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Denon Set to Roll Out AirPlay on Existing Home Stereo Equipment
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Bleh
Commodity junk for the masses.
Here: try this at home. Take that $2k you'd have spent on the Denon, go down to your local used audio shop, and buy a lovely sounding old analog amp for 1/4 to 1/3 of that. It will leave the Denon far behind in warmth and pleasure of sound. (This is assuming you already have speakers that don't sound like Glenn Beck with his head up his ass.)
Then spend a couple hundred on a decent entry-level DAC; the field's crowded with good choices. Put the rest into a used Mac Mini and external HDD.
Voila, music server that doesn't sound like box store crap. Hundreds less, too. Put lossless files on it. Run it with your iPhone.
Don't have a local used audio shop, just a scourge of Wal-Marts? audiogon.com or my local fave, echohifi.com
Commodity junk for the masses.
Here: try this at home. Take that $2k you'd have spent on the Denon, go down to your local used audio shop, and buy a lovely sounding old analog amp for 1/4 to 1/3 of that. It will leave the Denon far behind in warmth and pleasure of sound. (This is assuming you already have speakers that don't sound like Glenn Beck with his head up his ass.)
Then spend a couple hundred on a decent entry-level DAC; the field's crowded with good choices. Put the rest into a used Mac Mini and external HDD.
Voila, music server that doesn't sound like box store crap. Hundreds less, too. Put lossless files on it. Run it with your iPhone.
Don't have a local used audio shop, just a scourge of Wal-Marts? audiogon.com or my local fave, echohifi.com
If this isn't brilliant sarcasm:
I assume that you mean a valve-based amp, so that your ears aren't assaulted by "transistor sound".
I can't find any analog amps that decode lossless 7.1 bitstream data - perhaps you can send a link?
Kind of a big deal
I think a lot of people here who say ""whatever, just buy a $99 Airport Express or Apple TV" are missing the point a bit. I have been streaming music to my Airport Expresses and ATVs for 6 years. My Macs are my only "transports" these days. Apart from the fact that Airplay opens up the possibility of iOS streaming (which will be pretty convenient I think), I like the fact that it has effectively made Airtunes "open source". I have been waiting for along time for a range of devices to accept iTunes streaming along with metadata display. Yes you can use AE's and ATVs, but you do not get the metadata and you have another device in the mix.
I have looked at buying a Squeezebox Transporter or Touch - would be nice to have the high quality DAC on board as well as the displays, but I have resisted because I am (for better or worse) hooked on the iTunes ecosystem and do not want to integrate another client into the mix. I just want it all to run off iTunes and Remote.
We are going to see tons of AVRs, portable players, headphones? etc that will accept Airplay. We may even see an audiophile wireless transport like the Transporter that works natively with iTunes and iOS. That would be cool.
I think a lot of people here who say ""whatever, just buy a $99 Airport Express or Apple TV" are missing the point a bit. I have been streaming music to my Airport Expresses and ATVs for 6 years. My Macs are my only "transports" these days. Apart from the fact that Airplay opens up the possibility of iOS streaming (which will be pretty convenient I think), I like the fact that it has effectively made Airtunes "open source". I have been waiting for along time for a range of devices to accept iTunes streaming along with metadata display. Yes you can use AE's and ATVs, but you do not get the metadata and you have another device in the mix.
I have looked at buying a Squeezebox Transporter or Touch - would be nice to have the high quality DAC on board as well as the displays, but I have resisted because I am (for better or worse) hooked on the iTunes ecosystem and do not want to integrate another client into the mix. I just want it all to run off iTunes and Remote.
We are going to see tons of AVRs, portable players, headphones? etc that will accept Airplay. We may even see an audiophile wireless transport like the Transporter that works natively with iTunes and iOS. That would be cool.
I've got a 5308-CI (their flagship) that was 3x the price of the one they are mentioning. Let's just say they better release an update for that one too.
If it has an Ethernet port and downloadable firmware, you can hope.
No RJ45 - forget about it.
I appreciate that iTunes can finally act in a similar fashion as Windows Media Player. I know that iTunes is a superior player. I can't recall a time where I have had an issue with iTunes where it had to be shut down. Windows Media Player, well this is a different story.
If only this would allow streaming to a PS3 I would be thrilled. With all the issues I have had with my wav files stored on my PC to work with my PS3...every other update would render it useless. Then my trek to PC free only to find out that not much supported Mac. I thought the airport route was the only way, so instead I bought a Classic iPod and stored everything full version. If I could stream different songs in different rooms without a sonos unit, this would be glorious. My 6 year old will soon be old enough to decide what she wants to listen. I'd love to give her reign to decide, assuming I can provide some sort of parental controls. I don't need her listening to Eminem...
