Can I use my phone to control my stereo?

Smartphones have become incredibly versatile devices that can be used for far more than just making calls or browsing the internet. One popular use case for smartphones is as a remote control for various devices and appliances around the home. With the right apps and setup, your phone can act as a remote for your TV, stereo system, smart home devices, and more. The ability to use your phone as a remote control offers a lot of convenience and benefits for the modern technology user.

Using your smartphone as a remote control for your stereo, TV, or other devices has become a very common practice. The main appeal lies in having a simple, easy way to control your devices without needing multiple remotes. Many people already have their smartphone within reach, making it the ideal universal remote. With everything accessible from one device, you can seamlessly control your entertainment experience and smart home from the couch, or even from another room entirely.

There are many advantages to using your smartphone as a remote control. You can avoid the clutter of multiple remotes and simplify how you interact with your devices. It also enables seamless control even when you don’t have direct line of sight with a device. Smartphone remotes can provide additional features through accompanying apps and allow for voice control. Overall, remote control functionality helps create a more connected, convenient, and modern technology experience for the user.

How It Works

There are a few different technologies that allow you to control your stereo system with your smartphone:

Bluetooth: Many modern stereos have built-in Bluetooth connectivity. By pairing your phone with the stereo via Bluetooth, you can stream music and sometimes even adjust volume and playback controls.[1]

WiFi: Stereo systems like Sonos use your home WiFi network to connect your phone and stereo. The Sonos app allows you to browse music services, create playlists, and control playback.[2]

Infrared (IR): IR blasters can be connected to your stereo to receive signals from your phone’s IR transmitter. Apps transform your phone into a virtual remote control. IR requires line-of-sight and has limited range.[3]

In addition to the above methods, some stereos have aux inputs or USB ports that allow a wired connection between your phone and stereo.

With the right equipment, apps on your smartphone can act as a fully functional remote control for your stereo system, allowing adjustments to volume, song selection, playlists, and more.

[1] https://hificentre.com/blogs/news/how-can-i-play-music-from-my-phone-through-my-home-stereo-1
[2] https://www.techhive.com/article/599621/how-to-use-your-mobile-device-to-control-your-home-theater.html
[3] https://autotraining.edu/automotive-tips/iphone-car-apps/control-your-car-stereo-via-a-smartphone-app/

Setup

To set up your phone to control your stereo, you’ll first need to make sure your devices and apps are compatible and have the necessary features enabled. Many phones and stereos now come with built-in support for wireless control using Bluetooth, WiFi, or infrared technology. However, you may need to enable these features in your device settings first.

For example, on your phone you’ll want to enable Bluetooth and check that Remote Control apps are allowed. On your stereo, look for a setting like “Wireless Control” or “Remote App” support that needs to be switched on. Refer to your device manuals for specifics on enabling these capabilities.

You’ll also want to download a remote control app on your smartphone, like Samsung SmartThings, Sony SongPal, Denon HEOS, or Logitech Harmony. These apps allow you to connect your phone and stereo wirelessly and use your smartphone as the remote. Be sure to grant any needed permissions to the app during setup.

Once the devices and apps are ready, you can complete the connection process which varies by brand. For example, with a Sony stereo, you would connect using SongPal. Or with a Samsung TV, connect through SmartThings. The app will walk you through the specific steps to pair your phone and stereo.¹

Using Controls

One of the main interfaces for remote apps that allow controlling your stereo from your phone is through playback and volume controls. Most apps have buttons to play, pause, skip, go back, as well as raise or lower volume.^[1] Many also allow you to access deeper menus and settings on your stereo unit, essentially turning your phone into a remote control for all the stereo’s features.

Another common interface element is speaker selection.
Many apps allow choosing which speakers in your home audio system you want to have playback through – for example, limiting it to a single room’s speakers or a pair of outdoor speakers on your patio. Apps may also have equalizer controls and presets to adjust the audio profile.^[2]

Some advanced apps allow extensive customization and programming of commands, so you can set up your most common actions as shortcuts or macros on your phone’s interface. This takes it beyond just emulating your normal remote to tailoring an optimal experience for your phone.^[3]

https://www.techhive.com/article/599621/how-to-use-your-mobile-device-to-control-your-home-theater.html

Considerations

Using your phone as a remote control for your stereo has some limitations to consider before relying on it long-term or in all situations:

Range/Distance Limitations

Most Bluetooth connections work reliably within 30 feet or less. Trying to control your stereo from a different room or far end of the house may result in intermittent connectivity or delays ^[1].

Battery Life Impact

Using Bluetooth to connect your phone to your stereo will drain your phone’s battery slightly faster than normal. This may be negligible over short periods, but will require more frequent charging over hours of continuous use ^[1].

