Comparison

Qu vs Spectrum Eye RTA

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

Head to head
About

Qu

Control your digital mixing console wirelessly from your iPad. Mix sound from anywhere in the room or on stage, allowing for independent control of front-of-house and monitor mixes simultaneously.

Highlights
  • Wireless control for Qu mixers
  • Full mixing and setup functions
  • Simultaneous independent control
  • Remote monitor mixing
  • Supports multiple iOS devices
Features
Read full description

Qu-Pad V1.96 for iPad. This version is for Allen & Heath Qu mixers running V1.9* firmware. Qu-Pad provides full wireless control for Qu range of digital mixing consoles giving the engineer the freedom to walk the room or stage and control the mix right where it is needed. Qu-Pad and the Qu mixing console can work together to provide simultaneous control of independent functions, for example one engineer using the console to mix front-of-house sound and another using the iPad to mix monitors on stage. The Qu mixer supports a maximum of 8 connections to iOS devices with up to two of these running Qu-Pad and the others running the Qu-You Personal Monitor app or Qu-Control app, which are also available free from the Apple Store. This version provides full remote control of the Qu including all mixing and setup functions. Requirements: An Allen & Heath Qu-16, Qu-24, Qu-32, Qu-Pac or Qu-SB mixing console running V1.9* version firmware, with a suitable wireless router or access point connected to its Network port. The Qu mixer firmware and Qu-Pad app maintenance version numbers do not need to be identical, for example Qu-Pad V1.95 will run with Qu mixer V1.91. Refer to the Allen & Heath web site for more information and to download the latest Qu mixer firmware.

About

Spectrum Eye RTA

This application analyzes the frequency content of audio input from your device's microphone or an external interface. It offers detailed spectral analysis with various plot types and SPL measurements, suitable for music professionals and audio enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Real-time frequency spectrum analysis
  • SPL meter with A/C/Z weighting
  • Multiple plot types (bars, line, spectrogram)
  • Fractional-octave resolution
  • Peak hold and Find Peak functions
  • Supports external microphones and interfaces
  • Pink noise generator
Read full description

Spectrum Eye shows the frequency content of what your mic or interface is hearing - smoothly, at high FFT sizes, without freezing the UI. A Lifetime purchase. No Subscriptions. For music professionals, audio engineers, sound technicians, installers, car audio, and audio students. Equally at home as a quick check or a plot you leave running. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Monitor sound quality at concerts and rehearsals • Ring out feedback in stage monitors • Find resonances in rooms, boxes, instruments and cars • Check spectral balance of playback in the studio • Practice frequency-aware hearing • Measure SPL with A / C / Z weighting and Fast / Slow / Leq PLOT • Bars, line, and spectrogram - the configuration button is in the top right corner • Fractional-octave resolution from 1/1 through 1/96 • Line smoothing follows the same octave map • Peak hold with a slow release, optional fill under the line • Find Peak (FP) tracks the loudest band in the visible range • Classic or Overlay layout treats plot area vs scales differently; Overlay is the default • Pan, pinch-zoom, and a live cursor in Hz and dB • Frequency visible range presets (Full 8 Hz–22 kHz, Audio, Lows, Mids, Highs) • Magnitude-range presets • Spectrogram duration, Jet / Viridis / Inferno / Grayscale color palette • Light, Dark, or System appearance, plus a custom plot color • Spectrum update rate: 60 fps Smooth, 30 fps Efficient, or Auto (drops under heat or Low Power Mode) SPL • IEC-style meter: Fast, Slow, and Leq • A, C, and Z (flat) frequency weighting • Per-route SPL offset so you can calibrate against a reference • Yellow / red SPL alarm thresholds per weighting, with UI tinting • Clip indicator and a 30–140 dB level meter bar • iPhone: Large panel in portrait device orientation; in landscape orientation, spectrum is maximized and SPL becomes compact readout in the top bar • iPad: switchable large and compact SPL mode INPUT AND CALIBRATION • Built-in mics (including iPad position / directivity where the device offers them) • External microphones and class-compliant audio interfaces • iOS measurement mode to bypass built-in HPF, EQ, and AGC (recommended) • Import mic correction files (.cal, .txt, .csv) • Per-route mic correction curve and IEC weighting on the live spectrum • Pink noise generator, including with the screen off (Lock Screen / Now Playing) ANALYSIS • FFT sizes 4K / 8K / 16K / 32K (default 16K) • Fall-rate presets: 50 ms, 100 ms, 250 ms, 500 ms, 1 s, 5 s per 6 dB • Nominal capture sample rate - 48 kHz, display ranges from 8 Hz to 22 kHz Audio is processed on the device. Spectrum Eye does not record, store, or upload your audio. Suggestions welcome - the app is in active development. Includes In - app purchases: tips to the developer only. All the functionality is available once you download the app.

Screenshots

Spectrum Eye RTA4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Spectrum Eye RTA at 100% against Qu's 45%. Spectrum Eye RTA also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.5) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). Qu's advantage is price (Free vs $17.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 5). On ads and device support 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

Qu is free to download; Spectrum Eye RTA costs $17.99 up front. Spectrum Eye RTA sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Qu asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Spectrum Eye RTA holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Qu has 58 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of Qu's written reviews are positive against 100% of Spectrum Eye RTA's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Qu ships an update every 4 months, Spectrum Eye RTA fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Qu versus Spectrum Eye RTA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterQuSpectrum Eye RTA
PriceFree — better$17.99
Rating3.5 (58 ratings)4.9 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews45.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings58 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAllen & Heath LimitedOleg Naumenko

Customer experience

Qu

All ratings57 ratings
Positive56.1%
Neutral10.5%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral16.7%
Negative37.9%

Spectrum Eye RTA

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Qu

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Spectrum Eye RTA

One-time5
  • Genuine Support$0.99
  • Solid Support$1.99
  • Serious Support$2.99
Show 2 more
  • Major Support$3.99
  • Mega Support$4.99

Questions

Is Qu free?
Qu is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Spectrum Eye RTA free?
Spectrum Eye RTA costs $17.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Qu or Spectrum Eye RTA?
Spectrum Eye RTA is rated higher. Qu averages 3.5 out of 5 from 58 ratings, while Spectrum Eye RTA averages 4.9 from 7 ratings.
Do Qu or Spectrum Eye RTA have ads?
Neither Qu nor Spectrum Eye RTA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Qu or Spectrum Eye RTA?
Qu ships an update every 4 months, and Spectrum Eye RTA fortnightly. Most recently, Qu was updated on November 4, 2026 and Spectrum Eye RTA on November 6, 2026.

Other comparisons