An A/V receiver is commonly the centrepiece of your own home theatre, appearing because the wired middle-man between your tv, audio system, and different audio and video tools akin to turntables, sport consoles, Blu-ray gamers, and so on. making for a pleasant built-in ecosystem. The factor that complicates that utopian, if complicated, system from working is getting something wi-fi working on the identical time.
There are a number of methods of streaming audio and video out of your smartphone, however when you personal an Apple product, you’re going to make use of AirPlay 2 to ship content material over Wi-Fi. And to try this with older {hardware}, you’re most likely going to want an AirPlay receiver. We’ve chosen choices from all-new AirPlay-compatible A/V receivers to easier gadgets for streaming to your current stereo or audio system, so no matter what you are on the lookout for take into account the alternatives we have put collectively under.
The best AirPlay receiver: Our top picks
Yamaha / Pocket-lint
Yamaha RX-V4A AV Receiver
1. The overall best
Enough HDMI, suport for 8K, and AirPlay
$430 $500 Save $70
The Yamaha RX-V4A 5.2 Channel A/V Receiver covers all the basics for your home theatre setup with four HDMI inputs, one HDMI eARC output, and support for AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, and voice assistants like Amazon Alexa.
- Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
- HDMI eARC
- You can play 8K content (if you have any)
- Doesn’t support Dolby Atmos
Yamaha’s RX-V4A 5.2 Channel A/V Receiver doesn’t offer a fully Dolby Atmos-compliant audio setup, but it’s got all the basics you need to watch and listen at your leisure. The RX-V4A has four HDMI inputs and one HDMI output with support for eARC (the specification that enables high-end audio and video and management inputs to journey over HDMI) and may deal with each 4K and 8K content material with HDR10+.
For wi-fi choices, Yamaha’s included help for Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, and W-Fi MusicCast. And when you’re occupied with controlling the receiver (and gadgets related to it) with a voice assistant, the RX-V4A performs good with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. There are extra fully-featured receivers accessible, positive, however for entry to AirPlay 2 and a decent set of specs, this Yamaha does the trick.
Sonos / Pocket-lint
Sonos Amp
2. Probably the most premium
Excellent for built-ins and Sonos devotees
$685 $749 Save $64
The Sonos Amp is a high-end device for powering audio gadgets, and bringing your entire A/V tools right into a wi-fi Sonos system. It is an costly method to AirPlay to your current gadgets, and positively an opulent one.
- Banana clips
- Entry into the Sonos ecosystem
- Appropriate with Alexa and Google Assistant
The Sonos Amp is particularly designed for wrangling audio, with the flexibility to connect with your TV with HDMI eARC, and a wide range of older audio system over audio line in or banana clips, all with the objective of bringing your current {hardware} (passive audio system may even obtain 125W per channel from the Amp) right into a wi-fi system of Sonos gadgets.
Which means you’ll management every part from the Sonos app, the capacitive buttons on the entrance of the Amp, or with voice assistants like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Since all trendy Sonos gadgets help Apple’s AirPlay 2, streaming content material out of your iPhone is so simple as tapping a couple of buttons. Now the Sonos Amp is by far one of the vital costly methods of doing this, however when you’re already invested in Sonos’ system, or particularly seeking to loop in built-ins like wall or ceiling-mounted audio system, it is one of many sleekest choices on the market.
Belkin / Pocket-lint
Belkin Soundform Join
3. The very best worth
Plug-and-play AirPlay on any speaker
$56 $100 Save $44
Belkin’s SoundForm Join is an easy adapter for connecting to gadgets over audio line-in or optical audio in an effort to AirPlay to them along with your iPhone that it is surprisingly reasonably priced.
- A number of port choices
- Tremendous easy setup
- Reasonably priced
For the best doable technique of AirPlaying to your audio system, Belkin’s SoundForm Connect can connect with current audio system and receivers so as to add a wi-fi technique of taking part in audio. The machine is basically an adapter with a USB-C port on one aspect for energy, and a 3.5mm audio line-in and digital optical audio port on the opposite.
Not like a few of our different picks, the SoundForm Join will not energy a passive speaker – suppose bookcase audio system or one thing comparable – however when you’re on the lookout for the most affordable doable means to make use of AirPlay with the audio gadgets you already personal, the SoundForm Join is our go-to choose.
Denon / Pocket-lint
Denon AVR-S770H AV Receiver
4. A extra versatile (and complex) AV receiver
Extra ports and help for extra requirements
The Denon AVR-S770H 7.2 Ch House Theater Receiver is a pricier A/V device that has 5 HDMI inputs, help for Dolby Imaginative and prescient, and Dolby Atmos, on high of including in AirPlay 2 help.
- Extra HDMI ports
- 4K at 120Hz if you’d like it
- Dolby Atmos and Dolby Imaginative and prescient
When you want greater than what Yamaha’s A/V receiver can give you, the Denon AVR-S770H 7.2 Ch House Theater Receiver is a step-up in important methods. With 7.2 channel encompass sound, Denon’s receiver helps Dolby Atmos for 3D audio, not like Yamaha’s. The AVR-S770H additionally ships with 5 HDMI inputs (three that help 8K/60Hz content material and three that help 4K/120Hz content material) and one HDMI output.
