As the tradition dictates, EISA, the Expert Imaging & Sound Association (www.eisa.eu) has revealed the winners of its 2018-2019 Awards. A major change for this year is the fact that the association is now global and accepted new members from Canada, United States, Australia, Japan, India and Hong Kong/China. That's why from its European origins, EISA has now become the Expert Imaging and Sound Association. Same logo, same acronym, but with a new global meaning!Technical experts from over 55 leading specialist magazines and websites in 27 countries across the world have recognized and awarded no fewer than 74 products as the best in their consumer electronics categories. These include the EISA Smart Loudspeaker, EISA Hi-Fi and EISA Home Theater Audio, apart from EISA OLED TV, EISA Camera of the Year and EISA In-Car Electronics.
For nearly 40 years EISA has been selecting the most innovative, cutting-edge products for its prestigious EISA Awards. The Awards are debated and voted upon by groups of specialist judging panels covering the full spectrum of consumer electronics and photographic products, including Hi- Fi, Home Theatre, In-Car Electronics, Photo, Video and Mobile Devices.
Key to the success and relevance of the annual EISA Awards lies in the evolution of its categories, always reflecting the changing trends and technologies of the consumer electronics world. Moreover, the Association itself continues to evolve, as 2018 was not only the year that EISA welcomed new members from India, Japan and Hong Kong/China but also reflected its global expansion with a subtle change of emphasis: the EISA acronym from the European Imaging and Sound Association becoming the Expert Sound and Imaging Association. The United States were represented this year with Sound & Vision USA and Stereophile magazines.
To win an EISA award all products undergo a comprehensive multi-step judging process. Products are intensively tested at the facilities of individual EISA member magazines and are also presented at the Association’s annual Convention in Antwerp in May. Products that pass this stage already rank among the best in the world. The final deliberations take place at EISA’s annual General Meeting in June where a democratic voting process establishes a consensus of excellence and determines the winning products.
All products – with the exception of those awarded for Innovation or Design – must have been available for detailed test evaluation by the magazines in each Expert Group. Products are only considered if they have been available for assessment before 1 July by at least five member magazines in the appropriate Expert Group. Awarded products must also be on sale to the general public in at least 10 countries, no later than October 1 in the year the Award is made. Awarded products sold on a pre-ordered basis must be delivered to the customer within two weeks of ordering, and by 14 October at the latest. (The pre-ordering exception is only applicable to products priced at €5000 or over).
Every year, the EISA Awards celebrate those new products that offer a combination of the most advanced technology, the most desirable features, the most functional ergonomics and – of course – the best performance for the money. In essence, EISA highlights the products most likely to be appreciated by consumers seeking versatility, style and performance.
EISA Award-winning products can be promoted with an exclusive EISA Award logo and short video, design for social media channels, both providing a clear visual buying recommendation. The EISA Awards will be officially presented during IFA, the world’s largest consumer electronics fair, held in Berlin, September 1-6 2017.
Below is the EISA Awards List 2018-2019 in the relevant audio categories
HI-FI Expert Group
EISA Analogue Music System 2018-2019
Pro-Ject Juke Box S2
EISA Compact Music System 2018-2019
Denon CEOL N10
EISA All-In-One System 2018-2019
Naim Audio Uniti Atom
EISA Wireless System 2018-2019
DALI Callisto 6C & Sound Hub
EISA Stereo System 2018-2019
Marantz ND8006/PM8006
EISA Stereo Receiver 2018-2019
Yamaha R-N803D
EISA Amplifier 2018-2019
Primare I15 Prisma
EISA Best Buy Amplifier 2018-2019
Pioneer A-40AE
EISA High-End Amplifier 2018-2019
NAD M32
EISA Streamer 2018-2019
Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra
EISA DAC 2018-2019
Chord Electronics Hugo 2
EISA Turntable 2018-2019
Technics SL-1200GR
EISA Loudspeaker 2018-2019
ELAC Adante AS-61
EISA Best Buy Loudspeaker 2018-2019
Q Acoustics 3050i
EISA Smart Loudspeaker 2018-2019
Harman Kardon Citation 500
EISA Headphone 2018-2019
Sennheiser HD 660 S
EISA High-End Headphone 2018-2019
Focal Clear
EISA Hi-Fi Innovation 2018-2019
Micromega M-One M-150
The M-150 M-One series is surely this year’s most intriguing new integrated amplifier. The M-One series is currently available in two models: the M-100 and the M-150. The M-150 differs from the M-100 with the addition of a Power Correction Function (PCF) and the doubling of the audio amplifier components, which significantly improve the power delivery; respectively 2 X 150W at 8 ohms ( 2 X 300W at 4 ohms), while the M-100 delivers 2 X 100W at 8 ohms (2 X 150W at 4 ohms). Inside is a fan-assisted heat pipe system and the company’s novel resonant power supply (RPS). The slimline case comes in a wide range of colors, and features a powerful DSP chip running custom code, while its Micromega Acoustic Room System provides correction/equalization for less-than-ideal listening environments. The M-150 also offers network and wireless connections, including LAN Ethernet and Bluetooth 4.0 aptX, a binaural headphone amp and an MM/MC phono stage.
