The Best Airplay Receiver For 2025

Tim Powers By, Tim Powers
Updated
Best airplay receiver
Best airplay receiver

AirPlay support is required to stream music or video material from your Mac or iPhone to an external monitor such as televisions or speakers. The seven best AirPlay receiver on the market right now are listed below.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 Denon AVR-S540BT Receiver
Our Score:
9.7
Denon

As one of the most excellent AirPlay receivers, this Denon AVR-S540BT Receiver may seem excessive, but it's a worthwhile purchase if you want to upgrade your home entertainment media system. Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri are just a few of the speech assistants it supports.

TOP Choice #2 Denon S650H AV Receiver
Our Score:
9.6
Denon

The AVR-S650H home cinema receiver is unquestionably the best regarding entry-level audio equipment. Given the abundance of functions, its inexpensive pricing appears even more enticing. It has a coherent stage picture as well as a nice, expansive, and airy sound.

TOP Choice #3 Denon AVR-S960H 8K AV Receiver
Our Score:
9.4
Denon

The Denon AVR-S960H has a similar appearance to other receivers, with a black color theme, Led indicator, choice knobs, and a few shortcut controls for the most commonly used inputs.

You may use it as a preamplifier and supplement it with your own amplifiers to make this SR8015 as strong as you want it to be. You may enter an 8K universe with high-resolution surround sound thanks to eARC and video upgrading.

5 Onkyo TX-NR797 Smart AV 9.2 Channel Receiver
Our Score:
9.1
Onkyo

 

TX-NR797 employs Onkyo's patented DAA high torque system, including a bespoke high-current low-noise converter, custom capacitance, and discrete broadband amps. The phase difference is avoided thanks to the circuit's unique architecture.

6 Marantz M-CR612 Network CD Receiver
Our Score:
9.0
Marantz

Only with a Digital Audio Amplifier system may you set up a pair of speakers in one space or two sets of loudspeakers in two different rooms, each with its own volume control.

 

This Denon DRA-800H receiver is great for consolidating sound - visual sources in your family room, along with a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, with the picture it can receive and send to an OLED, 4K UHD, or QLED screen through its HDMI output without modification.

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What to Look For in a best airplay receiver?

Power

Power is not simply another term for volume, it's also measured in Watts. This also affects the receiver's ability deliver dynamic and detailed sound. A high-wattage receiver produces better sound quality, regardless of the volume.

Calibration

Audio-video beginners will find it difficult to set up an entertainment system in their home.
Automatic speaker calibration is an option on many receivers that makes it easier to calibrate the speakers. The receiver sends test sounds to each speaker and subwoofer, and monitors the sound with a microphone. This allows it to determine the size of the speaker, to measure distance between the speaker and the listener, and to check that the connections are correct. This technology is compatible with surround sound as well as traditional 2-channel home entertainment systems.

Multi-zone Audio Feature

Some models of amplifier-receivers support the ability to use one or more speakers in a different room. Some receivers can support multiple zones while others allow you to play different sources simultaneously in two rooms. One person may enjoy surround sound in their living room while another can listen to music through the speakers connected to the receiver. If you want to enjoy a great audio experience in your bedroom and living room, but don't have the budget to purchase two speakers systems or amplifiers to achieve it, this feature will be a huge help.

Total Harmonic Distortion

THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) is the measurement of how much distortion the sound produces. THD can be measured as a percentage. It is the amount of deviation from the original signal. THD is a measure of distortion. The higher the THD the more beneficial. THD is a norm in most receiver amplifiers, and it should be below 0.1%.

Inputs And Outputs

This is because the device has more outputs and inputs than it can handle. A receiver might accept audio signals from a television via the input, and then send them via an out to speakers. There should be enough outputs and inputs for all your equipment. You can also have a few more in case of expansion.

Interface

If you don't know how to use your high-tech receiver, it is useless. A well-designed receiver panel that is easy to navigate can make the difference between having high quality sound and picture quality or having your costly system go stale because it's difficult to get on. It's important that you use the receiver display panel to navigate and learn all functions. A graphical interface is the screen that allows users to set up the receiver and operate it. The viewer must display song information and album art when AirPlay is used.

Network Connectivity

Some receivers come with both wired or wireless network support. You can either connect them to your router using an Ethernet cable, or Wi-Fi. You can stream media from any device connected to the same network, such as laptops and smartphones. AirPlay will only work with Apple devices. It is not compatible with other AV receivers. If you live in a house where everyone uses Apple devices, make sure that the model supports AirPlay.

FAQs

What Is The Difference Between An AV Receiver And An Amplifier?

An integrated amplifier that includes a preamplifier as well as a power amp in one box is called an AV receiver. It is also known as a receiver. It could be called an amplifier.
A receiver can be described as an integrated amplifier and a tuner that receives AM/FM radio signal. Technically speaking, an AV amplifier should not be used if it doesn't include a tuner. An AV receiver can be used, but it is still a common term.

Is An A/V Receiver Good For Gaming?

You might find it possible, particularly if surround sound is important for immersive gaming. Before you purchase, make sure it supports the most recent standards, such as Dolby Atmos (one of the newer HDMI standards), and HDR compatibility. You can also find features like Auto Low Latency Mode and Variable Refresh rate support on the Denon AVRX4700H. While an A/V receiver doesn't need to be used for gaming, it is a great addition if surround sound is important.

Does An AV Receiver Improve Video Quality?

Advanced video processing abilities can be found in some AV receivers that improve image quality. The best performance is only possible with high-end, expensive models.
Even if your receiver is not high-end, modern televisions are equipped with excellent video processing algorithms, which will produce a stunning picture, regardless of source.

What Is The Difference Between 5.2 And 7.2 Receivers?

Five surround sound speakers can be connected to a 5.2 receiver, as well as two subwoofers. For the surround sound speakers, there are five options: front left, front right and center.
Seven channels are available for surround sound speakers, and two subwoofer channels. A 7.2 receiver can handle both. The 7.2 speaker arrangement is identical to a standard 5.1 setup, with two additional surround sound speakers at the back and one more in the back.

What Is The Difference Between A Stereo Receiver And A Surround Sound Receiver?

Stereo receivers have two channels, and can be used to play stereo audio. Surround sound receivers have five channels or more and can connect to surround sound speakers.
To get surround sound, most people desire surround sound speakers. Stereo amplifiers can be used to enhance the sound quality in your home.

What Is Upconverting In An AV Receiver?

You connect the player to the receiver with one type of connection and expect that the receiver will output the video using another type.
You might, for example, connect an analog DVD player to the receiver and ask it to transmit this via HDMI.
Only the most expensive receivers are capable of upconverting different video inputs to HDMI output. You will need to transmit the component video signal through a component attached to the receiver if the receiver is unable to upconvert.

Which A/V Receivers Are Better For Music Or Movies?

No. Music can reveal more about sound quality and character than movies soundtracks. Those who listen to music may prefer one brand over another.

Conclusion

It's challenging to determine the greatest product while deciding what to buy. We wanted to help you narrow things down by offering a list of best airplay receiver above so you can make a better-educated decision before purchasing anything that might never work for you.

Would any of these ideas strike a chord with you? If that's the case, keep these in mind before making any purchases! You may also look into Denon DRA-800H 2-Channel Stereo Network Receiver to find another option that is a good fit for you.


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About Tim Powers

Tim Powers

Tim Powers is an audio equipment & home theater gadget reviewer and the editor of TheAudioInsights.com. He has been involved in the home theater hobby since the late 1990s when he purchased his first AV receiver. Tim is also a writer, with articles appearing in various online and print publications.