diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8507ae14..3f44df85 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ Available stream sources are:
 - [tcp](doc/configuration.md#tcp-server): receives audio from a TCP socket, can act as client or server
 - [meta](doc/configuration.md#meta): read and mix audio from other stream sources
 
+The client will use as audio backend the system's low level audio API to have the best possible control and most precise timing to achieve perfectly synced playback. On Linux `alsa` is used, on Android `oboe` or `opensl`, on macOS `coreaudio` and on Windows `wasapi`.  
+There is also a `file` backend available that will write the raw PCM data to a file (or stdout, stderr). The backend can be configured using the `--player` command line parameter.
+
 ## Test
 
 You can test your installation by copying random data into the server's fifo file
diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index 2acaeaa8..4473e9ba 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 ### Features
 
 - Server: Add Meta stream source (Issue #402, #569, #666)
+- Client: Add file audio backend (Issue #681)
 
 ### Bugfixes
 
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@
 - Add null encoder for streams used only as input for meta streams
 - Snapweb: Change latency range to [-10s, 10s] (Issue #695)
 
-_Johannes Pohl <snapcast@badaix.de>  Wed, 30 Sep 2020 00:13:37 +0200_
+_Johannes Pohl <snapcast@badaix.de>  Sun, 11 Oct 2020 00:13:37 +0200_
 
 ## Version 0.21.0
 
diff --git a/client/client_settings.hpp b/client/client_settings.hpp
index 0963fef8..7900cc1b 100644
--- a/client/client_settings.hpp
+++ b/client/client_settings.hpp
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ struct ClientSettings
     struct Player
     {
         std::string player_name{""};
+        std::string parameter{""};
         int latency{0};
         PcmDevice pcm_device;
         SampleFormat sample_format;
diff --git a/client/controller.cpp b/client/controller.cpp
index 3510f07f..b9d7b351 100644
--- a/client/controller.cpp
+++ b/client/controller.cpp
@@ -85,6 +85,28 @@ std::unique_ptr<Player> Controller::createPlayer(ClientSettings::Player& setting
     return nullptr;
 }
 
+std::vector<std::string> Controller::getSupportedPlayerNames()
+{
+    std::vector<std::string> result;
+#ifdef HAS_ALSA
+    result.emplace_back("alsa");
+#endif
+#ifdef HAS_OBOE
+    result.emplace_back("oboe");
+#endif
+#ifdef HAS_OPENSL
+    result.emplace_back("opensl");
+#endif
+#ifdef HAS_COREAUDIO
+    result.emplace_back("coreaudio");
+#endif
+#ifdef HAS_WASAPI
+    result.emplace_back("wasapi");
+#endif
+    result.emplace_back("file");
+    return result;
+}
+
 
 void Controller::getNextMessage()
 {
diff --git a/client/controller.hpp b/client/controller.hpp
index 94fb66dc..494ec4e9 100644
--- a/client/controller.hpp
+++ b/client/controller.hpp
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ public:
     Controller(boost::asio::io_context& io_context, const ClientSettings& settings, std::unique_ptr<MetadataAdapter> meta);
     void start();
     // void stop();
+    static std::vector<std::string> getSupportedPlayerNames();
 
 private:
     using MdnsHandler = std::function<void(const boost::system::error_code& ec, const std::string& host, uint16_t port)>;
diff --git a/client/player/file_player.cpp b/client/player/file_player.cpp
index d224ee2c..bb266ff1 100644
--- a/client/player/file_player.cpp
+++ b/client/player/file_player.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "common/aixlog.hpp"
 #include "common/snap_exception.hpp"
 #include "common/str_compat.hpp"
+#include "common/utils/string_utils.hpp"
 #include "file_player.hpp"
 
 using namespace std;
@@ -31,8 +32,33 @@ static constexpr auto kDefaultBuffer = 50ms;
 
 
 FilePlayer::FilePlayer(boost::asio::io_context& io_context, const ClientSettings::Player& settings, std::shared_ptr<Stream> stream)
-    : Player(io_context, settings, stream), timer_(io_context)
+    : Player(io_context, settings, stream), timer_(io_context), file_(nullptr)
 {
+    auto params = utils::string::split_pairs(settings.parameter, ',', '=');
+    string filename;
+    if (params.find("filename") != params.end())
+        filename = params["filename"];
+
+    if (filename.empty() || (filename == "stdout"))
+    {
+        file_.reset(stdout, [](auto p) { std::ignore = p; });
+    }
+    else if (filename == "stderr")
+    {
+        file_.reset(stderr, [](auto p) { std::ignore = p; });
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        std::string mode = "w";
+        if (params.find("mode") != params.end())
+            mode = params["mode"];
+        if ((mode != "w") && (mode != "a"))
+            throw SnapException("Mode must be w (write) or a (append)");
+        mode += "b";
+        file_.reset(fopen(filename.c_str(), mode.c_str()), [](auto p) { fclose(p); });
+        if (!file_)
+            throw SnapException("Error opening file: '" + filename + "', error: " + cpt::to_string(errno));
+    }
 }
 
