Comparison

Retro Spectrum vs Nocturne

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

Head to head
About

Retro Spectrum

Transform your phone into a retro audio visualizer for your car or desk. It analyzes sound from your speakers in real-time, displaying dynamic visuals inspired by classic 80s-90s car stereos. Enjoy multiple retro skins and track identification for a unique audio-visual experience.

Highlights
  • Real-time spectrum analyzer
  • Retro 80s-90s car stereo style
  • Listens via microphone to any speaker source
  • Multiple retro skin options
  • Now Playing song identification
  • Desk mode with clock and date
Features
Read full description

Retro Spectrum turns your phone into a retro audio display for your car or your desk. Mount your phone, play music through your speakers, and watch a real-time spectrum analyzer light up in the style of classic 80s–90s car stereos. Built for JDM and neo-classic car fans, and just as good as an always-on visualizer on your desk. NEW: MOTION SKINS Two new skins that don't just react to your music—they travel with it. They estimate the genre from what the mic hears and use song info when available, so no two shows are ever the same. • Rezolution — fly nonstop through a wireframe cyberspace. As the music builds, detail and distant views emerge, and at top speed it hits OVERDRIVE. • Rezonance — cruise an endless foggy highway under a clean white HUD. Pure chill for the long drive home. Motion skins are graphically intensive and may run warm on older devices. HOW IT WORKS Retro Spectrum listens through your device's microphone and analyzes the sound in real time. Because it uses the mic, it reacts to ANY source playing through your speakers—streaming, radio, CD, anything. No cables, no pairing. Important: it responds to sound from SPEAKERS, not headphones or earphones. Point your phone toward the speakers and turn the volume up. RETRO SKINS Switch between display styles inspired by legendary in-dash stereos: • VFD Green — a fluorescent-tube display (included free) • Plasma Orange — spinning-CD deck with artwork and a big clock • JDM Night — KENWOOD-style dual-zone EQ with 7-segment clock • Bubble Grid — synthwave neon grid with a perspective floor • Wireframe LCD — Y2K retro-future tunnel HUD • Gaming RGB — flowing RGB bars with mirror reflections Every skin works in both portrait and landscape. NOW PLAYING See the song that's playing right now. When you use Apple Music, the title, artist, and artwork are read directly from the system for instant accuracy. For any other source, Retro Spectrum identifies the track from the mic using Shazam technology. Double-tap to look up a song on demand. SHARE THE MOMENT Tap the artwork to turn your current skin and song into a share card for Instagram Stories and more. DESK MODE A built-in clock, date, and battery readout make Retro Spectrum a great always-on display for your desk setup—a glowing retro visualizer and clock in one. Choose 24-hour or 12-hour time with AM/PM. PRIVACY Microphone audio is analyzed on your device and is never recorded or saved. Song recognition can be turned off anytime. See our privacy policy for details. FREE + SKIN PACK + MOTION PACK The app and the VFD Green skin are free. Unlock the five other retro skins with the one-time Skin Pack purchase, and Rezolution and Rezonance with the one-time Motion Pack purchase. The two packs are sold separately.

About

Nocturne

Read full description

Nocturneは、環境音とLofiを自分好みに組み合わせられる、睡眠・集中・作業用のサウンドミキサーです。 【好きな音を自由にミックス】 雨、焚き火、カフェ、波、森、夜の虫から3つの環境音と、Lofi曲1曲を選び、それぞれの音量を調整できます。 【オフラインで再生】 6つの環境音と12曲のLofiをアプリに収録しています。インターネットに接続していない場所でも再生できます。 【画面を消しても再生】 バックグラウンド再生に対応。ロック画面やコントロールセンターから再生・停止できます。 【やさしいスリープタイマー】 15・30・60・90分から選べます。終了30秒前から音量をゆっくり下げ、眠りを妨げずに停止します。 【お気に入りを保存】 気に入った音の組み合わせはプリセットとして保存し、いつでも呼び出せます。 アカウント登録は不要です。保存した配合やプリセットは端末内だけに保存されます。

Screenshots

Retro Spectrum4 screens
Nocturne4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nocturne at none against Retro Spectrum's 2. Retro Spectrum's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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. Retro Spectrum sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Nocturne asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Retro Spectrum ships an update every 3 weeks, Nocturne monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Retro Spectrum versus Nocturne: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRetro SpectrumNocturne
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (8 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings8 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB67 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTAKUMA FUJITSUKAkeitaro nishimura

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Retro Spectrum

One-time2
  • Skin Pack$1.99
  • Motion Pack$2.99
None

Nocturne

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Retro Spectrum free?
Retro Spectrum is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nocturne free?
Nocturne is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Retro Spectrum or Nocturne have ads?
Nocturne shows ads; Retro Spectrum does not.
Which is updated more often, Retro Spectrum or Nocturne?
Retro Spectrum ships an update every 3 weeks, and Nocturne monthly. Most recently, Retro Spectrum was updated on October 31, 2026 and Nocturne on October 29, 2026.

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