EISA 2024-2025 Awards in Audio Categories Announced

The Expert Imaging & Sound Association (EISA) revealed the winners of its 2024-2025 Awards. Technical experts from over 56 leading specialist magazines and websites in 27 countries across the world have recognized and awarded the best products in their categories. The 42nd year of the awards recognizes stand-out products in hifi, home theater, mobile and car audio. This year there are again surprises and predictable winners, but also the unexplainable absence of leading products in home audio, personal audio, and particularly in the true wireless category.

Pro-Ject announced the latest addition to its ‘X’ turntable lineup. According to the Austrian manufacturer, the new XA B ($1,499 MSRP) aims to deliver the highest quality audio from vinyl records, right out of the box. In addition to offering a True Balanced Connection via a dedicated 5-pin DIN output, the turntable features a plinth constructed of transparent acrylic, premium 10" one-piece aluminum tonearm, and pre-adjusted Pick it Pro Balanced MM cartridge.

High End 2024. Digital music players, streaming players, music streamers. Music sources in audio shows are changing. The industry is embracing music streaming services. At AXPONA 2024 and at the High End 2024, the prevalent music source in all demos and listening rooms are the latest class of network music streamers and digital audio players. This is my second article expanding on my personal experience at the excellent Munich audio show.

As the tradition dictates, the Expert Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) revealed the winners of its 2023-2024 Awards. In the 41st year of the awards recognizing the most innovative and cutting-edge products in hifi, home theater, mobile and car audio, there are many surprises and predictable winners. One of the surprises is the overwhelming number of "specialized" awards designed to accommodate hifi products, and the unexplainable absence of leading products in the true wireless category.

Fine Sounds Americas and Pro-Ject USA announced the new MaiA DS3 and Stereo Box S3 BT integrated amplifier and receiver models from Pro-Ject Audio Systems. The two new compact models from the European manufacturer are a perfect complement to any home audio system seeking flexible solutions to enhance their listening experience. Both models have a minimalistic design, intended to be combined with both modern digital, wired, wireless and streaming sources and one of the many Pro-Ject turntables.

The Expert Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) revealed the winners of its 2022-2023 Awards. With the consumer electronics industry still recovering from the pandemic effects, and some manufacturers emerging in the market lead after capitalizing on the changing environment, the awards show some predictability but also some surprises. This year celebrating its 40th anniversary, the EISA Awards recognize the most innovative, cutting-edge products.

Pro-Ject announced the first products in its upcoming collection of truly balanced high-performance turntables. The new X1 B and X2 B are the brand’s first turntables with dedicated, fully balanced mini XLR outputs. This connection optimizes the performance of Moving Coil cartridges when used with a compatible phono preamplifier. For out-of-box compatibility with the widest array of equipment and to keep the price down, a Sumiko Rainier Moving Magnet cartridge is factory installed for immediate enjoyment via the turntables’ RCA unbalanced outputs.

Pro-Ject USA announced the new E1 line of turntables, designed and produced in Europe. The new collection aims to introduce a new audience of music lovers to the world of vinyl by offering quality technology at an accessible price point, starting at $350. The E Line consists of three models, the E1 ($349 USD) E1 Phono SB ($399 USD) and E1 BT ($499 USD), available in high gloss black, satin white or satin walnut finishes.

Pro-Ject became known for its turntables, but the company's founder and CEO Heinz Lichtenegger invested also in manufacturing small electronic components, including CD players. The new Pro-Ject CD Box DS3 and CD Box S3 are great-value hifi products, designed with the best possible components. The CD Box DS3 ($899) maintains the best features of its predecessors and adds a Texas Instruments PCM1796 DAC, while the CD Box S3 ($549) is the first product of a new S3 compact line.

Sumiko and Pro-Ject USA have announced the new A1 Turntable from Pro-Ject Audio Systems. After years of dedicated research and effort, the team identified the proper technology to develop automatic turntables at the sound quality standard that Pro-Ject’s esteemed reputation evokes around the world. A product fit for a new generation of vinyl enthusiasts that are not exactly ready for the full inconveniences of turntables.