The Clarity Alliance has returned from a hugely successful National Audio Show, having presented its “Best of Show Awards”, overseen the popular seminar sessions, showcased its members products and staged the sell out UK exclusive preview of “Queen: The Studio Collection”.

After very careful consideration, the following exhibitors were nominated and winners selected:

“Best Demonstration”

Mike Valentine (winner)

Queen

Entotem

“Most Innovative”

Townshend Audio (winner)

Devialet

Kog Audio – Melco

“Best Presented Room”

Devlialet (winner)

Queen

Audio Emotion

“Best Stand in Open Areas”

Harmen Audio (winner)

High End Headphones

Snugs

“Overall Best of Show”

dCS (winner)

Hi-Fi Hangar

Queen

Devialet

The show organisers presented Henley Designs with an award for the “Best Pre Show Marketing” by an exhibitor.

Clarity was also responsible for the presentation of the very popular series of seminars that ran throughout the weekend. The presenters, Simon Dalton of Russ Andrews, Nick Allen from AudioQuest and David Shevyn of GIK Acoustics, spoke on topics as diverse as: “What Are You Listening For?”, “Computer Audio Demystified” and “The Importance of Acoustic Treatment for Listening Rooms”.

Members of Clarity also took advantage of the opportunity to display their latest products in the “Clarity Members’ Showcase”. Entotem, GIK Acoustics, Mitchell and Johnson, Fanthorpes, Cabasse, MBAco, Heed Audio, Kleio and Parasound all reported that a great reception was received for their displays from the show visitors – a clear demonstration of the worth of this tangible benefit of their Clarity membership.

Presenting the UK exclusive preview of “Queen: The Studio Collection” to the show goers brought a real sense of drama to the occasion and a whole new audience to the National Audio Show. Promoted to the audiophile audience that Universal Music wanted to reach for the launch of the 18 disc vinyl box set and via the Queen Fan Club, the original two performances quickly sold out and had to be boosted by the addition of two more equally popular sessions. Clarity manufacturer and distributor members supplied the playback equipment, including the colossal PMC MB2 XBD-A active monitors as used at Abbey Road Studios for the vinyl mastering process, which enabled the audience of around 400 people, over the course of the weekend, to hear every nuance and detail of the meticulously re-mastered 15 studio albums. Phil Hansen, Clarity marketing director, presented the sessions, with the invaluable assistance of Mike Bonnette from The Multi-Room Company, plus Ralph Ward and Kieran Pickaver from Henley Designs.

Laurence Armstrong, chairman of The Clarity Alliance, said, “We are very proud to have once again been able to recognise the hard work put in by the exhibitors through our ‘Best of Show’ awards. And, in a clear statement of Clarity’s independence and desire to be seen to be working for the good of the whole industry, it is great to see that each of the very worthy winners is in fact not a Clarity member, although we’d love them to join of course!” He continues, “Our relationship with the National Audio Show is going from strength to strength as we continue to help make the show into the must-attend event of the hi-fi calendar. This year we enhanced our offering by taking a much bigger room for the members’ showcase, staging three fantastic seminars each day, booking a really good band for the evening entertainment and putting on what is probably the single biggest attraction seen at any hi-fi show with the launch of Queen’s new box set.”