Comparison

Audioengine Control vs Schiit Forkbeard

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

Head to head
About

Audioengine Control

This app allows you to set up and control your Audioengine B-Fi Music Streamer. Stream high-resolution audio from your favorite services or music library to your stereo system, with multiroom capabilities and seamless synchronization.

Highlights
  • Set up and control B-Fi Music Streamer
  • High-resolution multiroom audio streaming
  • Stream from music services and library
  • Multiroom listening experience
  • Versatile playback options
  • Low-latency audio synchronization
Features
Read full description

This is the companion app to set up the Audioengine B-Fi Music Streamer. Connect to your existing stereo and home network and stream high-resolution multiroom audio directly from this app, your favorite music services or music library using any phone, tablet, or computer. HI-FIDELITY HOME MUSIC STREAMING After setup using your iPhone or iPad, any music player or streaming app can be used from any device to play all your music, including your favorite downloaded songs. MULTIROOM LISTENING EXPERIENCE Add additional Audioengine B-Fi streamers and turn any stereo into a multiroom music system. Control your music, volume, and speaker selection from anywhere in your home and play any song in any room (or all rooms). VERSATILE PLAYBACK Select the B-Fi streamer as the audio output in iOS Music and if your favorite player has audio output settings, you can select B-Fi as the output directly in the app. The good news is any music player will work for iOS and MacOS as well as DLNA or UPnP options for other operating systems. AUDIOENGINE SIGNATURE SOUND Audioengine B-Fi Music Streamers connected to your existing music systems provide low-latency and seamless audio synchronization between multiple speakers with digital and analog outputs for premium HD wireless audio. So no matter how you listen, Audioengine audio quality and simplicity will always be best-in-class. • Simple set up and control with multiroom music and stereo pairing • High-fidelity music streaming for your home with any song in any room • Play different songs in different rooms or the same song in every room • Stream from your favorite music services and library using your phone, tablet, and computer • Play on-demand internet radio, podcasts, audiobooks, and save your favorites • Supports multiple users and multiple music players • Low-latency and seamless audio synchronization between multiple speakers • Digital outputs for premium HD wireless audio NEED HELP? Find FAQs and more info here: support.audioengineusa.com Or send us an email: support@audioengineusa.com

About

Schiit Forkbeard

Control multiple Schiit audio devices from a single app. Manage volume, input, output, and monitor system health without needing individual remotes. Enjoy unique features like Visual Volume for enhanced control.

Highlights
  • Unified remote control for multiple Schiit devices
  • Volume, input, and output control
  • System health reporting
  • Visual Volume™ feature
  • No pairing or account creation required
Read full description

Forkbeard replaces an entire rack of Schiit remotes with unified control on your iPhone or iPad. Multiple products and multiple systems are easily accommodated. There’s no pairing and no account creation—just add your Forkbeard-enabled products and you’re ready to go. Forkbeard Functionality: - Complete remote control, including volume, input select, output mode, mute, sample rate* - System health reporting, including output power, temperature, current, tube heater integrity* - Unique inter-product functions like Visual Volume™, instant headroom visualization *Functions vary by product   Current Forkbeard-Enabled Products DAC - Yggdrasil - Mimir Balanced DAC and Digital Preamp - Gungnir 2 Multiform™ DAC - Mesh Card Preamps - Saga 2 Preamp - Kara F Nexus™ Preamp - Freya+ F Tube Preamp - Freya 2 Fusion™ Tube or Solid State Preamp Power Amps - Gjallarhorn F Compact Continuity™ S Speaker Amp - Vidar 2F Power Amp - Aegir 2F Continuity™+Halo™ Power Amp - Wotan Nexus™ Power Amp - Tyr F Nexus™ and Continuity™ choke-input monoblock amplifier - Kraken™ 5-Channel Power Amp Headphone Amps - Lyr 5 EQ - Loki Max F Phono Preamps - Skoll F Phono Preamp - Stjarna Phono Preamp Fun Stuff - Eitr 2 Forkbeard is patent-pending.

Screenshots

Audioengine Control2 screens
Schiit Forkbeard4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Schiit Forkbeard at 71% against Audioengine Control's 22%. Schiit Forkbeard also leads on rating (4.3 vs 2.0) and update cadence (monthly vs every 7 months). Audioengine Control's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, 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

Schiit Forkbeard holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 18 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of Audioengine Control's written reviews are positive against 71% of Schiit Forkbeard's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Audioengine Control ships an update every 7 months, Schiit Forkbeard monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Audioengine Control versus Schiit Forkbeard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAudioengine ControlSchiit Forkbeard
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.0 (22 ratings)4.3 (18 ratings) — better
Positive reviews22.2% of reviews71.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings22 — better18
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS10.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size184 MB8 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperAudioengine LLCSchiit Audio

Customer experience

Audioengine Control

All ratings22 ratings
Positive22.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative77.3%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive22.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative77.8%

Schiit Forkbeard

All ratings18 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral28.6%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Audioengine Control

No in-app purchases

None

Schiit Forkbeard

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Audioengine Control free?
Audioengine Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Schiit Forkbeard free?
Schiit Forkbeard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Audioengine Control or Schiit Forkbeard?
Schiit Forkbeard is rated higher. Audioengine Control averages 2.0 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Schiit Forkbeard averages 4.3 from 18 ratings.
Do Audioengine Control or Schiit Forkbeard have ads?
Neither Audioengine Control nor Schiit Forkbeard shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Audioengine Control or Schiit Forkbeard?
Audioengine Control ships an update every 7 months, and Schiit Forkbeard monthly. Most recently, Audioengine Control was updated on September 15, 2026 and Schiit Forkbeard on October 2, 2026.

Other comparisons