Sound Quality

Bluetooth audio streaming is compressed, so music or audio played over a remote stereo connection may sound slightly degraded compared to a direct wired connection. However, modern Bluetooth codecs like aptX provide good enough quality for most users ^[1].

Latency

You may notice a slight delay between pressing a control on your phone and your stereo responding. This latency is usually minor, but can vary depending on your phone, stereo system, and wireless connection strength ^[1].

Advantages

Using your phone as a remote control for your stereo offers several key advantages. According to this article, remote control provides greater efficiency and allows quicker intervention when needed. Some of the main benefits include:

Convenience – With a dedicated app, you can easily control music playback and volume from anywhere in the room. This saves you from having to walk over to the physical stereo to make adjustments.

Advanced Controls – Apps may provide more intuitive controls, preset options, and additional features compared to basic physical remotes. For example, you can quickly skip tracks, create playlists, or even use voice commands.

Hands-Free Operation – If the app supports voice commands, you can change songs, raise/lower the volume, or perform other actions without having to touch your phone.

Shared Music – Apps allow you to stream music from your phone’s library to the stereo. This makes it easy to play songs that aren’t already on the stereo.

Disadvantages

While using your smartphone as a stereo remote has many conveniences, there are some potential downsides to consider as well:

Complexity – Controlling your stereo via smartphone can add more complexity with extra apps to download and potential compatibility issues between devices. The setup may be tricky for less tech-savvy users. Source

Connectivity issues – Using your phone as a remote relies on a wireless connection, which can lead to lag, disruptions or loss of signal. This can result in delayed or unresponsive controls. Source

Cost – While your phone may already be equipped for this, you may need to purchase additional hardware, apps or software upgrades to enable full remote capabilities. This adds to the expense. Source

Security risks – Controlling devices via your smartphone could open up potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities if the app or connection is not securely encrypted. Unauthorized users could gain access and control. Source

Popular Apps

Some of the most popular and highly-rated apps for using your phone as a stereo remote control include:

Yatse – Yatse is one of the most fully-featured remote control apps available for Android. It supports over 100 home entertainment devices and AV equipment brands. Key features include gesture controls, customizable widgets, macro programing, and more. Users praise Yatse for its polished interface, broad device support, and advanced customization options.

Anymote – Anymote supports thousands of TVs, set-top boxes, projectors, and other devices. It can auto-detect devices on your network or manually search by brand. The app offers a simple yet powerful remote with all the expected controls. Users highlight Anymote’s broad device compatibility, ease of setup, and intuitive interface.

Unified Remote – Unified Remote can turn your Android device into a touchpad, keyboard/mouse, media remote, and more for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. It’s great for controlling your stereo system from a computer. Reviewers praise the app’s reliability, responsiveness, and wide array of control options.

Compatibility

In order to use your phone to control your car stereo, your phone must be compatible with the stereo system. This mainly comes down to the phone’s operating system and the stereo manufacturer/model.

For iPhones, you’ll need iOS 8.0 or later to use Apple CarPlay, which allows you to access apps, maps, music and more from your iPhone on your compatible car stereo. According to Pioneer, Android Auto requires Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher on your Android phone in order to pair with a compatible car stereo (Pioneer).

In terms of car stereo compatibility, many major brands now offer models that work with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. These include Pioneer, Kenwood, Alpine, Sony, JVC and others. You’ll want to check with your specific car stereo model to ensure compatibility with your smartphone OS and features. For example, Pioneer’s AppRadio systems allow you to mirror and control Android apps on your car’s touchscreen.

So in summary, the phone OS and stereo model need to support smartphone integration in order for you to fully control your car stereo from your phone. Check requirements and compatibility before purchasing.

The Future

Experts predict smartphones will continue to evolve as remote controls for various devices and appliances. According to an article on Forbes, the TV remote control may become obsolete as phones take over its functionality (https://www.forbes.com/sites/annatobin/2018/10/05/is-the-tv-remote-control-soon-to-become-extinct/). In the future, phones are expected to control not just stereos and TVs, but also home appliances, lights, security systems, and more.

Many find the prospect of using their smartphone as an all-in-one control hub to be highly desirable. It would minimize device clutter and simplify interacting with the various technologies in one’s home. A future where your phone can turn on the lights, start the coffee maker, turn up the heat, and queue up your morning playlist with a single tap is within reach.

Advancements in wireless protocols, AI assistants, augmented reality, and IoT connectivity will enable smartphones to become incredibly versatile hubs. With everything connected, context-aware assistants could automate routines and preferences. And intuitive AR interfaces could make controlling devices and appliances more seamless than ever.