# FM Essential vs Headphones Controller

The clearest difference is rating: FM Essential at 3.0 against Headphones Controller's 1.4. FM Essential also leads on review sentiment (40% vs 5%) and ratings volume (70 vs 7). Headphones Controller's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 15 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

FM Essential holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 1.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FM Essential has 70 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of FM Essential's written reviews are positive against 5% of Headphones Controller's.

FM Essential ships an update every 15 months, Headphones Controller every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FM Essential | Headphones Controller |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.0 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fm-essential-us/id1121442614/reviews)** | [1.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/headphones-controller/id1490416182/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **70** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **40.0% of reviews** | 4.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 88 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yamaha Corporation of America](https://appshunter.io/developer/408058585) | [Yamaha Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/353469356) |

## What reviewers say

### FM Essential

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fm-essential-us/id1121442614)

This app is an FM tone generator and synthesizer for iPhone and iPad, offering real-time performance capabilities and voice editing. It includes a variety of presets, arpeggiator patterns, chord pads, and scales, along with drum functionalities. The app also supports external hardware integration and advanced sound manipulation through effects, EQ, and a ball controller.

**Highlights:** FM tone generator, Real-time synth performance, Voice editing, Arpeggiator and chord pads, Effects and EQ edit, Ball controller for sound modulation, Step sequencer

**In-app purchases:** none


### Headphones Controller

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/headphones-controller/id1490416182)

Control Yamaha earphones with your device. Adjust listening care, noise cancelling, ambient sound, and optimize audio. Set auto power off and update firmware for supported models.

**Highlights:** Listening Care ON/OFF, Noise Cancelling/Ambient Sound ON/OFF, Listening Optimizer, 3D Sound Field setting, Auto power off time setting, Firmware update

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FM Essential free?

FM Essential is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Headphones Controller free?

Headphones Controller is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, FM Essential or Headphones Controller?

FM Essential is rated higher. FM Essential averages 3.0 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while Headphones Controller averages 1.4 from 7 ratings.

### Do FM Essential or Headphones Controller have ads?

Neither FM Essential nor Headphones Controller shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FM Essential or Headphones Controller?

FM Essential ships an update every 15 months, and Headphones Controller every 2 months. Most recently, FM Essential was updated on October 15, 2026 and Headphones Controller on October 11, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*