Comparison

Surround Speaker Check vs Pod

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Surround Speaker Check

Test and optimize your Dolby Atmos home theater system. This app provides over two hours of spatial audio content to verify surround sound decoding, speaker configuration, and enjoy immersive audio experiences on compatible soundbars and headphones.

Highlights
  • Verify Dolby Atmos decoding
  • Test speaker configuration
  • Evaluate height channels
  • Subwoofer test suite
  • Manual speaker troubleshooting
  • Spatial audio demos
  • Dolby Atmos test tracks
Features
Read full description

Surround Speaker Check is a fun and entertaining utility to help you set up and enjoy Dolby Atmos on your home theater gear! Also works as great way to test spatial audio on Dolby Atmos-compatible sound bars and headphones! Surround Speaker Check is more than just the world’s most popular AV utility app - with over 2 hours of content, it’s now THE best way to experience Dolby Atmos spatial audio like you’ve never heard before! SURROUND SOUND TESTING - Verify your system is properly decoding Dolby Atmos surround sound audio - Confirm your speakers are properly configured - Hear and evaluate your surround speakers in isolation (including height channels) - Tune your room, test your sub with the new Subwoofer Test Suite - Use the Manual Speaker Check feature to help troubleshoot and fine-tune your system - Confirm your Apple TV is properly set-up for surround sound playback DOLBY ATMOS TEST TRACKS - True Dolby Atmos audio support provides an accurate and complete test environment - Supports up to 7.1.4 speaker layouts - Works with Atmos-compatible soundbars SPATIAL AUDIO PLAYGROUND - Over two hours of spatial audio demos and Dolby Atmos test tracks - Regularly updated Dolby Atmos demos experimental spatial audio content - Enjoy spatial object scenes designed to unleash the full potential of your home theater Uses specially-produced Dolby Atmos surround tracks with on-screen 3D graphics Designed by guitarist and immersive audio producer Jeff Perrin as a means to confirm the integrity of various surround systems while producing surround sound music tracks. NOTE: Playback of test content on speakers requires an Apple TV (or similar AirPlay-compatible streaming device) connected to a Dolby Digital-compatible home theater system. Spatial audio support over headphones requires compatible iOS device with Dolby Atmos-compatible AirPods or Dolby Atmos-compatible headphones. When played back over an optical connection or non-Atmos devices, surround content will fold down to Dolby Digital 5.1 or stereo 2.0 format, depending on device capabilities. In all cases, a fast internet connection is highly recommend. *Playback of Dolby Atmos content on non-Apple devices requires that the device supports multichannel audio (ie. Dolby Digital 5.1 or Atmos) over AirPlay 2. Please check your device specifications. Please try out the free included test tracks so as to ensure compatibility with your hardware before making any purchases. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Pod

Translate voice commands in over 100 languages into English to control your HomePod. Save your voice commands for easy reuse. Offers unlimited translation services with a subscription.

Highlights
  • Supports 100+ languages
  • Translates voice commands to English
  • Controls HomePod
  • Autosaves voice commands
  • Unlimited translation with subscription
Features
Read full description