 
@@ -56,7 +82,7 @@ void FilePlayer::requestAudio()
     if (buffer_.size() < needed)
         buffer_.resize(needed);
 
-    if (!stream_->getPlayerChunk(buffer_.data(), 100ms, numFrames))
+    if (!stream_->getPlayerChunk(buffer_.data(), 10ms, numFrames))
     {
         // LOG(INFO, LOG_TAG) << "Failed to get chunk. Playing silence.\n";
         memset(buffer_.data(), 0, needed);
@@ -65,7 +91,8 @@ void FilePlayer::requestAudio()
     {
         adjustVolume(static_cast<char*>(buffer_.data()), numFrames);
     }
-    fwrite(buffer_.data(), 1, needed, stdout);
+    fwrite(buffer_.data(), 1, needed, file_.get());
+    fflush(file_.get());
     loop();
 }
 
diff --git a/client/player/file_player.hpp b/client/player/file_player.hpp
index aadb697b..e73691e2 100644
--- a/client/player/file_player.hpp
+++ b/client/player/file_player.hpp
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
 #define FILE_PLAYER_HPP
 
 #include "player.hpp"
-
+#include <cstdio>
+#include <memory>
 
 /// File Player
 /// Used for testing and doesn't even write the received audio to file at the moment,
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ protected:
     boost::asio::steady_timer timer_;
     std::vector<char> buffer_;
     std::chrono::time_point<std::chrono::steady_clock> next_request_;
+    std::shared_ptr<FILE> file_;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/client/player/player.cpp b/client/player/player.cpp
index 2472b51c..d7c18882 100644
--- a/client/player/player.cpp
+++ b/client/player/player.cpp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ Player::Player(boost::asio::io_context& io_context, const ClientSettings::Player
     };
     LOG(INFO, LOG_TAG) << "Player name: " << not_empty(settings_.player_name) << ", device: " << not_empty(settings_.pcm_device.name)
                        << ", description: " << not_empty(settings_.pcm_device.description) << ", idx: " << settings_.pcm_device.idx
-                       << ", sharing mode: " << sharing_mode << "\n";
+                       << ", sharing mode: " << sharing_mode << ", parameters: " << not_empty(settings.parameter) << "\n";
 
     string mixer;
     switch (settings_.mixer.mode)
diff --git a/client/snapclient.1 b/client/snapclient.1
index 9742fc99..dac11a16 100644
--- a/client/snapclient.1
+++ b/client/snapclient.1
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ latency of the PCM device
 \fB--sampleformat arg\fR
 resample audio stream to <rate>:<bits>:<channels>
 .TP
+\fB--player arg (=alsa)\fR
+alsa|file[:<options>|?]
+.TP
 \fB--mixer arg (=software)\fR
 software|hardware|script|none|?[:<options>]
 .TP
diff --git a/client/snapclient.cpp b/client/snapclient.cpp
index 994a2777..381b91ae 100644
--- a/client/snapclient.cpp
+++ b/client/snapclient.cpp
@@ -134,12 +134,11 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
         auto sample_format = op.add<Value<string>>("", "sampleformat", "resample audio stream to <rate>:<bits>:<channels>", "");
 #endif
 
-// audio backend
-#if defined(HAS_OBOE) && defined(HAS_OPENSL)
-        op.add<Value<string>>("", "player", "audio backend (oboe, opensl)", "oboe", &settings.player.player_name);
-#else
-        op.add<Value<string>, Attribute::hidden>("", "player", "audio backend (<empty>, file)", "", &settings.player.player_name);
-#endif
+        auto supported_players = Controller::getSupportedPlayerNames();
+        string supported_players_str;
+        for (const auto& supported_player : supported_players)
+            supported_players_str += (!supported_players_str.empty() ? "|" : "") + supported_player;
+        op.add<Value<string>>("", "player", supported_players_str + "[:<options>|?]", supported_players.front(), &settings.player.player_name);
 
