Windows media player hdr

Подходит только у кого есть поддержка HDR на мониторе или телеке (ну можно и в SDR, если хотите что бы у вас работал отличный апскейлер). Моё мнение по LCD такое же, как в теме про долби вижн, забудьте и смотрите SDR, изображение будет лучше. Только тем у кого ОЛЕД.

Есть множество разных способов просмотра HDR на ПК, но самый популярный и один из лучших вариантов для этого — Media player classic + MadVR. По качеству не сравнимо со встроенным плеером телеков. Оно будет гораздо выше.

Про media player classic знают все, а вот про MadVR нет.

MadVR — это кодек для воспроизведения HDR и не только. Считается самым лучшим для этого. Так же, он отлично делает апскеил фильмов с Full HD до 4к.

Начнём.

Нужно скачать media player classic и установить.

Затем устанавливаем MadVR. Т.к. разраб MadVR ушёл в коммерцию, он давно перестал обновлять программу, но появились энтузиасты и понемногу пилят обновления

Есть ограничение, т.к. сборка тестовая, её нужно будет обновлять каждые пол года. Оповещение об этом будем в самом плеере.

Установка MadVR.

Просто кидаем распакованную папку MadVR в папку media player classic и запускаем, от имени администратора, фаил install

Всё. Установка всего, что нужно завершена.

Далее идут настройки.

Качаем уже готовые настройки MadVR от меня (всё настроено конкретно под моё железо и на максимальное качество, кто запускает на тостере, может понадобиться донастройка)

Кидаем в папку с плеером с заменой.

Запускаем плеер, заходим в настройки — вывод и выбираем рендер «MadVR»

Жмём настройки напротив madVR — Edit Settings и открывает папку Devices

У вас будет так. То что серым нужно будет удалить. То что активно — это ваш монитор или телевизор.

В активной вкладке выбираем digital monitor

Дальше всё как на скриншотах

Практически все фильмы записаны в 24 кадра в секунду и что бы была максимальная синхронизация кадр��в строка switch to помогает автоматически переводить герцовку монитора или телевизора на 24,25,29,30. Если у вас не 4к, то меняем 2160 на ваше разрешение (если у вас будут какие-то глюки с переключением герцовки, то просто удалите содержимое этой строки). Это ещё важно для владельцев телеков, если хотите, что бы у вас заработали все улучшайзеры, которые обычно горят серым (но советую всё отключить к хренам, они только портят картинку, кроме дорисовки кадров Trumotion, что бы добавить плавность картинке).

Ещё, телевизор должен быть обязательно в режиме игровой приставки, чтобы улучшайзеры работали, а не ПК. На LG это меняется долгим нажатие на домик, сверху 3 точки, изменить выход, нажать на значок с картинкой и выбрать джойстик. Или ��роще через ColorControl, я о ней писал раньше.

Ну и самая важная вкладка с HDR.

Нас интересует только левая часть. Правая, где множество настроек нужна для очень тонкой настройки HDR, ничего не трогайте, особо разницы не почувствуете.

Да, благодаря этой вкладке, HDR будет автоматом подрубаться, когда вы запускаете фильм. Не нужно тыркать ползунок в винде.

Всё, остальные папки относятся к апскейлу и уже всё настроено.

Можете ещё зайти сюда и если галочки не стоят, то мои настройки применились успешно

Закрываем окно и открываем встроенные фильтры

Жмём на декодр видео и ставим всё как у меня

Опционально можете ещё настроить декодр аудио. Но это для тех у кого оптика или долби атмос.

После этих настроек закрываем всё и открывает панель инвидии или амд. У меня инвидия, показываю на ней

Настраиваем параметры, выделены жирным, конкретно под плеер.

Ну и всё.

Дальше бежим искать фильм с HDR. Раздача должна выглядить так

Качаем и наслаждаемся HDR фильмом.

Что бы проверить, точно ли всё работает исправно, во время просмотра фильма выйдите из полноэкранного режима и если в окне плеера картинка стала тусклой, а в полном экране цвета в норме, то всё работает.

Небольшое дополнение. HDR на фильмах очень разный, где-то тусклый, где-то отличный. Лучший HDR где я видел это в фильме 1917, сериал про мандалорца 2 сезон и сериал властелин колец. На них можете глянуть, как должен выглядеть настоящий HDR.

Есть ещё настройки в самом телеке и ещё глубокая калибровка телека или монитора на оборудование за 2 ляма рублей, но это уже другая история. :)

Introduction 

HDR video, an abbreviation for High Dynamic Range videos, represents cutting-edge entertainment, providing viewers with an immersive visual experience characterized by vivid colors, heightened contrast, and enhanced brightness. This technology offers the ability to maintain focus between subjects and backgrounds while adjusting brightness levels accordingly. However, due to its novelty, not all video players can handle HDR content, making it essential to identify those that do. We’ve curated a list of the top 10 best HDR video players to streamline your search.

sdr and hdr10 introduction and processing effect

What purpose does an HDR Video Player serve, and why is it essential for optimal viewing experiences?

HDR, or High Dynamic Range, enriches the contrast and intricacy of the picture, thereby enhancing its overall quality. As HDR content becomes increasingly ubiquitous, the demand for HDR playback escalates. 

However, achieving optimal HDR playback requires more than a compatible display and graphics card; it requires a dedicated HDR player tailored to your system that retains the HDR format without down-converting it to SDR. This underscores the significance of an HDR player. Whether you’re a Windows/Mac user or prefer HDR playback on your iOS or Android smart device, we’ve covered you with our top recommendations, complete with pricing, advantages, and disadvantages, to facilitate your decision-making process.

Taking A Detailed Look At Our Top 3 Software

Please continue reading to discover the criteria we used to select and rank the top three tools. Learn about the standout features of each software and how they stack up against the competition.

Name PlayerFab UHD Player VLC Media Player DivX Player
OS Windows Windows, Mac, Android & iOS Mac
Price $59.99 Free Free
Supported video formats HEVC, MP4, MKV, MOV, FLV, VOB, etc. MKV, AVI, MP4, OGG, AAC AVI, DIVX, MKV, and MP4.
Video Resolution Support Up to 4K Up to 4K Up to 4K

Best HDR Player For Windows/Mac

We’ve curated a selection of the finest HDR players for Windows and Mac users to elevate your entertainment experience with stunning visuals. Let’s explore our top picks:

1. PlayerFab Ultra HD Player

PlayerFab Ultra HD Player revolutionizes the viewing experience by seamlessly playing all (4K) Blu-rays from any country or region, eliminating the hassle of region code restrictions. Users can enjoy the familiar navigation menus found on traditional DVD and Blu-ray players, ensuring an immersive cinematic experience. Viewers also have the option to skip extras and commercials, jumping straight to the main movie title for instant enjoyment. Read on to understand how PlayerFab Ultra HD Player offers unparalleled versatility and convenience for movie enthusiasts.

OS: Windows

Price: $59.99

Pros:

  • PlayerFab Ultra HD Player effortlessly plays physical discs, ISO files, and movie folders, providing versatile playback options.
  • Leveraging hardware decoding from advanced GPUs such as AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA, PlayerFab optimizes playback smoothness for high-resolution videos without overburdening the CPU.
  • Experience immersive 3D movie playback with support for 3D Blu-ray discs, ISO files, and various 3D video formats, offering four 3D output modes for compatibility with different display setups.
  • Easily manage and locate media files with a well-organized poster wall, automatically downloading metadata information for comprehensive library management.

