Comparison

SXFI App 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

SXFI App

This app uses advanced technology to map your unique ear and head shape, transforming audio for a personalized, immersive listening experience. Enjoy holographic sound that feels like it's coming from outside your headphones, with customizable EQ settings for local music files.

Highlights
  • Super X-Fi holographic audio
  • AI-powered head and ear mapping
  • Tailor-made audio profiles
  • Local music file playback
  • 10-band equalizer
Read full description

Imagine capturing the listening experience of a high-end multi-speaker system in a professional studio, and recreating the same expansive experience - with the original depth, detail, realism, and immersiveness – in your headphones. Welcome to the magic of Super X-Fi with SXFI App! Super X-Fi technology works by mapping the head and ear shape, and transforming audio based on those parameters, for the individual. It allows you to experience audio as if it’s coming from outside the headphones, and the headphones seemingly disappear! Leveraging on leading-edge precision technology that maps the distinct acoustics of an audio system projecting sound to the human ear in three-dimensional space, the SXFI App utilizes Super X-Fi technology to deliver a holographic audio experience that intelligently translates that complex information into an identical breath-taking listening experience for the headphones. In addition, everybody hears sound differently in the real world, depending on the shape of one's ears and structure of the head. The SXFI App’s Super X-Fi technology further uses Artificial Intelligence to map the individual's ear shape and head profile, then utilizes a computationally complex algorithm to transform and custom tailor the audio to each individual, so that it sounds perfect to each and every one, and like what they hear in the real world. Key Features: * Built-in Super X-Fi technology lets you magically experience audio as if it’s coming from outside your headphones. * Easy-to-use smart device camera-enabled head mapping that captures your unique ear and head features for a tailor-made audio profile--get the most natural headphone listening experience! * Supports playback of local music files stored in your device. * 10-band Equalizer for further audio customization. Need help? Talk to us at team@sxfi.com

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

SXFI App4 screens
Roon ARC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Roon ARC at 3.3 against SXFI App's 2.1. Roon ARC also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Roon ARC holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 2.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 42 and 199 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of SXFI App's written reviews are positive against 36% of Roon ARC's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SXFI App versus Roon ARC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSXFI AppRoon ARC
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.1 (42 ratings)3.3 (199 ratings) — better
Positive reviews23.3% of reviews35.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings42199 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS1515.0
Further details — not scored
Size194 MB124 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCreative Labs Pte. Ltd.Roon Labs

Customer experience

SXFI App

All ratings41 ratings
Positive24.4%
Neutral7.3%
Negative68.3%
Written reviews159 reviews
Positive23.3%
Neutral7.5%
Negative69.2%

Roon ARC

All ratings199 ratings
Positive54.8%
Neutral8.5%
Negative36.7%
Written reviews224 reviews
Positive35.7%
Neutral11.2%
Negative53.1%

Bugs and requests

SXFI App

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

SXFI App

No in-app purchases

None

Roon ARC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SXFI App free?
SXFI App 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, SXFI App or Roon ARC?
Roon ARC is rated higher. SXFI App averages 2.1 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Roon ARC averages 3.3 from 199 ratings.
Do SXFI App or Roon ARC have ads?
SXFI App shows ads; Roon ARC does not.
Which is updated more often, SXFI App or Roon ARC?
SXFI App ships an update monthly, and Roon ARC monthly. Most recently, SXFI App was updated on October 20, 2026 and Roon ARC on October 27, 2026.

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