JPlay App

Continuing the deep dive series on the latest JPLAY release — today: Smart Playlists.

Don't have a specific playlist in mind, or simply don't feel like building one yourself? Smart Playlists do the work for you.

Smart Playlists are dynamic playlists created automatically based on filters you define — by library, genre, audio quality, year, and more. They automate playlist creation around your own criteria and stay current as your library grows.
 

How it works:

- Set the filters (Focus) — the playlist populates automatically with all matching tracks from your Library.
- The content of the Smart Playlist updates dynamically whenever new tracks match your criteria.
- You can change the filters (Focus) anytime from the Smart Playlist details screen.
- Note: tracks cannot be added manually to Smart Playlists.

How to create a Smart Playlist in JPLAY:

Open the side menu → My Library → Tracks → select your filters in Focus → tap the Smart Playlist icon (first icon on the left).
 

Update to the latest JPLAY from the App Store and try it out. 
 

Marcin

Continuing the deep dive series on the latest JPLAY release — today: HQPlayer library support.

 

 

If you run HQPlayer Embedded or HQPlayer Desktop, you can now browse, control, and play your HQPlayer library directly from JPLAY — combining JPLAY's refined interface with HQPlayer's industry-leading upsampling and DSP capabilities.

 

What this means in practice:

 

- No need for a separate local UPnP server — JPLAY connects directly to HQPlayer.

- Full library browsing with the same fast, elegant experience JPLAY is known for.

- Streaming services (Qobuz, TIDAL, HIGHRESAUDIO) and HQPlayer Library in one unified app.

 

How to get started:

 

1. Make sure HQPlayer Embedded or HQPlayer Desktop is running on your network.

2. Open JPLAY → Settings → Search Devices — your HQPlayer Library will appear automatically.

3. Select it, Sync and you're ready to play.

 

For the audiophiles who've been combining HQPlayer with separate control apps for years, this is a long-awaited simplification.

 

Best regards,

Marcin

A few more additions in the latest JPLAY app release that didn't make the headlines but are worth mentioning:

 

- You can now rename a local library — helpful when you have multiple servers and want clearer names.

- Title auto-scroll in the Player view — long track or album titles now scroll automatically so you can read them in full.

- Keyboard shortcuts on Mac — faster navigation and control for those running JPLAY on Apple Silicon Macs.

 

Marcin

How does JPLAY compare to Audirvana? I just got that and run it on my Mac Studio into a pair of Ruark tabletop computer speakers and have been happy once I got past a few confusing things about the interface, but the sound is wonderful.

JPLAY 1.4.2 is out now.

 

The main highlight is a brand new look — Alternative Dark, a fresh take on the classic dark mode. We've also added twomore themes: a fully refreshed Light theme (cleaner, brighter), and Monochrome (minimalist and elegant). To switch themes: Settings → Appearance → Themes (app restart required).

Also in this release:

- "Add to" button now also lets you add to Favorites, Save for Later, or Rate
- Add to Playlist supports selecting multiple playlists at once
- Improvements to Focus functionality
- Several UI and UX improvements (also on the Mac version)
- Bug fixes and performance improvements

Update from the App Store. Let me know which theme is your favorite!

Marcin

@larsman 
The best way to know if JPLAY fits your setup is to try the free 2-week trial. Note: to start the trial you do need to subscribe, but you can cancel anytime during those 2 weeks without being charged anything. That gives you the chance to test JPLAY in your actual system with zero risk.