Cons:

  • It might be more difficult to master than other HDR players.

2. VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player

Mac & Windows users seeking a reliable, efficient video player need look no further, as VLC seamlessly supports formats like MKV, AVI, and 4K video. Thanks to its powerful hardware decoding capabilities, VLC ensures swift playback of media files, even on demanding scenes, without the intrusion of ads or spyware. 

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux, 

Price: Free

Pros:

  • VLC provides users with playback speed options while maintaining audio pitch, whether they want to slow down or increase the playback rate.
  • VLC boasts the most complete feature set, including video and subtitle synchronization and various video and audio filters.
  • With VLC, users can cut and trim videos directly within the player, eliminating the need for separate editing software to remove sections or make edits.
  • Additionally, its screen recording and capturing functionalities enhance its appeal for users seeking comprehensive multimedia solutions.

Cons:

  • Lacks a built-in media library to organize and manage media files. 

3. 5KPlayer

5KPlayer interface

5KPlayer emerges as a standout choice for users encountering HDR video playback issues. This free media player excels in playing 8K/4K HDR videos in various formats like MKV, MP4, HEVC, and H.264. It ensures smooth video playback by offering three options for hardware acceleration—NVIDIA, Intel QSV, and DXVA2-Microsoft. Beyond HDR video playback, 5KPlayer facilitates free downloading of HDR videos from video-hosting sites and streaming HDR video from computer to HDR TV.  For better enjoy HDR videos streaming, get to know how to download HDR videos and upload HDR videos to YouTube here.

OS: Windows & Mac

Price: Free

Pros:

  • It is capable of playing 4K/1080p/360° video, DVD, and IPTV.
  • Users can wirelessly stream audio video via AirPlay & DLNA.
  • You can download videos from over 300 sites like Dailymotion and Vimeo.
  • It supports converting online movie video soundtracks to MP3 or AAC music format.

Cons:

  • It might not feel adequately user-friendly for beginners. 

4. DivX Player

DivX interface

DivX Media Player is a robust video player tailored for Mac users seeking top-tier video playback. Notably, it supports AC3 and DTS audio and cloud storage syncing—a feature not commonly found in other video players. 

OS: Mac Mojave (10.14) or later.

Price: DivX Player is free, but to enjoy more features, you can buy DivX Pro for $22.49

Pros:

  • DivX Media Player offers support for high-quality video up to 4K resolution.
  • This player can handle various video formats, including AVI, DIVX, MKV, and MP4.
  • DivX Media Player features a standout media library that helps users organize their videos, create playlists, and seamlessly loop content for continuous playback.
  • Users can utilize the built-in media server to cast music, videos, and more within their home network.

Cons: 

  • If you are a professional user, the free features of DivX Player won’t be much help; you will have to subscribe to DivX Pro.

5. KMPlayer

KMPlayer interface

KMPlayer is a top-notch video player for PC, offering a user-friendly interface and impressive features. It supports Ultra HD, 3D movies, straightforward subtitles, online streaming, and even works with external digital TVs. With advanced options for video control, post-processing effects, and customizable video capture, it delivers a rich viewing experience. 

Operating System: Windows

Price: Free

Pros:

  • It can handle all video formats, including Ultra HD with 4K resolution, 3D movies, and even corrupted or locked media files.
  • KMPlayer includes the latest high-quality codecs like HEVC, h.265, h.264, and VP9 for improved video quality.
  • Users have complete control over video playback, including resizing, post-processing effects, codec configuration, and real-time video capture with customizable output.
  • Offers support to over 42 languages, including English, Korean, Japanese, and Spanish.

Cons:

  • Bundleware might get installed while downloading the tool. 

Best HDR Player For Android/iOS

Dive into an immersive viewing experience enhanced by lifelike colors, brightness, and contrast offered by HDR visuals. Check out the options below to find the best HDR video players for Android and iOS in 2024. 

1. Lark Player

Lark Player interface

Lark Player is a sleek, free offline music and SDR to HDR video player for Android devices. It supports various offline music and video formats and boasts features like a powerful equalizer, integrated lyrics, and a user-friendly interface. With file management capabilities, users can easily organize their media, create playlists, and delete unwanted files. 

Operating System: Android 4.4 and higher

Price: Free with optional in-app purchases starting at $1.14 per item.

Pros:

  • Powerful equalizers and preset modes help personalize the sound effects during offline play.
  • Compatible with all popular audio formats including WAV, MP3, AAC, MIDI, FLAC, etc. It can also play video formats like MOV, MP4, MKV, etc.
  • You can create and manage playlists easily according to artist, song, genre, and more criteria.
  • Users can switch between the day and night theme.

Cons:

  • Users have often complained that a file stops playing automatically after a prolonged stretch of 5 minutes.

2. CNX Player 

CNX Player interface

CnX Player is a robust video player app designed for iOS & Android devices, offering smooth playback of 1080p and 4K 10-bit HDR content. It ensures compatibility with diverse media files by supporting popular video formats like MKV, TS, Webm, MP4, and more, along with codecs including HEVC, VP9, VP8, and H.264

Operating System: macOS 11.0 or later, iOS 8.0 or later & Android 5.0 and up

Price: Free with optional in-app purchases starting at $4.20 per item.

Pros:

  • It supports various resolutions and audio codecs, making it a must-have for users seeking high-quality video playback.
  • The intuitive interface helps arrange videos in List view or Grid view.
  • You have the option to modify the playback speed anywhere between 0.5 times slower to 2 times faster.
  • Supports multiple Arabic, Japanese, Portuguese, Korean, Spanish, English, and more subtitles. 

Cons:

  • GUI might seem very outdated.

3. VLC App 

VLC, a multimedia player, is freely accessible and open-source, compatible with various platforms. It supports various formats for movies, shows, and music without conversion. It offers file synchronization with multiple cloud services and allows for direct downloads, Wi-Fi sharing, and streaming from different media servers and the web. 

Operating System: tvOS 11.0 or later, visionOS 1.0 or later, iOS 9.0 or later & Android 4.2 and up

Price: Free utility

Pros:

  • Can play both network streams, audio & video files, DVD ISOs, and more.
  • Supports formats like MP4, OGG, MKV, AAC, and more.
  • Offers support towards closed captions, teletext, and subtitles.
  • You can directly browse folders from its built-in media library.

Cons:

  • Video freezes often on being re-winded or fast fast-forwarded. 

4. MX Player

MX Player boasts a vast library of over 150,000 hours of premium content in multiple local languages, making it your ultimate entertainment destination. With MX Player, you can enjoy seamless video playback with gesture controls, download your favorite videos for offline viewing, create personalized watchlists, and even play music in the background while browsing other content. 

Operating System: VisionOS 1.0 or later, iOS 12.0 or later & Android 5.0 and up

Price: Free with in-app purchases starting at $5.98 yearly.

Pros:

  • It offers a privacy folder to hide sensitive videos.
  • You can keep your children entertained without compromising on their safety.
  • Offers easy controls for changing brightness, volume, backtrack, subtitles, etc.
  • An efficient file manager helps you find your favorite movies easily. 

