Denon Set to Roll Out AirPlay on Existing Home Stereo Equipment

[kavika411]

Alright, hear me out. I'm curious if anyone else is interested in this concept, or if it's just me...

I've enjoyed my ATV and two Airport Expresses over the years for getting music to my main stereo and other parts of the house. And I've always enjoyed having the very visisble sexy receiver/amp that gets oohs and ahs from guests. But here's what I've wanted ever since the Remote app came out in summer 2008 - nothing, or at least to see nothing. I find that once I make bass/treble settings and some other tweaks, I almost never use the front panel of the receiver/amp except for (1) volume control, and (2) toggling between inputs. I also have no interest in any kind of surround sound beyond plain-jane 5.1. What I do find to be very useful and friendly is the Remote app on my iPhone.

So, as sexy as that Denon is, or a Marantz, or a whatever, what I really want now is someone to release a receiver/amp that has nothing on it - that has no need to manipulate it physically once it is hidden away somewhere. I want it to have Airplay built in, and perhaps one or two HDMI inputs and outputs - I would only need one - for cable TV - unless Apple can make inroads in that regard with the TV networks/studios. It would have bare-bones 5.1 capability, and speaker wire jacks. With either the Apple Remote app, or perhaps with the receiver/amp's own iPhone app, I could make the occasional tweak of bass, treble, and such.

My non-expertise tells me that if manufacturers didn't have to put on all the dials, displays, endless RCA jacks and 5-plus HDMI inputs, and all the other physical bells and whistles, that (1) you could get much more bang for your buck, (2) make all the tweaks from your iOS device, and (3) get that space-taking piece of hardware hidden out of the way.

Just some thoughts. Perhaps what I picture in my head is old news, but it just seems that when you pair (1) Airplay, (2) networking, and (3) iOS-network remotes, there no need for the bulky, uber-expensive amp/receiver any more.

Thanks for letting me make my pitch.

 

[GoodWatch]

Wow 2 Grand for a made in Asia product with 40-50 bucks worth of components slapped together and a buck fifty worth of labor.

Yep, just like an iMac

 

[tim916]

If Apple can include volume control over the Denon then I would consider this a worthwhile feature. If not, then as other have mentioned, adding an AE or ATV might be a better way to go.

 

[baryon]

Wow... a firmware update... on a Hi-Fi... What's next? A new OS for my washing machine... or a security patch for my car's airbag...

Anyway, this is cool, but I hope AirPlay will make it into cheap devices because I don't think paying extra just to get rid of a thin wire is necessarily worth it!

 

[mattster16]

How so? I haven't read up on Denon stuff since buying my 1910 last year.

I have the 790 so basically the same as your 1910. They just got rid of most of the analog inputs (with HDMI doesn't matter much anymore), power cord is now fixed to the unit vs. removable (I hate this trend) and there are no longer any auxiliary AC outlets. That's just visually what I noticed, not sure what else has changed feature wise.

 

[mex4eric]

SONOS next?

Although I am not too sure how it would benefit SONOS as they do everything now without AirPlay.

 

[notjustjay]

Although I am not too sure how it would benefit SONOS as they do everything now without AirPlay.

Well, Sonos has its own system for choosing which zone(s) to play your music on. But it would be nice if one could pipe the AirPlay device (iPod, iPad, Mac) right into that.

You could do it by connecting your AirPort Express output to the aux input of a ZonePlayer, but then you'd have to go through two steps: first, select the AirPort Express as the AirPlay output on your iDevice, and then go into your Sonos configuration to switch the system input to the appropriate ZP.

If Sonos were to enable AirPlay functionality into the ZP, and maybe set it to auto-select the source when it is enabled, it would be a one-step procedure.

(Actually, for that matter, ALL you would need is for Sonos ZP's to auto-select inputs, and you could accomplish the same thing with the AE.)

 

[Laird Knox]

Good for the people who already own it or were set on buying it already. For everybody else:

You either buy this for $2000....or simply add a $99 Airport Express (providing bit-perfect digital audio output) to your existing stereo - which you have been able to do for 6 years now. Hmmm...Let me think that over.

