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Sony's midrange 2015 receivers get more streaming features

Sony has announced that its new STR-DN1060 and STR-DN860 will get a host of new streaming functions, including Google Cast and Bluetooth headphone support.

Ty Pendlebury Editor
Ty Pendlebury is a journalism graduate of RMIT Melbourne, and has worked at CNET since 2006. He lives in New York City where he writes about streaming and home audio.
Expertise Ty has worked for radio, print, and online publications, and has been writing about home entertainment since 2004. He majored in Cinema Studies when studying at RMIT. He is an avid record collector and streaming music enthusiast. Credentials
  • Ty was nominated for Best New Journalist at the Australian IT Journalism awards, but he has only ever won one thing. As a youth, he was awarded a free session for the photography studio at a local supermarket.
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Ty Pendlebury
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Sony has announced updated versions of our two favorite receivers from 2014 --the $599 Sony STR-DN860 and $499 STR-DN1060--which will now include multiroom streaming features as well as automation capabilities.

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The receivers offer built-in Wi-Fi and with this comes AirPlay, Spotify Connect and now Google Cast, in addition to LDAC Bluetooth streaming from mobile devices. Uniquely, Sony has also announced the ability to stream from the receiver to a set of Bluetooth headphones.

Sony has launched its own multiroom streaming system called SongPal Link,which is compatible with its newest sound bars and the new SRS-X99 and SRS-X88 Wireless Speakers. The STR-DN1060 and STR-DN860 will use SongLink to stream music throughout the house making it potentially more powerful than either Spotify Connect or AirPlay.

Meanwhile the specifications are very similar to the previous year's receivers, with six HMDI ports (STR-DN1060) and five HDMI (STR-DN860), respectively, plus 100W per channel and 95W per channel driven in stereo.

The receivers will playback 4K content with HDMI 2.0/HDCP 2.2 support and will also play hi-res audio files including Sony's own DSD format.

The STR-DN1060 includes IP control capability for use in AMX and Crestron home automation systems. This is a trickle-down from the company's ES receivers which have had Ethernet switching and automation capabilities for several years.

Given the strong showing of Sony's mid-range receivers' over the last couple of years, the '860 and '1060 could be the ones to look out for in 2015: as long as Sony hasn't meddled with the performance formula.

The receivers will be available in the United States in Spring 2015.