Zappiti Pro 4K HDR video player test: finally!

Playing movies and music has always been one of the main tasks of a personal computer. This became especially true after the oblivion of the last cassette HVS and a whole generation of disc DVD players. The computer has become a single center not only for work, but also for leisure. But, like any digital system, it cannot work adequately without special software, in our case a video player.

The multimedia player is one of the first essential programs after installing Windows on your PC. Despite the availability of a relatively good standard Windows Media Player, users choose software from third-party developers. There are several main reasons for this:

• more functions and capabilities;
• expanded range of readable formats;
• better appearance;
• more convenient control.

In our new article, we will look at the 10 best video players for Windows and help you choose the best option.

KMPlayer

The first player in our review will be KMPlayer. It was created by individual developers and employees of the PandoraTV video resource, located in South Korea. The main feature of the program is its versatility and multifunctionality. It is available free of charge in two versions for Windows (32 and 64 bit), Mac OS, Android and iOS.

The first thing this player should be praised for is its support for a huge number of audio and video formats, including: DVD, 3GP, VCD, AVI, MKV, FLV, WMV, OGG, OGM, WMA, MPEG-1,2,4, MP3, RealMedia, QuickTime. Thanks to the presence of its own set of codecs, KMPlayer does not freeze or slow down when playing media files, and also eliminates the need to search for and install a third-party codec pack.

KMPlayer (64X) is one of the advanced 4K/8K players for Windows with 60 FPS frame rate. Correct and full use of the computer's RAM eliminates the appearance of jerks, freezes and artifacts on the screen. The standard 32-bit version, on the contrary, consumes a minimum of resources to work correctly on weak platforms.

The program integrates the functionality of the YouTube service, with which you can watch Internet videos directly in the player and download videos to the PC memory. You can capture your favorite frame or video moment with the function of capturing a screenshot and animation in GIF format.

The appearance of the interface is made in gray and black tones with white text to improve readability. Minimal hidden window frames are informative and do not distract the viewer from viewing. The standard theme can be changed to another from the list of available ones.

Advantages:

• a large list of formats;
• has its own collection of codecs;
• playback in 4k/8k resolution;
• support for reading Blu-Ray and DVD discs with subtitles;
• the player supports 3D video;
• completely free and in Russian;
• There is a version for weak PCs and laptops.

Flaws:

• KMPlayer (64X) is demanding on system resources;

Recommendations for choosing an HD 4K media player

Taking into account the traditionally high price tags of Blu-ray players, it is very important not to make a mistake and purchase a truly high-quality device, the characteristics of which will correspond to the cost. To do this, you should pay attention to just a few key nuances.

Ultra HD Blu-ray only hit the market in 2020. And since then, a massive transition of modern televisions to the 4K format has begun. But the production of players with only Full HD stopped almost immediately.

• Supports various formats. Of course, the more extensions available to the player, the higher its price will be. But saving on such a device is actually pointless. The optimal solution would be to purchase a player that supports the maximum number of audio and video formats. And it’s even better if the prefix is ​​“friendly” with text documents.
• Media compatibility. A high-quality device must work correctly with at least basic types of disk media: Disc, 3D, DVD-RW, DVD-R, CD-RW, CD-R.
• Ability to convert video and audio. It is best to choose a set-top box that, if necessary, will recognize and decode any broadcast image or sound composition. The most popular decoders used in 4K players are Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital, MPEG4, VC-1 and DTS-HD.
• Availability of necessary interfaces. Almost all modern players are equipped with all the standards important for proper operation. The main ones are: Wi-fi, LAN, USB connectors, as well as all kinds of video and audio ports.
• Additional functionality. A nice bonus for any user will be the presence of karaoke, quick start options, child protection, a function for expanding the broadcast image and the ability to control via a smartphone. In addition, please note the possibility of future firmware upgrades and 3D playback.

VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is a multifunctional player with support for network protocols and modern codecs. It is more aimed at active people and specialists involved in streaming or creating servers. The player is published free of charge by the French company VideoLAN.

In terms of the number of supported formats, VLC Media Player does not lag behind its competitors. The software includes the following video codecs by default: MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DivX®, MPEG-4, XviD, 3ivX D4, H.261, H.263 / H.263i, H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC and more a lot others. Thanks to the open source code of the software, the list of features can be supplemented by enthusiastic developers. The program also includes a simple video converter with support for the main formats for conversion.

