Comparison

iControlAV5 vs Russound

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

Head to head
About

iControlAV5

Control compatible Pioneer AV receivers and Blu-ray players from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Adjust volume, switch inputs, select listening modes, and even power devices on and off remotely. Offers advanced control and a user-friendly interface optimized for larger screens.

Highlights
  • Complete receiver control
  • Input switching
  • Listening mode selection
  • Volume adjustment
  • Power on/off
  • Advanced SOUND EXPLORER control
  • Optimized iPad interface
Features
Read full description

Completely redesigned for 2014, iControlAV5 gives you complete control of your compatible Pioneer AV Receiver and Blu-ray Disc player using your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. (*A note regarding AV Receiver compatibility: iControlAV5 works with compatible AV receivers. A complete list of compatible models is available below. ) Not only can you control the basic features of your AV receiver like volume, switching inputs, select the listening mode and power on and off. iControlAV5 turns your iOS device into an advanced remote control, giving full control (i.e. SOUND EXPLORER) of your new AV receiver, and in a fun and intuitive way. Designed for both iPhone and iPad, the iPad version has a unique user interface specifically designed to take advantage of the iPad device's larger screen. *Set the network standby --> "ON" beforehand, you can turn ON your AV receiver with iControlAV5. Compatible AV receiver models USA/Canada: SC-LX901,SC-LX801,SC-LX701,SC-LX501,VSX-LX301,VSX-1131,VSX-LX101,VSX-831, SC-99,SC-97,SC-95,SC-91,VSX-90,VSX-1130,VSX-45,VSX-830, SC-89,SC-87,SC-85,SC-82,SC-81,VSX-80,VSX-1124,VSX-44,VSX-1024,VSX-1029,VSX-824, SC-79,SC-77,SC-75,SC-1523,SC-1528,SC-72,SC-1323,SC-1328,SC-71,SC-1223,SC-1228,VSX-70,VSX-1123,VSX-1128,VSX-1028,VSX-43,VSX-1023,VSX-823, SC-68,SC-67,SC-65,SC-1522,SC-1527,SC-63,SC-61,SC-1222,SC-1227,VSX-60,VSX-1122,VSX-1127,VSX-1027,VSX-42,VSX-1022,VSX-822, SC-57,SC-55,VSX-53,VSX-52,VSX-51,VSX-50,VSX-1121,VSX-1021,SC-1526,VSX-1326,VSX-1126,VSX-1026,VSX-926 Central and South America : SC-99,SC-97,SC-95,SC-91,VSX-90,VSX-1130,VSX-45,SC-LX89,SC-LX79,SC-LX59,VSX-930,VSX-830, SC-87,SC-82,SC-81,VSX-80,VSX-1124,VSX-924,VSX-824, SC-79,SC-77,SC-72,VSX-70,SC-LX87,SC-LX77,SC-LX57,VSX-1123,VSX-923,VSX-43,VSX-823, SC-68,SC-67,SC-65,SC-63,SC-61,VSX-60,VSX-1122,SC-LX56,VSX-922,VSX-42,VSX-1022,VSX-822, SC-57,SC-55,VSX-53,VSX-52,VSX-51,VSX-50,VSX-1021,VSX-LX55,VSX-921 Europe : SC-LX901,SC-LX801,SC-LX701,SC-LX501,VSX-1131,VSX-831,VSX-S520, SC-LX89,SC-LX79,SC-LX59,VSX-1130,VSX-930,VSX-830, SC-LX88,SC-LX78,SC-LX58,SC-2024,SC-1224,VSX-924,VSX-824,VSX-529, SC-LX87,SC-LX77,SC-LX57,SC-2023,SC-1223,VSX-1123,VSX-923,VSX-S510,VSX-828,VSX-528, SC-LX86,SC-LX76,SC-LX56,SC-2022,VSX-1122,VSX-922,VSX-827,VSX-527, SC-LX85,SC-LX75,VSX-LX55,VSX-2021,VSX-1021,VSX-921 Asean : SC-LX89,SC-LX79,SC-LX59,VSX-930,VSX-830, SC-LX88,SC-LX78,SC-LX58,SC-2024,SC-1224,VSX-924,VSX-824, SC-LX87,SC-LX77,SC-LX57,SC-2023,SC-1223,VSX-1123,VSX-923,VSX-823, SC-LX86,SC-LX76,SC-LX56,SC-2022,VSX-1122,VSX-922,VSX-822, SC-LX85,SC-LX75,VSX-LX55,VSX-1021,VSX-921 Oceania : VSX-1131, VSX-831, SC-LX89,SC-LX79,SC-LX59,VSX-1130,VSX-930,VSX-830, SC-LX88,SC-LX78,SC-LX58,SC-2024,SC-1224,VSX-924,VSX-824,VSX-529, SC-LX87,SC-LX77,SC-LX57,SC-2023,SC-1223,VSX-1123,VSX-923,VSX-828,VSX-528, SC-LX86,SC-LX76,SC-LX56,SC-2022,VSX-1122,VSX-922,VSX-827,VSX-527, SC-LX85,SC-LX75,VSX-LX55,VSX-2021,VSX-1021,VSX-921 Middle-East : SC-LX89,SC-LX79,SC-LX59,VSX-930,VSX-830, SC-LX88,SC-LX78,SC-LX58,SC-2024,SC-1224,VSX-924,VSX-824, SC-LX87,SC-LX77,SC-LX57,SC-2023,SC-1223,VSX-1123,VSX-923,VSX-823 SC-LX86,SC-LX76,SC-LX56,SC-2022,VSX-1122,VSX-922,VSX-822, SC-LX85,SC-LX75,VSX-LX55,VSX-1021,VSX-921 East-Asia : VSX-831, SC-LX89,SC-LX79,SC-LX59,VSX-930,VSX-830, SC-LX88,SC-LX78,SC-LX58,SC-1224,VSX-924,VSX-824, SC-LX87,SC-LX77,SC-LX57,SC-1223,VSX-1123,VSX-923,VSX-S510,VSX-823, SC-LX86,SC-LX76,SC-LX56,VSX-1122,VSX-922,VSX-822, SC-LX85,SC-LX75,VSX-LX55,VSX-1021,VSX-921 Compatible Blu-ray Disc player models USA/Canada : BDP-33FD,BDP-31FD,BDP-330,BDP-43FD,BDP-41FD,BDP-430,BDP-53FD,BDP-52FD,BDP-140,BDP-62FD,BDP-150,BDP-80FD,BDP-85FD,BDP-88FD Europe : BDP-LX53,BDP-330,BDP-333,BDP-LX54,BDP-430,BDP-LX55,BDP-440,BDP-140,BDP-450,BDP-150,BDP-160,BDP-170,BDP-LX58,BDP-LX88,BDP-180,BDP-100,BDP-X300 Other Countries : BDP-LX53,BDP-330,BDP-LX54,BDP-430,BDP-LX55,BDP-440,BDP-140,BDP-450,BDP-150,BDP-160,BDP-170,BDP-LX58,BDP-LX88,BDP-180