EISA Portable DAC/Headphone Amplifier 2018-2019
(Combined with Mobile Devices Expert Group)
iFi Audio xDSD
Home Theatre Audio Expert Group
EISA Home Theatre Amplifier 2018-2019
Denon AVR-X8500H
EISA Home Theatre Receiver 2018-2019
Pioneer VSX-933
EISA Home Theatre Speaker System 2018-2019
KEF Q Series
EISA Best Buy Home Theatre Speaker System 2018-2019
Jamo S 809 HCS / S 810 SUB / S 8 ATM
EISA Home Theatre In-Wall Speaker 2018-2019
Focal 300IWLCR6 / 300IW6
EISA Soundbar 2018-2019
LG SK10Y
EISA Best Buy Soundbar 2018-2019
Polk Audio MagniFi MAX
EISA Home Theatre Subwoofer 2018-2019
SVS SB-4000
EISA High-End UHD Blu-Ray Player 2018-2019
(Combined with Home Theatre Video & Display Expert Group)
Panasonic DP-UB9000 series
EISA Best Buy UHD Blu-Ray Player 2018-2019
(Combined with Home Theatre Video & Display Expert Group)
Sony UBP-X700
EISA Slim Installation Component 2018-2019
(Combined with In-Car Electronics Expert Group)
Morel Virtus Nano Integra 602 & SoundWall PowerSlim PMC600
Mobile Devices Expert Group
EISA Noise Cancelling Headphones 2018-2019
AKG N700NC
EISA Mobile Loudspeaker 2018-2019
JBL Xtreme 2
EISA Wireless In-Ear Headphones 2018-2019
JBL Endurance DIVE
EISA Artificial Intelligence Loudspeaker 2018-2019
LG XBOOM AI ThinQ WK7 (LG ThinQ Speaker WK7 - in the USA)
EISA Mobile Audio Player 2018-2019
Pioneer XDP-02U
EISA Portable DAC/Headphone Amplifier 2018-2019
(Combined with Hi-Fi Expert Group)
iFi Audio xDSD
In-Car Electronics Expert Group
EISA In-Car Head Unit 2018-2019
Pioneer AVIC-Z910DAB
EISA In-Car High-End Component 2018-2019
Audison TH K2 II A Coro
EISA In-Car Smart Upgrade 2018-2019
Match UP 7BMW
EISA In-Car Subwoofer 2018-2019
Audison APBX 10 AS
EISA In-Car Processor 2018-2019
Helix DSP MINI
EISA In-Car Amplifier 2018-2019
Ground Zero GZPA 4SQ
EISA In-Car DSP Amplifier 2018-2019
JL Audio VX800/8i
EISA In-Car Integration 2018-2019
Mosconi Gladen Pico 8|12 DSP
EISA In-Car Innovation 2018-2019
Gladen Aures
EISA Slim Installation Component 2018-2019
(Combined with Home Theatre Audio Expert Group)
Morel Virtus Nano Integra 602 & SoundWall PowerSlim PMC600
Other Awards in the remaining categories are listed in the EISA website here: www.eisa.eu/awards/
