The top global car audio products of 2019-2020 were posted by EISA, now called the Expert Imaging and Sound Association. Until recently EISA was known as the European Imaging and Sound Association, but it extended its reach to additional countries, adding judges from magazines around the globe, including Europe, the US, Asia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, and Japan, according to reports.
This year’s winner for best head unit was a mechless (no-CD/DVD) deck from Kenwood available in Europe. (Last year, Pioneer was the winner). The DMX8019DABS has a Hi-Res 7-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay plus Android mirroring. Kenwood says its closest cousin in the US is the DMX906S. The DMX8019DABS includes USB, HDMI, Bluetooth, and it is Spotify ready. It is Hi-res audio capable with DSP for sound tuning.
Some of this year’s top car audio products are offered in the US including the Alpine PWD-X5, a powered 8″ subwoofer with integrated digital signal processor and amplifier and the Ground Zero GZPW 10SQ, a compact high end 10-inch subwoofer with an aluminum cone, which handles 700 watts max.
One of the winners, the Morel Elate Carbon 603 will hit the market in the US next year, likely around January, said Morel.
Also one of the winning products of note that is NOT available in the US is a dashcam from Alpine with built in Forward Collision and Lane Departure warning, plus an uploadable speed camera database.
The awards will officially be presented September 6 during the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin.
Here is a full list of winners:
INCAR EXPERT GROUP AWARDS
EISA IN-CAR HEAD UNIT 2019-2020
Kenwood DMX8019DABS
The In-Car Entertainment landscape is changing, and the DMX8019DABS is totally up-to-date for the new connected world. By removing both optical disc drive and navigation features, but retaining a hi-res 7in touchscreen and DAB+, Kenwood has ensured this Double-DIN head unit is affordable and ready to interface with your smartphone or portable media device. This flagship of the DMX series includes USB, HDMI, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay wireless and, mirroring Android phones through Wi-Fi, Spotify ready. Hi-res audio capability is backed up with DSP for sound tuning, making this the complete music and information hub.
EISA IN-CAR SOUND PROCESSOR 2019-2020
Brax DSP
DSP for optimising in-car sound is nothing new, but Brax takes it to the next level with no fewer than 12 channels of processing across modular input and output cards. This design allows complete tailoring to your in-car audio configuration, with digital or analogue inputs, or a mix of both, using three Analog Devices Sigma 350 64-bit processors, capable of an incredible 3.6 billion calculations per second. ADCs and DACs are by Asahi Kasei, there’s extensive power supply regulation, while the modular approach extends to an add-on card for direct Bluetooth and hi-res USB streaming. This is signal processing without limits.
EISA IN-CAR AMPLIFIER 2019-2020
ESX QE1200.4
If there are two requirements for In-Car power amplifiers, it’s that they should deliver healthy output without filling all the space available – the QE1200.4 meets that brief in style, with a 1200W output spread over four channels, and all from a remarkably compact, but solidly built, enclosure. Digital amplification ensures it runs cool, with extensive measures to avoid interference, and automatic switching and speaker detection makes it ideal for hideaway use. Add in configurable crossovers and bridging to allow it to drive subwoofers, and you have the ideal add-on for both factory-fit and aftermarket systems, bringing premium sound and design at a sensible price.
EISA IN-CAR SPEAKER SYSTEM 2019-2020
Morel Elate Carbon 603
Morel is one of the best-known names in speaker drivers, and the latest version of its Elate Carbon 603 In-Car speaker system sees all that expertise in action to amazing effect. Using famous Morel technologies, including Hexatech voice-coils and passive crossovers, this three-way system features the company’s handmade ultra-slim 28mm silk dome tweeter plus a 10cm midrange driver using a DPC cone for smoothness and transparency. Backing all this up is a 16.5cm woofer with a titanium voice coil former and double magnets for clarity and power. This is a fine way to add high-quality sound to your vehicle.
EISA IN-CAR SUBWOOFER 2019-2020
Ground Zero GZPW 10SQ
The requirements of an In-Car subwoofer are simple: powerful, extended, yet controlled and tuneful bass, preferably from an enclosure still leaving some room in your car for the shopping. Ground Zero’s GZPW 10SQ meets that brief perfectly. Its 25cm driver draws on the design of the company’s flagship model, complete with an aluminum cone for speed, lightness and control, plus a long-throw voice-coil for plenty of air movement. It is designed to perform at its best in compact, sealed enclosures of as little as 26 litres – big bass from small boxes is exactly what this Plutonium Series sub delivers.
EISA IN-CAR SMART UPGRADE 2019-2020
Alpine PWD-X5
With so many cars now having custom-fit built-in audio systems, it’s sometimes hard to know how to upgrade them – but Alpine has the answer with the PWD-X5. Small enough to be hidden away under a front seat, it combines a digital signal processor, an active subwoofer and four channels of amplification, and can be fed with either speaker-level or preamp-level connections. It even comes complete with the all the cables required. Adjusted via the supplied wired controller or a smartphone app, it also has a dongle to add Bluetooth to your In-Car system. This is the easiest, and most effective upgrade you can make.
EISA IN-CAR DASHCAM 2019-2020
Alpine DVR-F800PRO
As well as world-class In-Car audio and infotainment products, Alpine also makes a comprehensive range of dashcams, and the amazing DVR-F800PRO is remarkably advanced, going way beyond simply recording your journey. As well as super-clear pictures both during the day and at night, the DVR-F800PRO also brings you driver assistance features usually found only in upmarket vehicles. These include Forward Collision and Lane Departure warning, plus an uploadable speed camera database. This is so much more than just another dashcam!
EISA IN-CAR HIGH-END COMPONENT 2019-2020
Eton Core S3
With each speaker handcrafted in Germany and packed with innovative technology, the Eton Core S3 is a true high-end In-Car component system. The 8cm midrange drivers and 16.5cm woofers use a unique engineering solution, with perforated magnesium composite cones coated with an ultra-thin film to create a light and rigid assembly with a ‘dimpled’ surface to break up resonances. This allows the system to deliver its warm and smooth sound, while the tweeters use a three-layer ceramic/magnesium sandwich dome with multistage ventilation to allow them to present the finest detail. It all comes together to offer wide-ranging dynamics, neutrality and fine imaging, for a true high-end experience on the move.
EISA IN-CAR INNOVATION 2019-2020
Zapco HDSP-Z16V
The HDSP-Z16V is a new and unique multifunction in-car audio device: for the first time we have a top-flight digital signal processor with an integrated high-resolution audio player. As well as being able to control a complete multi-amplifier system, optimising it for your speakers and car acoustics, it can play content at up to 192kHz/24-bit, either from connected storage or – using optional modules – via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Control of both the DSP and the player is via a full-colour 3in touchscreen, and the Zapco HDSP-Z16V uses high-quality analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue conversion. If you’re looking for an innovative way to improve your sound while also adding add hi-res playback, this is the solution.
For winners in all consumer electronics categories click here.
Last year’s EISA winners (2018-2019):
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
COMBINED WITH HOME THEATRE AUDIO EXPERT GROUP
EISA SLIM INSTALLATION COMPONENT 2018-2019
Morel Virtus Nano Integra 602 & SoundWall PowerSlim PMC600
EISA Awards are based on technology, features, design and cost per performance. EISA is an organization comprised of editors from 55 leading magazines from 30 countries, including the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and India. Each year, they select the best products from manufacturers all around the world.
Source: EISA, Australian InCar 12V Tech, Tests & Techniques, Stereophile