Feel free to talk to Siri in any language and this app will instantly translate your voice command into English to control your HomePod. Features: - Support 100+ languages - Provide built-in necessary commands for Siri - Autosave your voice saying to reuse * Supported Languages: Afrikaans (Suid-Afrika),Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesia),Bahasa Melayu (Malaysia),Català (Espanya),Čeština (Česká republika),Dansk (Danmark),Deutsch (Deutschland),English (Australia),English (Canada),English (Great Britain),English (India),English (Ireland),English (New Zealand),English (Philippines),English (South Africa),English (United States),Español (Argentina),Español (Bolivia),Español (Chile),Español (Colombia),Español (Costa Rica),Español (Ecuador),Español (El Salvador),Español (España),Español (Estados Unidos),Español (Guatemala),Español (Honduras),Español (México),Español (Nicaragua),Español (Panamá),Español (Paraguay),Español (Perú),Español (Puerto Rico),Español (República Dominicana),Español (Uruguay),Español (Venezuela),Euskara (Espainia),Filipino (Pilipinas),Français (Canada),Français (France),Galego (España),Hrvatski (Hrvatska),IsiZulu (Ningizimu Afrika),Íslenska (Ísland),Italiano (Italia),Lietuvių (Lietuva),Magyar (Magyarország),Nederlands (Nederland),Norsk bokmål (Norge),Polski (Polska),Português (Brasil),Português (Portugal),Română (România),Slovenčina (Slovensko),Slovenščina (Slovenija),Suomi (Suomi),Svenska (Sverige),Tiếng Việt (Việt Nam),Türkçe (Türkiye),Ελληνικά (Ελλάδα),Български (България),Русский (Россия),Српски (Србија),Українська (Україна),עברית (ישראל),العربية (إسرائيل),العربية (الأردن),العربية (الإمارات),العربية (البحرين),العربية (الجزائر),العربية (السعودية),العربية (العراق),العربية (الكويت),العربية (المغرب),العربية (تونس),العربية (عُمان),العربية (فلسطين),العربية (قطر),العربية (لبنان),العربية (مصر),فارسی (ایران),हिन्दी (भारत),ไทย (ประเทศไทย),한국어 (대한민국),國語 (台灣),廣東話 (香港),日本語(日本),普通話 (香港),普通话 (中国大陆) Premium Pod Skills Subscriptions: • Subscribed user has unlimited access to the app translate services including speech to text recognizing, translating and text to speech. • Unsubscribed user can only use those services with limited quota per day. • User can subscribe One Week (USD 2.99$) or One Month (USD 10.49$) Auto Renewing subscription • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Terms of Use: http://vulcanlabs.co/index.php/terms-of-use/ Privacy Policy: http://vulcanlabs.co/index.php/privacy-policy/ Contact Us: support@vulcanlabs.co

Screenshots

Surround Speaker Check4 screens
Pod4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Surround Speaker Check at 54% against Pod's 15%. Pod's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (3.2K vs 41). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Surround Speaker Check sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year and Pod sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pod holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pod has 3.2K ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 54% of Surround Speaker Check's written reviews are positive against 15% of Pod's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Surround Speaker Check ships an update every 5 months, Pod every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Surround Speaker Check versus Pod: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurround Speaker CheckPod
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (41 ratings)4.1 (3.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.3% of reviews — better14.8% of reviews
Number of ratings413.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TViPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.610.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size180 MB93 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJeff Perrin Music LLCVulcan Labs Company Limited

Customer experience

Surround Speaker Check

All ratings41 ratings
Positive65.9%
Neutral9.8%
Negative24.4%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive54.3%
Neutral11.4%
Negative34.3%

Pod

All ratings3,178 ratings
Positive74.8%
Neutral5.3%
Negative19.9%
Written reviews61 reviews
Positive14.8%
Neutral3.3%
Negative82.0%

Bugs and requests

Surround Speaker Check

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Pod

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Unable to connect to WiFi
  • Music playback issues
  • Siri not responding properly

Requested features

3 requests
  • Radio support
  • Better integration with music libraries
  • Improved voice assistant capabilities

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Surround Speaker Check

Subscriptions2
  • Unlimited Access$19.991 Year
  • Unlimited Access$24.991 Year
One-time2
  • Subwoofer Check$0.99
  • Center Speaker Check$0.99
3 purchases

Pod

Subscriptions2
  • Weeky Subscription3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Monthly Subscription3 Days trial$10.491 Month
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$34.99

Questions

Is Surround Speaker Check free?
Surround Speaker Check is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pod free?
Pod is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Surround Speaker Check or Pod?
Pod is rated higher. Surround Speaker Check averages 3.8 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Pod averages 4.1 from 3.2K ratings.
Do Surround Speaker Check or Pod have ads?
Neither Surround Speaker Check nor Pod shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Surround Speaker Check or Pod?
Surround Speaker Check ships an update every 5 months, and Pod every 2 weeks. Most recently, Surround Speaker Check was updated on October 26, 2026 and Pod on October 26, 2026.

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