Cons:

  • The notification panel doesn’t have the ‘Shuffle’ and ‘Loop’ buttons.

5. Archos Video Player

Archos Video Player interface

Experience seamless video playback across tablets, phones, and AndroidTV with the highly praised Archos Video Player app. With hardware-accelerated video decoding supporting a wide array of formats, including MKV, MP4, AVI, WMV, and FLV, alongside the multi-audio track and subtitle support for file types like SRT, SUB, ASS, and SMI, Archos Video Player stands as the ultimate choice for an immersive video experience.

Operating System: Android

Price: Free with optional in-app purchases starting at $0.72  

Pros:

  • Supports buttery smooth decoding of files.
  • AndroidTV users can benefit from a dedicated “lean back” UI.
  • You can play 3D TV content in top-bottom and side-by-side modes.
  • Users can enhance the audio level of files that haven’t been appropriately encoded. 

Cons:

  • Users have complained of the application installing malicious bugs in their system alongside advertisement pop-ups. 

Standard definition videos lack the vibrancy found in HDR content, particularly in shadow and highlight detail. This deficiency has driven the global embrace of HDR content, which boasts a broader color spectrum, enhancing image brightness for a more lifelike display. Though the players mentioned above excel at handling HDR content seamlessly, what options remain if you’re initially confined to SDR content? In such instances, a specialized ai video upscaler is indispensable for enhancing videos from SDR to HDR10 or Dolby Vision, thereby enriching the viewing experience. Please continue reading to discover our expert recommendation for the ultimate upscaler to elevate your viewing pleasure.

Transform SDR to HDR10 or Dolby Vision with UniFab

Utilize advanced AI algorithms to enhance your viewing pleasure by transforming standard dynamic range (SDR) videos into high dynamic range (HDR10) or Dolby Vision formats using UniFab HDR Upconverter AI. With UniFab’s HDR upscaling capabilities, take your video quality to the next level by upscaling to Dolby Vision standard. Enjoy unparalleled picture quality, with dynamic metadata optimizing brightness, color saturation, and detail on a frame-by-frame basis.  If you want to enhance your video from every genre, like the resolution, audio and denoise, you can choose the comprehensive AI video enhancer solution- UniFab All-In-One.

UniFab HDR Upconverter AI processing effect

Conclusion

With the rising availability of HDR content, the demand for HDR video players is also growing. Numerous developers are crafting HDR video players to provide users with an unparalleled visual experience, showcasing vibrant colors and lifelike lighting. Today, we’ve explored various tools designed to play HDR content on your Windows, Mac, and Android devices. While all these utilities promise top-notch performance, PlayerFab Ultra HD Player distinguishes itself by offering the versatility to play 4K Blu-ray discs, HDR10, ISO files, and more. Opt for this all-in-one video player to meet all your media playback needs. Choose PlayerFab Ultra HD Player for comprehensive functionality on Windows or Mac.

FAQs 

Discuss Windows 10 and HDR Compatibility

Windows 10 supports High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology, offering a wider color and luminance range for more vibrant visuals on compatible displays. However, to make the most of HDR, both the monitor and graphics card must support it, and users need to enable HDR in the display settings. 

What is the HDR Experience on Windows 11?

HDR can significantly improve visual quality on Windows 11, given you have an HDR-compatible display and content. It brings richer colors, better contrast, and a more immersive viewing experience. 

What is the Video File Compatibility on MacBook Pro?

Mac OS supports various audio and video file formats, such as QuickTime movie files (.mov), most MPEG files (.mp4, .m4v, .m4a, .mp3, .mpg), and sometimes AVI and WAV files, which can be played using the QuickTime player.

Contents:

  1. HDR Setup Guide
    1. Overview
    2. Common Settings
      1. Hardware
      2. Software
    3. Local Content
      1. Kodi
      2. VLC
      3. MPC-BE + MPC Video Renderer
      4. MPC-HC/MPC-BE + madVR
      5. Kodi + MPC-HC + madVR
      6. DSPlayer Kodi + madVR
      7. Potplayer
      8. Plex HTPC
      9. Plex Media Player (old)
    4. Streaming Content (Netflix, Youtube, etc..)
    5. HDR Tests
    6. MadVR Performance Settings Per GPU
    7. Android (This section is Deprecated, see Common Settings)

HDR Setup Guide

Overview

  • This setup guide is only for HDR10 passthrough and simple tonemapping.
  • Dolby Vision/HDR10+ is not discussed here as no stable passthrough options exist on a PC. For basic Profile 5/8 support, either use JRiver and it’s own dynamic tonemapping with basic DV metadata, MPC Video Renderer in MPC-BE with static tonemapping, or read this post for other experimental support; otherwise buy a Media Device.
  • Read our HDR section of the Wiki FAQ for detailed information on PC hardware requirements.
  • This guide is for HT displays only. Neither monitors, nor multiple displays are officially supported here.
  • We assume your display, video chain and media player have already been configured/calibrated properly for SDR/non-HDR content before you venture into a HDR setup below. If not, you are urged to follow the setup sections in the Video Setup Guide of the Wiki first.
  • You are strongly urged to test out the simple setups below before moving onto the advanced ones. Do NOT skip any steps or make changes to the settings below until you verify HDR is working. Only then should you go back and make changes specific to your setup.

Common Settings

Hardware

  • Requirements:
    • TV/Projector: HDMI >= 2.0/DisplayPort >= 1.3, HDR10, 10-bit panel, OLED/Mini-LED TV Recommended
    • HTPC: HDR-capable PC / Media Device
    • Cables: Premium/Ultra-Certified HDMI Cables
  • TV/Projector settings:
    • Must be the ONLY display connected to the system before configuration
    • GPU connected to display’s HDMI >= 2.0/DisplayPort >= 1.3 port
    • UHD Deep Color/Input Signal Plus/Enhanced turned On for your display’s HDMI port (setting name dependent on TV mfgr)
    • Black Level to Full/Normal (if available)
    • Colorspace/Input Level/Range to RGB Full/Expanded/Enhanced/0-255 (if available)
  • AV Receiver settings (if in-between PC and Display):
    • HDMI Format/4k Signal Format set to Enhanced