 // sharing mode
 #if defined(HAS_OBOE) || defined(HAS_WASAPI)
@@ -318,6 +317,22 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
         settings.player.sharing_mode = (sharing_mode->value() == "exclusive") ? ClientSettings::SharingMode::exclusive : ClientSettings::SharingMode::shared;
 #endif
 
+        settings.player.player_name = utils::string::split_left(settings.player.player_name, ':', settings.player.parameter);
+        if (settings.player.parameter == "?")
+        {
+            if (settings.player.player_name == "file")
+            {
+                cout << "Options are a comma separated list of:\n"
+                     << " \"filename:<filename>\" - with <filename> = \"stdout\", \"stderr\" or a filename\n"
+                     << " \"mode:[w|a]\" - w: write (discarding the content), a: append (keeping the content)\n";
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                cout << "No options available for \"" << settings.player.player_name << "\n";
+            }
+            exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
+        }
+
         string mode = utils::string::split_left(mixer_mode->value(), ':', settings.player.mixer.parameter);
         if (mode == "software")
             settings.player.mixer.mode = ClientSettings::Mixer::Mode::software;
diff --git a/common/utils/string_utils.hpp b/common/utils/string_utils.hpp
index d713acb6..1feb9311 100644
--- a/common/utils/string_utils.hpp
+++ b/common/utils/string_utils.hpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #define STRING_UTILS_H
 
 #include <algorithm>
+#include <map>
 #include <sstream>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string>
@@ -142,6 +143,25 @@ static std::vector<std::string> split(const std::string& s, char delim)
     return elems;
 }
 
+
+static std::map<std::string, std::string> split_pairs(const std::string& s, char pair_delim, char key_value_delim)
+{
+    std::map<std::string, std::string> result;
+    auto keyValueList = split(s, pair_delim);
+    for (auto& kv : keyValueList)
+    {
+        auto pos = kv.find(key_value_delim);
+        if (pos != std::string::npos)
+        {
+            std::string key = trim_copy(kv.substr(0, pos));
+            std::string value = trim_copy(kv.substr(pos + 1));
+            result[key] = value;
+        }
+    }
+    return result;
+}
+
+
 } // namespace string
 } // namespace utils
 
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 618118b2..5725b8b0 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ snapcast (0.22.0-1) unstable; urgency=medium
 
   * Features
     -Server: Add Meta stream source (Issue #402, #569, #666)
+    -Client: Add file audio backend (Issue #681)
   * Bugfixes
     -Add missing define for alsa stream to makefile (Issue #692)
     -Fix playback when plugging the headset on Android (Issue #699)
@@ -10,7 +11,7 @@ snapcast (0.22.0-1) unstable; urgency=medium
     -Add null encoder for streams used only as input for meta streams
     -Snapweb: Change latency range to [-10s, 10s] (Issue #695)
 
- -- Johannes Pohl <snapcast@badaix.de>  Wed, 30 Sep 2020 00:13:37 +0200
+ -- Johannes Pohl <snapcast@badaix.de>  Sun, 11 Oct 2020 00:13:37 +0200
 
 snapcast (0.21.0-1) unstable; urgency=medium
 
diff --git a/server/streamreader/meta_stream.cpp b/server/streamreader/meta_stream.cpp
index e3dafb2a..d32e303a 100644
--- a/server/streamreader/meta_stream.cpp
+++ b/server/streamreader/meta_stream.cpp
@@ -105,7 +105,8 @@ void MetaStream::onStateChanged(const PcmStream* pcmStream, ReaderState state)
 
             if (active_stream_ != stream)
             {
-                LOG(INFO, LOG_TAG) << "Stream: " << name_ << ", switching active stream: " << (active_stream_?active_stream_->getName():"<null>") << " => " << stream->getName() << "\n";
+                LOG(INFO, LOG_TAG) << "Stream: " << name_ << ", switching active stream: " << (active_stream_ ? active_stream_->getName() : "<null>") << " => "
+                                   << stream->getName() << "\n";
                 active_stream_ = stream;
                 resampler_ = make_unique<Resampler>(active_stream_->getSampleFormat(), sampleFormat_);
             }
diff --git a/server/streamreader/stream_manager.cpp b/server/streamreader/stream_manager.cpp
index bee9eca2..8c0851a7 100644
--- a/server/streamreader/stream_manager.cpp
+++ b/server/streamreader/stream_manager.cpp
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ const PcmStreamPtr StreamManager::getDefaultStream()
     if (streams_.empty())
         return nullptr;
 
-    for (const auto stream: streams_)
+    for (const auto stream : streams_)
     {
         if (stream->getCodec() != "null")
             return stream;