RRS EQ173 vs TB GonioMeter
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RRS EQ173
This audio plugin emulates a vintage mic/line amplifier with comprehensive EQ controls. It offers a demo mode with limited playtime and an unlimited version available via in-app purchase. Features include stereo/mid/side EQ, undo/redo, and a scalable GUI.
- Standalone and AUv3 plugin
- Modeled vintage EQ
- Stereo, Mid, or Side EQ modes
- Undo/Redo functionality
- A/B comparison
- Scalable GUI
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EQ173 AUv3 plug-in — comes as time-limited Demo-version for you to try. It gives you 5 minutes of Free play time. (You can reload the EQ173 AUv3 plug-in as many times as you want, thereby you get the Demo period again and again.) Unlimited version of EQ173 AUv3 plug-in comes as In-App Purchase. Red Rock Sound EQ173 is based on introduced in 1970, this hallowed class-A, transistor mic/line amp with EQ epitomizes the beautiful sound, with unparalleled clarity, sheen and bite. Features: • Standalone and AUv3 plug-in; • Modeled vintage EQ; • Stereo (Mono), Mid or Side EQ modes; • Undo/Redo; • A/B comparison; • 2x/4x/8x Upsampling; • Macro controllers; • Built-in Gain Match; • Scalable GUI. PREAMP SECTION: • Line Gain — Line drive is increased as the knob is rotated counter-clockwise. Range: -20 to +10; • Mic Gain — To increase the mic drive, rotate the knob clockwise. Range: -20 to -80. PreAmp will not increase gain, just harmonic distortion. The distortion is mild and adds some coloration. EQ SECTION: • High Band — The High Shelf knob offers approximately ±15 dB of smooth fixed frequency shelving equalization at 12 kHz. Rotate the control clockwise to add the famous high-end sheen, or counter-clockwise to reduce the treble response; • Midrange Band— The midrange band is controlled by two knobs, delivering smooth semi-parametric midrange equalization. The right knob controls the band gain, and the left knob selects the band frequency or band disable. The response for this band has a dependence on the bandwidth as the gain is adjusted. At higher center frequencies, the Q goes up for a more focused peak; • Low Band — The low band delivers smooth low frequency shelving equalization, controlled by two knobs. The right knob controls the band gain, and the left knob selects the shelf frequency or band disable. The available range is approximately ±15 dB. The band gain is zero when the knob position indicator is pointing straight down; • Low Cut — This knob specifies the fixed frequency of the low cut (high pass) filter. This filter has an 18 dB per octave slope. The available frequencies are 50 Hz, 80 Hz, 160 Hz, 300 Hz and OFF. MASTER SECTION: • Input — Input adjusts the signal level at the input of the plug-in without effecting the sonic character of the signal. The available range is ±24 dB; • Phase — The PHASE button inverts the polarity of the signal. When the switch is engaged, the phase is inverted. Leave the switch in the disengaged for normal phase; • EQ — The equalizer is engaged when the EQ switch is engaged. To disable the EQ, disengage the switch. In the EQ173 the audio is still colored even when the EQ switch is disengaged and the EQ settings are in their «flat» positions. This is due to the fact that the signal is still passing through PreAmp circuitry; • Output — Output adjusts the signal level at the output of the plug-in without effecting the sonic character of the signal. The available range is ±24 dB. To use EQ173 as a plug-in, you need an AUv3-compatible host app like GarageBand, Auria, AUM, Cubasis and more — EQ173 will appear in the list of Audio Unit extensions for effect plug-ins in the host app.
TB GonioMeter
Analyze stereo image imbalances and frequency correlations in real-time. Ensure your audio content is high quality and compatible with mono down-mixes, crucial for mobile entertainment. This tool offers detailed waveform inspection and balance spectrum analysis.
- Real-time goniometer for stereo image waveforms
- Real-time correlation meter and spectrum
- Real-time stereo balance and spectrum meter
- Color themes for UI
- Mono down-mix compatibility check
- Optimized for iPad, compatible with iPhone/iPod Touch
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ToneBoosters GonioMeter is a one-stop stereo image analysis AUv3 plug-in. Easily identify stereo image imbalance or frequency ranges with negative correlation. Ensure that the content you create is of high quality and mono down-mix compatible, an essential requirement for mobile entertainment! The ToneBoosters GonioMeter stand-alone app captures the microphone input and processes the signals in real time. Since most iOS devices only have mono microphone capabilities, we strongly suggest to use the integrated AUv3 plug-in (app extension) version instead. To use it as a plug-in, use an AUv3-compatible host app such as Steinberg Cubasis, Apple Garageband, Audio Evolution Mobile Studio, Auria, AUM, or others. ToneBoosters GonioMeter will appear in the list of Audio Unit extensions for effect plug-ins. Key features: - Real-time goniometer to inspect stereo image waveforms - Real-time correlation meter and correlation spectrum meter - Real-time stereo balance an stereo balance spectrum meter - Color themes for the user interface - Max screen support in Garageband - Optimised for iPad and compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch What you should know: - Licenses acquired for this platform are not compatible with other platforms. - Audio Unit (AUv3) extensions require an iPad mini 2, iPad 4 or later models.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TB GonioMeter at none against RRS EQ173's 1. RRS EQ173's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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. RRS EQ173 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. TB GonioMeter asks for nothing beyond the download.
RRS EQ173 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 22 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
RRS EQ173 ships an update monthly, TB GonioMeter every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RRS EQ173 | TB GonioMeter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (22 ratings) — better | 4.6 (22 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 22 | 22 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RRS, OOO | ToneBoosters |
Customer experience
RRS EQ173
TB GonioMeter
In-app purchases
RRS EQ173
- RRS EQ173 Unlimited$4.99
TB GonioMeter
No in-app purchases








