Home theater should feel like entertainment, not a part-time IT job. But modern AVRs have turned input management into a circus act. HDMI-CEC promises automatic switching, yet the moment you plug in anything that isn’t HDMI, you’re back to juggling remotes like a bored Vegas magician. Streaming box, turntable, CD player, gaming console… every source becomes another opportunity for your AVR to shrug and say, “You deal with it.”
Amp Genie exists because this nonsense has gone on long enough. It’s designed to automate input switching for the devices HDMI-CEC conveniently ignores, giving your system actual intelligence instead of “best effort” handshakes. In other words, it fixes the everyday annoyance every home theater owner secretly hates admitting: switching inputs still shouldn’t require that many button presses in 2025.
What Amp Genie Does
Amp Genie is built to kill the remote-control clutter, the button-mashing rituals, and the setup headaches that make home audio feel more complicated than it should. It’s an automatic receiver controller that wakes your system the moment any connected audio source starts playing—no app, no menu diving, no “which input was that again?” Just hit play, and your gear follows your lead.
Amp Genie takes over the moment any audio source comes to life. Hit play on a streaming app, drop the needle on your turntable, load a CD, or fire off a voice command—Amp Genie senses the signal instantly and configures the system on the fly. It sets the correct input, applies the right DSP mode, dials in the volume, and gets the music flowing through your AVR or compatible gear without you lifting a finger. No remotes. No app installs. No extra choreography. Just play, and it handles the rest.
Created by a smart-home AV professional, Amp Genie offers a practical, lower-cost alternative to universal remotes and control systems that often add more steps than they remove. It’s designed to help people get the most out of the audio systems they already own—no input guessing, no juggling remotes, and no learning curve. It simply responds when a source starts and sets the system correctly.
At $399 MSRP, it delivers streamlined control at a fraction of the price of full automation platforms while supporting thousands of players and hundreds of AVRs. Its solid-state, network-free architecture keeps things reliable and avoids the complications that come with cloud-based control. Because it requires zero user interaction, everyone in the household can start music without needing to understand how the system is wired.
Whether mounted in a rack or sitting alongside other components, Amp Genie® stays out of sight and waits for any connected source to play. The built-in cradle accommodates Sonos, WiiM, Bluesound, Arylic, and other streamers for a tidy, integrated setup.
Amp Genie works with essentially all major audio players and supports leading receiver brands, including Anthem, Arcam, AudioControl, Yamaha Aventage, Denon, Integra, Marantz, Onkyo, Pioneer, Sony, and Yamaha.
Features
Stereo Audio Format Support – Handles all standard stereo formats through three common connectors: analog RCA, SPDIF digital RCA, and Toslink optical.
Pre-Programmed IR Database – Comes loaded with support for 11 major AVR brands, allowing fast, straightforward setup.
Automatic System Control – Manages power, input selection, DSP mode, and volume without user intervention.
Ultra-Fast Start-Up – Powers up and responds in under one second, making source playback effectively immediate.
Optional Auto-Off – Can shut down the AVR automatically after use to reduce power consumption and limit wear on components.
Tool-Free Self-Installation – Installs in minutes with no special tools; all necessary cables are included in the box.
Specifications
| Product Name | Amp Genie |
| Product Type | Signal Sensing Remote Free Controller |
| Price | $399 |
| Boot-Up Time | <1 second |
| Response Time | <1 second |
| Audio Inputs | Analog Stereo, Toslink Optical Stereo SPDIF Coaxial Digital Stereo |
| IR Output | 1/8” Industry Standard IR Output Jack(Supports visible red IR Emitter Cable and IR Direct Connection Cable, both included ) |
| Programming Interface | Just Set 10 DIP Switches. No network, no Internet, no smart device, no credentials, no logins, no drivers needed. |
| Programmable Features | Selectable Input, All Channel Stereo DSP Select, Auto Volume, Auto Off |
| LED Indicators | Signal Type: Present, IR Active, Standby, heartbeat indicators |
| Button Functions | TEST button to test ON and OFF routines. RESET button to save changes and reboot. |
| Setup Time | 5-20 minutes, depending on the installer’s knowledge, then set it and forget it. |
| Space-Saving Integrated Top Cradle140x140mm Tray | Fits the following Sonos Port/Connect WiiM Pro/Plus/Mini Arylic BP50/S50 NAD CS1 OSD Nero Many others… Reminder: Amp Genie® works with all Stereo Audio players of all sizes – not just compact streamers that fit the tray. |
| Operating Voltage | 5VDC @ 80ma maximum draw, USB Power Supply included |
| Product Dimensions: (WDH) | 7 ¾ x 6 ¼ x 1 ⅛ -inches |
| Product Weight | 11 oz |
| Warranty | 36 months Advance Replacement |
| Package Contents | 1 x Amp Genie 1 x 6′ Power Cable with UL-listed USB 5V power supply 1 x 8″ SPDIF Digital Audio Coaxial cable 1 x 8″ Toslink Optical Audio Cable 1 x 8″ Analog Audio cable w/integrated piggyback splitter 1 x 6′ IR emitter cable with visible red light 1 x 6′ IR Direct Connection Cable 1 x Color User Manual 1 x Color Quick Start Guide |
The Bottom Line
Ease of use is often the missing piece in home theater setups, and Amp Genie squarely targets that gap. Full automation platforms like Crestron, Control4, RTI, URC, and Savant can integrate everything under the sun, but they’re costly, complex, and far beyond what many households actually need. Amp Genie offers a simpler, more focused alternative: automatic signal detection and input switching for systems built around an AVR and a handful of sources.
For users who want their system to “just work” when someone hits play—kids, guests, or anyone who doesn’t want to think about inputs—it delivers exactly that. It’s a practical tool for reducing friction in multi-user homes and avoiding the remote-control scavenger hunt.
For those who don’t mind switching inputs manually or prefer traditional remotes and apps, Amp Genie® may feel unnecessary, and the $399 price tag might be better spent elsewhere. But for anyone who wants hands-off, zero-interaction operation without diving into full-blown home automation, Amp Genie fills a real gap with a straightforward, reliable solution.
Price & Availability
The Amp Genie is priced at $399 and available from the Amp Genie Website.
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