A 10 or 15-year-old AV receiver still runs circles around most soundbars, and anyone who has kept one knows it. What broke is the workflow around it. Modern TVs dropped the reliable HDMI-CEC handshakes that used to let one remote control everything, ARC and eARC negotiations get renegotiated every wake, and half the front-panel inputs on our receiver are labeled for source devices we no longer own. The plastic remote that shipped in the box is now a museum piece.
The fix is not new hardware. It is a phone app that talks to the receiver over Wi-Fi, sets inputs, saves scenes, and gets rid of the front-panel display entirely. We looked at seven Android apps that keep a functioning AV receiver useful in a 2026 living room, spanning the four brands that make up most of the installed base plus one open-source pick.
What to look for in an AV receiver control app
Not every manufacturer app is equal, and the third-party alternatives fill specific gaps.
- Direct network control, not IR blasting. Apps that talk to the receiver over its own Wi-Fi API respond in milliseconds. IR blaster apps rely on a hardware blaster and line-of-sight.
- Input naming and scenes. Renaming HDMI 1 from “CBL/SAT” to “Apple TV” and saving a “Movie Night” scene that sets input, sound mode, and subwoofer level in one tap.
- Zone control. For any receiver with a Zone 2 output driving a second room, the app should switch that zone independently.
- Firmware compatibility window. Some manufacturer apps only support receivers from a certain year forward. The 2014 cutoff for Denon and 2013 for Yamaha are the two most common walls.
- Works without the manufacturer’s cloud account. Local Wi-Fi control should not require a login. The apps below that pass this test are noted.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denon AVR Remote | Denon 2014+ receivers | Android, iOS | Full app free | Free | 3.5 stars |
| Marantz AVR Remote | Marantz 2014+ receivers | Android, iOS | Full app free | Free | 3.4 stars |
| Yamaha AV Controller | Yamaha RX-V/RX-A 2013+ | Android, iOS | Full app free | Free | 3.3 stars |
| Yamaha Home Theater Controller | Yamaha RX-V pre-2013 | Android, iOS | Full app free | Free | 3.0 stars |
| Onkyo Remote | Onkyo TX-NR 2011+ | Android, iOS | Full app free | Free | 3.6 stars |
| Pioneer Remote App | Pioneer VSX/SC 2016+ | Android, iOS | Full app free | Free | 3.5 stars |
| AVR-Remote (pskiwi) | Older Denon/Marantz not supported by official app | Android | Free trial | $4.49 one-time | 4.3 stars |
The apps
1. Denon AVR Remote — Best for Denon receivers from 2014 onward
Denon AVR Remote is the current official app from Sound United and it covers the AVR-X series from 2014 forward, plus every Denon HEOS-enabled model. Input selection is one tap, sound modes (Dolby, DTS, Direct, Pure Direct, Multi-Ch Stereo) are all a swipe away, and the audio settings panel exposes subwoofer level, tone controls, and Audyssey MultEQ curve selection without walking to the receiver. Firmware updates and initial network setup also live here.
Where it falls short: The layout was refreshed in 2023 but the settings screens still nest deeper than they need to. Users on the Denon subreddit periodically report the app losing the receiver after a router reboot until we clear the app cache.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free, no in-app purchases
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download: Aptoide · Google Play · App Store
Bottom line: The default choice for any Denon AVR from 2014 forward. Skip it if we own a pre-2014 Denon; the app will not talk to it.
2. Marantz AVR Remote — Best for Marantz receivers from 2014 onward
Marantz AVR Remote is the sibling app to the Denon one, built on the same Sound United codebase with Marantz styling. It covers the SR and NR series from 2014 forward. Same feature set: input select, sound mode picker, Audyssey adjustment, HEOS multi-room. The differences are cosmetic and the Marantz-specific display of the source-direct signal path.
Where it falls short: The app cannot control Marantz stereo receivers or CD players; it is AVR-only. Same intermittent post-router-reboot rediscovery issue as the Denon version.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download: Aptoide · Google Play · App Store
Bottom line: The Marantz equivalent for AVRs. Same caveat: 2014 or newer only.
3. Yamaha AV Controller — Best for Yamaha RX-V and RX-A from 2013 onward
Yamaha AV Controller covers the RX-V and RX-A Aventage series from 2013 forward and every MusicCast-enabled Yamaha. Zone control is the standout here — Yamaha’s Zone 2 implementation is stronger than most competitors and the app exposes it cleanly. Scene buttons map to the receiver’s own scene memory, so a “Watch Movie” scene set here writes back to the physical remote too.
Where it falls short: The party mode across MusicCast speakers occasionally desyncs if the phone drops Wi-Fi mid-session. The DAB/FM tuner screen is Europe-focused and less useful in North America.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download: Aptoide · Google Play · App Store
Bottom line: Best pick for a Yamaha AVR from 2013 or later, especially one running a second zone.
