This is a new application I'm using to play all FLAC files, still searching for my favorite. What I like about it is that it auto looks for your files and allows you to re-write the FLAC metadata, which the programs I have tried have yet to give me.
So far:
VLC: garbage audio. Not only does it always seem to be pushing 150% and clipping no matter what i set my default to; but even when it's below clipping there are awful pops and noise in the left channel.
Cog: Next step up. Friendlier iTunes like interface, but only saves shortcuts that it needs to reload every time you open it. This makes it slightly annoying to quickly select something. Also clicking and dragging a FLAC folder into the dock icon won't auto play it. This was a feature that every other one of these programs have. The fact that it stores a catalog but doesn't copy it is nice for not creating duplicates and easy for deleting since you never have to worry about it moving files. Pretty good program, just some annoyances.
Vox: This is what I was using up until I installed Lion on my laptop a few days ago and I need to give +Raul Garcia credit for showing me it. Like Cog, it saves the short cuts. The only difference is that it looks just like an iTunes mini-player. Small, customizable color, cute. I selected it as my default app to open FLAC and wav files; and by double clicking any song in the finder folder, vox will automatically play it and link the rest of the album. Lightweight on your cpu. It may actually be too light; seeing as when I play music from my external hardrive, the hardrive will go idle and cut out the audio. I then half to wit the 10 seconds to get my hardrive running again. 10 seconds is a lot in a 2:20 song. Either way I was making do and not minding. Vox is great but not yet compatible for Lion. The developer has stated on his website, however, that there will be a major update coming soon and was all developed on Lion. I'll keep my ear to the ground.
Songbird seems to be cool so far but we will see if problems arise....
**I have notived that the app does not work with my keyboard commands on my Macbook (the play, FF, and RW buttons)
Vox
Cog
Songbird
