Comparison

AV Receiver Remote vs Composer Express

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Operate Sony AV receivers
  • Control connected components
  • Network connectivity
  • Input management
  • Demo mode for setup
Features
Read 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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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 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

AV Receiver Remote4 screens
Composer Express4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

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

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
AV Receiver Remote versus Composer Express: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAV Receiver RemoteComposer Express
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.6 (149 ratings)4.7 (31 ratings) — better
Positive reviews15.9% of reviews53.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings149 — better31
Update frequencyEvery 46 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSony CorporationSnap One, LLC

Customer experience

AV Receiver Remote

All ratings149 ratings
Positive37.6%
Neutral8.1%
Negative54.4%
Written reviews44 reviews
Positive15.9%
Neutral11.4%
Negative72.7%

Composer Express

All ratings31 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral3.2%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive53.8%
Neutral15.4%
Negative30.8%

In-app purchases

None

AV Receiver Remote

No in-app purchases

None

Composer Express

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AV Receiver Remote free?
AV Receiver Remote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Composer Express free?
Composer Express is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AV Receiver Remote or Composer Express?
Composer Express is rated higher. AV Receiver Remote averages 2.6 out of 5 from 149 ratings, while Composer Express averages 4.7 from 31 ratings.
Do AV Receiver Remote or Composer Express have ads?
Neither AV Receiver Remote nor Composer Express shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AV Receiver Remote or Composer Express?
AV Receiver Remote ships an update every 46 months, and Composer Express every 4 months. Most recently, AV Receiver Remote was updated on October 8, 2026 and Composer Express on October 1, 2026.

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