The Clarity Alliance presented the fifth annual “Best of Show” awards at Sound & Vision, The Bristol Show, on 24 February and announced the fourth recipient of its Honorary Fellowship award.

As part of its constitution, Clarity, the UK hi-fi trade association, undertakes to recognise individuals who have made a significant contribution to the industry. The fourth annual Honorary Fellowship was awarded to one of the most respected members of the UK hi-fi industry, Naim Audio’s former chairman and managing director, Paul Stephenson.

Presenting the award, Clarity’s chairman, Tom Barron (below), said, “Paul has been part of the Naim Audio family since 1981 when he joined as sales director. His illustrious career saw him rise through the ranks to become managing director in 1999 and, following the merger with Focal, chairman in July 2015, a position he held until his retirement in December last year.

“The board of directors of Clarity felt he was the obvious choice to be the recipient of this year’s Honorary Fellowship, presented in recognition, on behalf of the whole industry, of the tremendous contribution he has made to the promotion of hi-fi at home and across the world. We offer our congratulations to Paul on his hugely successful career, which has seen Naim become the force it is today and for his well-deserved retirement.”

Clarity’s team of anonymous judges, who visited every room at the show, also awarded prizes in the “Best of Show” awards to five companies whose efforts in putting on the best displays and demonstrations were considered exceptional.

The awards were presented to:

“Best Sounding Hi-Fi Room” – KEF

“Best Home Cinema Room”  – Arcam

“Best Presented Room”  – Dynaudio

“Best Innovation” – Devialet

“Best of Show”  – Naim Audio

Clarity would like to thank the show organisers for supporting the idea of a “Best of Show” awards, Naim Audio for the use of its room for the presentations, PMC for sponsoring the bar and the UK hi-fi industry for making the effort to present hi-fi to consumers with such enthusiasm.