Q: Airport Extreme to Yahama A/V Receiver

The Express is an ideal iTunes streaming network client. It can be configured to join the existing wireless network provided by your AirPort Extreme to be the audio streaming destination for your Yamaha A/V receiver via either an analog or optical digital connection.

Please check out the following Apple Support article for details.

I'm not familar with Naxos Radio, but from a quick Internet search I see that it is a type of Internet-sourced radio. As such, iTunes may not be able to stream this source directly to the Express. One workaround is to use an application, like Airfoil for Windows to do the streaming.

The Yahama RX-V475 is itself an AirPlay - compatible device, meaning you do not need an Express or AppleTV, unless you need the additional features they would convey.

John brings up an excellent point. Since your receiver is AirPlay-capable, you can skip either the Express or Apple TV to stream to it. Airfoil would still be required for streaming Internet radio sources external to iTunes though.

My understanding is that the receiver must be connected to the network by either the wired connection or using a device such as Apple TV or Airport Express.

In that case, the Express would be required. You will still want to configure it to "join" the wireless network, but you will want to disable its AirPlay feature. Instead, you will want to enable its "Allow Ethernet Clients" to basically reconfigure it as a wireless Ethernet bridge. This would then provide the "wired" connectivity for the receiver.

Sorry, but no. The Apple TV's Ethernet port is for itself to be connected to a wired network. It would not provide wired network connectivity for the Yamaha.

The key is, whether or not, you want to take advantage of the receiver's AirPlay capability or use either the Express or Apple TV to provide it.

Hmmm - I'm confused, because Air Foil says it will work with Apple TV?

Sorry for any confusion that I may be causing you. AirPlay, the streaming protocol, requires an AirPlay "player" to stream to. This can be an AirPort Express, Apple TV, or an AirPlay-capable receiver like your Yamaha.

iTunes as you already know, uses AirPlay for streaming; so does Airfoil. The only real difference is that "sources" that iTunes uses is restricted to what is available in the iTunes application. Airfoil, on the other hand, is not. That is why it can stream directly from a web browser for Internet radio. Thus, Airfoil, like iTunes, needs an AirPlay "player" to get the audio to the speakers. In your case, the speakers would be connected directly to your receiver. AirPlay would stream the audio to your receiver via an Ethernet connection.

I would connect the ATV to the Yahama by HDMI.  Will that work?

Yes ... but again unless you wanted to take advantage of the additional features that the Apple TV would provide you, you would not need it as the AirPlay "player" since your receiver already has one built-in.

You're very welcome! Before you know it, you'll be back here helping others.

... and enjoy your new Yamaha!