Denon & Marantz Remote Appīuilt-in Web control means you can control the AVR from a computer via the Web. This app has an iPad-optimized version that’s specifically built for the tablet’s larger screen.
This means the app can sometimes look … well, less than appealing on a big tablet. But as we all know, smartphone screens are getting bigger and bigger (and boasting higher resolution) and tablets are more often finding their way into the living room.
One particularly great thing about this app are the walk-through videos that help users get acquainted with how to use it.Īn issue that’s evident with some A/V apps is that they were optimized for a decent-sized smartphone screen. They also support Apple AirPlay for streaming content directly from an iOS smartphone or tablet. Many of Pioneer’s latest A/V receivers support HTC Connect, which simplifies the process of wirelessly streaming content from HTC smartphones. You can also program it to shut down if it hasn’t been accessed after a predefined period of time (if you, say, fell asleep on the couch and forgot to turn it off.) (This is actually the case with many A/V receiver apps, which can also control other A/V gear from the same brand.)įor those conscious about the environment (or high energy costs), this app has a special Eco setting that will put the receiver into a less power-hungry mode that uses less energy. And you can also control basic functions on compatible Pioneer Blu-ray players through the app, including play, pause, fast forward, and rewind. On the video side, you can scale content up to 4K from your smartphone, or adjust the levels of noise reduction or color temperature. Pioneer’s really cool interface … makes it fun to use, and fun to learn how to use. These range from LFE ATT, which will limit the heaviness of low bass in content where bass is already pretty heavy (maybe you’re listening to House or Rap music, perhaps?) to Virtual Depth, which will expand the sound field to reach behind the display, which is particularly useful when watching a 3D flick.
Not sure which one to use, or what each does? Just click the question mark on the right for information. With Finger EQ, which is part of the Emphasis mode, you can fine-tune sound equalization by sliding your finger up and down over an on-screen graph.Īdditionally, there’s a super-fun Sound Explorer option that lets you select from 18 sound adjustments, each of which scatters around the screen in a cute little bubble housing its icon. With Balance and Emphasis, you can tilt your smartphone and it will use the accelerometer to adjust the speakers accordingly and find that sweet spot for sound. There are four modes for audio adjustments: Control, Precision, Emphasis, and Balance.
For instance, Mom could be listening to music in the kitchen and controlling playback from her tablet, while Dad is controlling the big game on the TV in the living room. With Pioneer’s iControl AV5 app, up to five people in the home (or five devices) can control a compatible A/V receiver simultaneously. What sets this app apart? Mainly, it’s the really cool interface that makes it fun to use, and fun to learn how to use. So what’s out there? Here’s an overview of some of the coolest A/V receiver apps and what they can do. Indeed, receiver apps are continuously updated (maybe 2-4 times per year) with added functionality to support new features in the latest receivers. Many are compatible with older model receivers – in some cases those dating as far back as five years, though functionality may be limited compared to what you can do with the latest models.
Most A/V receiver apps work with both iOS and Android platforms, and some add support for other devices, like the Kindle Fire (from which you can access Google Play apps), and even Web-connected computers. But the latest models go way beyond that. At the most basic level, that includes adjusting balance, EQ, and sound mode. In some cases, they let you perform some pretty kick-ass tweaks to your audio and video systems as well. The most exciting features of the latest network A/V receiver apps pertain to their ability to control music in multiple zones of your home, and to manage tunes streaming from an Internet music service.
Sure, they’ll do things like power the system on and off, switch inputs, and adjust volume, but that doesn’t even remotely (pun totally intended) begin to describe the full extent of their capabilities. Today’s A/V receivers are more network-connected than ever before, and one of the advantages of that connectivity is the ability to use a smartphone or tablet as a replacement for a standard remote control.