4. Yamaha Home Theater Controller — Best for older Yamaha RX-V receivers
Yamaha Home Theater Controller is Yamaha’s other app, kept alive specifically for older networked RX-V receivers that predate the AV Controller cutoff. If AV Controller says it cannot find our receiver, this one probably will. Feature set is narrower — input select, volume, basic sound mode — but for a 2010-era RX-V779 that still works fine, this is the way to skip the plastic remote.
Where it falls short: No scene control, no MusicCast integration. The UI has not been updated in years.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download: Aptoide · Google Play · App Store
Bottom line: The rescue app for a pre-2013 Yamaha AVR that the newer app cannot see.
5. Onkyo Remote — Best for Onkyo TX-NR receivers
Onkyo Remote covers the TX-NR series from 2011 forward, which is one of the widest compatibility windows of any manufacturer app on this list. The input, volume, and sound-mode controls are present, plus a network-audio browser that walks the receiver through TIDAL, Amazon Music, and DLNA sources without touching the on-screen menu. Onkyo’s ownership changed hands twice in the last decade, so the app has been in maintenance rather than active development, but it still works.
Where it falls short: The UI shows its age; some settings still open small pop-up dialogs that feel like a 2014 build. Zone 2 control works but is less polished than Yamaha’s.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download: Aptoide · Google Play · App Store
Bottom line: Widest year-range support of the manufacturer apps. Good pick for anyone with an Onkyo TX-NR from the last decade-plus.
6. Pioneer Remote App — Best for Pioneer VSX and SC receivers
Pioneer Remote App covers Pioneer VSX and SC receivers from 2016 forward, after O&P Technology took over Pioneer’s home audio business. Input select, listening modes (including Pioneer’s Advanced Surround options), and the MCACC room-correction picker are all in the app. Chromecast built-in and DTS Play-Fi zones are exposed as separate tabs.
Where it falls short: The app splits functionality across too many tabs — routine tasks like “change input and adjust volume” take more taps than they should. Pre-2016 Pioneers need the older iControlAV5 app, which is no longer updated.
Pricing:
- Free: Fully free
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download: Aptoide · Google Play · App Store
Bottom line: The default for Pioneer AVRs from 2016 forward. Anything older needs a third-party alternative.
7. AVR-Remote for Denon/Marantz — Best for the receivers Sound United forgot
AVR-Remote from developer pskiwi is a third-party app that talks to Denon and Marantz AVRs over their raw telnet control protocol, which means it works on models the official app has dropped. The UI is denser and less polished, but the coverage is broader: several pre-2014 Denons and Marantzes that the official app cannot see respond fine here. Custom command macros are a power-user feature the official app does not offer.
Where it falls short: Setup is more involved — we need to enter the receiver’s IP manually if auto-discovery misses. The visual style is functional rather than pretty.
Pricing:
- Free: Trial version
- Paid: $4.49 one-time in-app purchase to unlock full functionality
Platforms: Android
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Best pick when the official Denon or Marantz app refuses to see our receiver. Pay the small unlock fee and keep the AVR useful.
How to pick the right one
If we own a Denon or Marantz from 2014 or later, install the official app first and only fall back to the pskiwi third-party option if the official one cannot find the receiver.
If we own a Yamaha, try AV Controller first for any 2013+ model, and use Home Theater Controller as the rescue app for older units.
If we own an Onkyo from 2011 forward, the official Onkyo Remote is our option; Onkyo has not maintained a second app.
If we own a Pioneer from 2016 forward, use the official Pioneer Remote App. For older Pioneers, the pskiwi app does not cover them; look into a universal remote app with an IR blaster instead.
If we have a Sony receiver, Sony’s Music Center app covers the STR-DN and STR-AN series but is more focused on multi-room audio than AVR control; not covered above because it does not fit the AVR use case as cleanly.
FAQ
Can I control any AV receiver with my phone?
Only if the receiver has a network connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi). Receivers older than about 2010 or entry-level models without a LAN port cannot be reached from a phone app over the network. For those, we would need a universal remote app with an IR blaster or a hardware IR gateway.
Which is the best free AV receiver app?
All seven above are free at their base level. The AVR-Remote from pskiwi is the only one with a paid unlock, and even that is $4.49 one-time rather than a subscription. The best-fit app depends on the receiver brand and year, not on price.
Do these apps replace the physical remote?
For everyday use, yes. Manufacturer setup menus that require the on-screen display (Audyssey calibration on Denon, for example) still need the physical remote pointed at the receiver. Everything else — input, volume, sound mode, scene, zone — lives in the app.
Why won’t my old Denon show up in the app?
The official Denon AVR Remote only supports models from 2014 forward. If we own an older Denon, install AVR-Remote from pskiwi instead. Also confirm the receiver is on the same Wi-Fi subnet as the phone.
Can one app control two different-brand receivers?
The manufacturer apps only talk to their own brand. A universal remote app with an IR blaster (or a hardware IR bridge like Broadlink) is the way to run mixed-brand setups from one interface, but IR control is slower and less capable than the direct network apps above.