Software

  • Windows:
    • GPU settings:
      • Intel
        • Intel Graphics Control Panel/Command Center app
          • Settings location varies per app/driver version
          • Display -> General -> Display Settings
            • Resolution: 3840×2160
            • Refresh: 24/30/60Hz
          • Display -> Genenal / Display -> Color/Color Settings
            • Color Depth: BPC_8 (HDMI 2.0), BPC_10 (HDMI 2.1) / Highest (32-bit)
            • Color Format: RGB
          • Video -> Color Enhancement -> Input Range -> Driver Settings -> Full Range
      • NVIDIA
        • Nvidia Control panel app
          • Manage 3D Settings (>= RTX 20xx) -> Program Settings -> Select a program: <your media player> -> Vertical Sync: ON, Low Latency Mode: OFF, Power Managment Mode: Prefer Max/Adaptive/Normal
          • Display
            • Change Resolution/Adjust desktop color settings:
              • Resolution: 3840×2160
              • Refresh: 24/30/60/120Hz
              • Desktop color depth: Highest (32-bit)
              • Output color depth: 8 bpc (HDMI 2.0/2.1 TMDS), 10 bpc (HDMI 2.1 FRL)
              • Output color format: RGB
              • Output dynamic range: Full
      • AMD
        • Windows
          • Change Resolution/Refresh Rate
            • Resolution: 3840×2160
            • Refresh: 30/60/120Hz
        • AMD Radeon Settings app
          • Display
            • Color depth: 8 bpc (HDMI 2.0), 10 bpc (HDMI 2.1)
            • Pixel format: RGB/YCbCr 4:4:4 Full
            • Radeon FreeSync: Disabled (create an app profile for your media player if you don’t want to disable this globally)
    • Windows settings:
      • Check Windows 1x version: OS build >= 17134 (Settings app -> System -> About)
      • Calibrate your display for HDR in Windows. Windows 11: Windows App. Windows 10: Run Start->Calibrate Display Color
  • LibreElec:
    • 4K/HDR
  • CoreElec:
    • Display Settings
  • Android-like/Roku:
    • Nvidia Shield / Fire TV / Chromecast / Roku

Local Content

Kodi

Simple, HDR passthrough or tonemapping.

  • Requirements:
    • Common settings above
    • Install Kodi: >= 20 (download) app or LibreElec/CoreElec OS
  • Windows 1x settings:
    • Settings app -> System -> Display -> HDR and WCG/Use HDR/Play HDR.. -> Off
  • Kodi settings:
    • Kodi app
      • Settings -> Player -> Videos
        • v21: Adjust display HDR mode: ON (off to tonemap to SDR)
        • v20: Use display HDR capabilities: ON
      • OPTIONAL: Wiki:Audio Setup Guide
  • Test
    • Kodi app
      • Play a test HDR video. If the colors in your video are washed out, either you don’t have proper hardware support for HDR, aren’t using HDMI 2.x ports, or don’t have TV deep color configured.

VLC

Simple, HDR passthrough or tonemapping.

  • Requirements:
    • Common settings above
    • Install VLC: >= 3.0.8: (download)
  • Windows settings:
    • Activate HDR
      • For static tonemapping to SDR: Ignore this section
      • Start -> Settings -> System -> Display
        • Windows 10
          • Windows HD Color settings
            • Use HDR: On / Play HDR games and apps: On (Wording depends on Windows version)
            • Stream HDR Video: On
        • Windows 11
          • HDR
            • (Use) HDR: On
            • HDR video streaming..: On
  • VLC settings:
    • VLC app
      • Tools -> Preferences
        • Video
          • Output: OpenGL video output for Windows
          • For static tonemapping to SDR: Show settings: All, Video->Output Modules->OpenGL (2nd one)->Tone-mapping algorithm->Hable (standard)/Reinhard (bright)/Mobius (brighter)/Hard-clip (brightest)
        • Input / Codecs
          • Hardware-accelerated decoding: Direct3D11 (win 8/10/11) or DXVA (win 7)
        • OPTIONAL: Wiki:Audio Setup Guide
      • Restart VLC app
  • Test
    • VLC app
      • Play a test HDR video. If the colors in your video are washed out, either you don’t have proper hardware support for HDR, aren’t using HDMI 2.x ports, or don’t have TV deep color configured.

MPC-BE + MPC Video Renderer

Simple, HDR passthrough, tonemapping and decent upscaling.

  • Requirements:
    • Install MPC-BE: (download)
      • Install options: Default Installation + “MPC Video Renderer” option checked
  • Windows 1x settings:
    • Settings app -> System -> Display -> Use HDR/HDR and WCG/Play HDR.. -> Off
  • MPC-BE settings:
    • MPC-BE app
      • View -> Options
        • Video
          • Video Renderer: MPC Video Renderer
            • Properties
              • Use Direct3D 11: checked (win 8/10/11)
              • HDR: Passthrough to display: checked (unchecked to tonemap to SDR)
              • HDR: Convert to SDR: unchecked (checked to tonemap to SDR)
              • HDR: Windows HDR: Allow turn on/off
              • OPTIONAL: Chroma/Upscaling
                • NOTE: To use these, you must uncheck the four DXVA2/D3D11 video processors. GPU usage will increase as you go down the list of scaling options.
                • Chroma/Upscaling: <choose>
              • OPTIONAL: Downscaling
                • NOTE: To use this, you must uncheck “Use for Resizing”.
                • Downscaling: <choose>
        • Internal Filters -> Video Decoders
          • Video decoder configuration
            • Preferred Decoder: ‘D3D11, DXVA2’ (win 8/10/11) or DXVA2 (win 7)
            • Adapter: <your_GPU_device>
            • RGB output levels: PC (0-255) (see VIDEO setup guide if not sure)
        • OPTIONAL: Wiki:Audio Setup Guide
      • Restart MPC-BE app
  • Test
    • MPC-BE app
      • Play a test HDR video and press Ctrl+J to show stats. If “Times” stats are >= 35ms you’re doing too much processing (like upscaling/tonemapping). If “Frames” shows significant skipped frames, your GPU isn’t powerful enough. If the colors in your video are washed out, either you don’t have proper hardware support for HDR, aren’t using HDMI 2.x ports, or don’t have TV deep color configured.

MPC-HC/MPC-BE + madVR

Advanced, more powerful dynamic tonemapping, high-end upscaling and processing than using MPC Video Renderer, but more complicated.