While watching a movie, you can change display characteristics such as brightness and color saturation, contrast, blur and change the position of the picture. The developers have not forgotten about the subtitles function - VLC Media Player displays subtitles in several languages.

The second purpose of VLC Media Player is to work with the network, namely: receiving and transmitting audio and video broadcasts. With this player, it becomes possible to create an alternative IPTV at home, listen to Internet radio stations, conduct one-way and group streams, or build a server for relaying streaming video.

The VLC Media Player interface is designed without any frills or decorations. The controls resemble those from Windows XP. However, you can make changes to the interface through separately downloadable extensions and open source code.

Advantages:

• availability of music and video codecs;
• free and open source software;
• a simple video converter with support for major formats;
• support for IPv4 or IPv6 network protocols;
• low system requirements;
• very simple and convenient Russified interface.

Flaws:

• The player's boring appearance is reminiscent of programs from the early 2000s.

Media Player Classic

One of the very first and most popular programs for watching video on a computer in the mid-2000s was Media Player Classic. Despite its advanced age, the player still remains relevant, especially on weak and old machines. Its advantages include ease of management and low system requirements. Along with the regular version, there is a more advanced Media Player Classic Home Cinema with integrated support for 64-bit systems, a large number of supported video formats and a built-in Youtube service client.

Unlike the overwhelming number of competitors, Media Player Classic has its own set of codecs. By supporting hardware decoding, it provides high-quality playback of movies and music in common formats: MP3, MPEG, AC3, DTS, WMA, WMV, AVI, CDA, JPEG, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, MP4, MOV, QT, FLV, MKV. Media Player Classic Home Cinema additionally includes H.264 and VC-1 decoders with DXVA.

The player interface looks like early versions of Windows Media Player, and this has its pros and cons. The advantage is the complete absence of additional settings and the simplest possible controls. The downside is the roughness and unsightliness of the shell, the complete opposite of modern trends.

Advantages:

• two versions with support for hardware decoding;
• classic controls and appearance;
• plays CD/DVD discs and Flash videos;
• supports displaying subtitles;
• there is Russian language in the settings;
• minimum system requirements;
• free and open source software.

Flaws:

• boring, outdated shell;
• the developer has stopped supporting both versions.

GOM Player

A fairly well-known old-timer among media players, GOM Player was created by independent developers, and later by the South Korean company Gretech Corporation. Among the main advantages of the program are support for a large number of music and video formats, low system requirements, and a unique design style. The player is available for free use in the form of a regular and advanced version - GOM Player Plus.

The main functionality of the program is based on the support of all leading decoders: FLAC, XVID, DIV1-6, DIVX, DX50, MP41-43, H263, DXGM, H264, MPEG1, MPEG2 and others. This allows GOM Player to launch video files in the following formats: AVI, DIVX, MKV, MP4, WMV, MOV, MPG, M1-2V, VOB, M4V, 3GP, OGG, FLV. This is not a complete list of all readable formats.

A nice feature of GOM Player is its unpretentiousness to the file code. The software is capable of reproducing damaged discs or individual files, trying to recover lost fragments. It can handle even under-downloaded clips and films from the Internet - you will start watching long before the download process is completed. If there is a file with subtitles, the player will begin to display them correctly.

GOM Player is endowed with a practical interface that is unlike other models. Large stylized metal buttons and correct Russian translation make the player easy to use both with a mouse and a touchpad. It is worth mentioning the possibility of binding keyboard “hot keys” to certain functions. This option is especially convenient when working from a laptop.

Advantages:

• multi-format player with codecs included;
• GOM Player Plus supports 64-bit OS and 4K video playback;
• the standard version is not demanding on system resources;
• plays video recordings in virtual reality and 3D mode;
• reads underloaded and damaged files and disks;
• original bright interface with translation into Russian;
• free license.

Flaws:

• the developer has stopped supporting the regular version of GOM Player.

PotPlayer

This video player was developed by the South Korean telecommunications company Daum (later Kakao) as an alternative to the acclaimed KMPlayer. The main differences lie in the support for advanced video processing technologies. The program is released free of charge for two types of operating systems with 32 and 64-bit bits.

