Cary Streamer 2.0 vs McIntosh Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cary Streamer 2.0
This application provides intuitive control over Cary Audio DMS and AiOS products. Its interface mirrors the physical unit's faceplate, offering two-way functionality to display the same information as the device.
- Control Cary Audio DMS & AiOS products
- Intuitive interface
- Mirrors physical unit faceplate
- Two-way functionality
- Displays device information
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Explanation of APP function: This app is specifically designed to control the Cary Audio all DMS & AiOS products. All functions of the all DMS & AiOS products can be control with the intuitive interface which is designed to function similarly to the actual unit faceplate. The app has two way functionality which displays the same information as the unit itself.
McIntosh Connect
Control compatible McIntosh audio equipment with a streamlined interface. Manage volume, inputs, tone, and more for select preamplifiers. Easily update firmware and configure network settings for an optimized listening experience.
- Volume Control
- Input Selection & Renaming
- Tone Adjustment
- Firmware Update Management
- Multi-Zone Audio Control
- Network Setup
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McIntosh Connect offers a refined, intuitive interface for controlling supported McIntosh products, currently the CR106 6-Zone Preamplifier / Audio Matrix, C55 Solid State Preamplifier, and C2800 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier. Each product provides a tailored in-app experience designed to highlight and control its most essential features. Key Features (all features may not be compatible with all products): • Guided Product Discovery & Onboarding • Volume Control • Input Selection • Input Renaming & Configuration • Tone Adjustment • Output Switching • Balance Control • Input Trim Level • Network Setup & Configuration • Firmware Update Management • Multi-Zone Audio Control (CR106 only) • Experience Creation & Recall (CR106 only) Supported Products: • CR106 2-Channel, 6-Zone Preamplifier / Audio Matrix • C55 2-Channel Solid State Preamplifier • C2800 2-Channel Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Firmware Updates Made Easy Stay current with the latest enhancements. McIntosh Connect automatically checks for firmware updates and simplifies installation, ensuring your system performs at its best. Control of Connected Source Components McIntosh Connect also enables indirect control of select McIntosh source components via the Data Ports on supported preamplifiers. Proper configuration is required; please refer to your product’s Owner’s Manual for setup instructions.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: McIntosh Connect at 3.3 against Cary Streamer 2.0's 2.6. McIntosh Connect also leads on review sentiment (25% vs 0%). Cary Streamer 2.0's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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.
McIntosh Connect holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Cary Streamer 2.0's written reviews are positive against 25% of McIntosh Connect's.
Cary Streamer 2.0 ships an update every 2 months, McIntosh Connect every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cary Streamer 2.0 | McIntosh Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.6 (5 ratings) | 3.3 (14 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 25.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 14 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Cary Audio Design LLC | McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. |
Customer experience
Cary Streamer 2.0
McIntosh Connect
In-app purchases
Cary Streamer 2.0
No in-app purchases
McIntosh Connect
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Cary Streamer 2.0 free?
Is McIntosh Connect free?
Which has better reviews, Cary Streamer 2.0 or McIntosh Connect?
Do Cary Streamer 2.0 or McIntosh Connect have ads?
Which is updated more often, Cary Streamer 2.0 or McIntosh Connect?
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