Can I use an AppleTV with a receiver, without a TV?

June 10, 2018 5:16 PM

Moving into a new apartment and planning on ditching my TV. My one hang-up: I stream music/podcasts/etc. from my iPhone to my AppleTV (3rd gen) to play on my receiver. Is there anyway to make this work without a TV?
posted by hobodeluxe to Technology (8 answers total)

If you want the convenience of AirPlay streaming, you could get an Apple Airport Express router. You connect that to your speakers and can AirPlay from that.
posted by radioamy at 5:20 PM on June 10, 2018

radioamy is correct: that is the correct way Apple (used to, I guess) want you to do things. However, despite having done so for many years, I've found the Airport Express to be less and less reliable, and as such, I've moved to a Bluetooth audio receiver. As opposed to Airplay's spotty workability, Bluetooth has worked almost all the time.
posted by General Malaise at 5:30 PM on June 10, 2018

* Meant to add that Apple has stopped making Airport routers, and Airplay 2 (the new standard) isn't supported on their old routers.
posted by General Malaise at 5:31 PM on June 10, 2018

You could buy a used 2nd gen Apple TV with an optical output, if your receiver supports it. I used to stream like this all the time. However you'd still need some kind of HDMI monitor for configuration.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:55 PM on June 10, 2018

Yeah, I also vote for getting a bluetooth receiver.
posted by aubilenon at 5:56 PM on June 10, 2018 [1 favorite]

I have a 3rd–gen Apple TV, and frequently use it with the tv off to stream audio via my receiver. It’s fine for that, but I think your plan runs aground on setting up the Apple TV or dealing with anything out of the ordinary. I think you’ll need some kind of device with HDMI-in for those situations, even if just a crappy little monitor.
posted by adamrice at 7:27 PM on June 10, 2018

Yes, you can do this. I use a gen 2 Apple TV for this exact purpose in my living room. I used to use an Airport Express, but there was an incompatibility between it and the digital-analog converter it was connected to. The Apple TV fixed the problem. I just had to do some initial setup with it connected to a TV, then moved it to the living room. It's been trouble-free for the last 3 or so years.
posted by TrialByMedia at 5:42 AM on June 11, 2018

For a less-known option, if you have a computer tied to that receiver, Rogue Amoeba makes AirPlay listener software for Mac/Win that lets you pick your computer as the AirPlay device. I wouldn’t buy a computer for the purpose, but if you have one handy, FYI.

Also, if you live near an Apple store, they’ll let you do setup of an Apple TV on their tabletop monitors.
posted by crysflame at 8:05 AM on June 11, 2018