Airplay Reveiver vs Airport Express?

Greetings,

I'm looking to take advantage of Airplay to stream music to a not-yet-purchased home stereo. Looking at the Airplay receivers from Pioneer and Denon, you either need a WiFi dongle (Pioneer) or you need to have an ethernet cable connection to you network (Pioneer or Denon).

It isn't feasible for me to run an ethernet cable to where the stereo will go, so that leaves the Pioneer as the choice for an Airplay enabled receiver. But can't Airport Express allow me to use airplay to stream music to any receiver plugged into the AE?

If so, what advantages do I have of going with (the narrow range of options for) an Airplay enabled receiver?

Thanks much...

If music is all you want to stream the Airport Extreme will do that with any receiver
and bit perfect if you use a toslink connection provided the receiver has an optical input.

osxx said:

perfect if you use a toslink connection provided the receiver has an optical input.

Click to expand...

OK - could you explain this part of what you said?

Part of the next step, if I go with AE, is to decide on a receiver. I don't 6 HDMI ports. Audio is all I need to handle...so what receiver input and connection method should I be looking for (for audio quality).

I also wonder whether Apple TV could be a better choice with a new receiver (since there should be digital input options)

Almost all recievers mfg'd in the last 10 yrs should have an optical input (Toslink) in
order to use this option with the Airport Extreme this cable will be needed you select lenght. For only $1.91 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 6ft Toslink to Mini M/M 5.0mm OD Molded Cable | Toslink to Mini Plug
If you go the Apple TV route then HDMI cable will be needed can be had from same place.