Pioneer VSX-1021 AV receiver first of many with AirPlay from Pioneer

It looks like 2011 is the year when Apple's AirPlay technology really gains some traction in the market, even with well known brands like Pioneer who have just released their first AirPlay compatible AV receiver in the Pioneer VSX-1021.

Pioneer getting onboard embracing the new technology for wireless streaming of audio and video from iTunes and iOS devices is another sign that it is not only Apple and specialised speaker dock producers that are now embracing the technology. As someone that believes in unified systems it is also nice to see that AirPlay is being embraced by AV receivers, giving people more options for creating their own bespoke home entertainment systems.

The Pioneer VSX-1021 is a 7.1-channel AV receiver with AirPlay integration, so all you have to do to enable it is to connect the receiver to your home ethernet or to your home wifi (requires an additional wifi adapter).

The system is not yet widely available in the UK, but expected retail price is around £500.

It is clear that audiovisual manufacturers are starting to see the sales potential of AirPlay devices, knowing the explosive growth Apple has seen in sales of their iOS devices, including the iPhone and the iPad, over the last couple of years. There is an estimated 160 million iOS devices currently in the global market.

[source: iPodRepublic]