# Play vs Marantz AVR Remote

The clearest difference is rating: Play at 4.5 against Marantz AVR Remote's 2.0. Play also leads on ratings volume (3.5K vs 628) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Marantz AVR Remote's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Play holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Play has 3.5K ratings behind it against 628, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Play's written reviews are positive against 21% of Marantz AVR Remote's.

Play ships an update every 2 months, Marantz AVR Remote every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Play | Marantz AVR Remote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (3.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-fi/id779245456/reviews)** | [2.0 (628 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marantz-avr-remote/id982083188/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.5K** | 628 |
| Positive reviews | **25.4% of reviews** | 20.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 285 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DTS, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/779245460) | [D&M Holdings](https://appshunter.io/developer/388608883) |

## What reviewers say

### Play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-fi/id779245456)

Wirelessly stream high-fidelity audio throughout your home using Wi-Fi. Control music from various sources, including streaming services, radio, and your device's library. Easily set up and manage multiple speakers for a whole-home listening experience.

**Highlights:** Whole-home wireless audio, Wi-Fi streaming, Multiple music sources, Speaker group management, Volume control, DLNA server support

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well
- 🔒 Integrates well with amplifier
- 👍 Keeps improving with updates

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy, glitchy, and unreliable
- 👎 Limited features and functionality
- 🔌 Constant connection issues
- 💤 Slow to load and connect
- 🤯 Frustrating user experience

**Reported bugs**

- Drops connections frequently
- Fails to recognize devices
- Resets music playback unexpectedly
- Issues with volume control and balancing
- Incompatible with recent firmware/software updates

**Requested features**

- Add support for Apple Music
- Improve Spotify integration
- Implement gapless playback
- Provide better interface and navigation
- Add search functionality for local music libraries


### Marantz AVR Remote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marantz-avr-remote/id982083188)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Play free?

Play 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, Play or Marantz AVR Remote?

Play is rated higher. Play averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3.5K ratings, while Marantz AVR Remote averages 2.0 from 628 ratings.

### Do Play or Marantz AVR Remote have ads?

Play shows ads; Marantz AVR Remote does not.

### Which is updated more often, Play or Marantz AVR Remote?

Play ships an update every 2 months, and Marantz AVR Remote every 3 months. Most recently, Play was updated on November 1, 2026 and Marantz AVR Remote on October 31, 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.*