Comparison

BluOS Controller vs Marantz AVR Remote

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

Head to head
About

BluOS Controller

Control your wireless hi-res music systems from multiple brands. Stream music from various sources, synchronize playback across rooms, and manage your entire audio experience wirelessly from your smartphone or tablet.

Highlights
  • Universal remote for BluOS-enabled systems
  • Wireless multi-room music streaming
  • Access streaming services, libraries, and radio
  • Synchronized playback across multiple rooms
  • Control from smartphone, tablet, or laptop
  • High-resolution audio with no lag
Features
Read full description

The BluOS Controller app serves as the universal remote for all BluOS-enabled wireless hi-res music systems, including Bluesound, NAD Electronics, PSB Speakers, Bluesound Professional, Cyrus Audio, DALI Speakers, and Monitor Audio. Link multiple BluOS-enabled systems to enjoy synchronized music throughout your home. Access, stream, and enjoy music from various sources, such as streaming services, your music library, or global Internet radio stations and podcasts. The best part? It's all wireless, effortlessly controlled from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, delivering stunning audio with no lag and zero loss in sound quality. Available for iOS devices, the BluOS Controller app is everything you need to set up, control and listen to your music on a BluOS-enabled wireless music system. • Wirelessly stream your music to any BluOS-enabled stereo system, wired loudspeakers, or wireless speakers. • Effortlessly browse, access, and enjoy music from numerous streaming services, Internet radio stations, or your personal library. • Take control of your music from anywhere within your home using your smartphone or tablet. • Play different music in each room simultaneously, or achieve flawless synchronization across all BluOS-enabled speakers and players. • Easily position BluOS-enabled speakers and players throughout your home, connecting them to your WiFi network with user-friendly setup tutorials and support. Learn more about BluOS at www.bluos.io. Have questions or need support? Go to support.bluesound.com for BluOS FAQs, setup tips, and troubleshooting articles.

About

Marantz AVR Remote

Control your compatible Marantz AV receiver with your iOS device. Manage power, volume, inputs, and settings. Seamlessly integrate with HEOS for network browsing and control.

Highlights
  • Control power, volume, and inputs
  • Access Smart Select and Surround Modes
  • Network browsing with HEOS integration
  • ECO Mode settings
  • Option settings (Sleep Tone, Channel Level)
  • Marantz CD Player control
  • View user manuals
Features
Read full description

The “Marantz AVR Remote” app for iPhone and iPad will give you an unprecedented level of command and control over the latest generation of Marantz AV Receivers (due to hardware differences, older models are not supported with this app. Please check the model compatibility list below). A wide portfolio of useful features, nicely designed graphics and easy to operate user interface do make the app a useful tool to control your AVR. Control the basic functions of your Marantz product with power, volume, input and settings. Have direct access to Smart Select and Surround Modes. Network browsing is either done within the Marantz AVR Remote app or depending on model by selecting HEOS network as input which opens the HEOS app automatically. With the new Marantz AVR Remote, your iOS device just became an integral part of your home entertainment experience. "Because Music Matters" Compatible Marantz Models (*1, *2) 2026 New Models Network AV Pre-Amplifier: AV 30 Network AV Receiver: CINEMA 50 SERIES 2, CINEMA 60 SERIES 2, CINEMA 70s SERIES 2 2025 Model Network AV Pre-Amplifier: AV 20 2024 Model Network AV Receiver: CINEMA 30 2023 Model Network AV Receiver: STEREO 70s 2022 Models Network AV Pre-Amplifier: AV 10 Network AV Receiver: CINEMA 40, CINEMA 50, CINEMA 60, CINEMA 70s 2021 Model Network AV Pre-Amplifier: AV8805A 2020 Models Network AV Pre-Amplifier: AV7706 Network AV Receiver: SR8015, SR7015, SR6015, SR5015, NR1711 2019 Models Network AV Receiver: SR6014, SR5014, NR1710, NR1510, NR1200 2018 Models Network AV Pre-Amplifier: AV7705 Network AV Receiver: SR7013, SR6013, SR5013, NR1609, NR1509 2017 Models Network AV Pre-Amplifier: AV8805, AV7704 Network AV Receiver: SR8012, SR7012, SR6012, SR5012, NR1608, NR1508 2016 Models Network AV Pre-Amplifier: AV7703 Network AV Receiver: SR7011, SR6011, SR5011, NR1607 2015 Models Network AV Pre-Amplifier: AV7702mkII Network AV Receiver: SR7010, SR6010, SR5010, NR1606, NR1506 2014 Models Network AV Pre-Amplifier: AV8802, AV8802A *Not compatible with Marantz models other than the above models. Main feature: •On the fly HEOS app switching for network browsing and control for HEOS built-in AVR and AVP •ECO Mode setting •Option settings (Sleep Tone, Channel Level etc.) and Selected Setup Features •Marantz CD Control when your Marantz AVR is connected to Marantz CD Player with a remote cable •Viewing User manuals •Multi-Language Support (English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Swedish, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Russian and Polish.) (*3) Notes: *1: A firmware update for your Marantz product is may be needed, please update the firmware via the system setup menu. (General > Firmware) If the App doesn't work well, please try to reboot your mobile device, unplug the power cord of the main unit and reinsert into the power outlet or check your home network. *2: Please set "Network Control" to "ON" in your product via the system setup menu to use this app. (Network > Network Control) *3: The OS language setting is automatically detected; when not available, English is selected.

