Winamp

CNET Editors' review

Nullsoft has a lot of ground to make up after the Winamp 3.0 debacle, a dwindling user base, and stiff competition from Apple iTunes. Winamp 5.3 was a huge step in the right direction, with support for AAC encoding, CD burning, and a robust file-management system. Finally.

Winamp 5.3.1 makes some small but effective changes to its predecessor. In addition to playlist syncing for portables and a More Info feature that shows information about the currently playing track, we get a more stable, less-crash-prone environment for MP3s and podcasts and CD-text-reading support. We also love the Internet TV feature, which provides some great music videos and live concert footage, although the Singing Fish search is rife with mislabeled files. Ostensible rock-concert footage turns out to be, on more than one occasion, unlabeled pornography.

Another eye-catcher is the excellent collection of visualizations. The massive catalog of Winamp 2.x and 3.x skins works with this new version. The free version is feature-rich, but if you want MP3 encoding and full-speed CD burning, you have to shell out $14.95 for the Pro version. Winamp is one of our all-time favorite players, though, and version 5 renews its promise.

Winamp - Play audio and video files - Download Video Previews:

Publisher's Description

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All User Reviews
  • All versions:

    3.9 stars

    out of 1,496 votes

    • 5 star: 620
    • 4 star: 518
    • 3 star: 136
    • 2 star: 55
    • 1 star: 167
  • Current version:

    4.2 stars

    out of 73 votes

    • 5 star: 35
    • 4 star: 27
    • 3 star: 4
    • 2 star: 2
    • 1 star: 5
  • My rating:

    0 stars

    Write review

Results 1-10 of 59

  • 4.0 stars

    "old friend fading a bit."

    October 20, 2012  |   By stoneweather

    Version: Winamp 5.24

    Pros

    for the most part pretty much the same good old winamp it's always been.

    Cons

    for some reason it longer plays .avi files, and i was the type that used winamp to play .avi (among other video files) for audio-only, to run in the background when using other full screen progs... of course if i want to watch the stuff i just use vlc.

    p.s. why is it saying "..review for Winamp 5.24"? this was supposed to be for 5.63..

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Most Used Program On My Comp!"

    September 18, 2006  |   By short6969

    Version: Winamp 5.24

    Pros

    I have been using winamp since version 2.. and winamp5 is the best music player on the market. The freeware version is very capable for your music playing needs, but the pro version is the way to go, 15$ is an attractive price, and it makes it very easy to create custom mix CD's using media library and 'sending to' a playlist, then burning.. CD Rip & Burn quality is great!

    Visualizations are amazing, being able to easily create your own is a plus. Lots of plugins and skins as well.

    This program has a very sleek interface, can handle my very large (9k song) playlist, and makes managing my music collection very simple.

    Overall, great product, highly recomend.

    Cons

    Would not recomend for video player.. vlc is much better..

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  • 4.0 stars

    "Still a classic"

    September 17, 2006  |   By Burbrook

    Version: Winamp 5.24

    Pros

    WinAmp is still the combination of ease-of-use and speed. Other software can maybe be giving a better sound (although I never found one), but this software is fast, userfriendly and doesn't complicate things.

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  • 5.0 stars

    "I love this Player."

    September 14, 2006  |   By avidrpggamer

    Version: Winamp 5.24

    Pros

    WinAmp 5.24 is my savor! Best Player I've found!

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  • 3.0 stars

    "It's Okay"

    September 14, 2006  |   By holyxmountains

    Version: Winamp 5.24

    Pros

    It's a great music player, the equalizer sounds excellent, alot of features are available for the free version, tons of skins are available, free radio, AOL music video's, and the radio actually has good stuff on it.

    Cons

    It was slow at start-up, it messed up my library, all my tags were messed up, the video plaback is horrid, its slow and choppy. Especially if it's high quality. I had to tweak the equalizer and change the volume settings because it was getting static.

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  • 4.0 stars

    "Amazing"

    September 12, 2006  |   By MC8569

    Version: Winamp 5.24

    Pros

    I love it

    Cons

    nothing

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  • 4.0 stars

    "Nice piece of software...if there was not"

    September 9, 2006  |   By shepherd1777

    Version: Winamp 5.24

    Pros

    clean but a little disassociative, overlapping and uneffective user interface

    Cons

    build in "calling home" spy function and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Controlset001, 2, 3 and Current manipulation. During install, do not answer that you have no Internet connection if you actually have one. If you do that anyway, you really will not have a network and Internet connection anymore after that and your above registry's network entries will be gone. Freeware for the price of lost privacy...

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Back Again"

    September 9, 2006  |   By rafman1936

    Version: Winamp 5.24

    Pros

    Really good. Used WinAmp for years then switched to another program. Tried the new edition for fun, Ha this new WinAmp is the best, good library features, CD burning, all around stable and quick. I'll stick with WinAmp!

    Cons

    None

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  • 5.0 stars

    "GOOD xP"

    September 7, 2006  |   By Bludd

    Version: Winamp 5.24

    Pros

    I've used WinAmp for a while (a year or two) and I've told people about it. This is the best version yet! And easy to custimize (go to wincustimize.com, thousands (literally) of skins and plug-ins, and the more known one is, onviously, WinAmp.com), you don't have to be a computer geek to use this, just a download junky ;)

    Cons

    It can slow down the system a little, but only if you have a crappy computer... Mine is n't exactly ancient technology (an 'edited' version of Windows XP) and I use FreeRan XP Pro, so it helps. And as what's-his/her-face said, they are getting larger and larger as they go, and i always take the full bundle, but the Pros outwiegh the Cons!

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  • 4.0 stars

    "Good, solid program that does all you need it to"

    September 7, 2006  |   By lambophil

    Version: Winamp 5.24

    Pros

    Plays many formats

    A nice change from itunes, Realplayer etc.

    Good, easy interface

    Never had any problems

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Results 1-10 of 59

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