LARSA Analyzer vs Bark Filter
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
LARSA Analyzer
This tool measures and analyzes impulse responses for audio systems like loudspeakers and home theaters. It helps you tune your audio setup for optimal performance in any listening environment, bringing professional-level analysis to your mobile device.
- Impulse response measurement
- IR averaging
- IR windowing
- Energy Time Curves
- Delay time calculation
- Save and recall measurements
- iCloud support
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LARSA, or Loudspeaker And Room System Analyzer, is a powerful impulse response measurement and analysis tool. It is ideally suited for measuring loudspeakers in rooms, multi-speaker setups, car audio systems, home theater systems or larger, installed loudspeaker systems. It is an easy way to profile a system and give you the information you need to equalize or tune your loudspeakers for the best possible performance in your listening space. LARSA brings measurement power and convenience previously available only on desktop computers. Key Features of LARSA include: * Easy-to-learn single-tap recording of an impulse response. * IR averaging features. Perform test/re-test analyses of measurements or a make a spatial average. * IR windowing features. * Energy Time Curves. * Delay time calculation for time-alignment in bi- and tri-amp applications. * Save and recall functionality. * Full iCloud support for easy access to your measurements on your desktop or laptop.
Bark Filter
This audio effect processor mimics the human ear's critical band filtering and compression. It offers a multi-band compressor with up to 27 bands for precise audio manipulation and analysis.
- Multi-band dynamic range compressor (up to 27 bands)
- Variable number of compressor bands
- Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, Makeup Gain controls
- Linear phase precision filters
- Real-time spectrum analyzer
- AudioUnit (AUv3), Inter-app audio, and Audiobus 3 compatible
- Low latency live usage
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Bark Filter - Critical Band Analyser/Filter/Compressor The multi band filter in Bark takes the approach to match the reception characteristic of the gate where all sounds must pass through: the human ear. The ear behaves as if it contains a bank of filters, each filter passing frequencies within their respective critical band. Two tones apart more than the frequency dependant critical bandwidth are perceived as separate tones. For this reason Bark contains a filter bank with 27 very steep bandpass filters matching the critical bandwidth characteristic of the human ear. In fact, the human ear have also its own built in multi band compression system which are based on the critical bands. Why the name Bark ? The Bark scale is a frequency scale on which equal distances correspond with perceptually equal distances. Above about 500 Hz this scale is more or less equal to a logarithmic frequency axis. Below 500 Hz the Bark scale becomes more and more linear. Multiband compressors can act differently on different frequency bands. The advantage of multiband compression over full-bandwidth compression is that unneeded audible gain changes or "pumping" in other frequency bands is not caused by changing signal levels in a single frequency band. Bark can act both as single band compressor and with up to 27 bands in multiband mode by linking critical bands. The linear phase filter bank with its steep filter slopes can be used for unusually pronounced filter effects too... Features: • Multi band dynamic range compressor with up to 27 bands • Variable number of compressor bands (1..27) • Threshold/Ratio Attack/Release and Makeup Gain • Linear phase precision filters for maximal transparency • Real time pre/post processing calibrated spectrum analyser • AudioUnit for AUv3 compatible hosts. • Inter-app audio compatible effect. • Audiobus 3 compatible with state saving. • Low latency live usage with mic and headphones. • Audio recorder
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Bark Filter at $3.99 against LARSA Analyzer's $29.99. Bark Filter also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On update cadence, ads, monetization model 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
LARSA Analyzer costs $29.99 and Bark Filter $3.99 up front. LARSA Analyzer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Bark Filter asks for nothing beyond the download.
Bark Filter holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bark Filter has 29 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of LARSA Analyzer's written reviews are positive against 72% of Bark Filter's.
LARSA Analyzer ships an update every 6 months, Bark Filter every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | LARSA Analyzer | Bark Filter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 | $3.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.3 (3 ratings) | 4.8 (29 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 72.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 29 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 48 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Andrew Smith | Harry Gohs |
Customer experience
LARSA Analyzer
Bark Filter
In-app purchases
LARSA Analyzer
- Filter Design Option$9.99
Bark Filter
No in-app purchases









