YM Pro Brings Bit-Perfect Hi-Res Playback to the Mac, Rough Edges Included
A free, open-source macOS player from developer Yonesh Murugan skips the system mixer to match an external DAC to each file's sample rate — but early users report setup and interface friction.
TechRadar reports that YM Pro, a free and open-source music player for macOS, is now live on the Mac App Store, positioned as an alternative for listeners who route their audio through an external DAC.
The app comes from developer Yonesh Murugan, who shared details on the r/audiophile forum. According to TechRadar, getting YM Pro approved was difficult because it requests exclusive control of a Mac's audio hardware, a behaviour App Store reviewers reportedly disliked. The app is nonetheless available now, though it is described as very much a work in progress.
What it actually changes
YM Pro's central feature is that it skips the system mixer and talks directly to a connected DAC. Instead of resampling a track to whatever rate the converter is set to, it adjusts the DAC to match the file's resolution, up to a ceiling of 192kHz. That is the basis of the bit-perfect description: no other software resamples the audio as it passes through the operating system.
The app also adds a hog mode, which silences system sounds and other audio while music is playing so nothing interrupts a listening session.
The player centres on hi-res FLAC, a format Apple's own Music app does not handle — Apple steers users to its ALAC equivalent. MP3 and WAV files are also supported. Playback is limited to PCM formats; DSD is not covered. Apple Silicon is required, which TechRadar notes is also true of the imminent macOS 27.
Library handling trades convenience for simplicity
Rather than connecting to an existing Music library, YM Pro asks users to point it at a folder of audio files, which it then catalogs. That folder can be the one holding an existing Music library, but there is no automatic scanning or updating, so the contents have to be maintained by hand.
Rough edges in a first release
TechRadar's reviewer reports encountering more problems than most, by their own account. Chief among them: the app would not use their preferred audio output device however many times it was changed in System Settings > Sound, and a workaround described in the r/audiophile thread did not work on their Mac Mini. Interface issues were also noted, and other users have reported problems with playlist organisation.
Against that, TechRadar says early feedback from other users indicates the app sounds good, and that Murugan is asking for feedback and has promised enhancements based on the comments received so far.
Who should consider it
Because YM Pro is free, the cost of trying it is time rather than money. TechRadar suggests it is worth a look or a listen as a point of comparison with established players such as VOX.
The natural audience is Mac owners with an external DAC who want sample-rate matching to the source file, uninterrupted playback, and who are willing to manage a music folder manually. Anyone who expects a player to integrate with an existing library, support DSD, or work without fiddling with output settings may find this first release limiting.
Whether the early problems persist will depend on how quickly updates arrive. For now, the app's appeal rests on what it does well rather than on its level of polish.
Original reporting by Carrie Marshall for TechRadar.