I want to add a stereo receiver to a living room that will power a pair in the room and a pair outside on my deck. The catch is that I want to use AirPlay as the main source for my music from my iPad/iPhone. Stereo receivers with AirPlay built in are $500+ which is out of my budget so my other option is to buy an AppleTV unit and output the signal via an optical connection to a receiver. The only stereo receiver I've seen in the $300 or less range with decent power is the Onkyo TX-8050.
Can anyone point me to other stereo receiver options that has optical audio inputs? Thanks!
You can buy a optical-to-analog converter for less than $30 from Amazon and other sources (OREI DA21 CONVERTER- $23).
That is all you need.
Or you could get the Harman-Kardon 2650 receiver for $320 from Amazon. It has two optical inputs and an optical output.
It is also a very good receiver overall for that price range. It has all the power anyone can use, unless they have some exotic speakers that need a mega-amplifier.
It will work fine as a stereo receiver, but will also give you 5.1 if you ever want it.
Also the Sony STR-DH130 stereo receiver is available for $150 new or $100 refurbished, and has 120 watts per channel.
I have a TX-8050, and while I do like it quite a bit, it has a few downsides for your use:
* Doesn't support airplay directly, so you'll need the Apple TV
* Doesn't have wifi, so again, you need the Apple TV or a wireless bridge to make use of its internal networking features
* The remote control cannot switch speaker A/B on and off (nor can the iOS nor Android app) I was able to program my Harmony to switch A/B over infrared, so the receiver itself supports the codes.
* If you want to use a subwoofer, be aware that the subwoofer output is fixed 100hz crossover and cannot be disabled--it is always active regardless of speaker A/B selection. At least the subwoofer out DOES turn off when you plug in headphones.
On the plus side:
* Frequently available for less than $200 refurbed from ShopOnkyo.com or accessories4less.com with 1 year warranty.
* Strong 4-ohm stable amp
* Quality DAC
It comes down to your desires, I'd be inclined to pick up a 7.1 AVR dual-zone, but those will be a bit more costly and complex to set up and operate. There is a pretty nice deal on a Denon E400 w/ Airplay that can power zone2 for $260 (refurb) at A4L. No wifi on the Denon, so you need hard-wire the network or use a wireless bridge (or Apple TV.)
EDIT: I do not know if the Denon has limitations on what it outputs to Zone2, you'll need to do research, or maybe someone else can chime in to confirm that it can play Airplay on Zone2 as well as Zone1.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
AVS Forum
34M posts
1.5M members
Since 1999
A forum community dedicated to home theater owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about home audio/video, TVs, projectors, screens, receivers, speakers, projects, DIY’s, product reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!