Hi Matt, thanks for the prompt response, appreciate it.


At least with the ATV solution connected to a digital input on the Denon, you can individually select Zone 2 or Zone 3 and adjust volume properties. You just have to listen to the same music if playing from the same ATV source, not really an issue in my situation. At least in this scenario someone can still be watching TV/ movie in the Main Zone. With the inbuilt Airplay they cannot which is a pretty major limitation.


In my mind, the perfect use for the Airplay functionality (considering there is no video support) is streaming background music around the house.

I think the solution would be for the AVR to present 3 speakers to the iPod/ iTunes/ iPad etc, one for each zone that could be selected individually. I cant imagine why anyone would want to buy this feature otherwise if it remains limited in the way it is now (unless they specifically want it for the main zone, then it works well)


no wories, thanks again. I am assuming that this feature may have been rushed to market somewhat apparently without a lot of thought as to how people may use it. Hopefully there will be a version 2.0 somewhere in the near future that addresses this shortcoming.

TB

sooo, let me get this right. the airtunes upgrade can only be used in main zone? it cannot be selected as source for rest of house (Z2/Z3? if so, i would say that is definitely a major limitation. it doesnt have to be three itunes speakers but it should be a selectable source for all zones. i was considering purchasing this upgrade simply to use it and familiarize myself with it for clients sake. i think i will do without for now, and definitely wont be selling it as feature. if anything, it should only be available in Z2, not Z1

Not entirely, it CAN be selected for Zone 2/3, but it HAS to be on in the Main Zone at all times while it is in use in these zones. If you turn off the main zone, it turns off Zone 2/3.

This limitation only appears to effect Airplay and not other Net/ USB sources.

10-4. i guess that makes it a little better but still a definite limitation that needs addressing.

WOW ! Major oversight if you ask me. Must be an Apple limitation, sort of like Bose, doesn't play well with others. Version 2 will have an option to purchase the other zones?

I found out one of the major limitations of Air tunes itself is that it can only be sent to one device at a time. So if you have multiple Airport express or Apple TV units in the house, you can send music to one at a time using a portable Apple device. However if using iTunes on a computer you can do multiple streams.

I guess AirTunes on a receiver is just like a source connected digitally therefore it can't be sent to other zones, which usually require an analogue connection.

No, as far as I'm aware, you can send other Net/ USB sources to multiple zones at the same time, and I thought, that there was no limitation on where you can send digital sources (doesnt have to be analog as far as I know)

The limitation only seems to be with Airplay, on the Denon 4311 at least.

the 33 and 4311 can distribute stereo PCM digital sources via zone 2/3 outputs.