If only this would allow streaming to a PS3 I would be thrilled. With all the issues I have had with my wav files stored on my PC to work with my PS3...every other update would render it useless. Then my trek to PC free only to find out that not much supported Mac. I thought the airport route was the only way, so instead I bought a Classic iPod and stored everything full version. If I could stream different songs in different rooms without a sonos unit, this would be glorious. My 6 year old will soon be old enough to decide what she wants to listen. I'd love to give her reign to decide, assuming I can provide some sort of parental controls. I don't need her listening to Eminem...
That's a little misleading. Apple could have implemented iOS streaming with airTunes in the past, no problem. In fact, that's what they are doing now (plus adding photo+video streaming and rebranding the whole thing).
A bit of a stretch maybe ?! I kind of doubt that Rogue Amoeba will get access to the code anytime soon (without paying huge licensing fees and/or agreeing to possibly "onerous terms").
I get your point though - Apple's starting to cooperate with others a little.
Um, yeah they could have, but, they didn't. Whereas they have with Airplay.
Misleading? Huh?
You just made it sound like there was some kind of prerequisite AirPlay technology (beyond airTunes) on the receiver's side that had to be in place for Apple to start implementing iOS streaming, but I'm possibly being much too pedantic here and/or misunderstood what you were saying, and on second thought I don't really see anything wrong with it anymore.
Made in Japan
Low end Denon made in China. But high-end Denon ( like this product), made in Japan. As it should be.
Low end Denon made in China. But high-end Denon ( like this product), made in Japan. As it should be.
If this isn't brilliant sarcasm:
I assume that you mean a valve-based amp, so that your ears aren't assaulted by "transistor sound".
I can't find any analog amps that decode lossless 7.1 bitstream data - perhaps you can send a link?
Ah, glorious 7.1 bitstream data. Because two channels of action movie explosions can't keep you properly distracted for 90 minutes? You need bang-bang to be bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bangPOINTone.
I actually own a solid state amp. But yes, tubes can sound nice with the right music. Music, mind you: not Hollywood drivel.
Do you have a recommended DAC? I have the Peachtree Nova and the DAC in that is fantastic. AND it is its own sweet stereo Amp with a wonderfully warm tube.
I can see Apple doing well here, there are certainly enough iDevices for manufacturers to want to be on board. There are competing and open standards like DLNA though that don't require paying licensing to Apple.
Competition is great (particularly, this could hit Sonos hard), and I'm sure whatever Apple puts out will be sufficiently easy to use since they have the marketshare to have the compatible device makers agree to their terms. I'd just prefer if it were a little more interoperable.
Competition is great (particularly, this could hit Sonos hard), and I'm sure whatever Apple puts out will be sufficiently easy to use since they have the marketshare to have the compatible device makers agree to their terms. I'd just prefer if it were a little more interoperable.
Good grief.
You're knocking a product by Denon because it's "made in Asia"?
I might still be snobbish enough to prefer American or European loudspeaker manufacturers, but for electronics, from the bottom range right up to the things only Golden Ears buy (tube amps, etc) the Japanese manufacturers have had it all over everybody in terms of value for money, and have for 25 years or more.
Denon is good gear.
What brand do you suggest?
If this isn't brilliant sarcasm:
I assume that you mean a valve-based amp, so that your ears aren't assaulted by "transistor sound".
I can't find any analog amps that decode lossless 7.1 bitstream data - perhaps you can send a link?
With all due respect, decoding bitstream data is a preamp function
Will this system allow you to use your Airplay AV receiver to send out separate signals to Airplay-compatible 5.1 speakers (if they ever get released) so that you can have Airplay-enabled 5.1 without having to replaster and redecorate the living room after having installed lots of speaker cable?
Would be cool if this was possible.
Would be cool if this was possible.
But it is not as good anymore as it was – had to return it because the Master Volume knob was making funny noises. Got it back with an even more damaged one. Lots of talking, writing and moving around with it to finally get a good one. A first one ever here, I admit, but boy was I annoyed.
If it has an Ethernet port and downloadable firmware, you can hope.
No RJ45 - forget about it.
Try built in WiFi with full networking capabilities. No RJ45 port needed. Just did a major firmware update this evening. Hopefully they will bring Airplay compatibility into one of the next revisions. Fingers crossed.
Maranz and Denon are meanwhile identical, except for the external casing. The Maranz SR7005 for example is the same as the Denon 3311CI.
better option
Not from a performance perspective. The SR7005 is internally identical with a Denon 3311CI so a league lower than the 4311CI.