iControlAV5 vs ALPINE_OPTIM
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Complete receiver control
- Input switching
- Listening mode selection
- Volume adjustment
- Power on/off
- Advanced SOUND EXPLORER control
- Optimized iPad interface
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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
ALPINE_OPTIM
This app uses your iPhone's microphone to automatically tune your car's audio system for optimal sound. It allows for easy setup of custom sound curves and connects wirelessly via Bluetooth.
- Automatic sound tuning
- Acoustic condition measurement
- Custom sound curve setup
- Bluetooth connectivity
- iPhone microphone analysis
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[Alpine unique sound tuning] Alpine’s unique sound tuning technology uses auto-tuning to measure the acoustic conditions inside your car, then corrects and optimizes the sound. Use your iPhone’s built-in microphone for easy analysis and measurement, ensuring ideal sound results. [Easy sound set up with professional equalizing] Once basic system configuration is complete with the PC app, you can easily set up your favorite target curve with your iPhone. The OPTIM sound tuning app will automatically adjust your sound system to the custom sound curve you have set. [BT connection] Connection to your "OPTIM™" system is a simple process via Bluetooth, and no special operation is required. Simply follow the guide in the app to connect and start tuning right away. [Supported model] Please note that the ALPINE OPTIM app is compatible with "OPTIM8" PXE-C80-88 and "OPTIM6" PXE-C60-60. [Note] Be sure to use the latest version of the software for optimal performance. Upgrade your car audio experience with the ALPINE OPTIM app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: iControlAV5 at 258 against ALPINE_OPTIM's 7. iControlAV5 also leads on review sentiment (39% vs 27%) and iOS requirement (6.1 vs 14). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 2.2 for iControlAV5 against 2.3 for ALPINE_OPTIM. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iControlAV5 has 258 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 39% of iControlAV5's written reviews are positive against 27% of ALPINE_OPTIM's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iControlAV5 | ALPINE_OPTIM |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.2 (258 ratings) | 2.3 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 38.6% of reviews — better | 27.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 258 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 6.1 — better | 14 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 99 MB | 66 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 11 Trading Company LLC | Alpine Electronics Marketing,Inc. |
Customer experience
iControlAV5
ALPINE_OPTIM
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
ALPINE_OPTIM
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
iControlAV5
No in-app purchases
ALPINE_OPTIM
No in-app purchases









