diff --git a/mopidy/core.py b/mopidy/core.py
index ab457a00..51a0b737 100644
--- a/mopidy/core.py
+++ b/mopidy/core.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ def main():
     setup_settings()
     setup_gobject_loop()
     setup_output()
+    setup_mixer()
     setup_backend()
     setup_frontends()
 
@@ -50,11 +51,13 @@ def setup_gobject_loop():
     return gobject_loop
 
 def setup_output():
-    output = get_class(settings.OUTPUT)()
-    output.start()
-    return output
+    return get_class(settings.OUTPUT).start_proxy()
+
+def setup_mixer():
+    return get_class(settings.MIXER).start_proxy()
 
 def setup_backend():
+    # XXX Convert backend to one or more actors?
     return get_class(settings.BACKENDS[0])()
 
 def setup_frontends():
diff --git a/mopidy/mixers/alsa.py b/mopidy/mixers/alsa.py
index 4aa5952f..658677e5 100644
--- a/mopidy/mixers/alsa.py
+++ b/mopidy/mixers/alsa.py
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 import alsaaudio
 import logging
 
+from pykka.actor import ThreadingActor
+
 from mopidy import settings
 from mopidy.mixers.base import BaseMixer
 
 logger = logging.getLogger('mopidy.mixers.alsa')
 
-class AlsaMixer(BaseMixer):
+class AlsaMixer(ThreadingActor, BaseMixer):
     """
     Mixer which uses the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) to control
     volume.
@@ -20,8 +22,8 @@ class AlsaMixer(BaseMixer):
     - :attr:`mopidy.settings.MIXER_ALSA_CONTROL`
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        super(AlsaMixer, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+    def __init__(self):
+        # XXX Do mixer detection after actor starts?
         self._mixer = alsaaudio.Mixer(self._get_mixer_control())
         assert self._mixer is not None
 
diff --git a/mopidy/mixers/base.py b/mopidy/mixers/base.py
index f7f9525c..74996cb6 100644
--- a/mopidy/mixers/base.py
+++ b/mopidy/mixers/base.py
@@ -2,17 +2,12 @@ from mopidy import settings
 
 class BaseMixer(object):
     """
-    :param backend: a backend instance
-    :type backend: :class:`mopidy.backends.base.Backend`
-
     **Settings:**
 
     - :attr:`mopidy.settings.MIXER_MAX_VOLUME`
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, backend, *args, **kwargs):
-        self.backend = backend
-        self.amplification_factor = settings.MIXER_MAX_VOLUME / 100.0
+    amplification_factor = settings.MIXER_MAX_VOLUME / 100.0
 
     @property
     def volume(self):
@@ -35,9 +30,6 @@ class BaseMixer(object):
             volume = 100
         self._set_volume(volume)
 
-    def destroy(self):
-        pass
-
     def _get_volume(self):
         """
         Return volume as integer in range [0, 100]. :class:`None` if unknown.
diff --git a/mopidy/mixers/denon.py b/mopidy/mixers/denon.py
index f0712f95..50c321b6 100644
--- a/mopidy/mixers/denon.py
+++ b/mopidy/mixers/denon.py
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 import logging
-from threading import Lock
+
+from pykka.actor import ThreadingActor
 
 from mopidy import settings
 from mopidy.mixers.base import BaseMixer
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(u'mopidy.mixers.denon')
 
-class DenonMixer(BaseMixer):
+class DenonMixer(ThreadingActor, BaseMixer):
     """
     Mixer for controlling Denon amplifiers and receivers using the RS-232
     protocol.
@@ -24,12 +25,12 @@ class DenonMixer(BaseMixer):
     - :attr:`mopidy.settings.MIXER_EXT_PORT` -- Example: ``/dev/ttyUSB0``
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self):
         """
         Connects using the serial specifications from Denon's RS-232 Protocol
         specification: 9600bps 8N1.
         """
-        super(DenonMixer, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        # XXX Do setup after actor starts?
         device = kwargs.get('device', None)
         if device:
             self._device = device
@@ -38,14 +39,11 @@ class DenonMixer(BaseMixer):
             self._device = Serial(port=settings.MIXER_EXT_PORT, timeout=0.2)
         self._levels = ['99'] + ["%(#)02d" % {'#': v} for v in range(0, 99)]
         self._volume = 0
-        self._lock = Lock()
 
     def _get_volume(self):
-        self._lock.acquire()
-        self.ensure_open_device()
+        self._ensure_open_device()
         self._device.write('MV?\r')
         vol = str(self._device.readline()[2:4])
-        self._lock.release()
         logger.debug(u'_get_volume() = %s' % vol)
         return self._levels.index(vol)
 
@@ -53,14 +51,12 @@ class DenonMixer(BaseMixer):
         # Clamp according to Denon-spec
         if volume > 99:
             volume = 99
-        self._lock.acquire()
-        self.ensure_open_device()
+        self._ensure_open_device()
         self._device.write('MV%s\r'% self._levels[volume])
         vol = self._device.readline()[2:4]
-        self._lock.release()
         self._volume = self._levels.index(vol)
 
-    def ensure_open_device(self):
+    def _ensure_open_device(self):
         if not self._device.isOpen():
             logger.debug(u'(re)connecting to Denon device')
             self._device.open()
diff --git a/mopidy/mixers/dummy.py b/mopidy/mixers/dummy.py
index 12a8137e..186bc7aa 100644
--- a/mopidy/mixers/dummy.py
+++ b/mopidy/mixers/dummy.py
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
+from pykka.actor import ThreadingActor
+
 from mopidy.mixers.base import BaseMixer
 
-class DummyMixer(BaseMixer):
+class DummyMixer(ThreadingActor, BaseMixer):
     """Mixer which just stores and reports the chosen volume."""
 
