Playback

Windows: CCCP or mpv or SMPlayer2 + MPlayer2
Linux: mpv
Mac: mpv

Alternative windows stuff:

Recommended: CCCP + MadVR + XySubfilter for maximum quality.

Nyaa’s setup Link
This actually covers all of the configuration for most of the things I listed below, so you don’t have to figure stuff out by yourself I guess…
The only thing that’s not covered in this guide is AC3Filter, and that’s probably not useful for most of the people that watch anime.

MPC-HC (or BE-Mod)
Best video player I ever used, comes with CCCP, but that’s usually and older build.
Get it from here. or MPC-BE(Black Edition, various UI tweaks and aesthetically pleasing)

MadVR Link
The best renderer around, doesn’t cut corners in the process though, so you need a decent video card.
Recommended scaling algorithms: Jinc 3/4 taps + anti-ringing filter for chroma and image upscaling and Spline 4 taps + anti ringing for images downscaling.
Use spline + anti-ringing for upscaling if your GPU can’t handle jinc or disable anti-ringing.
If it can’t handle that maybe you should switch back to EVR with “Bicubic A = -0.60 (PS 2.0)” or “Bilinear” resizing.

XySubfilter Link
Does what the old MPC-HC internal subtitle filter did and renders subtitles at desktop resolution.
The only major difference is that it actually works properly and has dramatically increased performance.

AC3filter Link
Optional, I use it as a decoder and upmixer from stereo to surround during playback, because I like to use all 5.1 speakers.
Note: Currently AC3Filter doesn’t work for decoding Vorbis when you use LAV splitter and the release has ordered chapters (so the majority of what I’ve released).
I recommend leaving decoding Vorbis (or any type of audio) to LAV audio instead of AC3Filter and just use it for upmixing decoded audio.