Hello,
I am new to Axiom and looking for a bit of help with a possible receiver upgrade. I am in the process of upgrading a small home theater with a pair of on wall M2 speakers, and plan to also get either a pair of M3 or M22 bookshelf speakers.

I have a 10 year old (cheaper) Yamaha receiver that came in a 'home theater in a box'. It does not have any HDMI inputs or any of the other newer features like Airplay, iPod interface etc.

My questions:
1. Do I need to upgrade my receiver to maximize the potential of my new Axiom speakers or will my current one do?
2. I plan to also get an Apple TV. Do I need all of the fancy features like airplay and streaming, or can I just buy a basic Denon receiver that has HDMI inputs and use the Apple TV to do the streaming.

I am not an overly technical person, so anything that makes it easier to just watch a movie or listen to music is a plus. I am certain that I will not use or understand many of the features available in many of the receivers I have looked at. Simple = better.

Thanks again,
Coal

As for 2, you don't need the Denon. You can just use the ATV for all the Airplay stuff.

Hi Ken,
Thanks for the reply. So are you saying that I don't need to upgrade my receiver, or if I do I can just get a basic 5.1 HDMI receiver? If so, any specific suggestions? Thanks again.

No

yup




You did not specifiy if the Apple Tv was your only source. Do you use a cable box, dvd/blu ray player? Or, is the Apple Tv the only source you use?

Here are a couple denon's. these are in the 300$ range.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-s...Receiver/1.html

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-s.../Airplay/1.html

If all of your sources have HDMI, and your TV has HDMI, then i would think about this one, which is less expensive than the above options. The one below is 200$

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-s...Receiver/1.html


I have personally bought stuff from this company. To this day the items that i bought from them, 8 years ago get used on a daily basis. Good luck.

Coal, if you have the "new" Apple Tv, the Black one you WILL need a new receiver that has HDMI to use the Apple Tv. The new Apple TV only has HDMI out, it does not have component out anymore.. If you have the orignal Apple TV, like myself, then you may not need to upgrade.

Sorry, I meant you don't need a receiver with Airplay.

Hi Folks,
Really helpful advice. Many thanks. I think I will get a new receiver that has HDMI, but not the other features as I will be getting a new Apple TV unit.

Dakkon, unfortunately the company you linked to does not ship to Canada or I would definitely have moved on one of those Denon receivers. I would like to keep the receiver cost around $500 so will compare the Denons to the Marantz 1403.
Thanks again

I can almost guarantee that the Denon will have more features at that price point than the Marantz. That said, an Onkyo at the same price point will have more than that.

OK, seems like I need to focus on the Denon and Onkyo receivers. The Marantz did seem expensive for what it had. Super helpful...leaves me with more room to play with on speakers.

I managed to locate a Denon AVR-1912 ($375) and an AVR-1712 ($299) leftover from last year. I think I will grab one of them before the end of the day. Thanks again for the advice.