Pioneer intros Elite network players with AirPlay, DLNA
updated 12:30 pm EST, Wed January 4, 2012
Pioneer ships Elite N-30, N-50 network receivers
Pioneer has just released two Elite-branded and networked home theater receivers that both get AirPlay support and DLNA 1.5 compatibility. The N-30 and N-50 otherwise share a 2.5-inch color LCD display. Using AirPlay, users can stream music from their iTunes libraries and iOS devices wirelessly, as well as use Pandora web radio, iHeartRadio and other music services. DLNA 1.5 catches a large number of other devices that can stream audio or HD video.
The receivers have access to Internet radio stations thanks to their vTuner Internet features. Connecting over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth needs an extra adapter. The new products are also compatible with a ControlApp for Android and iOS devices for navigation.
The N-50 has been designed with a higher level of audiophile customer in mind, as it gets an armored chassis for noise reduction, gold RCA jacks, twin EL transformers, an Advanced Sound Retriever, and Sound Retriever AIR features for boosting compressed audio sound quality. A DAC-only mode is also present for older devices.
The N-30 is priced at $500, while the N-50 asks $700. Both are now shipping.
N-30
N-50
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2008
Outgunned
These have a fraction of the Mac Mini's functionality and are only about $80 less. In the hit or miss evaluation I'd call these a miss. Guess Android users may be a little more excited.