Comparison

Shure PLAY vs Headphone Control

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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

About

Headphone Control

Tailor your audio experience with this app, offering custom adjustments and personalization for select Yamaha headphones and earbuds. Control ambient sound, listening care, and equalizer settings. Access user guides and update firmware for supported models.

Highlights
  • Adjust Ambient Sound
  • Customize Listening Care
  • Personalize Equalizer (EQ)
  • Access User Guide
  • Update Firmware
Read full description

The Yamaha Headphone Control app allows custom feature adjustment and personalization for select Yamaha headphones and earbuds. SUPPORTED MODEL - Yamaha TW-E5B, TW-ES5A, TW-E7B,TW-E3C,YH-E700B, YH-L700A, YH-L500A APP FEATURES - CONTROL: Easily navigate and adjust settings such as Ambient Sound and Listening Care. - PERSONALIZE: Customize Equalizer (EQ) settings to suit your preferences. - SUPPORT: Quick access to User Guide and instructional videos. - UPDATE: Keep your earbuds up-to-date with latest firmware. NOTE: - Some features may not be available for all models. - Some models may not be available in all countries or regions. - This App does NOT work with the following models: YH-E700A, YH-E500A, TW-E3B, TW-E3A, EP-E70A, EP-E50A, EP-E30A *You will need to download and use the Yamaha HEADPHONES CONTROLLER App for these specific models.

Screenshots

Shure PLAY4 screens
Headphone Control4 screens

Verdict

The call

Shure PLAY and Headphone Control both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 44% of Shure PLAY's written reviews are positive against 26% of Headphone Control's. Shure PLAY also leads on ratings volume (1.2K vs 127) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). On price, rating, 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

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Shure PLAY against 4.6 for Headphone Control. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shure PLAY has 1.2K ratings behind it against 127, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 44% of Shure PLAY's written reviews are positive against 26% of Headphone Control's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shure PLAY ships an update every 2 months, Headphone Control every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Shure PLAY versus Headphone Control: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShure PLAYHeadphone Control
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (1.2K ratings)4.6 (127 ratings) — better
Positive reviews43.6% of reviews — better26.1% of reviews
Number of ratings1.2K — better127
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size71 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShureYamaha Corporation

Customer experience

Shure PLAY

All ratings1,195 ratings
Positive87.6%
Neutral4.4%
Negative8.0%
Written reviews326 reviews
Positive43.6%
Neutral16.0%
Negative40.5%

Headphone Control

All ratings127 ratings
Positive90.6%
Neutral3.1%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews69 reviews
Positive26.1%
Neutral5.8%
Negative68.1%

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

Headphone Control

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Shure PLAY

No in-app purchases

None

Headphone Control

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Shure PLAY free?
Shure PLAY is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Headphone Control free?
Headphone Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Shure PLAY or Headphone Control?
Headphone Control is rated higher. Shure PLAY averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Headphone Control averages 4.6 from 127 ratings.
Do Shure PLAY or Headphone Control have ads?
Neither Shure PLAY nor Headphone Control shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shure PLAY or Headphone Control?
Shure PLAY ships an update every 2 months, and Headphone Control every 4 months. Most recently, Shure PLAY was updated on October 19, 2026 and Headphone Control on October 13, 2026.

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