PotPlayer is not inferior to, and even surpasses, its competitor in the number of supported formats and codecs. It implements DXVA video codecs: H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC, VC-1, MPEG2. Support for QuickSync and CUDA technologies ensures high quality viewing of video files in all current formats with the possibility of hardware acceleration using the resources of the video adapter. The video player recognizes most models of 3D glasses for watching movies with 3D effects.

The program performs well as an audio player and allows you to fine-tune the sound using a set of audio filters and an equalizer. In the settings, the user can select the sound adapter that will participate in sound processing. Playing music is accompanied by beautiful visualizations in the form of oscillograms.

The PotPlayer interface is as simplified as possible and does not cause discomfort. Anyone can change the standard view to the themes preset in the list of settings. There is a Russian translation of the text.

Advantages:

• support for modern video processing technologies;
• built-in DXVA codecs;
• display subtitles in different languages;
• takes screenshots and video captures;
• intuitive interface in Russian;
• free software

Flaws:

• not found.

KMPlayer - 4K player

KMP player is a high-quality 4K player for Windows 10 and 7. The system has built-in not only old, but also new codecs , which are connected automatically when playback starts. The application is available in Russian, the outer shell may change depending on the selected skin.

In addition to the ability to play files in high resolution, KMPlayer can display subtitles, is equipped with a panel for quick image adjustments, and automatically receives updates over the network.

Player advantages

Users can download the player for free. The system will not require additional keys or paid subscriptions. During installation, you can choose to unpack files in Russian.

Functionality and benefits of the latest version of KMPlayer:

• free distribution;
• simple and intuitive interface;
• availability of a version with Russian language;
• built-in themes and skins;
• launching damaged files;
• playing audio and video in any format;
• built-in panel with image settings;
• high-quality equalizer with the ability to independently adjust;
• Frame-by-frame slowdown or acceleration of video;
• 3D support;
• noise reduction that improves image quality;
• subtitle support.

The player can be installed on a computer running any version of Windows. During installation, the system independently takes into account the bit depth and is suitable for 32/64 Bit.

Important. To receive updates, your computer must be connected to the Internet. The new version receives all the necessary settings and codecs to play any file.

User reviews

After installation, the player is automatically integrated into Windows Explorer. To launch the file, just double-click with the left mouse button.

Users note the quick connection of plugins, the ability to work with any media files, as well as a pleasant appearance.

Negative points include unobtrusive advertising , which is displayed when the player starts on the main screen. It is impossible to disable it; accidentally pressing it leads to a transition to the site.

RealPlayer

RealPlayer is one of the oldest media players that is still supported by developers to this day. Since its release in 1995, it has undergone significant changes, while maintaining its main feature – cross-platform and “omnivorous” video player. RealPlayer is published in four versions: Free, Plus, Premium and 100GB.

Multimedia RealPlayer allows you to watch videos and listen to music in all modern formats. In addition to playback, there is a function for direct and reverse conversion of video files (conversion occurs from any to any format). To save videos from the Internet in Real Player there is a video grabber that works with leading video hosting sites, including YouTube. The developers also left the still relevant function of playing and burning CDs and DVDs.

The program will appeal to professional streamers - you can broadcast and receive streaming video on the Internet, or by connecting an Xbox or SmartTV. Real provides access to its own cloud services, allocating the amount of free space according to the subscription plan.

Externally, RealPlayer is no different from the interface of its competitors. Despite the high quality of the interface, the developers did not import the Russian language, which is quite rare in 2020.

Advantages:

• Supports all commonly used music, video and image formats;
• The program includes a video grabber and converter;
• Software for streaming from various platforms;
• own web browser focused on the RealCloud service;
• multi-platform player for PC and mobile devices;
• providing a choice of several subscription options;
• RealPlayer Free is completely free.

Flaws:

• there is no Russian-language interface.

BS.Player

An undemanding but very functional player, BS.Player was created by Webteh in Slovenia. This is the best option for turning outdated office PCs and laptops into a home (or portable) theater. The developer offers a regular or advanced paid Pro version with some improvements.

BS.Player has the necessary minimum codecs for reading movies and music. The distribution itself does not contain a codec pack, but after installation the program checks the PC for their presence, after which it offers to automatically download and install the missing components. BS Player works with the following popular audio and video formats: AVI, MPEG 1-2, MP3, XVID, MKV, ASF, WMV, M1V, M2V, WAV, MOV, MP4, MPV, OGG, AAC, SWF, M3U, VOB and others. The PRO version additionally plays DVD-video.

