AV Receiver Remote vs Composer Express
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AV Receiver Remote
Control your compatible Sony AV receiver and connected components wirelessly. Connect your device to the same network as your receiver to manage settings, inputs, and more. Offers a demo mode for initial setup.
- Operate Sony AV receivers
- Control connected components
- Network connectivity
- Input management
- Demo mode for setup
Read full descriptionHide full description
You can operate your Sony receiver and/or components connected to your Sony receiver with the AV Receiver Remote application. The following Sony receivers are compatible with this application: - STR-DA5600ES - STR-DA4600ES - STR-DA3600ES - STR-DN2010 Getting Started 1) Prepare your Sony receiver. 1-1) Connect your Sony receiver to your network (For details on how to do this, refer to the Operating Instructions supplied with your receiver or your router.) 1-2) Select "Settings", then "Network", and then "External Control." Finally, set "External Control" to "ON." 2) Connect your iPhone/iPod touch to the same network as your receiver. 3) On the application home screen, tap "Application Settings", and select "Connection." 4) Tap on any displayed receiver that you want to operate. If no receiver is displayed, then tap "Rescan" to search for receivers on the network. Notes - Demo mode will be active until the application is properly configured with a Sony receiver. - Please restart this application to synchronize with the Sony AV Receiver if you revise any settings (Input Name, Input Icon, My Library, Tuner Preset, Macro, etc.). - For more details, refer to the "Help" in "Application Settings" on the application home screen.
Composer Express
This configuration tool streamlines system setup for authorized partners, simplifying installation and increasing productivity. It allows for account management, device connection, and system updates, both locally and remotely.
- Manage customer accounts and register controllers
- Service and update customer systems remotely
- Add and identify new controllers
- Search and add device drivers
- Configure project properties and network settings
- Manage Zigbee and Z-Wave devices
- Backup and load customer projects
Read full descriptionHide full description
Composer Express is a configuration tool exclusively for authorized Control4 partners that dramatically simplifies the install process, allowing partners to minimize their time at job sites and increase their productivity during system setup. For smaller projects, use Composer Express standalone to create accounts, define a system, and connect devices. For more advanced projects, use it as a companion to the full Composer Pro programming experience. Key Features: • Search for, view, and add new customer accounts under your dealership • Register a controller to a customer account • Service and update a customer system locally or remotely • Add and identify a new controller into the project • Search and add device drivers from an online database or personal cloud storage • Set all project properties (date, time, timezone, location, locale & language, etc.) • Discover and add SDDP and IP devices on a local network • Setup and manage Zigbee networks and discover Zigbee devices • Add and manage supported Z-Wave devices • Update drivers on customer systems • Create connections between devices (AV Inputs, AV Outputs, Control, and Room) • Configure and set properties on device drivers • Manage room settings for device visibility, display order, or hide the room entirely • View Network status of all ZigBee (signal, battery, associated mesh controller) • Backup customer projects • Load customer projects (or project templates) from an online backup, USB drive, or Dropbox • Refresh Navigators • Assign a 4Sight license to a customer account • Reports controller serial number to support OvrC integration PLEASE NOTE: 1) Composer Express is available exclusively to authorized Control4 partners. 2) Partners can only access customers associated with their dealership. 3) Local and Remote Access to controllers requires Control4 OS version 2.7.0 and greater.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Composer Express at 4.7 against AV Receiver Remote's 2.6. Composer Express also leads on review sentiment (54% vs 16%) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 46 months). AV Receiver Remote's advantage is ratings volume (149 vs 31) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
Composer Express holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 149 and 31 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 16% of AV Receiver Remote's written reviews are positive against 54% of Composer Express's.
AV Receiver Remote ships an update every 46 months, Composer Express every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AV Receiver Remote | Composer Express |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.6 (149 ratings) | 4.7 (31 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 15.9% of reviews | 53.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 149 — better | 31 |
| Update frequency | Every 46 months | Every 4 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sony Corporation | Snap One, LLC |
Customer experience
AV Receiver Remote
Composer Express
In-app purchases
AV Receiver Remote
No in-app purchases
Composer Express
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is AV Receiver Remote free?
Is Composer Express free?
Which has better reviews, AV Receiver Remote or Composer Express?
Do AV Receiver Remote or Composer Express have ads?
Which is updated more often, AV Receiver Remote or Composer Express?
Other comparisons