About

Russound

Control your multiroom audio system from your iPhone or iPad. Manage zones, access system favorites, and view source metadata like album art. Supports various music streaming services with compatible hardware.

Highlights
  • Zone control
  • Source metadata and album art
  • System favorites management
  • Streaming service integration
  • DLNA support
Features
Read full description

The Russound app is the perfect way to control your Russound Multiroom Audio System from your iPhone or iPad. Key Features: *Easy control of any zone *Source Metadata, including album art for supported sources *Access to System Favorites - Create, edit or delete any favorites from your iPhone or iPad. *Supports compatible music services such as Spotify®, Pandora®, SiriusXM®, TIDAL, Deezer, TuneIn®, vTuner®, DLNA and more when used with compatible Russound streaming audio products. Compatibility varies by Russound device. Works with: Any network-connected Russound SMZ-Series, MCA-Series, MBX Series or XStream Series products. Note: Available features and screens within the Russound app are dependent on the connected Russound devices and the configured streaming services and physical sources connected to the devices.

Screenshots

iControlAV54 screens
Russound4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Russound at 2.8 against iControlAV5's 2.2. iControlAV5's advantage is review sentiment (39% vs 11%) and ratings volume (268 vs 58). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Russound holds the better App Store score, 2.8 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 268 and 58 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 39% of iControlAV5's written reviews are positive against 11% of Russound's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
iControlAV5 versus Russound: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriControlAV5Russound
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.2 (268 ratings)2.8 (58 ratings) — better
Positive reviews38.6% of reviews — better11.1% of reviews
Number of ratings268 — better58
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS6.1 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size99 MB84 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer11 Trading Company LLCRussound FMP

Customer experience

iControlAV5

All ratings258 ratings
Positive28.3%
Neutral5.4%
Negative66.3%
Written reviews412 reviews
Positive38.6%
Neutral9.0%
Negative52.4%

Russound

All ratings54 ratings
Positive38.9%
Neutral7.4%
Negative53.7%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive11.1%
Neutral14.8%
Negative74.1%

Bugs and requests

iControlAV5

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes on startup
  • Unable to connect to receiver
  • Settings reset unexpectedly
  • Compatibility issues with iOS updates

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add speaker A/B selection
  • Improve network stability
  • Streamline user interface
  • Expand compatibility with older models

Russound

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

iControlAV5

No in-app purchases

None

Russound

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iControlAV5 free?
iControlAV5 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Russound free?
Russound is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iControlAV5 or Russound?
Russound is rated higher. iControlAV5 averages 2.2 out of 5 from 268 ratings, while Russound averages 2.8 from 58 ratings.
Do iControlAV5 or Russound have ads?
Neither iControlAV5 nor Russound shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iControlAV5 or Russound?
iControlAV5 ships an update every 3 months, and Russound every 3 months. Most recently, iControlAV5 was updated on November 6, 2026 and Russound on November 3, 2026.

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