One of the best AirPlay receivers 2023

An A/V receiver is usually the centrepiece of your property theatre, performing 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 forth. 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 should you personal an Apple product, you’re going to make use of AirPlay 2 to ship content material over Wi-Fi. And to do this with older {hardware}, you’re most likely going to wish an AirPlay receiver. We’ve chosen choices from all-new AirPlay-compatible A/V receivers to less complicated gadgets for streaming to your present stereo or audio system, so no matter what you are searching for think about the picks we have put collectively under.

One of the best AirPlay receiver: Our prime picks

Yamaha / Pocket-lint

Yamaha RX-V4A AV Receiver

1. The general greatest

Sufficient HDMI, suport for 8K, and AirPlay

$430 $500 Save $70

The Yamaha RX-V4A 5.2 Channel A/V Receiver covers all of the fundamentals on your house theatre setup with 4 HDMI inputs, one HDMI eARC output, and help for AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, and voice assistants like Amazon Alexa.

Execs

• Appropriate with Alexa and Google Assistant
• HDMI eARC
• You may play 8K content material (you probably have any)

Cons

• Does not help Dolby Atmos

Yamaha’s RX-V4A 5.2 Channel A/V Receiver does not provide a totally Dolby Atmos-compliant audio setup, nevertheless it’s obtained all of the fundamentals it is advisable watch and pay attention at your leisure. The RX-V4A has 4 HDMI inputs and one HDMI output with help for eARC (the specification that permits 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 should you’re concerned about controlling the receiver (and gadgets linked to it) with a voice assistant, the RX-V4A performs good with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. There are extra fully-featured receivers out there, positive, however for entry to AirPlay 2 and a good set of specs, this Yamaha does the trick.

Sonos / Pocket-lint

Sonos Amp

2. Essentially 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 technique to AirPlay to your present gadgets, and positively an expensive one.

Execs

• 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 aim of bringing your present {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 can management the whole lot 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 fashionable Sonos gadgets help Apple’s AirPlay 2, streaming content material out of your iPhone is so simple as tapping just a few buttons. Now the Sonos Amp is by far probably the most costly methods of doing this, however should you’re already invested in Sonos’ system, or particularly trying 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. One of the best worth

Plug-and-play AirPlay on any speaker

$56 $100 Save $44

Belkin’s SoundForm Join is a straightforward adapter for connecting to gadgets over audio line-in or optical audio to be able to AirPlay to them along with your iPhone that it is surprisingly reasonably priced.

Execs

• A number of port choices
• Tremendous easy setup
• Inexpensive

For the only doable methodology of AirPlaying to your audio system, Belkin’s SoundForm Join can connect with present audio system and receivers so as to add a wi-fi methodology of taking part in audio. The system is actually an adapter with a USB-C port on one facet 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 – assume bookcase audio system or one thing comparable – however should you’re searching for the most cost effective 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 prime of including in AirPlay 2 help.

Execs

• Extra HDMI ports
• 4K at 120Hz in order for you 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, in contrast to 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 way of its varied channels. The general bundle is pricier than our prime receiver choose, however a great 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.

Execs

• Each wi-fi streaming choice you could possibly need
• Coax cable
• Ethernet port

The WiiM Professional Receiver is a extra succesful and costly various to Belkin’s SoundForm Join. It is a compact system that provides AirPlay 2, Chromecast Audio, Spotify Join, Tidal Join, and Amazon Music Casting to your audio system and receivers with out having to completely change what you already personal.

For ports, you can 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 system has capacitive gadgets for controlling playback, however after setup, most of your interactions will probably be dealt with by way of no matter app or system you are streaming from.

The underside line: What’s the most effective AirPlay receiver?

AirPlay is one in every of Apple’s extra ingenious software program options for wirelessly casting media, however to reap the benefits of it you’d want to make use of audio system, receivers, and shows which are already constructed to help it. When you’re not made of cash, one of the simplest ways to reap the benefits of 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 on your house 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 searching for one thing to function the central system of your property theatre, the Yamaha RX-V4A 5.2 Channel A/V Receiver can catch inputs by way of it is HDMI ports, go 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 concerned about audio, the Sonos Amp may do a good higher job bringing present 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 reap the benefits of AirPlay 2 and controls by way of 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 it is advisable 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 a great receiver and good AirPlay system. We tried to make picks that each help the newest model of Apple’s streaming normal, and the newest video and audio specs at any time when doable (Dolby Imaginative and prescient, Dolby Atmos, and the like), to be sure you’re making purchases that may final some time without having to improve.

Our closing checklist 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 substitute for an present receiver you may have already got sitting underneath your TV or turntable.

Issues to search for in an AirPlay receiver

When you’re buying an AirPlay receiver to improve your property theatre setup, right here are some things to bear in mind.

Requirements and specs: The most recent 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 may need to think about different requirements for video, like help for a minimum of 4K, a minimum of 120Hz refresh charges, and branded audiovisual options like Dolby Imaginative and prescient or HDR10+.

Goal: Constructing on that, what do you intend on utilizing the receiver for? If audio is all you are nervous 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 bins, then one thing a bit extra difficult and costly will probably be essential.

Connectivity: This can be apparent however completely needs to be said: you want an web connection to make use of AirPlay, so no matter resolution you decide on must both help Wi-Fi, have an Ethernet port, or each.

Why do I would like an AirPlay receiver?

AirPlay receivers are actually solely essential if the system you are making an attempt to AirPlay to does not already help the function. Most often which means older TV and speaker techniques, particularly ones which are built-in and never simply changed.

Does an iPhone work as an AirPlay receiver?

Apple at present does not will let you AirPlay content material between iPhones, however you’ll be able to AirPlay content material to any MacOS system offered it is operating a minimum of MacOS Monterey. If there is a bigger set of audio system or show connect with your laptop that might work simply in addition to AirPlaying to a house theatre setup.

Does Roku have AirPlay?

Fashionable Roku streaming sticks and bins do help AirPlay. You may examine Roku’s web site for an inventory of appropriate gadgets. If yours is supported, so long as it is linked to the identical Wi-Fi community that the system your AirPlaying from is linked to, try to be good to go.