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SoundSource VS Open Shell

Compare SoundSource VS Open Shell and see what are their differences

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SoundSource logo SoundSource

The sound control that should be built into MacOS

Open Shell logo Open Shell

Open Shell is a fork of the Classic Shell project for Windows that getting back the classic start...
  • SoundSource Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-12
  • Open Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-07

SoundSource features and specs

  • Comprehensive Audio Control
    SoundSource offers detailed control over audio inputs, outputs, and effects, allowing users to finely tune their sound settings for various applications.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible even to those who are not tech-savvy.
  • Application-Specific Settings
    Users can apply unique audio settings and effects to individual applications, providing flexibility and customization.
  • Advanced Audio Effects
    Includes built-in audio effects such as EQ, volume boosting, and more, enriching the listening experience.
  • Menu Bar Access
    SoundSource exists as a menu bar app, providing quick and convenient access to audio settings without needing to open a full application.
  • High-Quality Audio
    SoundSource maintains audio quality, providing clear and distortion-free sound even after adjustments.

Possible disadvantages of SoundSource

  • Price
    SoundSource is a paid application, which can be a drawback for users looking for free solutions.
  • macOS Only
    The software is available exclusively for macOS, limiting its accessibility for Windows and Linux users.
  • Performance Overhead
    Some users may experience a slight performance overhead, especially on older machines, due to the processing power required for real-time audio adjustments.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, there can be a learning curve for new users to take full advantage of all features and settings.
  • Limited Trial Period
    The application offers a limited trial period, which may not be sufficient for some users to thoroughly evaluate all features before purchasing.

Open Shell features and specs

  • Customization
    Open Shell provides extensive customization options, allowing users to modify the Start menu to fit their preferences, from design to functionality.
  • Familiar Interface
    It offers a classic start menu which is familiar to users of older Windows versions, making it easier for them to navigate.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, it allows for community contributions, making it more transparent and potentially more secure.
  • No Cost
    Open Shell is free to use, providing a cost-effective solution for users who want a different Start menu experience without paying for software.
  • Regular Updates
    The project is fairly well-maintained, receiving updates that add new features and fix potential issues, improving user experience over time.

Possible disadvantages of Open Shell

  • Compatibility Issues
    There could be compatibility problems with certain Windows updates or third-party applications, requiring troubleshooting and fixes.
  • Learning Curve
    While it offers many customization options, new users might find the settings and customization process overwhelming and confusing initially.
  • Community Support
    As an open-source project, it relies heavily on community support rather than professional customer service, which can be a drawback for users needing prompt assistance.
  • Resource Usage
    Though generally lightweight, Open Shell can consume additional system resources, which might be impactful on less powerful machines.

Analysis of SoundSource

Overall verdict

  • SoundSource is considered a good choice for Mac users who need advanced audio control and customization. Its features cater well to audiophiles, professionals, and anyone who requires precise audio management.

Why this product is good

  • SoundSource by Rogue Amoeba is often praised for its intuitive user interface and powerful audio management capabilities. It allows users to control per-application audio levels, apply audio effects, and improve sound quality on their Mac. Users appreciate the customization options and the ability to route audio between different output devices seamlessly.

Recommended for

  • Audiophiles looking for high-quality sound control.
  • Professionals requiring detailed audio management for various applications.
  • Users who frequently switch audio output devices and need a streamlined way of managing audio routing on their Mac.

Analysis of Open Shell

Overall verdict

  • Open Shell is considered a good tool for those who desire a more traditional Start Menu experience on modern Windows versions. It is reliable, versatile, and generally well-received by the community for resurrecting the familiar interface from previous Windows iterations.

Why this product is good

  • Open Shell (formerly known as Classic Shell) is appreciated for its ability to bring back the classic Start Menu functionality to Windows, particularly for users who prefer the interface design and usability of older versions of Windows. It provides a customizable menu, various skins, and additional enhancements for the Start Button, File Explorer, and Internet Explorer. The software is lightweight, free, and open source, allowing for a high degree of personalization and adaptability.

Recommended for

  • Users who prefer the classic Windows Start Menu.
  • Individuals who are not satisfied with the default Start Menu on newer Windows versions.
  • Users seeking a highly customizable and lightweight menu solution.
  • Technical users who appreciate open-source software and want to tweak their system appearance and functionality.
  • Anyone upgrading from older Windows versions who wants to maintain a consistent user interface experience.

SoundSource videos

+ Add

Using Rogue Amoeba's SoundSource to Control Audio on Your Mac - SoundSource Review

More videos:

  • Review - SoundSource Review for OS X

Open Shell videos

+ Add

Classic Menu for Windows 10 with Open Shell

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SoundSource and Open Shell)

SoundSource

Open Shell

Note Taking
63 63%
Note Taking
37% 37
Audio
100 100%
Audio
0% 0
LMS
0 0%
LMS
100% 100
Web Service Automation
100 100%
Web Service Automation
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using SoundSource and Open Shell. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SoundSource seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 126 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

SoundSource mentions (126)

  • Show HN: A macOS app to prevent sound quality degradation on AirPods
    Do I need this if I already use something like SoundSource[1] to manually set the input source that's not the AirPods microphone? [1] https://rogueamoeba.com/soundsource/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • 5 years ago Valve released Proton forever changing Linux gaming
    This is hilariously biased. This is HN, you're not talking to people who don't know what Linux is. Hell, a huge portion of us are linux engineers of various sorts. You're also in a thread literally about a linux app. Anyway. I would never, ever use Linux as a desktop environment over OSX after the experiences I've had with it over the last 20+ years. OSX GUI applications absolutely blow everything that Linux has... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Best EQ for Mac 2023
    Https://rogueamoeba.com/soundsource/ (this has parametric EQ but it's a bit buried IIRC. It also has built-in support for AutoEQ according to this page so you might have to do almost nothing if you like the Harman curve). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Detailed audio device control?
    I've looked at https://rogueamoeba.com/soundsource/ and the features it has seems okay such as per-app volume levels. But I'd like it so when I connect a certain pair of headphones, then a pre-defined output and input device is set. So for Headphone A, the output might be set to this pair but the mic will be the build-in mic in my Macbook. And for Headphone B, both the output and input should be set to this... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • MUTE A SPECIFIC APP
    Https://rogueamoeba.com/soundsource/ or https://github.com/kyleneideck/BackgroundMusic. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

Open Shell mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Open Shell yet. Tracking of Open Shell recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SoundSource and Open Shell, you can also consider the following products

Sound Control - App-specific volume control

Fences - Keep your desktop organized with Fences. This is a simple software program that allows you to sort the tabs on your desktop and create files that are easily recognizable to you.

Volume2 - Volume2 is an advanced Windows audio mixer, a complete replacement for the standard Volume Control.

Classic Shell - Classic Shell was developed for Windows 8 since that was the first version of the popular operating system to forgo the iconic Start menu.

EarTrumpet - Volume Control for Windows

Start Menu X - Start Menu X with Start Button. Power users know how inconvenient and time-consuming it is to launch programs from the system menu.

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