If you're looking to do it on the cheap, but you still want wireless, it's probably not going to happen.
I haven't actually tried it, but I've heard good things about the
Airport Express, but that's $100, even though it also doubles as a wireless router. If you want the best interface, though, that's the way to do it, because you can control it with
Remote through your iPhone as well as through iTunes.
As much as wireless would be ideal, you don't have to hook your laptop up through HDMI, just get a cord that goes from headphone jack > red/white audio cables, I did that for the Halloween party we had, and I just started up Pandora. That way you don't need the TV on, like you probably do for the laptop to make the HDMI connection.
As for the receiver, that's a nice choice, I bought the same one almost a year ago, I love it.
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