NEWBIE : Any difference between Linux Music Players ?

[PenguinMusic]

HI,

Currently using Linux to listen to music (Manjaro distro).

I have set it up so that sound does not use PulseAudio, but uses JACK that interfaces directly on ALSA (at least from what I have understood).
But that is not the question here...

I do no changes to the system audio configuration at all.
So every sound output is routed the same way that is, as mentioned, using jackaudiosink.

I can play my music through different music players : Lollypop, gusicbrowser, Strawberry, deadBeef, Quod Libet.

My question is simple :
"Can the used player have a different output despite the fact that is uses the exact same output configuration or should they all sound exactly the same ? "

PLEASE CONSIDER :
- I am not asking which player to use.That is highly subjective/personal taste.
- I am also not asking if I should use PulseAudio, ALSA, oss, MPD or JACK. I will find my way out of this by myself.

 

[q3cpma]

Your player could apply EQ (unlikely), ReplayGain/volume control and dithering. This should be done correctly.

 

[PenguinMusic]

Hi,

Thanks for your answer.

I should have mentioned that :
- ReplayGain is turned OFF in all players ;
- that I use NO EQ in any player ;
- that volume of ALL Players is set to 100%.

I do not know what dithering is though.

 

[solderdude]

When properly designed they should output the same sample values. If not they, for whatever reason, are changing the values of samples.

 

[PenguinMusic]

When properly designed they should output the same sample values. If not they, for whatever reason, are changing the values of samples.

Hi,

Thanks a lot for your answer.

So, as long as I don't "play" with RG/Volume/EQ or any other "sound improvement" setting, all should output the same sound from my .flac files.

Can I get to the conclusion that in the end it is only a matter of tastes and need of features that makes you choose a player over the other ?

Regards.

 

[somebodyelse]

You could actually record the output from each and check. Since you're using jack you can use one of the patchbay apps instead of messing with the alsa config files.