Can you stream to the AirPort from an iOS device?

 

[8CoreWhore]

From Denon product page:

Network Ready For Web Audio, Photo and Multi-Media PC Connectivity
Via the RJ-45 wired LAN connection to your broadband home network, the AVR-4311CI opens up a whole word of content choices, including subscription music services Rhapsody and Napster, internet radio via Pandora, photo viewing via flickr, and access to photos, music tracks and videos on your DLNA-compatible multi-media home PC. That LAN connection also allows for web control, and there’s also an RS-232C serial port for custom integration with 3rd party whole home control systems. Coming in the Fall of 2010 is a planned upgrade that provides Apple iTunes AirPlay compatibility that lets you stream your favorite music to the AVR-4311CI.

 

[dialed1]

My AVR-1909 is our dannng

 

[tkermit]

Can you stream to the AirPort from an iOS device?

I don't see why you wouldn't be able to do so. (Only when iOS 4.2 is released of course)

Wirelessly stream videos, music, and photos from iPad to the new Apple TV, and stream music to AirPlay speakers or receivers, including AirPort Express.

 

[PecanEater]

Am I correct understanding that AirPlay will be coming to iPhone in iOS 4.2? Is there a difference in sound quality between AirPlay and Bluetooth audio streaming? I'm thinking about wireless car audio options.

 

[Explorz]

Good for the people who already own it or were set on buying it already. For everybody else:

You either buy this for $2000....or simply add a $99 Airport Express (providing bit-perfect digital audio output) to your existing stereo - which you have been able to do for 6 years now. Hmmm...Let me think that over.

Uh, the DAC in the Airport Express is nowhere near as efficient and effective as the DAC in the Denon. As well, in order to get "bit perfect" you need to have an optical in port on your receiver. Otherwise you're letting the AE perform the DAC and then going analog from there to RCA jacks.

So, the AE option only works to deliver high quality if you're receiver has a great DAC and you go optical out from the AE to optical in on your receiver.

 

[Explorz]

Alright, hear me out. I'm curious if anyone else is interested in this concept, or if it's just me...

I've enjoyed my ATV and two Airport Expresses over the years for getting music to my main stereo and other parts of the house. And I've always enjoyed having the very visisble sexy receiver/amp that gets oohs and ahs from guests. But here's what I've wanted ever since the Remote app came out in summer 2008 - nothing, or at least to see nothing. I find that once I make bass/treble settings and some other tweaks, I almost never use the front panel of the receiver/amp except for (1) volume control, and (2) toggling between inputs. I also have no interest in any kind of surround sound beyond plain-jane 5.1. What I do find to be very useful and friendly is the Remote app on my iPhone.

So, as sexy as that Denon is, or a Marantz, or a whatever, what I really want now is someone to release a receiver/amp that has nothing on it - that has no need to manipulate it physically once it is hidden away somewhere. I want it to have Airplay built in, and perhaps one or two HDMI inputs and outputs - I would only need one - for cable TV - unless Apple can make inroads in that regard with the TV networks/studios. It would have bare-bones 5.1 capability, and speaker wire jacks. With either the Apple Remote app, or perhaps with the receiver/amp's own iPhone app, I could make the occasional tweak of bass, treble, and such.

My non-expertise tells me that if manufacturers didn't have to put on all the dials, displays, endless RCA jacks and 5-plus HDMI inputs, and all the other physical bells and whistles, that (1) you could get much more bang for your buck, (2) make all the tweaks from your iOS device, and (3) get that space-taking piece of hardware hidden out of the way.

Just some thoughts. Perhaps what I picture in my head is old news, but it just seems that when you pair (1) Airplay, (2) networking, and (3) iOS-network remotes, there no need for the bulky, uber-expensive amp/receiver any more.

Thanks for letting me make my pitch.

Many say that lowering the volume out in iTunes can degrade quality. Not sure I agree, but I would rather control the volume on the receiver.

