THX tune vs Orb.net
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
THX tune
Optimize your home theater setup with custom video and audio tests. This app guides you through adjusting picture settings like brightness and color, and verifies speaker connections for immersive sound.
- Video test patterns
- Picture settings adjustment
- Audio tests
- Speaker phase check
- Interactive tutorials
- Color and tint calibration
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THX tune-up (TM) allows you to properly adjust your TV, projector and speakers, helping you get the most out of your entertainment system. NOTE: Before you download and get started, please read the "Additional Requirements" & "Connection to TV/AVR" sections below to ensure enjoyment and proper use. For a video preview of the THX tune-up app, check out the THX YouTube http://bit.ly/X9h5rbchannel at YouTube.com/THXVids. Additional Requirements • Supported iOS devices: iPhone 4, 4S, 5; iPad, 2, 3, 4 & Mini; iPod Touch 4 & 5; iOS 7.1 or later • If using Apple TV, must be 3rd gen version or later • iPhone 4 & iPod Touch 4 are not supported by Apple TV; must use AV adapter & HDMI cable connection to TV or AVR for picture adjustment (720p only) • For 5.1 audio tests, iOS device must be directly connected to AVR with adapter & HDMI cable (5.1 audio tests are not supported on Apple TV) • App is optimized for iOS 7.1 or later for 4S & 5, iPad 2, 3, 4 & Mini, & iPod Touch 5 with an HDMI adapter & cable directly connected to TV or AVR Connection to TV/AVR • HDMI cable at least 2 meters (6 ft) & Cat 2-certified • 30-pin Apple Digital AV Adapter for iPad 2 & 3, iPhone 4 & 4S, & iPod Touch 4 • Lightning Digital AV Adapter for iPhone 5, iPad 4 & Mini, & iPod Touch 5 • Apple TV (3 gen) for picture adjustments is compatible with iPhone 4S & 5, iPad 2, 3, 4 & Mini, & iPod Touch 5 • Connect iOS device via Airplay to your Apple TV (3rd gen) & turn Mirroring ON THX tune-up features custom video test patterns, carefully selected photos and tutorials to help adjust and confirm the best picture settings on your display based on room lighting. Using special audio tests, THX tune-up also lets you check external speakers to make sure they are working in phase and are connected properly for 2-channel stereo or 5.1 sound systems. THX tune-up is completely interactive — go through it at your own pace, in any order. Connect a supported iOS device to the display or sound system with an HDMI adapter & cable, or via AirPlay with Apple TV (3rd gen). Locate the adjustment buttons on your TV and AVR remote controls and then follow the THX app tutorials which walk you through your “THX tune-up.” The app offers tips about your remote control, room lighting, viewing distance and other helpful advice. Video adjustments • Aspect ratio – ensure your TV displays shapes & sizes correctly • Brightness – make certain shadow details & night scenes are clearly visible • Contrast – confirm white detail is distinct on your television • Color – make sure colors are bright & vibrant but not cartoonish • Tint – check skin tones look natural & are not too green or red THX tune-up uses your iOS device’s camera to set color and tint with a special built in color filter. Point the device camera at the TV screen and see if the color or tint is adjusted correctly. Audio adjustments • Speaker assignment – ensure speakers are connected to the correct AVR output & intended sound is coming from the correct speaker • Speaker phase – confirm that positive & negative speaker wires are connected correctly and all speakers are in phase Extras • Turn “moo can” on & tilt your device to hear it “moo” • Play extraordinary THX trailers (just like in THX Certified cinemas) to show off your newly tuned TV & sound system to friends and family • Show off your audio system by playing “THX Deep Note” in 5.1 surround sound, just like in the theater • Have a question for THX or just want to provide feedback? Ask Tex! This app is not a professional calibration tool and is not intended to replace an in-home professional calibration.
Orb.net
This free platform continuously measures your internet connection's responsiveness, reliability, and speed. It provides easy-to-understand scores and detailed technical information for users who want to understand their true internet experience.
- Measures internet responsiveness
- Measures internet reliability
- Measures internet speed
- Continuous lightweight tests
- Easy-to-understand scores
- Technical details for advanced users
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Orb shows your true internet experience and is a free platform that runs without disrupting your connection or device. It measures Responsiveness, Reliability, and Speed using lightweight, continuous tests, and provides easy-to-understand scores as well as the technical details for nerds.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Orb.net at 4.6 against THX tune's 3.7. Orb.net also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (64% vs 55%). THX tune's advantage is ratings volume (142 vs 35) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). 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.
Orb.net holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 142 and 35 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of THX tune's written reviews are positive against 64% of Orb.net's.
THX tune ships an update every 3 months, Orb.net every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.
| Parameter | THX tune | Orb.net |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (142 ratings) | 4.6 (35 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 55.0% of reviews | 64.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 142 — better | 35 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 138 MB | 38 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | THX Ltd. | Orb Forge Inc. |
Customer experience
THX tune
Orb.net
User reviews
THX tune
From 142 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Great for calibrating TV picture
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 💡 Useful for novice and enthusiast users
- 🔊 Good for audio calibration
- 🎥 Helpful test patterns and videos
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes on newer iOS versions
- 🔧 Limited functionality without HDMI connection
- 🔍 Inaccurate color calibration
- 🔇 Limited audio calibration options
- 🕰️ App hasn't been updated in years
Orb.net
From 35 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Good network insights
- 💡 Helpful for working from home
Room to improve
- 🐛 Doesn't run in the background
- 🐛 Inaccurate speed test results
- 🐛 High system overhead
Bugs and requests
THX tune
Reported bugs
5 issues- Crashes on launch
- Test patterns not displaying on TV
- Audio issues with Chromecast
- Incompatible with OLED TVs
- Inaccurate color and tint adjustments
Requested features
5 requests- Support for 4K and HDR content
- Expanded audio calibration options
- Dedicated app for Apple TV
- More comprehensive calibration tools
- Regular updates to support new devices
Orb.net
Reported bugs
2 issues- Console opens on desktop every time
- Slow performance
Requested features
3 requests- Apple TV app
- PlayStation app
- Background mode
In-app purchases
THX tune
No in-app purchases
Orb.net
No in-app purchases









