Audacious 4.6.1

Audacious combines high-quality music playback, playlist management, audio effects, and plugin support in a fast, resource-friendly package.

Razvan Serea News Reporter Neowin · Jun 14, 2026 16:00 EDT with 0 comments

Audacious

Audacious is a lightweight, open-source audio player that emphasizes simplicity, performance, and sound quality. Designed for Linux, Windows, and macOS, it supports a wide range of audio formats, internet radio streaming, and playlist management. Users can customize the interface with Winamp-style skins or modern themes, making it flexible for different preferences. Audacious also includes an equalizer, advanced audio effects, and a plugin system for extending functionality. Its low resource usage makes it especially suitable for older computers or users who value efficiency without sacrificing playback quality.

Audacious key features:

High audio quality – delivers clean, gapless playback with minimal distortion.
Wide format support – plays MP3, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, WAV, WMA, and more.
Internet radio streaming – supports Shoutcast, Icecast, and other online streams.
Winamp skin support – classic, nostalgic look for users who prefer the old-school style.
Modern GTK-based interface – clean, simple UI with a more modern feel.
Customizable themes – change appearance through skins and themes.
Advanced playlist management – organize, save, and edit playlists with ease.
Equalizer – fine-tune audio output with a built-in graphical equalizer.
Audio effects – built-in DSP options like crossfade, replay gain, and more.
Plugin system – extend functionality with additional components.
File metadata support – displays and organizes music based on tags.
Drag-and-drop support – quickly add songs or playlists.
Global hotkey support – control playback without switching windows.
Bit-perfect output modes – bypass system mixers for pure audio output.
ReplayGain support – normalizes track loudness automatically.
Cue sheet support – play entire albums from a single audio file with .cue.
MPRIS2 integration – integrates with Linux desktop environments for media controls.
Advanced resampling options – adjust playback quality with different resampler settings.
Gapless playback – seamless transition between tracks encoded properly.
Crossfade plugin – blend one song into the next smoothly.
Last.fm scrobbling plugin – track listening history online.
Remote control support – control Audacious via command-line or scripts.
Lyrics plugin – display song lyrics if available.
Alarm / timer plugin – start or stop playback at set times.
SOX resampler plugin – high-quality resampling for audiophiles.
Spectrum analyzer / visualization plugins – visual feedback while playing music.
Headphone crossfeed effect – simulates speaker listening for headphones.
Customizable buffer size – tweak latency and playback smoothness.