Top 10 Media Players for Linux

Contrary to what some may think, there is no shortage of media players for Linux, or great ones for that matter. In fact there are probably hundreds available. However, we will only be looking at those that make it in the top ten. Please bear in mind that this list represents my subjective views. Your top ten lists might be different. So, don't make any comment asking me why I excluded such and such players, or why a certain one isn't ranked higher. :)

Anyhow, without further ado, here are my top ten Linux media players:

1. VLC – This, for me, is the best media player for Linux. It handles any format you throw at it. It is great for playing high-definition videos. It handles all kinds of streams, plus it has many other useful features. VLC is second to none on Linux.

2. Banshee – This media player has come a far way. They have really improved it and added some useful features since the announcement that it was set to become the newest default media player in Ubuntu.

3. Guayadeque – Yes, I know, the name is kind of weird, but don't let that cause you underestimate this player. It can do a lot. It has an interface that anyone migrating from Windows could get familiar within no time. It is feature-rich, and does exactly what anyone is looking for in a good media player.

4. Audacious – This is a nice light-weight player that is easy on system resources. It is my personal favourite whenever I'm playing music directly from my folders. It handles multiple media types pretty well with no issue. It's a great alternative to Winamp since it has a similar interface and features.

5. Songbird – This player in some way reminds me of windows Media Player 11. Like Windows Media Player, it is not short on features. It also makes a great Windows Media Player alternative for those switching from Windows to Linux. It was created by Mozilla, the same open source company that creates Firefox and Thunderbird. So you know this player is worth checking out.

6. Clementine – Not a lot of people seem to know about this player. It's one of my favourites. It handles playlists so well. The way it handles my media library is second to none. I can't say enough about this player. You should check it out if you have never tried it before.

7. Rhythmbox – This player has been the default in many Linux distros for a while. It is easy to see why. It offers so much from iPod management to podcast management along with many other features. Rhythmbox makes the perfect replacement to iTunes when switching to Linux.

8. Amarock – This is the default player for the Linux KDE desktop environment. I must admit that the interface is a bit hard getting use to, but once you have, you'll find a player that has lots of features with a very nice sound. It does all you would want a player to do and has similar features to other default plays like Rhythmbox and Banshee.

9. Exaile – This player is really a breath of fresh air. I particularly like the new interface in the latest release. It comes packed with all the features you would expect to find in a decent media player. I can guarantee that this player won't disappoint. So give it a try.

10. Smplayer – Though this is not a player I use quite often, I find it a handy part of my “just in case” list. This is because as VLC, it seems to play most things you throw at it. It is also great for those high-definition videos. If I didn't have such a wide choice to choose from, I'm certain it would be my default media player for everything.

So there you have it, my top ten Linux media player list. I hope this helps to dispel the myth that Linux is short of good media players, as well as help someone find the most ideal player.