-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        super(DummyMixer, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+    def __init__(self):
         self._volume = None
 
     def _get_volume(self):
diff --git a/mopidy/mixers/gstreamer_software.py b/mopidy/mixers/gstreamer_software.py
index 9dca3690..95635794 100644
--- a/mopidy/mixers/gstreamer_software.py
+++ b/mopidy/mixers/gstreamer_software.py
@@ -1,13 +1,19 @@
+from pykka.actor import ThreadingActor
+from pykka.proxy import ActorProxy
+from pykka.registry import ActorRegistry
+
 from mopidy.mixers.base import BaseMixer
 
-class GStreamerSoftwareMixer(BaseMixer):
+class GStreamerSoftwareMixer(ThreadingActor, BaseMixer):
     """Mixer which uses GStreamer to control volume in software."""
 
-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        super(GStreamerSoftwareMixer, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+    def __init__(self):
+        # XXX Get reference to output without hardcoding GStreamerOutput
+        output_refs = ActorRegistry.get_by_class_name('GStreamerOutput')
+        self.output = ActorProxy(output_refs[0])
 
     def _get_volume(self):
-        return self.backend.output.get_volume()
+        return self.output.get_volume().get()
 
     def _set_volume(self, volume):
-        self.backend.output.set_volume(volume)
+        self.output.set_volume(volume).get()
diff --git a/mopidy/mixers/nad.py b/mopidy/mixers/nad.py
index 5cf92826..0765882d 100644
--- a/mopidy/mixers/nad.py
+++ b/mopidy/mixers/nad.py
@@ -2,13 +2,15 @@ import logging
 from serial import Serial
 from multiprocessing import Pipe
 
+from pykka.actor import ThreadingActor
+
 from mopidy import settings
 from mopidy.mixers.base import BaseMixer
 from mopidy.utils.process import BaseThread
 
 logger = logging.getLogger('mopidy.mixers.nad')
 
-class NadMixer(BaseMixer):
+class NadMixer(ThreadingActor, BaseMixer):
     """
     Mixer for controlling NAD amplifiers and receivers using the NAD RS-232
     protocol.
@@ -36,21 +38,19 @@ class NadMixer(BaseMixer):
 
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        super(NadMixer, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        self._volume = None
-        self._pipe, other_end = Pipe()
-        NadTalker(self.backend.core_queue, pipe=other_end).start()
+    def __init__(self):
+        self._volume_cache = None
+        self._nad_talker = NadTalker.start_proxy()
 
     def _get_volume(self):
-        return self._volume
+        return self._volume_cache
 
     def _set_volume(self, volume):
-        self._volume = volume
-        self._pipe.send({'command': 'set_volume', 'volume': volume})
+        self._volume_cache = volume
+        self._nad_talker.set_volume(volume)
 
 
-class NadTalker(BaseThread):
+class NadTalker(ThreadingActor):
     """
     Independent process which does the communication with the NAD device.
 
@@ -72,21 +72,15 @@ class NadTalker(BaseThread):
     # Volume in range 0..VOLUME_LEVELS. :class:`None` before calibration.
     _nad_volume = None
 
-    def __init__(self, core_queue, pipe=None):
-        super(NadTalker, self).__init__(core_queue)
-        self.name = u'NadTalker'
-        self.pipe = pipe
+    def __init__(self):
         self._device = None
 
-    def run_inside_try(self):
+        # XXX Do after actor starts?
+        self._setup()
+
+    def _setup(self):
         self._open_connection()
         self._set_device_to_known_state()
-        while self.pipe.poll(None):
-            message = self.pipe.recv()
-            if message['command'] == 'set_volume':
-                self._set_volume(message['volume'])
-            elif message['command'] == 'reset_device':
-                self._set_device_to_known_state()
 
     def _open_connection(self):
         # Opens serial connection to the device.
@@ -164,7 +158,7 @@ class NadTalker(BaseThread):
         self._nad_volume = 0
         logger.info(u'Done calibrating NAD amplifier')
 
-    def _set_volume(self, volume):
+    def set_volume(self, volume):
         # Increase or decrease the amplifier volume until it matches the given
         # target volume.
         logger.debug(u'Setting volume to %d' % volume)
diff --git a/mopidy/mixers/osa.py b/mopidy/mixers/osa.py
index 2ea04cf2..53983095 100644
--- a/mopidy/mixers/osa.py
+++ b/mopidy/mixers/osa.py
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 from subprocess import Popen, PIPE
 import time
 
+from pykka.actor import ThreadingActor
+
 from mopidy.mixers.base import BaseMixer
 
-class OsaMixer(BaseMixer):
+class OsaMixer(ThreadingActor, BaseMixer):
     """
     Mixer which uses ``osascript`` on OS X to control volume.
 
@@ -14,7 +16,6 @@ class OsaMixer(BaseMixer):
     **Settings:**
 
     - None
-
     """
 
     CACHE_TTL = 30