Recommendation on a receiver with Airplay support

[KarlTiestor]

I'm looking to buy a new receiver. It's been many years since I've been on the market and I'm no longer up-to-date on what brands and products are best. My criteria is pretty simple: I want it to support Airplay and to cost between $500 and $1,000. Any advice on what one to focus my attention on is greatly appreciated!

 

[Zaap]

I don't know about recievers with airplay built in, but it seems to me that if ones that do have an added cost, it might make more sense just to buy an Apple TV.

I love the idea of turning a Raspberry Pi into a cheap AirPlay reciever. I ordered one recently just to try this.

http://lifehacker.com/5978594/turn-...iver-for-streaming-music-in-your-living-room/

 

[KarlTiestor]

That looks interesting but it's outside of my technical abilities. Yes, from what I've seen the addition of Airplay does increase the cost of the receiver, but I'd rather have it integrated into the receiver rather than having to manage yet another device.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

I think this post would do better in the Audio/Video forum.

 

[KarlTiestor]

Oh geez. I thought I was posting there - thanks for the tip. Moving it now.

Edit: new thread can be found here. If you have advice to share please add it to this new one: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?p=36206458#post36206458

 

[Kneedragger]

I'm looking to buy a new receiver. It's been many years since I've been on the market and I'm no longer up-to-date on what brands and products are best. My criteria is pretty simple: I want it to support Airplay and to cost between $500 and $1,000. Any advice on what one to focus my attention on is greatly appreciated!

I have seen a good handful of receivers with Airplay support. I would say find a receiver you like and then buy an airport express. http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC...97b951bded14e9
That way if something new comes out or if it breaks you can easily replace it.

 

[master7045]

I have a Pioneer VSX series (can't recall exact model, 1122 I think) and it has AirPlay built in. I love the feature, although true, no video streaming like you would get w/ an aTV, for wireless tunes, it's great. My model is 1-2 years old and doesn't have built in wifi so I hardwired it w/ Ethernet, which wasn't a problem for me though, YMMV.
Honestly, unless you're a huge audiophile, any mid range (stay away from 100-200) receiver w/ AirPlay will be a good choice. As concrete proof, I bought my parents a mid level Sony receiver for $350 (open box, reg price $399) and it had AirPlay, Bluetooth, & WiFi all built in. For a simple HDMI switch/pass through + wireless tunes, it's been a great purchase. Does it provide the most advanced A/V setup around, no, but it allows me to switch all of their gear through 1 box, provide a wireless streaming set up and does it all without sounding like crap.

 

[jhansman]

Pioneer has been supporting it for some time now. I use it wired with my VSX-1021, but it works just as well wirelessly. I only wish there was an alternative to iTunes that worked as well. Anyone found one? I can stream Plex to my Roku, but the Roku's audio goes to my ancient Sony SDTV (waiting for it to die; I'll probably go before it does).