Can AppleTV be used sans-Display?

Yes, it can be used in this way. While I have mine hooked up to the TV and my stereo receiver, I often use it without the TV to stream music from my iPhone.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Airport Express do the same thing? Although at the same price for a new unit, it's nice to be able to plug into the TV at some point.

Yes. AppleTV streams audio and/or video. Airport Express is audio only.

Plus, ATV out of the box cannot stream Pandora.

Menel said:

What can?
Airport Express?

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Is the Pandora app AirPlay compatible? If so it can send output to the ATV. I can't tell you for sure though as I don't use Pandora.

mstrze said:

Plus, ATV out of the box cannot stream Pandora.

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Au contraire!

If you have an iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch you can use Airplay to stream the audio to the ATV. With Pandora active, double-tap the "Home" button, and scroll to the left to reveal the AirPlay icon (the one with the "up" arrow) and select the appropriate AppleTV.

The audio comes through great, however there is no artist or song title, nor is album art displayed on the TV screen. (Presumably you can get this info from the handheld device you are holding.)

As far as the original question ("Can you run an AppleTV without a display?") I'd double check first. I just tried turning the TV off, while leaving the A/V receiver and AppleTV on - and got nothing. It may be that the AppleTV needs a signal from the HDMI connection that it is attached to a powered-on TV.

I'd experiment further, but having recently spent many, many hours getting all my connections just so, I'm hesitant to start playing around with cables.

vrDrew said:

Au contraire!

If you have an iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch

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…right. Which is why mstrze specifically posted "ATV out of the box cannot stream Pandora."

(emphasis mine)

vrDrew said:

As far as the original question ("Can you run an AppleTV without a display?") I'd double check first. I just tried turning the TV off, while leaving the A/V receiver and AppleTV on - and got nothing. It may be that the AppleTV needs a signal from the HDMI connection that it is attached to a powered-on TV.

I'd experiment further, but having recently spent many, many hours getting all my connections just so, I'm hesitant to start playing around with cables.

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I AirPlay audio to the AppleTV in my living room A/V receiver (it's wired to speakers all around my house) and it works just fine with the connected TV turned off.

I also use this adapter to convert it's digital audio (TOSlink) output to L/R stereo audio.

Menel said:

For stereo in living room, I think I'd love a small device, with wifi streaming capability to hook into my receiver and floor standing speakers.

Control via phone/pad.

Pandora and iTunes streaming. No TV.

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I do this exact thing with my old Gen1 ATV. Never tried Pandora, but I stream iTunes to the living room all the time.