Denon AVR Remote vs JBL BAR Setup
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Denon AVR Remote
Control your compatible network-ready Denon AV Receiver from your iOS device. Manage basic functions, access network browsing, and adjust settings with an overhauled interface. Integrates with HEOS for seamless control.
- Basic function control (power, volume, input)
- Network browsing and HEOS app integration
- ECO Mode settings
- Option settings (Sleep Tone, Channel Level)
- View user manuals
- Multi-language support
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This app for iPhone and iPad will give you an unprecedented level of command and control over your 2014 or later model year network ready Denon AV Receivers (due to hardware differences, older models are not supported with this app. Please check the model compatibility list below). Along with many new features, the graphics and user interface have been completely overhauled. Control the basic functions of your Denon product with power, volume, input and settings. Network browsing is either done within the Denon AVR Remote app or depending on model by selecting HEOS network as input which opens the HEOS app automatically. With the Denon AVR Remote, your iOS device just became an integral part of your home entertainment experience. Compatible Denon Models (*1, *2) 2026 New Models Network AV Receiver: AVR-S980H, AVR-X2900H, AVR-X3900H 2024 Models Network AV Receiver: AVR-A10H, AVR-X6800H 2023 Models Network AV Receiver: AVR-X1800H, AVR-S770H, AVR-S670H, DRA-900H 2022 Models Network AV Receiver: AVR-A1H, AVR-X4800H, AVR-X3800H, AVR-X2800H, AVR-S970H 2021 Models Network AV Receiver: AVR-X8500HA, AVR-X1700H, AVR-S760H, AVR-S660H 2020 Models Network AV Receiver: AVR-A110, AVR-X6700H, AVR-X4700H, AVR-X3700H, AVR-X2700H, AVR-S960H 2019 Models Network AV Receiver: AVR-X3600H, AVR-X2600H, AVR-X1600H, AVR-S950H, AVR-S750H, AVR-S650H, DRA-800H 2018 Models Network AV Receiver: AVR-X6500H, AVR-X4500H, AVR-X3500H, AVR-X2500H, AVR-X1500H, AVR-S940H, AVR-S740H, AVR-S640H 2017 Models Network AV Receiver: AVR-X8500H, AVR-X6400H, AVR-X4400H, AVR-X3400H, AVR-X2400H, AVR-X1400H, AVR-S930H, AVR-S730H 2016 Models Network AV Receiver: AVR-X6300H, AVR-X4300H, AVR-X3300W, AVR-X2300W, AVR-X1300W, AVR-S920W, AVR-S720W 2015 Models: Network AV Receiver: AVR-X6200W, AVR-X4200W, AVR-X3200W, AVR-X2200W, AVR-X1200W, AVR-S910W, AVR-S710W 2014 Models: Network AV Receiver: AVR-X7200W, AVR-X7200WA *Not compatible with Denon models other than the above models. Main feature: •On the fly HEOS app switching for network browsing and control for HEOS built-in AVRs •ECO Mode setting •Option settings (Sleep Tone, Channel Level etc.) and Selected Setup Features •Viewing User manuals •Multi-Language Support (English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Swedish, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Russian and Polish.) (*3) Notes: *1: A firmware update for your Denon product is may be needed, please update the firmware via the system setup menu. (General > Firmware) If the App doesn't work well, please try to reboot your mobile device, unplug the power cord of the main unit and reinsert into the power outlet or check your home network. *2: Please set "Network Control" to "ON" in your product via the system setup menu to use this app. (Network > Network Control) *3: The OS language setting is automatically detected; when not available, English is selected.
JBL BAR Setup
This app simplifies the Wi-Fi setup for the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround soundbar. It enables easy integration with Alexa Multi-Room Music for seamless music streaming and multi-room audio experiences.
- Easy Wi-Fi setup
- Alexa Multi-Room Music integration
- Music streaming
- Multi-room audio
- Firmware update check
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The JBL BAR Setup app works with JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. It provides easy WiFi Setup for Alexa MRM (Mult-Room Music) for incredibly easy music streaming and multi-room possibilities. Please ensure your JBL Bar 5.1 Surround firmware are updated in order to work with the app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Denon AVR Remote at 2.0 against JBL BAR Setup's 1.6. Denon AVR Remote also leads on review sentiment (21% vs 7%) and ratings volume (1.5K vs 153). JBL BAR Setup's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Denon AVR Remote holds the better App Store score, 2.0 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Denon AVR Remote has 1.5K ratings behind it against 153, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of Denon AVR Remote's written reviews are positive against 7% of JBL BAR Setup's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Denon AVR Remote | JBL BAR Setup |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.0 (1.5K ratings) — better | 1.6 (153 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 21.4% of reviews — better | 6.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.5K — better | 153 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 10.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 72 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | D&M Holdings | Harman International Industries |
Customer experience
Denon AVR Remote
JBL BAR Setup
User reviews
Denon AVR Remote
From 1.5K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Works as intended
- 🚀 Flawless connectivity
- 💡 Convenient remote control
- 👍 Intuitive interface
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Unreliable connection
- 🐛 Buggy after updates
- 🔧 Outdated and clunky UI
JBL BAR Setup
From 153 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- ✅ Works reliably once properly configured
- 🎵 Enables Spotify playback via AirPlay
- 🔧 Allows WiFi connectivity setup for soundbars
- ⚡ Fast connection when functioning correctly
Room to improve
- 🐛 Extremely unreliable WiFi pairing process
- ❌ App frequently fails to detect connected devices
- 🔌 Requires complex manual reset procedures to function
- 📱 Limited functionality beyond initial setup
- ⚙️ No sound customization or EQ settings available
Bugs and requests
Denon AVR Remote
Reported bugs
4 issues- App unable to detect receiver on network
- Volume controls not syncing with receiver
- Certain settings not persisting across inputs
- Frequent app crashes and hangs
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to manually enter receiver IP address
- More customization options
- Better integration with smart home platforms
- Improved multi-zone control
JBL BAR Setup
Reported bugs
12 issues- WiFi pairing fails consistently across multiple devices
- App cannot detect soundbar despite device being in setup mode
- Connection drops after firmware updates
- App displays failure message but update continues silently
- Bluetooth setup conflicts with WiFi pairing
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Amazon Alexa sign-in screen freezes
- App stuck searching for device indefinitely
- Soundbar firmware version mismatch prevents app recognition
- Subwoofer fails to connect through app
- iPhone compatibility issues
- Power surge causes permanent connection loss
- App requires manual reset cycle after each firmware update
Requested features
10 requests- Add equalizer and sound customization controls
- Implement proper remote control functionality
- Add ability to rename devices
- Include WiFi/Bluetooth toggle option for security
- Improve device detection and connection reliability
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Add HomeKit/Apple Home Pod support
- Support for older soundbar models (2.0, 2.1)
- Disable auto-standby feature after 15 minutes
- Consolidate multiple JBL apps into single unified app
- Add comprehensive troubleshooting guides
In-app purchases
Denon AVR Remote
No in-app purchases
JBL BAR Setup
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Denon AVR Remote free?
Is JBL BAR Setup free?
Which has better reviews, Denon AVR Remote or JBL BAR Setup?
Do Denon AVR Remote or JBL BAR Setup have ads?
Which is updated more often, Denon AVR Remote or JBL BAR Setup?
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