I mentioned
Vortexbox in a post about 3 pages ago. So I installed it on the same PC to which I had WS2012 installed. I simply removed the HDD, installed another, then installed Vortexbox.
I write this just for the sake of comparison becuase I think it is interesting, and hopefully others do too.
Vortexbox sounds HUGE, and dynamics are huge. Its the audio equivalent of a top fuel racer.
Vortexbox sounds like the music is free flowing and completely unrestricted. Bass is fat, mids are forward, treble is vibrant and sparkling. Dynamic attack is probably as good as it gets!
However, the one problem is that it does sound a bit grainy across the entire frequency spectrum - to my ears anyway.
I was able to power down the PC and swap HDD in a matter of about 2 minutes, so that the same tracks were fresh in my mind.
MQn 2.66 mfence in comparison, has much less bass, much less dynamics, but clearly excels in terms of much lower noise, and overall clarity.
These two softwares suit different people, or different systems, or different moods.
If you prefer dynamics, and want the full bass weight and attack, then Vortexbox is the one for you.
If you prefer soundstage, and low noise background, then MQn is for you.
Both allowed me to enjoy music in different ways.
If the low noise of MQn could be combined with the dynamics of Vortexbox then I think we would have the ultimate audio playback.
I think its really important to compare all music players. From what I have heard over the years, Im not sure that there is a best player, but probably that different players present music in a different way, suit different moods and/or systems. What I've written above is not an endorsement of one software over the other. Take it as being complimentary about both.
I intend to try installing XBMC (openelec) on the same computer later this week and will compare it to Vortexbox, MQn etc.