The receiver has a lot of the different bells and whistles you’d need too. There’s Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10+, with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and AirPlay 2 for wi-fi connectivity. And in case you are constructing out a system with passive audio system, the Denon AVR-S770H additionally passes 80W by its numerous channels. The general package deal is pricier than our high receiver choose, however an excellent bit extra versatile too.
WiiM / Pocket-lint
WiiM Professional
5. Add AirPlay and Chromecast Audio
Extra succesful than Belkin’s
$149 $170 Save $21
The WiiM Professional Receiver is a tiny field that provides AirPlay 2, Chromecast Audio, and extra to the audio system and receivers you already personal, simply by plugging them in.
- Each wi-fi streaming possibility you can need
- Coax cable
- Ethernet port
The WiiM Professional Receiver is a extra succesful and costly different to Belkin’s SoundForm Join. It is a compact machine that provides AirPlay 2, Chromecast Audio, Spotify Join, Tidal Join, and Amazon Music Casting to your audio system and receivers with out having to thoroughly change what you already personal.
For ports, you’ll join issues over an Ethernet port, optical audio, and coax cable, with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi built-in to satisfy the WiiM Professional’s streaming capabilities, and USB-C for powering it. The box-y machine has capacitive gadgets for controlling playback, however after setup, most of your interactions will probably be dealt with by no matter app or machine you are streaming from.
The underside line: What’s the very best AirPlay receiver?
AirPlay is one in all Apple’s extra ingenious software program options for wirelessly casting media, however to benefit from it you’d want to make use of audio system, receivers, and shows which might be already constructed to help it. When you’re not made of cash, the easiest way to benefit from AirPlay 2 is looping in an AirPlay receiver.
Yamaha / Pocket-lint
Yamaha RX-V4A AV Receiver
Editor’s Alternative
Jack-of-all-trades
The Yamaha RX-V4A 5.2 Channel A/V Receiver covers all of the fundamentals to your residence theatre setup with 4 HDMI inputs, one HDMI eARC output, and help for AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, and voice assistants like Amazon Alexa.
When you’re on the lookout for one thing to function the central machine of your own home theatre, the Yamaha RX-V4A 5.2 Channel A/V Receiver can catch inputs by it is HDMI ports, cross them out to audio system and different gadgets, and combine AirPlay 2 within the centre of all of it, so even your present audio system can get in on the wi-fi streaming goodness.
When you’re primarily occupied with audio, the Sonos Amp may do an excellent higher job bringing current built-in audio gadgets and your TV right into a wi-fi Sonos system. That makes it simpler so as to add extra high-quality Sonos audio system everytime you’re prepared, and benefit from AirPlay 2 and controls by voice assistants.
For the job of including AirPlay to an older speaker, the Belkin SoundForm Join is greater than as much as the duty. All you might want to do is plug in your speaker and USB-C energy, and it needs to be learn to receiver AirPlay streams.
How we picked AirPlay receivers
Pocket-lint has used and reviewed a number of gadgets with built-in AirPlay performance, and surveyed the A/V market to find out what to search for out of an excellent receiver and good AirPlay machine. We tried to make picks that each help the most recent model of Apple’s streaming normal, and the most recent video and audio specs every time doable (Dolby Imaginative and prescient, Dolby Atmos, and the like), to be sure to’re making purchases that can final some time with no need to improve.
Our ultimate listing tries to account for the 2 doable makes use of of an AirPlay receiver: each as an easy means of including AirPlay performance to a tool, and as a alternative for an current receiver you may have already got sitting beneath your TV or turntable.
Issues to search for in an AirPlay receiver
When you’re taking a look at buying an AirPlay receiver to improve your own home theatre setup, right here are some things to bear in mind.
Requirements and specs: The newest model of Apple’s streaming normal is AirPlay 2, so that you’ll need to purchase a tool that particularly mentions it. Past that, you will need to take into account different requirements for video, like help for no less than 4K, no less than 120Hz refresh charges, and branded audiovisual options like Dolby Imaginative and prescient or HDR10+.
Function: Constructing on that, what do you intend on utilizing the receiver for? If audio is all you are frightened about, do not waste money and time on an A/V receiver with dozens of HDMI ports. When you want one thing that may speak to your encompass sound audio system and streaming containers, then one thing a little bit extra difficult and costly will probably be obligatory.
Connectivity: This can be apparent however completely needs to be said: you want an web connection to make use of AirPlay, so no matter answer you choose must both help Wi-Fi, have an Ethernet port, or each.
Why do I would like an AirPlay receiver?
AirPlay receivers are actually solely obligatory if the machine you are attempting to AirPlay to does not already help the characteristic. Generally meaning older TV and speaker techniques, particularly ones which might be built-in and never simply changed.
Does an iPhone work as an AirPlay receiver?
Apple presently does not will let you AirPlay content material between iPhones, however you possibly can AirPlay content to any MacOS device supplied it is working no less than MacOS Monterey. If there is a bigger set of audio system or show connect with your pc that would work simply in addition to AirPlaying to a house theatre setup.
Does Roku have AirPlay?
Trendy Roku streaming sticks and containers do help AirPlay. You’ll be able to test Roku’s website for an inventory of suitable gadgets. If yours is supported, so long as it is related to the identical Wi-Fi community that the machine your AirPlaying from is related to, you have to be good to go.
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