The 2019 edition of EI Live! proved to be a huge success for CI distributor, AWE Europe.
From a constant stream of visitors exploring the products and solutions on offer at the AWE Village, to hosting the first IMAX Enhanced demo at an EU exhibition, the event was topped off with a celebratory evening at the Smart Building Awards where AWE took home several industry awards.
For the second consecutive year, AWE was awarded ‘Distributor of the Year’ at the Smart Building Awards 2019. As part of its commitment to the industry, the company has increased its brand portfolio this year with major new product launches, as well as a newly refurbished Smart Apartment at its HQ in Epsom, revealed at its hugely popular AWE Expo.
AWE’s distributed brands were also amongst the winners this year. Sony picked up the award for ‘Best Conventional TV’ for the AF9 OLED TV, and ‘Best Projector’ for the VPL-VW870ES Home Cinema Projector. KEF also took the top spot for its Ci5160REF-THX speakers, which were awarded ‘Best In-Wall/In-Ceiling Speaker,’ as well as first prize for the LSX speakers in the ‘Best Standalone Speaker’ category.
“We’re honoured to be taking home the Best Distributor award for the second year in a row,” exclaimed Stuart Tickle, Managing Director of AWE. “The whole team are dedicated to providing excellent customer service, training, and technical support for our customers, and being recognised for our efforts is a great encouragement to keep pushing forward. The product category wins also show the strength of our portfolio.”
Together with an extensive display of products and solutions in the AWE Village, visitors had the chance to experience the first IMAX Enhanced demo at an EU exhibition at EI Live! this year. Utilising the best in image, sound, scale, and content, the IMAX Enhanced program, developed by IMAX and DTS, demonstrates the very best at-home entertainment experience. The exclusive demo was presented in a purpose-built theatre, utilising IMAX Enhanced certified products from Sony, Denon, and Marantz, as well as Definitive Technology loudspeakers and subwoofers for the ultimate demo experience.
Within the dedicated visual zone, AWE showcased the latest TVs from major brands, LG, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, and Videotree, alongside the range of Sony projectors and a Sony 110-inch Crystal LED screen for the ultimate wow-factor.
To complement this, the controls area featured the latest from URC Total Control, including the new flagship MRX-30 Advanced Network System Controller and the new MRX-15 Advanced System Controller, which both provide instant two-way communication with the family of Total Control user interfaces. Solutions from Philips Hue and QMotion window shading systems were also on display in this area.
To represent a true-to-life cinema room, the dedicated Epson demo room allowed visitors to experience the big screen for themselves. Featuring an EH-TW9400 home cinema projector, a Draper projection screen, speakers from KEF and Marantz amplification, visitors were able to see just what can be achieved in a compact space on a modest budget.
Elsewhere on the AWE stand, KEF showcased the new LSX speakers, whilst Definitive Technology’s range of in-wall and in-ceiling speakers were also on display together with its unique floor-standing BP series. Denon and Marantz demonstrated its latest AV receivers and amplifiers alongside HEOS speakers, AVRs, soundbar and subwoofer, and Kinetik speakers and cables.
