The AV receiver you bought a decade ago probably sounds better than you remember, once you stop leaning on the front-panel menus and hand the tuning off to a good Android app. Modern controller apps read the receiver over the local network, expose the deep menus the remote hides, and walk you through Audyssey or YPAO room correction without the on-screen wizard. These are the best apps for tuning old AV receivers on Android, whether you own a Denon, Marantz, Yamaha, or Onkyo unit.
What to look for in a receiver controller app
- Deep menu access. The front-panel menu system rarely exposes everything, especially crossover frequencies, per-channel level trims, and delay times.
- Room correction integration. Audyssey MultEQ Editor and YPAO both live in dedicated companion apps that read the same measurement your receiver takes and let you override the target curve.
- Multi-room and multi-zone control. Older receivers often had a second zone output that was hard to configure with the physical remote.
- Preset and input renaming. Naming inputs to match the actual sources you connected is trivial in an app and painful with a remote.
- Firmware update prompts. Some 2016-2020 receivers only surface firmware updates through their app now.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price/mo | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEOS | Denon and Marantz receivers made after 2014 | Android, iOS | Full | Free | 3.9 |
| Marantz AVR Remote | Legacy Marantz AVRs without HEOS | Android, iOS | Full | Free | 3.7 |
| AV Setup Guide | Guided cabling and speaker setup for Denon/Marantz | Android, iOS | Full | Free | 4.3 |
| Yamaha AV Controller | Yamaha RX-A and RX-V series | Android, iOS | Full | Free | 3.6 |
| Onkyo Controller | Onkyo TX-NR and Pioneer VSX models | Android, iOS | Full | Free | 3.5 |
| Sonos | Adding streaming to a receiver via a Port or Connect | Android, iOS | Full | Free | 3.9 |
| Roon Remote | Deep music library control across a mixed system | Android, iOS | 14-day trial | Subscription | 4.5 |
The apps
1. HEOS – best for Denon and Marantz receivers post-2014
HEOS is the official controller app for every Denon and Marantz receiver with HEOS Built-in, which covers everything from the AVR-X1300W upward. It handles multi-room grouping, source switching, and firmware updates in one place, and it doubles as a music player for local NAS content, Tidal, Amazon Music, and Spotify Connect.
Where it falls short: The player interface is dense and slow to load on entry-level phones. Room correction still runs through the receiver’s own on-screen wizard, not the app.
Pricing:
- Free: Full functionality.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Download: Google Play — Aptoide
Bottom line: If you own a Denon or Marantz receiver from the last decade, this is your default remote.
2. Marantz AVR Remote – best for legacy Marantz AVRs without HEOS
Marantz AVR Remote is the fallback for Marantz receivers that pre-date HEOS Built-in, roughly SR5010 and earlier. It gives you input switching, volume trim per channel, zone control, and access to the same deep menu the front panel hides.
Where it falls short: Discovery over Wi-Fi is flaky if your receiver is on a wired connection and your phone is on 5 GHz. The UI has not been updated in years.
Pricing:
- Free: Full functionality.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The only sensible way to control an older Marantz over Wi-Fi.
3. AV Setup Guide – best for cabling and speaker layout
AV Setup Guide is Denon and Marantz’s step-by-step wizard for the cabling and speaker layout side of setup, not day-to-day control. It shows you how to run the physical connections, place speakers for 5.1, 7.1, or Atmos, and confirms the receiver’s menu paths for each step. Useful even for owners who bought the unit second hand and never got the manual.
Where it falls short: It stops once your speakers are hooked up. Actual EQ and room correction are still menu-driven.
Pricing:
- Free: Full guide.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The one-time app you install, run once, and uninstall.
4. Yamaha AV Controller – best for RX-A and RX-V series
Yamaha AV Controller is the companion for Yamaha’s RX-A Aventage and RX-V receivers going back to 2012. Zone 2, YPAO status, party mode, and DSP presets are all exposed here in a way the remote hides. Firmware updates prompt through this app first.
Where it falls short: No Atmos height channel trim beyond the receiver’s own menus. YPAO tuning still relies on the microphone-and-menu wizard.
Pricing:
- Free: Full functionality.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: If your receiver is a Yamaha, this is the only companion app worth installing.
5. Onkyo Controller – best for Onkyo and Pioneer receivers
Onkyo Controller works with Onkyo TX-NR and Pioneer VSX models. It handles input switching, volume, DSP mode, and network audio streaming. Onkyo and Pioneer share the same app because the two brands are owned by the same holding company and share firmware paths.
Where it falls short: The app has crashed on us more than any other in this list. Restarts pick up the receiver again but the connection can drop mid-session.
Pricing:
- Free: Full functionality.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: Adequate for Onkyo owners and the only real option for Pioneer.
6. Sonos – best for adding streaming to an older receiver
Sonos is not a controller app in the traditional sense. Pair a Sonos Port or Connect with a spare receiver input and the Sonos app becomes the source selector, letting you stream Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and a local NAS through the receiver’s DACs. Multi-room grouping across Sonos speakers and the receiver works from the same app.
Where it falls short: You are paying for a Port ($449) or a used Connect to get here. The app also went through a rough redesign in 2024 that added latency and lost a few features that have since been added back.
Pricing:
- Free: The app.
- Paid: The Port hardware.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: Worth the hardware cost if you want streaming on a receiver that predates AirPlay 2 and Chromecast.
7. Roon Remote – best for deep music library control
Roon Remote takes over the music side of a mixed system. Point it at a Roon Core running on a NAS or a small PC, and it becomes the source selector, metadata browser, and multi-zone grouper for the receiver alongside any Roon Ready endpoints you own. It also supports Roon’s parametric EQ on a per-zone basis, which is the closest thing to per-room correction you get outside of Audyssey.
Where it falls short: Roon is subscription-only after the trial. The Core needs a machine of its own to run properly.
Pricing:
- Free: 14-day trial.
- Paid: About $15/month or a one-time lifetime licence.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Download: Google Play
Bottom line: The only pick for a household that runs a serious local music library.
How to pick the right one
If you own a Denon or Marantz receiver from 2014 or later, install HEOS and AV Setup Guide. That covers day-to-day control and one-time setup.
If your Marantz is older than 2014, use Marantz AVR Remote instead. The interface is dated but the receiver still is too.
For Yamaha owners, Yamaha AV Controller is the only path. Yamaha does not push cross-brand tooling.
For Onkyo or Pioneer, Onkyo Controller. Restart when it drops.
If your receiver predates streaming built-in and you want Spotify Connect or AirPlay 2, add a Sonos Port and use the Sonos app as your source.
If music is the primary reason the receiver exists and you already run a NAS, subscribe to Roon and let it drive everything.
FAQ
Do these apps work over Bluetooth? No. All of them talk to the receiver over your local network. The phone and the receiver need to be on the same Wi-Fi.
Can I use HEOS with a non-HEOS receiver? No. HEOS Built-in is a specific hardware feature. If your Denon or Marantz predates it, use Marantz AVR Remote or a Denon-branded equivalent.
What is the best free app for Yamaha receivers? Yamaha AV Controller. There is no competing option worth using.
Will an app replace the physical remote? Almost. On-screen menus during initial setup usually still need the remote. Once the receiver is on your network, day-to-day control lives in the app.
Do these apps handle Audyssey MultEQ or YPAO tuning? The stock apps do not; they only start the receiver’s own room-correction wizard. Audyssey MultEQ Editor is a separate paid app that lets you override the target curve after the sweep.