Screenshots

BluOS Controller4 screens
Marantz AVR Remote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: BluOS Controller at 4.4 against Marantz AVR Remote's 2.0. BluOS Controller also leads on review sentiment (39% vs 21%) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). 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

BluOS Controller holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BluOS Controller has 5.3K ratings behind it against 625, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of BluOS Controller's written reviews are positive against 21% of Marantz AVR Remote's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BluOS Controller ships an update monthly, Marantz AVR Remote every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
BluOS Controller versus Marantz AVR Remote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBluOS ControllerMarantz AVR Remote
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (5.3K ratings) — better2.0 (625 ratings)
Positive reviews38.8% of reviews — better20.8% of reviews
Number of ratings5.3K — better625
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size100 MB72 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBluesoundD&M Holdings

Customer experience

BluOS Controller

All ratings5,318 ratings
Positive84.1%
Neutral4.5%
Negative11.4%
Written reviews804 reviews
Positive38.8%
Neutral11.9%
Negative49.3%

Marantz AVR Remote

All ratings625 ratings
Positive21.4%
Neutral7.0%
Negative71.5%
Written reviews610 reviews
Positive20.8%
Neutral9.3%
Negative69.8%

User reviews

BluOS Controller

From 5.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great hardware and sound quality
  • 💡 Versatile streaming options
  • 🔒 Stable and reliable connection
  • 👍 Intuitive app interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues
  • 🐛 Buggy app updates
  • 🐛 Inconsistent performance
  • 👎 Unintuitive playlist management
  • 👎 Poor customer support

Marantz AVR Remote

From 625 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Convenient remote control
  • 👍 Useful features
  • 💡 Comprehensive functionality
  • 🚀 Quick response
  • 👍 Works well with latest iOS

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes
  • 🐛 Unreliable connectivity
  • 🐛 Slow and unresponsive
  • 👎 Outdated design
  • 🐛 Buggy after updates

Bugs and requests

BluOS Controller

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App fails to detect/connect to players
  • Playlists not saving/loading properly
  • Frequent app crashes and freezes
  • Streaming service integration issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved Spotify/Apple Music integration
  • Better local music library support
  • Chromecast/AirPlay integration
  • Customizable app interface

Marantz AVR Remote

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Inability to detect receiver
  • Crashing on certain functions
  • Inconsistent volume and power controls
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved media server integration
  • Better Audyssey settings control
  • Faster navigation and UI responsiveness

In-app purchases

None

BluOS Controller

No in-app purchases

None

Marantz AVR Remote

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BluOS Controller free?
BluOS Controller is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Marantz AVR Remote free?
Marantz AVR Remote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BluOS Controller or Marantz AVR Remote?
BluOS Controller is rated higher. BluOS Controller averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5.3K ratings, while Marantz AVR Remote averages 2.0 from 625 ratings.
Do BluOS Controller or Marantz AVR Remote have ads?
Neither BluOS Controller nor Marantz AVR Remote shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BluOS Controller or Marantz AVR Remote?
BluOS Controller ships an update monthly, and Marantz AVR Remote every 3 months. Most recently, BluOS Controller was updated on September 24, 2026 and Marantz AVR Remote on September 21, 2026.

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