Have a huge music collection in FLAC or DSD and want bit-perfect playback with full control over the sound? JRiver Media Center is a long-running audiophile favorite that manages music, video and photos and streams them around the house.
Organizing a music and video library
JRiver Media Center catalogs music and video files so they can be browsed and played from one library. This suits collections that have grown beyond a few folders and makes the catalog the starting point for finding saved media.
The program also supports moving files onto a computer from portable players and cameras. That gives imported media a place in the same library as existing files.
How does playback and streaming work?
Choose items from the library to play them in Media Center, or stream media across devices. Audio can go out bit-perfect through WASAPI or ASIO to a DAC, and DSP Studio adds parametric EQ, room correction, upsampling and speaker setup.
- Use the shared library to browse and start music or video.
- Act as a DLNA server or renderer, or use Media Network and the JRemote apps to play and control music from phones and other PCs.
Disc creation and TV recording
Media Center can create audio CDs and video CDs from media files. With a TV tuner connected, it can record broadcasts directly to the computer's hard drive, keeping captured programs alongside the rest of the collection.
Pros
- Organizes music and video in a shared media library
- Streams media across devices
- Copies files from portable players and cameras
- Records TV tuner broadcasts to a hard drive
Cons
- Busy interface with a steep learning curve
- Major versions are sold separately each year
System requirements: Windows 10, Windows 11
Can JRiver Media Center organize both music and video?
Yes. It catalogs music and video in one media library for browsing and playback.
Can it stream media to other devices?
Yes. Media Center supports streaming across devices.
Can it record television?
Yes. With a TV tuner, it can save recordings to the computer's hard drive.
