Shure PLAY vs Headphones Controller
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Shure PLAY
This app allows users to personalize their Shure AONIC wireless listening products. It offers advanced EQ customization, adjustable noise cancellation, and a built-in high-resolution music player for an enhanced audio experience.
- Customize Shure AONIC product settings
- Parametric EQ for audio customization
- Save EQ settings to device
- Adjust Environment Mode
- Active Noise Cancellation control
- High-res music player
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Shure PLAY lets you personalize and update Shure AONIC products, as well as play high-res audio files. Listen with advanced parametric EQ in the app or save your EQ settings directly to your supported Shure devices for a customized experience wherever you get your music, podcasts, and more. Features: • Customize your Shure AONIC wireless listening products — choose button functionality, select prompts & tones, and more • Customizable EQ in the app or on your device — choose a preset or create your own • Modify Environment Mode to interact with your surroundings • Block out the noise with adjustable Active Noise Cancellation • Interactive User Guide — get to know your product • Hi-Res Music Player — import and play your music files * ANC, button customization, and hardware EQ are available on select products
Headphones Controller
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.
- Listening Care ON/OFF
- Noise Cancelling/Ambient Sound ON/OFF
- Listening Optimizer
- 3D Sound Field setting
- Auto power off time setting
- Firmware update
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The Headphones Controller App provides easy operation for Yamaha earphones connection to your devices. *Supported Models: TW-E3A, TW-E3B, EP-E30A, EP-E50A, EP-E70A, YH-E500A, YH-E700A, YH-L700A ++++++++++++++++ Compatibility -Requires iOS 11.0 or later -Bluetooth connection is required from your smart device with the app installed and the compatible Yamaha headphones/earphones. ++++++++++++++++ Key Features: -ON/OFF LISTENING CARE -ON/OFF NOISE CANCELLING / AMBIENT SOUND / LISTENING OPTIMIZER (Supported models only) -3D SOUND FIELD setting (YH-L700A only) -Auto power off time setting -Firmware update ++++++++++++++++
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Shure PLAY at 4.5 against Headphones Controller's 1.4. Shure PLAY also leads on review sentiment (44% vs 5%) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 7). Headphones Controller's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Shure PLAY holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shure PLAY has 1.2K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Shure PLAY's written reviews are positive against 5% of Headphones Controller's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Shure PLAY | Headphones Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (1.2K ratings) — better | 1.4 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 43.6% of reviews — better | 4.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.2K — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 71 MB | 63 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Shure | Yamaha Corporation |
Customer experience
Shure PLAY
Headphones Controller
Bugs and requests
Shure PLAY
Reported bugs
4 issues- Inability to update firmware
- Inconsistent Bluetooth pairing
- Music playback issues after iOS updates
- Unreliable battery level reporting
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to use EQ with other music apps
- Playlist import and management
- Firmware update support for more Shure products
- Improved multi-device connectivity
- Customizable button controls
Headphones Controller
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Shure PLAY
No in-app purchases
Headphones Controller
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Shure PLAY free?
Is Headphones Controller free?
Which has better reviews, Shure PLAY or Headphones Controller?
Do Shure PLAY or Headphones Controller have ads?
Which is updated more often, Shure PLAY or Headphones Controller?
Other comparisons
