The European Imaging & Sound Association (EISA) revealed the winners of its 2017-2018 Awards. Technical experts from over 50 leading specialist magazines in 25 countries across the world have recognized and awarded no fewer than 66 products as the best in their categories. These include the EISA Floorstanding Loudspeaker, awarded to British maker Q Acoustics, with its Concept 500 speakers, or the EISA Universal Ultra HD Blu-Ray Player, awarded not surprisingly to OPPO Digital for the amazing UDP-203. In the Mobile category, dominated by obscure smartphones and Samsung, JBL gets a well-deserved recognition for the best Mobile Speaker (Boombox) and best Mobile Headphone, for the updated JBL Everest Elite 750NC.
Among the winners for 2017-2018, audioXpress would highlight the DACAMP L1 portable DAC/headphone amplifier from British company RHA. This a surprising victory for the young company in a very competitive category. The DACAMP L1 is an attractive proposition for enthusiasts of high quality portable audio experiences, because of its optical digital input, balanced headphone output alongside the regular 3.5mm jack socket, and ten-hour battery life. It also features high quality ESS DAC chips.
Another very notable winner - confirming our initial impressions when it was introduced in Munich (High End 2016) - is the Dynaudio Contour 20, winners of the EISA Bookshelf Loudspeaker 2017-2018 category. This is truly an exceptional standmount loudspeaker that sounds amazing.
For 35 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 2017 was also the year that EISA announced its global expansion with a total of 5 new member magazines and websites from Australia and the USA.
The annual EISA Awards applaud the new products that combine the most advanced technology, the most desirable features, the ultimate expression of design, the most satisfying ergonomics and, of course, the greatest value for money. In short, EISA recognizes the features most likely to be appreciated by an enthusiast public seeking high quality and creative facilities.
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.
“The collaboration of some 53 specialist magazines and websites from across the greater European continent, Australia and the USA brings with it a unique pool of experience that informs each and every EISA Award. So whether consumers are looking to purchase a feature-rich smartphone, a versatile camera solution or a pair of high-end floorstanding loudspeakers, the EISA Awards are their unequivocal guide to the cream of today’s entertainment technologies,” says Paul Miller, President of EISA.
The EISA Awards will be officially presented during the IFA consumer electronics fair, held in Berlin 1-6 September 2017.
Here is a selection of the EISA Awards 2017-2018 winners in the audio categories.
EISA Hi-Fi 2017-2018 Awards List
EISA Wireless Loudspeaker 2017-2018
KEF LS50 Wireless
EISA Best Value Loudspeaker 2017-2018
DALI SPEKTOR 6
EISA Bookshelf Loudspeaker 2017-2018
Dynaudio Contour 20
EISA Floorstanding Loudspeaker 2017-2018
Q Acoustics Concept 500
EISA Headphones 2017-2018
Denon AH-D7200
EISA DAC/Headphone Amplifier 2017-2018
Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital
EISA Best Value Turntable 2017-2018
Pro-Ject Essential III Flexi-Range
EISA High-End Turntable 2017-2018
ELAC Miracord 90
EISA Integrated Amplifier 2017-2018
Hegel Röst
EISA Best Value Amplifier 2017-2018
NAD C 338
EISA High-End Stereo System 2017-2018
Marantz SA-10 & PM-10
EISA Hi-Fi Innovation 2017-2018
Devialet Gold Phantom
EISA Multiroom Network Player 2017-2018
Yamaha WXC-50
EISA Home Theatre Audio 2017-2018 Awards List
EISA Home Theatre Speaker System 2017-2018
Focal Sib Evo
EISA Home Theatre Receiver 2017-2018
Yamaha RX-V483
EISA Soundbar 2017-2018
LG SJ9 (LG SJC9A in US)
EISA TV Audio Upgrade 2017-2018
Sonos PlayBase
EISA Home Theatre High-End 2017-2018
DALI PHANTOM S Series
EISA Home Theatre Solution 2017-2018
Denon HEOS AVR
EISA Home Theatre Subwoofer 2017-2018
SVS PB16-Ultra
EISA Universal Ultra HD Blu-Ray Player 2017-2018
OPPO UDP-203
EISA Best Buy Ultra HD Blu-Ray Player 2017-2018
Panasonic DMP-UB300/UB400 Series
Mobile Devices
EISA Mobile Headphones 2017-2018
JBL Everest Elite 750NC
EISA Mobile Speaker 2017-2018
JBL Boombox
EISA Wireless In-Ear Headphones 2017-2018
Sennheiser MOMENTUM In-Ear Wireless
EISA Mobile Audio Player 2017-2018
FiiO X5 3rd gen
EISA Portable DAC/Headphone Amplifier 2017-2018
RHA Dacamp L1
EISA In-Car Electronics Awards 2017-2018 List
EISA In-Car Head-Unit 2017-2018
Kenwood DMX7017DABS
EISA In-Car HD Player 2017-2018
Clarion NX807E
EISA In-Car Smart Upgrade 2017-2018
Mosconi Gladen RC-CAN
EISA In-Car Subwoofer 2017-2018
Gladen PRO 10
EISA In-Car Active Subwoofer 2017-2018
Pioneer TS-WX70DA
EISA In-Car Processor 2017-2018
Helix DSP.2
EISA In-Car Amplifier 2017-2018
Mosconi Gladen PRO 5|30
EISA In-Car Integration 2017-2018
Hertz H8 DSP
EISA In-Car Speaker System 2017-2018
Vibe Audio CVEN62C-V4
www.eisa.eu/awards/