Check out the Peachtree Nova. Its a straight function stereo receiver with no home theatre. Just made for great music and it has a really, really good onboard DAC.

 

[Frazzle]

Wow 2 Grand for a made in Asia product with 40-50 bucks worth of components slapped together and a buck fifty worth of labor.

Aww, you make it sound like an Apple product!

 

[JediZenMaster]

Yep, just like an iMac

Without the Foxconn divers though.

 

[tkermit]

Uh, the DAC in the Airport Express is nowhere near as efficient and effective as the DAC in the Denon. As well, in order to get "bit perfect" you need to have an optical in port on your receiver. Otherwise you're letting the AE perform the DAC and then going analog from there to RCA jacks.

So, the AE option only works to deliver high quality if you're receiver has a great DAC and you go optical out from the AE to optical in on your receiver.

True. I'd actually recommend using an external high-quality DAC.

Am I correct understanding that AirPlay will be coming to iPhone in iOS 4.2?

I'm not sure whether this has been announced, but I certainly assume that'll be the case, yes.

Is there a difference in sound quality between AirPlay and Bluetooth audio streaming? I'm thinking about wireless car audio options.

Bluetooth audio streaming is almost certainly of much lower quality due to limited bandwidth. AirPlay on the other hand uses lossless audio compression .

 

[Frazzle]

Am I correct understanding that AirPlay will be coming to iPhone in iOS 4.2? Is there a difference in sound quality between AirPlay and Bluetooth audio streaming? I'm thinking about wireless car audio options.

Dunno about AirPlay, but A2DP (Bluetooth) sounds like crap.

That said, can anything be found anywhere about AirTunes/AirPlay tech specs? Like, what max bitrate does it deliver? Does it pass AC3 etc. unaltered? What's the max video spec it can push through?

 

[BornAgainMac]

Macbook Pro price. Nice!

 

[pooryou]

Many say that lowering the volume out in iTunes can degrade quality. Not sure I agree, but I would rather control the volume on the receiver.

That is a fact actually. Infinitely preferable to control volume at the receiver, in the analog domain.


Reducing the volume digitally (as in the iTunes volume control) throws away bits.

 

[bruinsrme]

Funny I have been listening to my music on my network and internet
thru my pioneer receiver for 2+ years
Perhaps that's why Airplay wasn't a big deal to me.
Oh yeah with a $900 price tag

 

[mattster16]

Funny I have been listening to my music on my network and internet
thru my pioneer receiver for 2+ years
Perhaps that's why Airplay wasn't a big deal to me.
Oh yeah with a $900 price tag

Yeah...but this is about Airplay. Lots of receivers have been able to play networked music for a long time, that's nothing new.

 

[gmpirate]

While I find the integration cool, at this point it is far more economical to add an AppleTV to an existing AV Receiver than to buy one with wireless functionality.

What I would rather see companies like Denon and Onkyo doing is rolling out AV Receivers with wifi control interfaces and iOS remote applications.

Completely agree.

 

[ArcaneDevice]

My non-expertise tells me that if manufacturers didn't have to put on all the dials, displays, endless RCA jacks and 5-plus HDMI inputs, and all the other physical bells and whistles, that (1) you could get much more bang for your buck, (2) make all the tweaks from your iOS device, and (3) get that space-taking piece of hardware hidden out of the way.

All the dials, displays and inputs mean nothing in the overall cost. That's why you can pick up AVR's for a couple of hundred that still have those features.

It's the quality of the audio and video circuitry and amplifier inside that ups the cost. That's why you can buy dedicated amps and processors with very little interface control and limited inputs (Like Classe and Cary) that put Denon's price in the shade

 

[ten-oak-druid]

I got excited for a moment that my Denon would be able to get the update but I realized mine is a lower end, older model.

Still, keep an eye out for these. Put it in your amazon.com basket and check often. The basket tells you when the price goes up or down. Sometimes these things drop quite a bit when new models come out.

I haven't looked at the specs for this model but typically the higher priced ones control several rooms in the house. Denon does make cheaper amps and hopefully some new lower end models come out that can do this.