# Hark Stream vs McIntosh Connect

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: McIntosh Connect at none against Hark Stream's 1. McIntosh Connect also leads on rating (3.3 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (14 vs 2). Hark Stream's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (33% vs 25%). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hark Stream sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per year. McIntosh Connect asks for nothing beyond the download.

McIntosh Connect holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: McIntosh Connect has 14 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of Hark Stream's written reviews are positive against 25% of McIntosh Connect's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Hark Stream ships an update monthly, McIntosh Connect every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hark Stream | McIntosh Connect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hark-stream/id6449079863/reviews) | **[3.3 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mcintosh-connect/id6451832793/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **14** |
| Positive reviews | **33.3% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 6 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sergey Kirichenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1532990653) | [McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/411263898) |

## What reviewers say

### Hark Stream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hark-stream/id6449079863)

This app enables compatible audio equipment to stream music directly from URLs. It supports devices with HEOS Built-in and select Yamaha models. A free version offers limited link playback, with a premium subscription unlocking unlimited streaming.

**Highlights:** Direct URL music streaming, HEOS Built-in device control, Yamaha CRX-N560 compatibility, Unlimited link playback (Premium), Free trial period, Annual subscription option

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Subscription | $2.99 | per year |


### McIntosh Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mcintosh-connect/id6451832793)

Control compatible McIntosh audio equipment with a streamlined interface. Manage volume, inputs, tone, and more for select preamplifiers. Easily update firmware and configure network settings for an optimized listening experience.

**Highlights:** Volume Control, Input Selection & Renaming, Tone Adjustment, Firmware Update Management, Multi-Zone Audio Control, Network Setup

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hark Stream free?

Hark Stream is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is McIntosh Connect free?

McIntosh Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Hark Stream or McIntosh Connect?

McIntosh Connect is rated higher. Hark Stream averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while McIntosh Connect averages 3.3 from 14 ratings.

### Do Hark Stream or McIntosh Connect have ads?

Neither Hark Stream nor McIntosh Connect shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hark Stream or McIntosh Connect?

Hark Stream ships an update monthly, and McIntosh Connect every 3 months. Most recently, Hark Stream was updated on October 7, 2026 and McIntosh Connect on October 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*