  • Requirements:
    • MPC-HC: Install K-Lite Codec Pack FULL: (download)
      • Install options: Mode: Normal, Player: MPC-HC, Components: Essentials, Defaults for everything else
    • MPC-BE: Install MPC-BE: (download), then Install K-Lite Codec Pack FULL: (download)
      • K-lite install options: Mode: Normal, Player: MPC-BE, Components: Essentials, Defaults for everything else
  • Windows 1x settings:
    • Settings app -> System -> Display -> Use HDR/HDR and WCG/Play HDR.. -> Off
    • Windows 11: Settings app -> System -> Display -> Color Profile -> Color Management -> Automatically manage color for apps.. -> Off
  • LAV Filters settings:
    • Start -> K-lite Codec Pack -> LAV Video app
      • Hardware decoder to use -> D3D11 (win 8/10/11) or DXVA2 (copy-back)
      • Hardware device to use -> Automatic (Native), or if DXVA2 (copy-back), then <your_GPU_device>
      • Dithering mode -> Ordered dithering
    • Start -> K-lite Codec Pack -> LAV Audio app ->
      • Enable “Bitstreaming” for the codecs your sound system supports decoding (see Wiki:Audio Setup Guide for more details)
  • madVR settings:
    • Start -> K-lite Codec Pack -> madVR app
      • devices
        • <your_display_device>
          • properties -> PC levels 0-255, bitdepth: 10 bit or higher
          • calibration -> this display is already calibrated
          • display modes (OPTIONAL — for refresh rate switching)
            • Enable: switch to matching display mode..when playback starts
            • list all display modes..: 2160p23, 2160p24, 2160p50, 2160p59, 2160p60 (assumes a 4k display)
          • HDR -> passthrough HDR content to the display, send HDR metadata to the display
            • ALT: For static tonemapping to SDR: HDR -> let madVR decide + rendering->trade quality for..->don’t measure HDR.. option checked
      • scaling algorithms
        • chroma upscaling
          • processing..: Bilinear (for more intensive scaling, see Performance settings section at the bottom)
        • image downscaling
          • processing..: Bilinear/DXVA2 (for more intensive scaling, see Performance settings section at the bottom)
        • image upscaling
          • processing..: Bilinear/DXVA2 (for more intensive scaling, see Performance settings section at the bottom)
      • rendering
        • general settings
          • Enable: delay playback start.., enable automatic fullscreen exclusive mode, use Direct3D 11 for presentation
          • If frame drops/stuttering occur while testing, increase CPU/GPU queue size here
        • dithering
          • algorithm: Ordered dithering (unless you have dedicated GPU, see settings section below)
  • MPC-HC/BE settings:
    • MPC-HC/BE app
      • View -> Options
        • MPC-HC: Playback -> Output -> Directshow Video -> madVR
        • MPC-BE: Video -> Video Renderer -> madVR
        • External Filters -> Add Filter… -> Add LAV Audio Decoder, LAV Splitter, LAV Splitter Source, LAV Video Decoder. Set all to “prefer”.
      • Restart MPC-HC/BE app
  • Test
    • MPC-HC/BE app
      • Play a test HDR video and press Ctrl+J to show stats. If avg/max rendering stats are >= 35ms, you’re either doing too much madVR processing or your GPU isn’t powerful enough. If the colors in your video are washed out, either you don’t have proper hardware support for HDR, aren’t using HDMI 2.x ports, or don’t have TV deep color configured.
  • Update MadVR (OPTIONAL)
    • If you want newer, beta madVR features, after validating your setup, download madVR beta, unzip and copy the files into C:\Program Files (x86)\K-Lite Codec Pack\Filters\madVR\

Kodi + MPC-HC + madVR

Advanced, current way to integrate madVR into Kodi for passthrough, dynamic tonemapping, and high-end upscaling.

  • Requirements:
    • Install Kodi: >= 17.6: (download)
    • Install K-Lite Codec Pack FULL: (download)
      • Install options: Normal, MPC-HC, Essentials
    • (OPTIONAL) Install XySubFilter (64-bit) (subtitle renderer): (download)
  • Windows 1x settings:
    • Settings app -> System -> Display -> Use HDR/HDR and WCG/Play HDR.. -> Off
    • Windows 11: Settings app -> System -> Display -> Color Profile -> Color Management -> Automatically manage color for apps.. -> Off
  • madVR settings:
    • Start -> K-lite Codec Pack -> madVR app
      • devices
        • <your_display_device>
          • properties -> PC levels 0-255, bitdepth: 10 bit or higher
          • calibration -> this display is already calibrated
          • display modes (OPTIONAL — for refresh rate switching)
            • Enable: switch to matching display mode..when playback starts
            • list all display modes..: 2160p23, 2160p24, 2160p50, 2160p59, 2160p60 (assumes a 4k display)
          • HDR -> passthrough HDR content to the display, send HDR metadata to the display
            • ALT: For static tonemapping to SDR: HDR -> let madVR decide + rendering->trade quality for..->don’t measure HDR.. option checked
      • scaling algorithms
        • chroma upscaling
          • processing..: Bilinear (for more intensive scaling, see Performance settings section at the bottom)
        • image downscaling
          • processing..: Bilinear/DXVA2 (for more intensive scaling, see Performance settings section at the bottom)
        • image upscaling
          • processing..: Bilinear/DXVA2 (for more intensive scaling, see Performance settings section at the bottom)
      • rendering
        • general settings
          • Enable: delay playback start.., enable automatic fullscreen exclusive mode, use Direct3D 11 for presentation
          • If frame drops/stuttering occur while testing, increase CPU/GPU queue size here
        • dithering
          • algorithm: Ordered dithering (unless you have dedicated GPU, see settings section below)
  • MPC-HC settings:
    • Start -> K-lite Codec Pack -> Media Player Classic app ->
      • View -> Options
        • Player
          • Enable “Remember File Position”
          • Keys
            • “Stop” & “Exit” commands -> Set to same key (so pressing it in Kodi will exit back to Kodi interface)
        • Playback
          • Fullscreen
            • Enable “Hide controls in fullscreen”, “Hide Docked Panels”
          • Output
            • Directshow Video: madVR
            • Audio Renderer: SaneAR Audio Renderer
            • (OPTIONAL) Subtitles -> Subtitle renderer: XySubFilter
        • Internal Filters
          • Internal LAV Filters Settings
            • Video Decoder
              • Hardware decoder to use -> D3D11 (win 8/10/11) or DXVA2 (copy-back)
              • Hardware device to use -> Automatic (Native), or if DXVA2 (copy-back), then <your_GPU_device>
              • Dithering mode -> Ordered dithering
            • Audio Decoder
              • Enable “Bitstreaming” for the codecs your sound system supports decoding (see Wiki:Audio Setup Guide for more details)
          • Audio Renderer
            • Options -> Enable “Exclusive Mode”
          • Splitter (OPTIONAL)
  • Windows: Find file path to MPC-HC (usually C:\Program Files (x86)\K-Lite Codec Pack\MPC-HC64\mpc-hc64.exe) and Create text file: C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\userdata\playercorefactory.xml with contents of:

    <playercorefactory>
    <players>
    <player name="MPC-HC" type="ExternalPlayer" audio="false" video="true">
    <filename>C:\YOUR\SPECIFIC\PATH\TO\MPC-HC\mpc-hc64.exe</filename>
    <args>"{1}" /fullscreen /close</args>
    <hidexbmc>false</hidexbmc>
    <hideconsole>false</hideconsole>
    <warpcursor>none</warpcursor>
    </player>
    </players>
    <rules action="prepend">
    <rule filetypes="mkv|avi|divx|ogm|mp4|mov|m4v|flv|m2v|mpeg|mpg|mts|m2ts|vob|bdmv|iso" player="MPC-HC">
    <rule protocols="http|https" player="MPC-HC"/>
    <rule protocols="daap|rtv|rtsp|rtmp|rtmpe|rtsp|mms|rtp|pvr" player="VideoPlayer"/>
    </rule>
    </rules>
    </playercorefactory>

  • (ALTERNATIVE) MPC-BE settings:
    • Install MPC-BE after K-lite Codec Pack
      • Start -> K-lite Codec Pack -> LAV Video app ->
        • Hardware decoder to use -> D3D11 (win 8/10/11) or DXVA2 (copy-back)
        • Hardware device to use -> Automatic (Native), or if DXVA2 (copy-back), then <your_GPU_device>
        • Dithering mode -> Ordered dithering
      • Start -> K-lite Codec Pack -> LAV Audio app ->
        • Enable “Bitstreaming” for the codecs your sound system supports decoding (see Audio wiki page for more details)
      • MPC-BE app ->
        • View -> Options
          • Player
            • Enable “Remember File Position”
            • Keys
              • “Stop” & “Exit” commands -> Set to same key (so pressing it in Kodi will exit back to Kodi interface)
          • Playback
            • Disable “Default track preference”
          • Video
            • Video Renderer: madVR
          • Audio
            • Audio Renderer: MPC Audio Renderer
          • (OPTIONAL) Subtitles -> Subtitle renderer: XySubFilter
          • External Filters
            • Add Filter… -> Add LAV Audio Decoder, LAV Splitter Source, LAV Video Decoder. Set all to “prefer”.
    • Windows: Find file path to MPC-BE (usually C:\Program Files\MPC-BE x64\mpc-be64.exe) and Create text file: C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Kodi\userdata\playercorefactory.xml with contents of:

      <playercorefactory>
      <players>
      <player name="MPC-BE" type="ExternalPlayer" audio="false" video="true">
      <filename>C:\YOUR\SPECIFIC\PATH\TO\MPC-BE\mpc-be64.exe</filename>
      <args>"{1}" /fullscreen /close</args>
      <hidexbmc>false</hidexbmc>
      <hideconsole>false</hideconsole>
      <warpcursor>none</warpcursor>
      <playcountminimumtime>1140</playcountminimumtime>
      </player>
      </players>
      <rules action="prepend">
      <rule filetypes="mkv|avi|divx|ogm|mp4|mov|m4v|flv|m2v|mpeg|mpg|mts|m2ts|vob|bdmv|iso" player="MPC-BE">
      <rule protocols="http|https" player="MPC-BE"/>
      <rule protocols="daap|rtv|rtsp|rtmp|rtmpe|rtsp|mms|rtp|pvr" player="VideoPlayer"/>
      </rule>
      </rules>
      </playercorefactory>

  • Test
    • Kodi app
      • Play a test HDR video and press Ctrl+J to show stats. If avg/max rendering stats are >= 35ms, you’re either doing too much madVR processing or your GPU isn’t powerful enough. If the colors in your video are washed out, either you don’t have proper hardware support for HDR, aren’t using HDMI 2.x ports, or don’t have TV deep color configured.
  • Update MadVR (OPTIONAL)
    • If you want newer, beta madVR features, after validating your setup, download madVR beta, unzip and copy the files into C:\Program Files (x86)\K-Lite Codec Pack\Filters\madVR\

DSPlayer Kodi + madVR

Advanced, OLD way to integrate madVR into Kodi for passthrough, tonemapping, and high-end upscaling. Can’t use Kodi past v17.6, so not recommended vs MPC way.

  • Requirements:
    • Common settings above
    • Install K-Lite Codec Pack FULL: (download)
      • Install options: Normal, MPC-HC, Essentials
    • Install DSPlayer Kodi: >= 17.6: (download)
  • Windows 1x settings:
    • Settings app -> System -> Display -> Use HDR/HDR and WCG/Play HDR.. -> Off
    • Windows 11: Settings app -> System -> Display -> Color Profile -> Color Management -> Automatically manage color for apps.. -> Off
  • madVR settings:
    • Start -> K-lite Codec Pack -> madVR app
      • devices
        • <your_display_device>
          • properties -> PC levels 0-255, bitdepth: 10 bit or higher
          • calibration -> this display is already calibrated
          • display modes (OPTIONAL — for refresh rate switching)
            • Enable: switch to matching display mode..when playback starts
            • list all display modes..: 2160p23, 2160p24, 2160p50, 2160p59, 2160p60 (assumes a 4k display)
          • HDR -> passthrough HDR content to the display, send HDR metadata to the display
            • ALT: For static tonemapping to SDR: HDR -> let madVR decide + rendering->trade quality for..->don’t measure HDR.. option checked
      • scaling algorithms
        • chroma upscaling
          • processing..: Bilinear (for more intensive scaling, see Performance settings section at the bottom)
        • image downscaling
          • processing..: Bilinear/DXVA2 (for more intensive scaling, see Performance settings section at the bottom)
        • image upscaling
          • processing..: Bilinear/DXVA2 (for more intensive scaling, see Performance settings section at the bottom)
      • rendering
        • general settings
          • Enable: delay playback start.., enable automatic fullscreen exclusive mode, use Direct3D 11 for presentation
          • If frame drops/stuttering occur while testing, increase CPU/GPU queue size here
        • dithering
          • algorithm: Ordered dithering (unless you have dedicated GPU, see settings section below)
  • Kodi settings:
    • Kodi app
      • Settings
        • Player Settings
          • DSPlayer
            • Video Renderer: madVR
              • Manage settings with Kodi: Load from madVR active profile
              • Direct3D presentation: Direct3D 11
            • Audio Renderer: Internal Audio Renderer (SaneAR)
            • Filters management: Internal filters
              • Video Decoder
                • Enable System Tray Icon: On
                • Hardware decoder to use: D3D11
              • Audio Decoder (OPTIONAL: for bitstreaming)
                • Enable System Tray Icon: On
                • Bitstreaming <codec>: On
  • Test
    • Kodi app
      • Play a test HDR video and press Ctrl+J to show stats. If avg/max rendering stats are >= 35ms, you’re either doing too much madVR processing or your GPU isn’t powerful enough. If the colors in your video are washed out, either you don’t have proper hardware support for HDR, aren’t using HDMI 2.x ports, or don’t have TV deep color configured.
  • Update MadVR (OPTIONAL)
    • If you want newer, beta madVR features, after validating your setup, download madVR beta, unzip and copy the files into C:\Program Files (x86)\K-Lite Codec Pack\Filters\madVR\

Potplayer

Simple, HDR passthrough or tonemapping.

  • Requirements:
    • Common settings above
    • Install Potplayer
  • Windows 1x settings:
    • Settings app -> System -> Display -> HDR and WCG/Use HDR/Play HDR.. -> Off
  • Potplayer settings:
    • Potplayer app
      • Preferences -> Video
        • Video Renderer: Built-in Direct3D 11 Video Renderer
        • Use H/W HDR Output Mode: ON (OFF to tonemap to SDR)
      • Preferences -> Video -> Pixel Shaders
        • Enable SMPTE ST 2084 HDR Correction: OFF (ON to tonemap to SDR)
        • Enable SMPTE ST 2086 HDR Correction: OFF (ON to tonemap to SDR)
      • OPTIONAL: Wiki:Audio Setup Guide
      • Restart Potplayer app
  • Test
    • Potplayer app
      • Play a test HDR video. If the colors in your video are washed out, either you don’t have proper hardware support for HDR, aren’t using HDMI 2.x ports, or don’t have TV deep color configured.

Plex HTPC

Simple, HDR Passthrough or Tonemapping

  • Requirements:
    • Common settings above
    • Install Plex HTPC: Windows: >= 1.16: (download), Linux: >= 1.60.1: (download)
    • Notes:
      • If HDR is not configured as per below, HDR will be tonemapped to SDR. Available for Windows, Linux and Mac.
  • Plex HTPC settings:
    • Plex HTPC app
      • Settings -> Video
        • Enable HDR Switching: Checked
        • HDR Metadata Passthrough: Checked
  • MPV settings (Linux) EXPERIMENTAL:
    • Create/Edit file: ~/snap/plex-htpc/common/mpv.conf
      • Add:
        [HDR]
        profile-cond=p["video-params/primaries"] == "bt.2020"
        vo=gpu-next
        hwdec=auto-copy
        target-colorspace-hint=yes
        target-trc=pq
        target-prim=dci-p3
        dolbyvision=no
  • Test
    • Plex HTPC app
      • Play a test HDR video. If the colors in your video are washed out, either you don’t have proper hardware support for HDR, aren’t using HDMI 2.x ports, or don’t have TV deep color configured.

