An IR receiver IC has a bandpass filter at its 38kHz frequency, not a lowpass and a highpass that affect each other and attenuate the signal.
It has a light blocking black coating that passes IR.
It has automatic gain control of its very high gain amplifier so it isn't overloaded by compact fluorescent light bulbs that flicker at 38kHz.
You can nick them out of any old TV or VCR, they all work pretty well the same - just make a note of the connections though, they aren't all in the same order!.