Zoom Player

Zoom Player is positioned as one of the best replacements for Windows Media Player on your home PC. The developer and publisher of the product is the Israeli company Inmatrix LTD. By tradition, the developer offers us two versions with regular or advanced functionality (Zoom Player Max - paid).

The reviewed player can work with about 100 different formats of video, music, images, animation and subtitles, but the user will have to install the codecs themselves. It automatically plays movies on DVD and Blu-Ray discs, opens archives in RAR and ZIP formats, creates and saves playlists in ZPL, B4S, M3U and WPL. For smooth viewing of high-resolution videos (2K and 4K), DXVA hardware acceleration is supported using the processing power of the video card.

The player contains streaming functions, in particular, broadcasting and receiving video on the Internet (similar to IPTV), Internet radio and surfing on video hosting sites. Unlike the Free version, Zoom Player Max has its own file manager, quick access to your media library and a multimedia file scanner on your PC. One of the main features of Zoom Player is the TV picture scaling function, which eliminates distortions and hides imperfections in the frame when viewing.

The player is controlled in three ways: mouse, hot keys and remote control. The interface looks lively, colorful, and vaguely resembles the standard WMP final versions. In addition to standard controls, the main panel displays sliders for adjusting color rendering, equalizer, channel balance, and others. The appearance and order of the tools are customizable using built-in and additionally downloadable plugins.

Advantages:

• one of the best players for home use;
• reasonable consumption of system resources;
• there is hardware video support;
• many picture quality settings and a 10-band equalizer;
• receiving and transmitting broadcasts from the Internet;
• support for video with 4K resolution;
• remote control control;
• There is a Russian-language interface.

Flaws:

• no default codecs.

5K Player

A free player for watching videos in 4K resolution, supporting AMD hardware acceleration, CUDA and DXVA v2 technologies. Can play streaming video, compressed with advanced codecs, from dozens of online services and audio. There is a function to record a stream or fragment of an open movie to a file with UHD resolution.

The video player detects an audio track with multi-channel sound in any format and decodes it without loss, delighting with realistic voice acting of scenes. Downloads streaming video with subtitles in the specified quality. AirPlay technology allows you to send a ready-made video signal in high quality to Apple portable devices.

Peculiarities:

• Playback video compressed by any codec on a PC without additional software.
• Transfer a display-ready signal to iPhone and iPad .
• Hardware acceleration.
• TrueTheater technology stretches 720p to Full HD .
• Download multimedia from more than 300 resources.
• Built-in player for listening and recording radio.
• Combines the functions of a cataloguer.

Connected to a DLNA network consisting of a controller, server and renderer, which allows compatible devices to interact: exchange content on a principle similar to torrents. It will display the image on several screens at the same time or stretch it across a pair of monitors.

PowerDVD Ultra

Finally, I would like to consider one of the most powerful home video players for medium-performance systems, PowerDVD Ultra. The well-known Taiwanese IT company CyberLink has been developing its product from the late 1990s to the present day, positioning the player as a universal tool for reading any format of music and video. The standard cost of a license without discounts is 99€.

The first thing we can praise this player for is its support for all certified video, music and image formats: UHD BD, 3D-360°, 360° Video, MP3, AAC, 3GP, AVC, AVI, DVR-MS, MP2, BMP, MKV, MOD, MOV, FLAC, JPEG, MP4, MPEG, MIDI, TIFF, MPV, WMV, ALAC, BD3D, BD/DVD ISO, AC3, HEVC. This is not a complete list of decoder formats, which supports hardware acceleration, allowing you to display heavy films in 2K and 4K resolution.

Information processing algorithms allow you to view 3D-360° virtual reality video on a monitor, Smart TV or through VR glasses without any performance degradation. Having a system with minimal performance by modern standards, you will have access to movies on Blu-ray and DVD in high definition Ultra HD. TrueTheater quality improvement technology will remove noise, picture defects and optimize sound volume. PowerDVD Ultra outputs Dolby and DTS-enabled audio to 5.1 and 7.1 audio systems.

The player works great with TVs, turning them into full-fledged home media centers. This requires connecting your computer to your TV via HDMI and turning on TV Mode when you launch PowerDVD Ultra. The user gets access to any films, TV shows and streams, as well as video hosting sites (YouTube). Any frame or segment you like can be saved to the memory of a PC or laptop.

