Today we are looking at consumer audio applications. This includes apps for organizing and listening to music, CDs, podcasts, Internet radio streams, and other audio sources. Also, apps for burning CDs, tagging, fixing, and converting digital audio files, as well as a few light recording and editing packages. This article is the fifth in Tom's Hardware Definitive Linux Software Roundup, and the seventh installment of our continuing guide to getting started with Linux for Microsoft Windows users. Below are the links to our previous articles:
Part 1: Ubuntu Linux Installation Guide
Part 2: Run Windows XP In Ubuntu Setup Guide
Part 3: Internet Application Roundup
Part 4: Communications Application Roundup
Part 5: Office Application Roundup
Part 6: Image Application Roundup
Originally, we intended to create a single article on Linux-based audio applications. However, it soon became apparent that the sheer number of audio production apps would not permit this. So that we don't bore casual users with audio production jabber, this article is split in two: content consumption and content creation. Most end-users will be more interested in this article, while musicians and audio professionals should look to the next one for their Linux audio needs.
Content consumption apps like media managers and audio players are listed here. These include replacements for iTunes, WinAmp, FreeRIP, Audio Grabber, MP3 Cutter, Windows Sound Recorder, and others. Our next installment is dedicated to the content creation side. Audio production applications will be rounded up, starting complete Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and audio editors, then moving on to more focused applications like sequencers, synthesizers, effects pedals, and other tools which aid in the creation of audio
So without further delay, let's check out some of the top audio consumption applications available for Linux!

Although I had tried Banshee a few years ago, and it just couldn't deal with 30 gb of music.
Though some apps are .deb or .rpm, or what have you, depending on the linux distro you can still open/install them just fine.
Good writeup
Audacious fits my bill for a music player. Simple yet capable.
I didnt know those ipod syncing programs actually worked. I cant wait to try out Banchee in Ubuntu 11.04
PS> Type O Negative and all the other metal put a smile on my face
VLC is more of a video thing.... it does stand for "video lan client"
Sure does, version 2.x WinAmp skins supported.
The older and simpler iPods should not give you any issues, can't speak for the iPhone or iPod Touch though. LOL, I tried to break it up a bit with classic rock, but my collection is overwhelmingly metal
Audacity is in the next segment: Audio Production. VLC and WinFF are in the one after that: Video Apps
We used app/application/software/program interchangeably, otherwise we'd have the word 'application' about 3,000 times in this series.
Smartphones software will not be in the Roundup, maybe sometime down the road. LIRC will not be covered here either, possibly in the final segment of the Roundup, but I can't promise anything because I have not fooled around with that yet (due to Netflix streaming and Blu-Ray, my HTPC is, unfortunately, running Windows). Is projectM really close to MilkDrop now? I tried it about 2 years ago and it didn't compare. God I miss MilkDrop, hell, I miss WinAmp. Nullsoft: MAKE A LinAmp!
Have you given Arch or Chakra a spin yet (I'm pretty heavily in the weeds right now and haven't gotten around to it yet)? Let me know how the SSD works out - another thing I have yet to tinker with
Although I missed that app, Pithos does not qualify for the Roundup due to it not being in the default repos, nor offering a DEB/RPM installer.
I just wanted to put in a plug for GStreamer. It's kind of like DirectShow in that you construct a processing graph with nodes that are data sources, sinks, and some number of filters. It's pretty technical, but it's by far the most powerful tool out there for converting, decoding, or streaming just about anything. There are some GUI front-ends, or you can just use gst-launch to build graphs from the commandline.
Oh, okay. Well, technically they're programs.