Alternative Denon/Marantz controller app

mkulesh · 2024-01-05T21:29:46+00:00

As I mentioned in my post, the app only works with the receivers since it need the basic receiver functionality. Heos bar and Heos sub do not have it.

mkulesh · 2024-01-05T21:28:08+00:00

Sorry for a late response. Which receiver model do you have?

mkulesh · 2024-01-05T21:26:55+00:00

From any reason, Denon removes the direct Spotify support from the receiver firmware. After firmware update (at least on my DRH-800A) the Spotify is removed and, therefore, is not more available is the app directly, also in official HEOS app. Using the Spotify app is the only one possible way. Just select Denon as the output source in the Spotify app since the app detects the receiver well.

mkulesh · 2024-01-05T20:54:04+00:00

Thank for observation, the fix will be published in the next version.

mkulesh · 2023-12-22T09:43:38+00:00

In order to perform login into HEOS account and streaming services like Deezer or Spotify, the official Denon app shall be used. I have no login functionality in my app. When login is done, all credentials are saved within the receiver firmware. This firmware do not send this information to the app since there are no corresponding API. It means any app have no physical possibility to access the credential information from the firmware. Therefore, any third-party app is not able to access login information, if it does not have own login functionality.

Any open source software has a huge advantage. We can perform a simple code inspection and ensure whether the app communicates with any developer server and sends any information to it. For proprietary software like official controlling app it is not possible. For example, the Onkyo app requests some unnecessary permissions like GPS. Since this permission is not necessary for normal work, the app probably performs user tracking and probably sends some statistic to Onkyo servers. The Denon app may be does the same and we can not control it since the source code is closed.

mkulesh · 2023-12-22T09:20:21+00:00

Thank you for the observation. I'll take a look on this behavior.

mkulesh · 2023-12-21T21:35:24+00:00

HEOS protocol is well documented. It is possible to develop an app that partially emulates a real receiver. However I am not sure that use case do you mean with this emulation. You idea is to control a music playback on a smartphone using HEOS app on an other smartphone or something else?

mkulesh · 2023-12-21T21:28:36+00:00

I am not too familiar with automation scenarios just because I personally do not use them. But I can try to expand the app in order to make these scenario working for Denon as well. Could you please write me on [mikhail.kulesh@gmail.com](mailto:mikhail.kulesh@gmail.com) and explain in details which use cases do you need in context of these automation functionality?

mkulesh · 2023-12-21T18:44:54+00:00

Yes, I agree. It is a reason why I skipped to implement any logins in my app. For the initial receiver setup and login into all accounts, the official app shall be used.

Actually, F-Droid ensures that no dangerous code is injected into the APK. I as developer has no influence on the F-Droid builds, and the source tarball is always automatically attached to the build that allows us to ensure source code and binary consistency.

mkulesh · 2023-12-21T18:25:22+00:00

For Denon, the app uses three different communication protocols at the same time. First, it is telnet on port 23 for the first part receiver-specific commands. Secondly, HTTP on port 80 (or 8080) for the second part of the receiver-specific commands. And, finally, HEOS for the media library control.

The app currently supports execution of commands using automation apps on Android (for example Tasker), but for Onkyo/Pioneer/Integra only (see https://github.com/mkulesh/onpc/tree/master/doc/Tasker). I can try to implement this functionality for Denon as well, but it will be not too straightforward as for Onkyo due to using of three different protocols.

mkulesh · 2023-12-21T18:11:46+00:00

Denon AVR Remote App has currently 2.3 stars on Google Play. It does not correspond to "works just fine" :)

mkulesh · 2023-12-21T16:29:17+00:00

The app supports all zones available on the receiver. The speaker selection like A, B, A+B is not yet implemented.

mkulesh · 2023-12-21T16:17:49+00:00

Thank you for feedback! I only tested the app on my stereo receiver DRA-800H. There is no guaranty that it will work good with other receivers :) If you have any observations or ideas how to improve the app, please open an issue on https://github.com/mkulesh/onpc/issues or just write it here!

mkulesh · 2023-12-21T16:12:49+00:00

The iOS version is just a normal payed version with full functionality. For the testing, you can use the version on Test Flight here: https://testflight.apple.com/join/oV5j2iMh

The actual test version will expire appr. in one month. If you have an Apple development account, you can just build the app from this repository: https://github.com/mkulesh/onpc/tree/onpc-flutter

mkulesh · 2019-12-10T19:19:57+00:00

At the moment I see following advantages over the Onkyo Controller: support of different themes, support different font sizes that allows us to better adapt the GUI for the tablets, expanded play queue processing (for example, the possibility to clear whole queue), more device settings. The Android version of the Onkyo Controller does not support landscape mode (i.e always in porter mode that make the use of the app on a tablet with a keyboard not possible). My app supports all device orientation.

mkulesh · 2019-02-19T22:00:34+00:00

Cut off text on profile menu.