Advantages:

• a universal codec for working with all current media formats today;
• reading DVD and Blu-ray discs in high quality;
• hardware support for video with resolutions up to 4K;
• audio output to multi-channel audio systems;
• displaying broadcasts from the Internet, mobile and gaming devices on the screen/TV;
• regular updates and technical support;
• Russian-language stylish interface;
• PowerDVD Free Trial is available for free temporary use.

Flaws:

• high price of the product;
• high system requirements.

Understanding Blu-Ray technologies

The emergence of high-quality video media formats and technology designed for its playback was preceded by a long history. However, even today, not all people clearly understand the differences between certain types of recording discs and picture formats displayed on the TV screen.

Find out which is better, an Android TV or a smart TV, from our new article with the TOP-15 smart TV rating of 2020.

Features of Blu-Ray discs

Technologies that make it possible to place a large amount of information on a standard 12-centimeter disk began to be developed back in the early 2000s. Already in 2006, the first Blu-ray media was presented. Its key feature was that a special violet laser with a shorter wavelength was used for reading and writing. The parameters of the reading beam made it possible to encode information in the form of narrower tracks, which made it possible to place two or even three or four times more on the same segment. In the media niche where it was necessary to record several films in high quality on a disc, Blu-Ray discs eventually completely replaced their direct competitors - the HD DVD format.

Features of Blu-Ray discs

On a note! The size of a standard BD is 23 GB. Double-layer discs, which are the most popular, hold twice as much information. The largest media created using this technology held 320 GB - it was produced by TDK.

4K (HD Ultra) Picture

Unlike the designation of an image in television broadcasting, where the vertical scan is taken as the basis, the picture in a digital video signal from media players is designated along the horizontal side of the frame. So a 4K image is approximately 4 thousand pixels arranged horizontally. The most popular format, UHD, is 3840 by 2160 pixels. This gives a picture of extreme clarity, when the smallest element is still displayed in several pixels. Accordingly, the graininess of such an image is minimal, and the transmission of volume, depth and smoothness of movements is unparalleled. True, the film in Ultra HD resolution has a very large volume. This is where Blu-Ray discs, already firmly established in the consumer sector, came to the rescue.

Video - What is the difference between HD, 4K, 8K, DIY in 5

Summarizing

In our article, we presented a rating of the 10 best video players for a computer, based only on our subjective opinion. Having a general understanding of each program will make it easier for you to make your final choice. To make your choice even easier, we will compare the most suitable options for your specific situation.

For a laptop and a simple computer, Media Player Classic and VLC Media Player are ideal options. The first player performs the basic functions of playing music and video in acceptable quality, and is suitable for everyone without exception. The second is aimed at advanced users for watching Internet TV shows, broadcasting streams, and “boosting” servers.

The best home options are KMPlayer and PotPlayer. They are free and have a maximum range of functions, which is useful for high-quality viewing of films in 2K and 4K with support for multi-channel audio systems.

We chose PowerDVD Ultra, which is a leader in its category, as the “for majors” option. It is equipped with exclusive audio and video processing technologies not available in free software. However, all this costs a lot of money and requires decent technical characteristics from the system.

Bottom line

In conclusion, I would like to note where we started. To watch 4K, purchasing one 4K TV for your home does not solve the problem of high-quality playback. There is no need to approach this trivially by purchasing a cool 4K TV. The thesis “4K television in every home” is still far from perfect and ultimately comes down to a large sum that will have to be spent.

To achieve exactly high quality 4K, you need to strive for excellent equipment in the complex.
Perhaps you should look at the “last century” with a resolution of 1080i/1080p, and it will not seem so bad in terms of price and quality. And one last piece of advice. At the beginning of the article is the date when it was written. Today the article is relevant. But if you are reading this article after 3 years, then many parameters and prices may change greatly. What do you need to watch 4K2017-06-22T08:52:48+00:00 VoVVideoWhat do you need to watch 4K? It is clear that this is not only about having a TV that supports 4K screen resolution. The main component of a home entertainment system is a 4K-compatible TV, and that's clear and obvious. The price of such a TV cannot be low. But besides the 4K TV itself, some things are needed, for example, 4K content, external...VoVVoV AuthorUltraHD