During the Sound & Vision Show held in Bristol on 20-22 February, The Clarity Alliance presented the third annual “Best of Show†awar...
During the Sound & Vision Show held in Bristol on 20-22 February, The Clarity Alliance presented the third annual “Best of Show†awards, at which it announced the second recipient of its Honorary Fellowship award.
As one of its founding objectives, The Clarity Alliance pledged to recognise those individuals who have made a significant contribution to the UK hi-fi industry. The second such award, following the Hon. Fellowship of John Dawson in 2014, was awarded to the well-respected journalist, editor and all round good guy, Paul Messenger.
[caption id="attachment_8388" align="alignleft" width="276"]
Paul Messenger[/caption]
Presenting the award, Clarity’s chairman, Laurence Armstrong, said, “We have all known Paul for many years and his smiling face and permanently happy demeanour are as much part of the UK hi-fi industry as any manufacturer or product. The board of directors of Clarity felt that in choosing Paul to be the recipient of this year’s Honorary Fellowship, they were recognising, on behalf of the whole industry, the tremendous contribution Paul has made to the promotion of UK hi-fi at home and across the world. His untiring efforts to promote better standards of journalism and impartiality in the UK media make this award very much deserved.â€
Paul Messenger began his career in hi-fi after graduating in English from Sussex University. His early interest in hi-fi soon saw him working for Spencer Hughes at Spendor on the production line of the original BC1 loudspeakers. He quickly showed an aptitude for writing and became a junior editor on Hi-Fi News magazine in the mid 1970s.
After a short period as publisher of the magazine he moved to Hi-Fi Choice and worked for Felix Dennis as the editor, also writing some whole issues of the popular A5 size Hi-Fi Choice magazines. His move to the position of editor of Hi-Fi Critic magazine eight years ago was driven by a belief in the importance of an independent editorial stance.
Clarity also awarded prizes in the “Best of Show†awards to five companies whose efforts in putting on the best displays and demonstrations were considered to be exceptional by the panel of judges that visited every room at the show. Awards went to:
"Best Sounding Hi-Fi Room'Â Â Â Â Â - Henley Designs
"Best Home Cinema Room"Â Â Â Â Â - Yamaha
"Best Presented Room"Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â - Dynaudio
"Most Innovative Room"Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â - Entotem
"Best Stand in Open Areas"Â Â Â Â - Hi-Fi Racks
Clarity would also like to thank Rob Follis and the show organisers for supporting the idea of a “Best of Show†awards, Naim Audio for the use of its room for the presentations and Henley Designs for sponsoring the bar at the awards ceremony.
www.clarityalliance.co.uk