The best AirPlay receivers 2023

An A/V receiver is commonly the centrepiece of your house theatre, appearing because the wired middle-man between your tv, audio system, and different audio and video gear equivalent 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 similar time.

There are a number of methods of streaming audio and video out of your smartphone, however in the event 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 less complicated gadgets for streaming to your present stereo or audio system, so no matter what you are in search of think about the alternatives we have put collectively under.

The perfect 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 assist for AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, and voice assistants like Amazon Alexa.

Professionals

• Appropriate with Alexa and Google Assistant
• HDMI eARC
• You possibly can play 8K content material (when you’ve got any)

Cons

• Does not assist Dolby Atmos

Yamaha’s RX-V4A 5.2 Channel A/V Receiver does not provide a completely Dolby Atmos-compliant audio setup, nevertheless it’s received all of the fundamentals you should watch and hear at your leisure. The RX-V4A has 4 HDMI inputs and one HDMI output with assist for eARC (the specification that permits high-end audio and video and management inputs to journey over HDMI) and might deal with each 4K and 8K content material with HDR10+.

For wi-fi choices, Yamaha’s included assist for Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, and W-Fi MusicCast. And in the event you’re involved in 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 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 all your A/V gear right into a wi-fi Sonos system. It is an costly method to AirPlay to your present gadgets, and undoubtedly an opulent one.

Professionals

• 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 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 every thing 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 assist 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 one of the costly methods of doing this, however in the event 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 perfect 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 so as to AirPlay to them along with your iPhone that it is surprisingly inexpensive.

Professionals

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

For the best attainable methodology of AirPlaying to your audio system, Belkin’s SoundForm Join can hook up with present audio system and receivers so as to add a wi-fi methodology of taking part in audio. The system 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 – assume bookcase audio system or one thing comparable – however in the event you’re in search of the most cost effective attainable manner to make use of AirPlay with the audio gadgets you already personal, the SoundForm Join is our go-to decide.

Denon / Pocket-lint

Denon AVR-S770H AV Receiver

4. A extra versatile (and complex) AV receiver

Extra ports and assist for extra requirements

The Denon AVR-S770H 7.2 Ch Residence Theater Receiver is a pricier A/V device that has 5 HDMI inputs, assist for Dolby Imaginative and prescient, and Dolby Atmos, on prime of including in AirPlay 2 assist.

Professionals

• Extra HDMI ports
• 4K at 120Hz in order for you it
• Dolby Atmos and Dolby Imaginative and prescient

For those who want greater than what Yamaha’s A/V receiver can give you, the Denon AVR-S770H 7.2 Ch Residence Theater Receiver is a step-up in vital 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 assist 8K/60Hz content material and three that assist 4K/120Hz content material) and one HDMI output.

The receiver has many 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 means of its numerous channels. The general bundle is pricier than our prime receiver decide, 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.

Professionals

• Each wi-fi streaming choice you would 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 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 thoroughly 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 meet 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 shall be dealt with by means of no matter app or system you are streaming from.

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

AirPlay is one among Apple’s extra ingenious software program options for wirelessly casting media, however to make the most of it you’d want to make use of audio system, receivers, and shows which are already constructed to assist it. For those who’re not made of cash, the easiest way to make the most 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 assist for AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, and voice assistants like Amazon Alexa.

For those who’re in search of one thing to function the central system of your house theatre, the Yamaha RX-V4A 5.2 Channel A/V Receiver can catch inputs by means of 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.

For those who’re primarily involved in audio, the Sonos Amp might do an excellent 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 make the most of AirPlay 2 and controls by means 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 you should 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 system. We tried to make picks that each assist the newest model of Apple’s streaming normal, and the newest video and audio specs every time attainable (Dolby Imaginative and prescient, Dolby Atmos, and the like), to ensure you’re making purchases that can final some time while not having to improve.

Our last listing tries to account for the 2 attainable makes use of of an AirPlay receiver: each as a simple manner of including AirPlay performance to a tool, and as a alternative for an present receiver you would possibly have already got sitting beneath your TV or turntable.

Issues to search for in an AirPlay receiver

For those who’re buying an AirPlay receiver to improve your house 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 will need to think about different requirements for video, like assist for at the least 4K, at the least 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 anxious about, do not waste money and time on an A/V receiver with dozens of HDMI ports. For those who want one thing that may discuss to your encompass sound audio system and streaming packing containers, then one thing slightly extra sophisticated and costly shall be vital.

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

Why do I would like an AirPlay receiver?

AirPlay receivers are actually solely vital if the system you are making an attempt to AirPlay to does not already assist the function. Generally meaning older TV and speaker programs, particularly ones which are built-in and never simply changed.

Does an iPhone work as an AirPlay receiver?

Apple at the moment 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 working at the least MacOS Monterey. If there is a bigger set of audio system or show hook up with your laptop that would work simply in addition to AirPlaying to a house theatre setup.

Does Roku have AirPlay?

Fashionable Roku streaming sticks and packing containers do assist AirPlay. You possibly can examine Roku’s web site for a listing of suitable 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.