Comparison

SUB Control vs Roon

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

Head to head
About

SUB Control

Control compatible ELAC subwoofers remotely using Bluetooth Low Energy. Adjust settings for models SUB 2050, SUB 2070, SUB 2090, SUB10EQ, and SUB12EQ.

Highlights
  • Remote control for ELAC subwoofers
  • Bluetooth Low Energy protocol
  • Compatible with SUB 2050, 2070, 2090
  • Compatible with SUB10EQ, SUB12EQ
Features
Read full description

This APP is used as remote control for the ELAC subwoofer models SUB 2050, SUB 2070, SUB 2090, SUB10EQ and SUB12EQ using BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) as remote control protocol.

About

Roon

This app serves as a controller for a Roon Server, enabling users to browse and play their music library. It offers a rich metadata-driven interface for musical discovery, connecting to over 1,000 compatible audio devices for seamless playback.

Highlights
  • Music library browsing and playback
  • Rich metadata for musical discovery
  • Connects to 1,000+ audio devices
  • Seamless in-home audio connection
  • Access music library remotely via Roon ARC
  • Bit-perfect playback and format support
Features
Read full description

*** The Roon experience requires a Roon Server on your network. *** The Roon App is another controller for your Roon Server. You browse and play your music library on over 1,000 compatible audio devices, and provides a seamless in-home connection. You can install the free Roon App on as many devices as you like. What is Roon? The very best way to experience your music: Roon reshapes the way you browse and explore music. Powered by rich metadata, Roon's interface invites you on a new journey of musical discovery every time you log in. Your music library becomes the starting point on a vast map of performers, composers, influences, and genres. Follow the path emanating from the music you love to discover exciting new sounds and reconnect with long-forgotten favorites. You can delve even deeper through lyrics, artist photos, bios, reviews, and tour dates - then continue the journey with recommendations specifically tailored to your tastes and listening habits. Listen anywhere, on all your gear: Roon lets you play from your collection of music files and TIDAL, Qobuz, and KKBOX libraries on thousands of Roon Ready, Airplay, Chromecast, and USB devices from one app inside your home. Meanwhile, Roon ARC provides access, playback, and precision audio control for your entire Roon music library directly from your phone, wherever you are in the world. Flawless playback. Everywhere, every time: Roon is built to ensure your music sounds perfect every time you hit play, no matter where you are. Roon guarantees the best possible sound quality from every piece of audio gear - our MUSE sound engine delivers bit-perfect playback, exhaustive format support, and precision audio control for a fully customizable and flawless listening experience. From headphones to your home hi-fi, and everything in between.

Screenshots

SUB Control4 screens
Roon4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Roon at 3.6 against SUB Control's 2.0. Roon also leads on review sentiment (33% vs 8%) and ratings volume (556 vs 22). SUB Control's advantage is iOS requirement (7.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Roon holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Roon has 556 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 8% of SUB Control's written reviews are positive against 33% of Roon's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SUB Control ships an update every 2 months, Roon every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SUB Control versus Roon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSUB ControlRoon
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.0 (22 ratings)3.6 (556 ratings) — better
Positive reviews7.7% of reviews32.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings22556 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS7.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB616 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperELAC Americas Inc.Roon Labs

Customer experience

SUB Control

All ratings22 ratings
Positive18.2%
Neutral9.1%
Negative72.7%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive7.7%
Neutral11.5%
Negative80.8%

Roon

All ratings556 ratings
Positive59.2%
Neutral9.0%
Negative31.8%
Written reviews233 reviews
Positive32.6%
Neutral15.5%
Negative51.9%

Bugs and requests

SUB Control

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Roon

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes on search
  • Audio devices disappearing
  • Volume issues after updates
  • Inability to find Roon core

Requested features

5 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Offline music playback
  • Better Tidal/Spotify integration
  • Improved metadata editing
  • Apple Watch support

In-app purchases

None

SUB Control

No in-app purchases

None

Roon

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SUB Control free?
SUB Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Roon free?
Roon is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SUB Control or Roon?
Roon is rated higher. SUB Control averages 2.0 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Roon averages 3.6 from 556 ratings.
Do SUB Control or Roon have ads?
Neither SUB Control nor Roon shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SUB Control or Roon?
SUB Control ships an update every 2 months, and Roon every 3 weeks. Most recently, SUB Control was updated on October 1, 2026 and Roon on October 2, 2026.

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