Plex Media Player (old)

Simple, Tonemapping

  • Requirements:
    • Common settings above
    • Plex Media Player 2.x
    • Notes:
      • HDR is not currently passed through; It is tonemapped to SDR. Available for Windows, Linux and Mac.
  • Plex Media Player settings:
    • None

Streaming Content (Netflix, Youtube, etc..)

  • Requirements:
    • Common settings above
    • Netflix: ALL displays have HDCP 2.2 support and are recognized. Check Nvidia/AMD/Intel graphics control panel for HDCP status. Required software is installed: Microsoft Store HEVC Extension, Intel MEI driver/ME firmware (Intel iGPU). Required Premium Plan subscription.
    • Supported Web Browsers/Apps: Microsoft Edge (Netflix/Youtube), Microsoft Store app (Netflix), Google Chrome (Youtube)
  • Windows settings:
    • Activate HDR
      • HDR may need to be turned on manually before viewing content; browsers other than Microsoft Edge may not switch to HDR mode automatically like local players. If that’s the case, you can use the “Win + Alt + B” shortcut to turn on/off HDR in windows.
        • Start -> Settings -> System -> Display
          • Windows 10
            • Windows HD Color settings
              • Use HDR: On / Play HDR games and apps: On (Wording depends on Windows version)
              • Stream HDR Video: On
          • Windows 11
            • HDR
              • (Use) HDR: On
                • Allow HDR video streaming even when HDR is off: On
              • HDR video streaming..: On
  • Test
    • Netflix: Check edge://gpu in Microsoft Edge for: HDCP 2.2 support, HEVC installed/activable, and HEVC — HDR10 support set true. Check Netflix HDR10 test pattern looks correct.
    • Youtube: Check HDR content looks correct.

HDR Tests

Our HDR10 Test Videos/Patterns — For Basic HDR video calibration
Mehanik’s Full HDR10 Test Videos/Patterns — For Advanced HDR video calibration
Ideal 4K HEVC HDR10 test — UHD Blu-Ray high bitrate test — 4k, HEVC, HDR10, 50-90Mbps, 10-bit, 29.97fps, mp4
Dolby’s HDR tests — Multiple resolutions, frame rates and HDR types — 480p->4k, HEVC, HDR10/HLG/DV, DD+Atmos, mp4

MadVR Performance Settings Per GPU

WARNING: These settings are for more intensive image processing/scaling that is NOT necessary for just HDR passthrough.
The settings for the corresponding GPU families below are conservative so you don’t have to spend hours wasting your time with stuttering due to high rendering times and diminishing returns. Test with the default settings above before changing to any of these. Don’t test higher tiers until you test the conservative ones first.
This doesn’t mean that they’re not gpu intensive; they most certainly are.
If you can’t handle the GPU load/noise/heat these settings produce, turn them down or go back to the madvr Bilinear defaults.
Related: What are the best ways for scaling video?, madVR settings

GPU IMAGE UPSCALING IMAGE DOUBLING IMAGE DOWNSCALING CHROMA UPSCALING DITHERING
Intel UHD >= 6xx DXVA2 NA DXVA2 BiCubic 75+AR random
AMD Ryzen Vega xx Cubic/Lanczos NA Cubic/Lanczos BiCubic 75+AR random
Nvidia GT 1030/Ryzen RDNA 6xxM/740M Lanczos 3-tap+AR NA Lanczos 3-tap+AR BiCubic 75+AR random
Nvidia GTX 960/1050/1050 Ti/Ryzen RDNA 760-780M Lanczos 4-tap+AR NA SSIM 1D+LL+AR Jinc+AR random
Nvidia GTX 1650 Lanczos 4-tap+AR NGU Standard Luma Low SSIM 1D+LL+AR NGU Standard Low random
Nvidia GTX 1650 Super Lanczos 4-tap+AR NGU Standard Luma Low SSIM 1D+LL+AR NGU Standard Low Error Diff. #1
AMD RX 5xx Jinc NGU Standard Luma Low (Med: 570/580) SSIM 1D+LL+AR super-xbr 100+AR Error Diff. #2
Nvidia GTX 970/1060 Jinc NGU Standard Luma Med SSIM 1D+LL+AR NGU Standard Low Error Diff. #1
Nvidia GTX 980/1070/1660/1660 Super/1660 Ti/3050 Jinc NGU Standard Luma High SSIM 1D+LL+AR NGU Standard Med Error Diff. #2
Nvidia GTX 1080/RTX 2060 Jinc NGU Sharp Luma High SSIM 1D+LL+AR NGU Standard Med Error Diff. #2
Nvidia GTX >= 1080Ti/RTX 2070 Jinc NGU Sharp Luma High SSIM 1D+LL+AR NGU Standard Med Error Diff. #2
AMD RX 56xx — 66xx Jinc NGU Standard Luma High SSIM 1D+LL+AR NGU Standard Med Error Diff. #2
AMD RX >= 67xx Jinc NGU Sharp Luma High SSIM 1D+LL+AR NGU Standard Med Error Diff. #2

Android (This section is Deprecated, see Common Settings)

  • Requirements:
    • TV/Projector: HDMI >= 2.0/DisplayPort >= 1.3, HDR10, 10-bit panel, VESA DisplayHDR >= 600
  • TV/Projector settings:
    • GPU Connected to HDMI >= 2.0/DisplayPort >= 1.3 port
    • UHD Deep Color/Input Signal Plus turned On for your HDMI port. Setting name dependent on TV mfgr.

This page was last updated on 2025-04-06

An HDR video player helps you unlock stunning visuals with deeper blacks, brighter whites, and colors so vivid they’ll make your jaw drop.

In this article, we’ll discuss the top 8 HDR players for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices to get the best viewing experience.

Create Now!

Part 1. What Is the Purpose of HDR Video Players?

While standard video looks great, HDR takes everything to a whole new level by showing you what your eyes would actually see in real life. It’s like upgrading from a box of 8 crayons to the deluxe 120-pack — suddenly, you’ve got access to all these amazing shades and details you never knew existed.

  • Enhancing Visual Quality: Get ready for a visual feast with super bright highlights and deep, rich shadows that’ll make you feel like you’re looking through a window rather than at a screen. HDR takes those boring old SDR videos and transforms them into something that’ll make you go «Wow!» every single time.
  • Supporting HDR Formats: Supporting HDR Formats: These players are capable of translating many HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HLG, and HDR10. On your screen, everything appears flawless, maximizing each frame for the most astounding experience.
  • Elevating Entertainment Experiences: Every scene in a movie, TV show, or game becomes an immersive experience when you have HDR video players. Every pixel counts when your HDR-compatible screen finally gets to showcase its full potential.

Part 2. 5 Best HDR Video Players for Windows and Mac

1. VLC Media Player

You probably know VLC as that trusty orange traffic cone player, but it’s actually a powerhouse when it comes to HDR playback. It handles just about any video format you throw at it, including complex HDR content. The player comes packed with advanced color management features and supports various HDR standards right out of the box.

