after install the official ReClock:
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/ReClock_DirectShow_Filter.htm
copy the modded files to the installed folder, overwrite the old files

 

[Pennypacker]

A new "gold standard" has emerged.. foobar with asio64..hail to the new king! =)

 

[skamp]

This is against the foobar2000 license, see http://www.foobar2000.org/FAQ
The author of foobar2000 warns about the possibility of malware, especially when dubious claims of superior quality are made.

 

[Roller]

 
Quote:

This is against the foobar2000 license, see http://www.foobar2000.org/FAQ
The author of foobar2000 warns about the possibility of malware, especially when dubious claims of superior quality are made.

 
 
Exactly.

 

[Pennypacker]

eww..i thought this "asio64"-plugin was bundled with the latest foobar..
Not so? I can't remember installing it seperate..
I only remember upgrading to a newer foobar..& it was selectable in prefs..
If not part of foobar: sorry! im not here to encourage malware.
 

 

[Roller]

ASIO does not come with official foobar2000 installers.

 

[Dradder]

I've run pkshan's foobar variants through several standard malware checkers and it's come out clean every time. If you believe pkshan is distributing malware, it's up to you to prove it.

 

[skamp]

Still, I don't think this is legal.
http://www.foobar2000.org/?page=License

Except as and only to the extent permitted in this License and by applicable law, you may not copy, decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, modify, or create derivative works of the software or any part thereof.

Feel free to ask about the legality of it in the foobar2000 forum.

 

[Roller]

 
Quote:

Still, I don't think this is legal.
http://www.foobar2000.org/?page=License
Feel free to ask about the legality of it in the foobar2000 forum.

 
While there is always the possibility of malware distribution within such modified installations, it is indeed against their license, this being the main issue IMO.