Comparison

Stream Utility vs Roon ARC

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

Head to head
About

Stream Utility

This application allows users to update the firmware on specific Klipsch wireless speakers and audio devices. It provides stability fixes and adds new features like surround speaker support for compatible models.

Highlights
  • Firmware updates for Klipsch RW-1 Wireless Speaker
  • Firmware updates for Klipsch PowerGate
  • Firmware updates for Klipsch Gate
  • Added Surround Speaker Support
  • Improved Wi-Fi stability in sleep mode
  • Overall compatibility and stability fixes
Features
Read full description

Use the Stream Utility App to update the firmware on your Klipsch RW-1 Wireless Speaker, Klipsch PowerGate, or Klipsch Gate. This version of the Stream Utility includes firmware update support for: Gate MCU: v1.32 (In Stream app 1.032) Change Log: • Added Surround Speaker Support as rear surrounds. • Removed hard sleep mode so WiFi stays active in sleep mode. • Overall compatibility and stability fixes. PowerGate MCU: v1.45 (In Stream app 1.045) Change Log: • Added Surround Speaker Support as rear surrounds. • Removed hard sleep mode so Wi-Fi stays active in sleep mode. • Overall compatibility and stability fixes. RW-1 MCU: v0.38 (In Stream app 0.038) Change Log: • Added Surround Speaker Support as a Single Surround. • Removed hard sleep mode so Wi-Fi stays active in sleep mode. • Overall compatibility and stability fixes. Please visit www.klipsch.com/stream-support for more information on how to update the firmware on all of your Klipsch Stream devices as well as step by step instructions. PLEASE NOTE: This app is for use with the aforementioned Klipsch Stream products and not for use with any products other than those listed above. @2017 Klipsch Group Inc.

About

Roon ARC

Access your entire Roon music library and streaming services on the go. Enjoy personalized recommendations, offline listening, and advanced audio controls with a familiar interface.

Highlights
  • Access Roon library anywhere
  • Stream TIDAL, Qobuz, KKBOX
  • Offline music downloads
  • Personalized recommendations
  • Advanced audio controls (MUSE)
  • Car integration
Features
Read full description

*** Roon ARC requires a valid Roon subscription *** ARC puts the best possible on-the-go music experience in your pocket and lets you enjoy your Roon library and all of Roon's immersive features wherever you are in the world. ARC is a custom-built streaming service powered by your Roon system at home. Explore your complete collection of artists, albums, playlists, and personal music files, plus TIDAL, Qobuz, and KKBOX streams. Discover added content from Roon's music experts and smart features, such as staff-curated playlists, Daily Mixes, New Releases for You, personalized recommendations, and Roon Radio. You can add albums to your collection, build playlists, set favorites, create tags, and more, just as you can in Roon. Offline listening lets you download your personal music files to keep the music playing wherever your adventures take you – even if you're off the grid entirely. ARC offers remote access to Roon's captivating library of in-depth artist bios and album articles, revealing the stories that take us deep into the heart of our favorite music. And there's more… Ready to hit the road? Your Roon library is too! Roon's browsing and discovery features fully integrate into your car's controls for safe and convenient playback. With ARC within easy reach of the wheel, every road you take is a journey in sound. ARC makes the driver's seat feel like your listening chair at home. ARC is designed to look and feel just like Roon. You get the same intuitive, aesthetically rich Roon interface you know and love, fully optimized for your phone. No more switching between streaming apps; ARC compiles all your music in one place for easy access and maximum enjoyment. And now, Roon's audio shaping suite and pristine sound quality have arrived in ARC - with bold styling never before seen in a mobile app! MUSE delivers the precision audio control of Roon when you're on the go or running a streamlined mobile setup with ARC. It places radically unique EQ handling, optimized balance control, precision volume leveling, FLAC, DSD & MQA support, crossfeed, headroom management, and sample rate conversion in the palm of your hand. You can customize sonic qualities to your specific tastes with MUSE, then save or apply them with a few clicks. To top it all off, MUSE even remembers your presets and reapplies them when you reconnect to a known device. The MUSE Signal Path display provides complete audio signal transparency as the music flows through your device - from source media all the way to your speakers. ARC offers artful design, sound quality, and a music listening experience unmatched by any other music app. Best of all, it's included free with your Roon subscription.

Screenshots

Stream Utility2 screens
Roon ARC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Roon ARC at 36% against Stream Utility's 0%. Roon ARC also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (196 vs 6). Stream Utility's advantage is rating (3.7 vs 3.3) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Stream Utility holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roon ARC has 196 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of Stream Utility's written reviews are positive against 36% of Roon ARC's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Stream Utility ships an update every 11 months, Roon ARC monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Stream Utility versus Roon ARC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStream UtilityRoon ARC
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (6 ratings) — better3.3 (196 ratings)
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews35.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings6196 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB122 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKlipsch Group, Inc.Roon Labs

Customer experience

Stream Utility

All ratings6 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral33.3%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Roon ARC

All ratings196 ratings
Positive54.6%
Neutral8.7%
Negative36.7%
Written reviews223 reviews
Positive35.9%
Neutral11.2%
Negative52.9%

Bugs and requests

Stream Utility

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Roon ARC

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Corrupted media files
  • Disappearing playlists
  • Inability to select external storage for downloads
  • Inconsistent connectivity to Roon server

Requested features

5 requests
  • Native iPad app
  • Siri integration for voice control
  • Improved browsing and search capabilities
  • Automatic offline downloads
  • MQA decoding support

In-app purchases

None

Stream Utility

No in-app purchases

None

Roon ARC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Stream Utility free?
Stream Utility is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Roon ARC free?
Roon ARC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Stream Utility or Roon ARC?
Stream Utility is rated higher. Stream Utility averages 3.7 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Roon ARC averages 3.3 from 196 ratings.
Do Stream Utility or Roon ARC have ads?
Neither Stream Utility nor Roon ARC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Stream Utility or Roon ARC?
Stream Utility ships an update every 11 months, and Roon ARC monthly. Most recently, Stream Utility was updated on October 13, 2026 and Roon ARC on October 11, 2026.

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