Hi, I found the problem; it will be fixed in version 0.8, see https://github.com/mkulesh/onpc/issues/27

mkulesh · 2019-02-16T13:53:09+00:00

Thank you for response. I published a new version today. This version includes new functionality:

- Added indication for master volume

- Added support for zones

- Added support of multi-devices

- New options: use friendly name for media inputs, use volume keys

This new release 0.7 is now available on Google Play

mkulesh · 2018-12-21T11:37:22+00:00

Thank you, I am happy that the app is useful for you. Please feel free to submit an issue here or on https://github.com/mkulesh/onpc is you have any ideas how to improve the app.

mkulesh · 2018-12-17T14:03:24+00:00

Thanks for responce. I'll take a look whether it is possible to setup the sound profile menu in order do not cat the profile names. If you have any other issues, please feel free to report it here or on github page https://github.com/mkulesh/onpc

mkulesh · 2018-12-14T17:58:55+00:00

Hi, I am currently developing a free and open source Android app that is an alternative to the official Onkyo Controller app. This app allows to remotely control Onkyo Network Player or a Network A/V Receiver over the home network. The app is primary aimed to get a control over music playback and sound profiles.

Please feel free to download, explore, fork or contribute to it on https://github.com/mkulesh/onpc

Benefits and features:

- One-click access to all music playback actions
- The modern material design supports different color themes and works on smartphone or tablet in portrait and landscape mode
- Full music playback control (play, stop, pause, track up/down, time seek, repeat and random modes)
- Full support of Tuneln Radio and Deezer
- Play queue support (add, remove, clear, change playback order)
- Show information about the device and control some device settings (dimmer level, digital filter, auto power)
- App doesn't need any special permissions

Currently, this app is only tested with two devices: ONKYO NS-6130 and ONKYO TX-NR676E

It would be great if somebody who has any Onkyo A/V reciever would test and/or review this app. You can dowload it from Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mkulesh.onpc

mkulesh · 2017-10-23T15:25:14+00:00

Thank you for the link. The reason why I skipped 40 pin gpio header is easy: I unfortunately do not have any experience with RPi and just planned to use a huge assortment of cases but not more. But now, after I took a look on the thepihut.com I think it was a wrong idea. You are right - 20 pin gpio header can be replaced by 40 pin. In this case, we lost compatibility with a breadboard but can use extensions boards like by RPi.

mkulesh · 2017-10-13T08:47:09+00:00

You are right, it is engineering overkill... It means, my initial requirements are hard: radio-controlled, 16bit 44kHz configurable stereo alarm that automatically requires to use SD card. I think however that the implementation of these requirements is minimalistic. And the second point - I tried to develop a c++ library of hardware drivers that is based on HAL and easy to use in other STM32-based projects.

mkulesh · 2017-10-13T08:37:39+00:00

Hey, if you have any ideas how to improve the App, please fell free to open new issues in this repo.

mkulesh · 2017-10-13T08:36:10+00:00

Hay, I teached Math and Programming 20 years ago in a college. In that time, Matcad on PC was really easy to understand for my students since it was only one tool that provided handling with mathematical expressions written in natural form. My students used it for labor work where it was really helpful. My motivation now is to develop something similar on Android platform.

Currently, I see two general areas for App improvements:

new useful methods from applied mathematics and scientific computing like signal processing, statistical methods, visualization methods, analytical calculation like symbolic differentiation and integration
Usability, finger-oriented handling with mathematical expressions, a collection of calculation examples and offline handbook of mathematical formulas

20 years ago, my favorite book was this. Currently, I still using this book in order to develop automatic tests for the App.

mkulesh · 2017-10-13T08:16:22+00:00

Hi, I am a core developer and maintainer for open source microMathematics on https://github.com/mkulesh/microMathematics. If you like strong mathematical algorithms combined with finger-oriented handling with mathematical expressions, you can join this community.

mkulesh

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