Comparison

Mark Levinson Control vs JPLAY

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

Head to head
About

Mark Levinson Control

This app provides comprehensive control for a specific audio player, allowing users to manage source selection, volume, and detailed audio settings. Stream music from various sources, tune into internet radio, and access podcasts wirelessly from your iOS device.

Highlights
  • Source selection control
  • Volume adjustment
  • Audio parameter configuration
  • Network settings
  • Music streaming
  • Internet radio access
  • Podcast listening
Features
Read full description

The Mark Levinson № 519 app is the universal remote control for the № 519 audio player. Control source selection, volume, configure all of the settings including network and detailed audio parameters. Access, stream, and listen to any song, from anywhere – streaming music services, shared music library, or anywhere else your music is stored. Tune in to Internet radio stations and podcasts aired from anywhere in the world. And do it all wirelessly, right from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

About

JPLAY

This app is a high-fidelity music player designed for audiophiles. It seamlessly integrates streaming services like Qobuz and Tidal with local music files, offering a unified interface for all your audio content. Experience superior sound quality and discover new music through its intuitive design and advanced features.

Highlights
  • Plays Qobuz, Tidal, and local music files
  • Works with most streamers and network DACs
  • HQPlayer Control API integration
  • Dramatically better sound quality
  • Radio feature for music discovery
  • Extended playlist management
  • Artist bios and album reviews
Features
Read full description

JPLAY is an award winning music playback app for audiophiles. It works instantly with nearly every streamer or network DAC on the market. It combines Qobuz, Tidal and local content in a single interface allowing user to access each library separately. Main features: • Beautiful, clean and easy to use app allowing you to play music on nearly all streamers/network DACs - no core needed! (UPnP AV/DLNA) • Plays from Qobuz, Tidal and files on local libraries • HQPlayer Control API – Seamlessly integrate and remotely control HQPlayer directly from JPLAY • Dramatically better sound quality thanks to minimizing network traffic • Radio feature discovers new music for you • Single library, individual library and folder views • Extended playlists management • Advanced search, sort, focus • Artists bios, album reviews etc • Highlighted audiophile formats • My Activity, My history keep your playback stats • Native iOS controls from locked screen • Sharing your favorite music on social media • And much, much more! JPLAY requires an active subscription to access its content and features. Sign up for a JPLAY subscription in the app. New users can enjoy a 14-day free trial period that will be automatically converted into a yearly subscription. Subscription is automatically renewed and charged on a yearly basis. You can cancel it at any time up until the day before renewal and you can at any time turn off the auto renewal.

Screenshots

Mark Levinson Control4 screens
JPLAY4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: JPLAY at 4.2 against Mark Levinson Control's 2.8. JPLAY also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 21 months) and ratings volume (55 vs 6). Mark Levinson Control's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support 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. JPLAY sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year. Mark Levinson Control asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

JPLAY holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: JPLAY has 55 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Mark Levinson Control's written reviews are positive against 59% of JPLAY's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mark Levinson Control ships an update every 21 months, JPLAY every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Mark Levinson Control versus JPLAY: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMark Levinson ControlJPLAY
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.8 (6 ratings)4.2 (55 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews — better58.9% of reviews
Number of ratings655 — better
Update frequencyEvery 21 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES LIMITEDMarcin Ostapowicz

Customer experience

Mark Levinson Control

All ratings6 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

JPLAY

All ratings52 ratings
Positive80.8%
Neutral5.8%
Negative13.5%
Written reviews190 reviews
Positive58.9%
Neutral6.3%
Negative34.7%

Bugs and requests

Mark Levinson Control

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

JPLAY

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • Tracks fail to render or play from Tidal
  • App crashes on startup with older iOS versions
  • Playback stuttering and lag issues
  • Renderer in transition errors
  • Device discovery failures
Show 9 more
  • Missing cover art for local files
  • Playback gets stuck at end of songs
  • Random track order despite settings
  • Skips tracks mid-playback
  • Connection drops with certain streamers
  • Metadata not syncing properly
  • Album art not loading from Synology/Plex servers
  • Qobuz favorites import not working
  • Tidal playlist suggestions missing

Requested features

16 requests
  • Monthly subscription option
  • Cross-device synchronization for playlists and favorites
  • EQ and tone adjustment controls
  • DSD file playback support
  • Multi-room audio capability
Show 11 more
  • Apple Watch control support
  • AirPlay support
  • Android version
  • Gapless playback improvement
  • Family sharing support
  • Apple Music integration
  • Internet radio support
  • Volume control in player screen
  • Automatic iCloud backup between devices
  • WebDAV support
  • Better error messages for troubleshooting

In-app purchases

None

Mark Levinson Control

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

JPLAY

Subscriptions1
  • JPLAY Premium14 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime$149.00
  • JPLAY Lifetime$199.00

Questions

Is Mark Levinson Control free?
Mark Levinson Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is JPLAY free?
JPLAY is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Mark Levinson Control or JPLAY?
JPLAY is rated higher. Mark Levinson Control averages 2.8 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while JPLAY averages 4.2 from 55 ratings.
Do Mark Levinson Control or JPLAY have ads?
Neither Mark Levinson Control nor JPLAY shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mark Levinson Control or JPLAY?
Mark Levinson Control ships an update every 21 months, and JPLAY every 3 weeks. Most recently, Mark Levinson Control was updated on October 24, 2026 and JPLAY on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons