For nearly 40 years EISA has been selecting the most innovative, cutting-edge products for its prestigious EISA Awards. The EISA Awards are debated and voted upon by groups of specialist judging panels covering the full spectrum of consumer electronics products, including Hi-Fi, Home Theatre Audio and Video, In-Car Electronics, Photography 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.
While these awards always try to cover the different product segments in consumer electronics, including new categories such as EISA Best Buy Soundbar, EISA Wireless Floorstanding Loudspeakers, EISA Camera of the Year, EISA Multimedia Smartphone and EISA Best Gaming TV, audioXpress has also made a tradition to highlight the products in the EISA audio categories.
Moreover, the Association itself continues to evolve and expand. In 2018, EISA welcomed new members from India, Japan and Hong Kong/China just as the old EISA acronym (European Imaging and Sound Association) became the Expert Sound and Imaging Association. During 2019 the Association swelled its ranks with additional members from the USA, Poland, Norway, Italy and Russia – enlarging EISA’s global footprint still further.
To win an EISA award all products undergo a comprehensive multi-step judging process. So, while EISA’s annual Convention in Antwerp in May and Awards Meeting in June were, once again, both cancelled due to the pandemic, the comprehensiveness of the Association’s product testing was not diminished. EISA hosted no fewer than 40 webinars that put new technologies, and brands, in front of its expert editorial audience. This, combined with regular video conferences for EISA's Expert Groups, and the shipment of products between member countries, allowed judging to extend over many months, fueling lengthy and highly informed discussions. EISA’s democratic voting process was reinforced, establishing a consensus of excellence that ultimately determined the winning products. EISA Award-winning products can be promoted with an exclusive EISA Award logo and Citation, providing a clear visual buying recommendation.
“The collaboration of 60 of the most respected 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. Whether consumers are looking to purchase a smartphone with sophisticated camera technology, a 4K TV for a truly immersive cinema experience, or a pair of very 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.
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 1 October 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.
As always, audioXpress highlights all the audio-related winers in the Hi-Fi, Home Theatre Audio, In-Car and Mobile Devices categories. This year there are very deserving products, which have surprised positively when they were introduced under the extremely painful circumstances of the pandemic, while many other products of European origin remain extremely interesting discoveries for consumers in the US. KEF is certainly one of the major winners, with 3 well-deserved awards. The reinergized Philips brand now managed by TP Vision received 4 awards. LG Electronics surprises positively with many awards and a well-deserved winner in the best true wireless earbuds category.
The EISA Awards 2021-2022
Hi-Fi Expert Group
EISA Floorstanding Loudspeakers 2021-2022
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G
EISA Standmount Loudspeakers 2021-2022
KEF LS50 Meta
EISA Wireless Floorstanding Loudspeakers 2021-2022
System Audio Legend 40.2 Silverback
EISA Wireless Standmount Loudspeakers 2021-2022
KEF LS50 Wireless II
EISA High-End Loudspeakers 2021-2022
Wilson Audio SabrinaX
EISA Hi-Fi Subwoofer 2021-2022
KEF KC62
EISA Streaming Amplifier 2021-2022
Cambridge Audio Evo 150
EISA Integrated Amplifier 2021-2022
Rotel Michi X3
EISA Power Amplifier 2021-2022
NAD Electronics C 298
EISA Phono Stage 2021-2022
Hegel V10
EISA Digital Music Player 2021-2022
Bluesound Node
EISA High-End Music Player 2021-2022
Hifi Rose RS150
EISA DAC 2021-2022
Cambridge Audio DACmagic 200M
EISA Best Value Turntable 2021-2022
Pro-Ject Debut Pro
EISA High-End Turntable 2021-2022
Thorens TD 124 DD
EISA Phono Cartridge 2021-2022
Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250
EISA Stereo System 2021-2022
Marantz Model 30/SACD 30N
EISA Headphone Solution 2021-2022
Naim Uniti Atom Headphone Edition
EISA Headphones 2021-2022
Focal Clear MG
EISA High-End Headphones 2021-2022
T+A Solitaire P-SE
EISA Best Value Headphones 2021-2022
Sennheiser HD 560 S
EISA Hi-Fi Accessory 2021-2022
Ferrum Hypsos
Combined Award With Home Theatre Audio Expert Group
EISA Compact Subwoofer 2021-2022
SVS 3000 Micro
Combined Award With Mobile Devices Expert Group
EISA Wireless Headphones 2021-2022
Philips Fidelio L3
EISA In-Ear Headphones 2021-2022
LG TONE Free FP8
Home Theatre Audio Expert Group
EISA Smart Soundbar 2021-2022
Denon Home Soundbar 550
EISA Soundbar Innovation 2021-2022
LG Eclair QP5
EISA Compact Soundbar 2021-2022
JBL Bar 5.0 Multibeam
EISA Best Buy Soundbar 2021-2022
TCL Ts8132
EISA Home Theatre Soundbar 2021-2022
Philips Fidelio B97
EISA Best Buy Home Theatre Subwoofer 2021-2022
SVS SB-1000 Pro
EISA Home Theatre Speaker System 2021-2022
Polk Audio Reserve
EISA Home Theatre Receiver 2021-2022
Yamaha RX-V6A
Combined Award With Home Theatre Video Expert Group
EISA UHD Player 2021-2022
Reavon UBR-X200
In-Car Electronics Expert Group
EISA In-Car Head Unit 2021-2022
Kenwood DMX8020DABS
EISA In-Car Innovation 2021-2022
Audiotec Fischer Conductor
EISA In-Car Speaker Series 2021-2022
Ground Zero Uranium SQ Series
EISA In-Car Sound Processor 2021-2022
ESX D68SP
EISA In-Car Speaker System 2021-2022
Eton Onyx 16, Onyx 80, Onyx 28
Match Up 10DSP
EISA In-Car Camper Van Component 2021-2022
Alpine Adventure Audio
EISA In-Car Compact Subwoofer 2021-2022
Pioneer TS-WX010A
EISA In-Car Integration 2021-2022
Zenec Z-E2055
EISA In-Car OEM Premium Audio System 2021-2022
Maserati MC20 With Sonus Faber
Other Awards in the remaining categories are listed in the EISA website here: www.eisa.eu
