In the age of streaming and digital audio files, one might think that listening to music has never been simpler. In practice, however, especially for more demanding users, it remains a surprisingly complicated business, particularly when we want to combine the convenience of using a smartphone with the capabilities of more advanced audio equipment. When it comes to managing music playback, we usually have two options. The first is to use the app provided by the streaming service itself - quick and intuitive, but offering only basic functionality. Better control over sound or more advanced options are out of the question, and on top of that our player must be compatible with a given app and hold the right certification for it to appear on the list of available output devices at all. The second option is to turn to external software such as Audirvana, Roon or apps supplied by hardware manufacturers such as BluOS, Lumin or Auralic. This is where the trouble begins as well. Either something important is missing, or the app turns out to be clumsy and unstable, or it is excellent, refined and versatile, but expensive. What is missing is a single standard and a common language. Every company goes its own way - some build their own closed ecosystems, others support already existing platforms, and some seem to be waiting, although it is not entirely clear for what. As a result, the user has to improvise and navigate between all these options, which often ends with the use of several different apps. One streamer appears in the streaming service app, another does not. One supports all the popular standards, while with another the wait for certification has already dragged on for a year, and nobody knows whether customers will ever get it. One proprietary app turns out to be polished, another is irritating at every turn. And yet it was all supposed to be so elegant... Streamers, DACs and all-in-one systems are still evolving relatively quickly, but when it comes to apps, the last real breakthrough was Roon, which arrived on the scene ten years ago. That software has also continued to evolve, though perhaps not as quickly as some would like. Meanwhile, a very serious rival has emerged right under our noses. Meet JPLAY.