You’ll find yourself enjoying precise color grading controls, hardware-accelerated decoding, and seamless playback of high-bitrate HDR content. It even lets you fine-tune HDR metadata interpretation for the perfect picture on your specific display.

Pros

  • Free and open-source without hidden costs or advertisements.
  • Offers extensive format support that covers virtually every video codec and container format available in the digital world.
  • Includes advanced filtering options that let you adjust HDR content parameters in real-time for optimal viewing.
  • Provides robust hardware acceleration support that ensures smooth playback even with demanding HDR content.

Cons

  • While it handles HDR content well, you may need to manually tweak settings to achieve the best color output.
  • Occasionally, it struggles with large 4K HDR files, leading to minor lags.

Price: Free

Supported OS: Windows, Mac

2. KMPlayer

KMPlayer HDR stands out as a sleek and modern tool designed for anyone who craves high-quality visuals. It brings professional-grade video playback to your desktop with its sophisticated rendering engine. This feature-rich player excels at handling HDR content through its advanced color processing algorithms and hardware acceleration support.

KMPlayer shines with its hardware, ensuring smooth HDR performance even on lower-end devices. It supports HDR10 and offers subtitle customization, 3D video playback, and screen-capturing tools.

Pros

  • The built-in codec pack eliminates compatibility issues for most video and audio formats.
  • Advanced subtitle synchronization capabilities for multilingual content.
  • Customization features to fine-tune playback settings for an individualized experience.

Cons

  • Users may encounter occasional ads in the free version, and some advanced features are locked behind a paywall.
  • Resource usage can be higher compared to lighter media players.

Price: Free (Premium version starts at $49.99/year)

Supported OS: Windows, Mac

3. 5KPlayer

5KPlayer offers HDR playback capabilities with streaming features in one package. It’s designed to handle high-resolution content with ease, offering butter-smooth playback while maintaining excellent color accuracy and contrast levels.

It doubles as an online downloader, letting you save videos directly from popular platforms. The
ALT: kmplayer-hdr-video-playerbuilt-in AirPlay and DLNA support enable wireless streaming.

Pros

  • Exceptional support for high-resolution HDR content up to 5K and above.
  • Built-in streaming capabilities for popular platforms.
  • Built-in download options for online videos.
  • Offers a clean, user-friendly interface that makes navigation simple.

Cons

  • Library management tools are less intuitive than competitors.
  • Limited customization options compared to other players

Price: Free

Supported OS: Windows, Mac

4. CnX Player

As a Windows HDR Player that’s both powerful and user-friendly, CnX Player fits the bill. It’s built from the ground up with HDR support in mind with excellent color reproduction and contrast handling.

CnX Player hardware acceleration results in stutter-free HDR playback. It provides 4K and UHD support along with in-app streaming and subtitle synchronization tools.

Pros

  • Delivers exceptional HDR performance with minimal system resource usage.
  • Includes built-in network streaming capabilities for remote content.
  • Offers comprehensive format support without requiring additional codecs.

Cons

  • Network streaming can be temperamental on slower connections.
  • You may experience occasional compatibility issues with certain codecs.

Price: Free

Supported OS: Windows, Mac

5. PowerDVD

PowerDVD is a premium HDR video player designed for those who demand cinematic experiences and the absolute best in video playback. Its comprehensive color management feature makes it a favorite among professionals and cinephiles.

With HDR10 and Dolby Vision, the visual quality becomes A-grade. PowerDVD also gives you media management tools, VR playback, and 360-degree video compatibility.

Pros

  • Top-notch HDR support with advanced features for immersive viewing and seamless cloud integration to access your media library anytime, anywhere.
  • Offers seamless integration with home theater systems.
  • Provides an all-in-one solution, such as 3D support and streaming.

Cons

  • Overly-priced.
  • Some features are hard to learn.

Price: $69.99 with a free trial

Supported OS: Windows, Mac

Part 3. 3 Best HDR Video Players for Android/iOS

1. VLC App

As a reliable 10 bit HDR video player Android users trust, the VLC mobile app handles complex HDR content with impressive efficiency, which makes it perfect for watching high-quality videos on the go usng your Android or iOS devices. The player maintains excellent performance while offering the same extensive format support as its desktop counterpart.

Pros

  • Completely free and ad-free, which ensures a seamless viewing experience without interruptions.
  • Its customizable interface and subtitle management make it perfect for mobile viewing.
  • Supports streaming and network sharing.
  • Excellent color accuracy and contrast.

Cons

  • Battery consumption can be high when playing HDR content.
  • The interface can feel cluttered on smaller screens.

Price: Free

Supported OS: iOS 9.0 or above & Android 4.1 and above

2. MX Player

This powerful player combines HDR video processing while preserving battery life of mobile devices. Like most good players, it offers mobile hardware acceleration and supports multi-core decoding, venture controls, and subtitles.

Pros

  • Combines speed and quality, ensuring HDR content looks fantastic on mobile devices.
  • Subtitle customization options.
  • Easy playback management

Cons

  • Ads in the free version can disrupt viewing, and some features require in-app purchases.

Price: Free (In-app purchases starting at $5.98/yr)

Supported OS: iOS 12.0 or up & Android 5.0 and later

3. SenPlayer

SenPlayer offers modern HDR playback with customizable controls for mobile users. HDR10 support and subtitle synchronization make it user-friendly. You can also use the player in night mode and adjust audio with multiple equalizers.

Pros

  • Crisp visuals and customization options for mobile viewing.
  • Offers good battery optimization.
  • Efficient HDR processing

Cons

  • Limited community support.
  • Newer player with occasional bugs.
  • No Android support.

Price: Free (Premium version for $2.99)

Supported OS: iOS

Part 4. Convert SDR Videos to HDR with HitPaw Online AI Video Enhancer

HitPaw Online AI Video Enhancer lets you transform SDR videos into HDR with AI-powered upscaling. Its deep learning models enhance resolution up to 8K while preserving sharpness and colors. This web-based tool is perfect for quick and effective video enhancements.

Steps to Convert SDR to HDR

  • 1.Visit the HitPaw Online AI Video Enhancer website.

  • 2.Upload SDR video.

  • 3.Select the AI model for enhancement and upscale the resolution.

  • 4.Preview the results, and then export and download your HDR video.

Part 5. FAQs of HDR Video Player

Q1.
What is an HDR player?

A1.
An HDR player is a media player that supports high-dynamic range (HDR) content. It offers richer colors, better contrast, and improved brightness on compatible screens to enhances the viewing experience.

Q2.
Which video player supports HDR?

A2.
MX Player, 5KPlayer, and KMPlayer can play HDR formats like HDR10 and Dolby Vision. However, this type of support also depends on the display and graphics handling capabilities of your device.

Q3.
Is VLC HDR capable?

A3.
VLC supports HDR10 and other HDR formats, making it great for high-quality video playback. To enjoy HDR in VLC, you need a compatible operating system and hardware that supports HDR output.

Conclusion on HDR Video Player

Choosing the right HDR video player makes all the difference in experiencing high-quality visuals. Whether you’re streaming movies or watching videos on the go, the players listed above deliver exceptional performance. Don’t forget to try HitPaw Online AI Video Enhancer to convert SDR videos into stunning HDR quality today!

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