The PLASA Awards for Innovation were granted to just eight new products, from a total 66 entries, with the Turbosound Aspect system gaining an award for the genuinely original nature of the overall design concept, and in particular for the product's patented Polyhorn' technology, as well as the enclosure's advanced handling and integral rigging solutions. The awards were presented at a champagne reception on Monday, 13th September, by PLASA Chairman Diane Grant and Professor James Woodhouse, having been judged by a panel of eight industry specialists. Turbosound's PLASA Award for Innovation was accepted on behalf of the company by Marketing Director Martin Reid, together with Turbosound Development Engineers Laurence Dickie and Jon Crawley, who both worked on the Aspect series development programme along with Danny Cooklin. Turbosound's innovative Aspect sound reinforcement system incorporates patented Polyhorn designs which result in state of the art audio performance from highly efficient and very compact loudspeaker modules. Designed for large scale concert touring, festivals and corporate events, the Aspect system is nonetheless effectively scaleable down to small clubs and venues for around 200 people, and consists of both touring boxes - equipped with integral horizontal and vertical rigging systems - and install products. The Polyhorn devices produce phase-coherent wavefronts which are arranged to coincide with the array curvature and minimise comb filtering effects between adjacent enclosures. PLASA Awards for Innovation The PLASA Awards for Innovation replace the previous format of the Product Excellence Awards, a popular feature of the show for many years. Highlighting the significance of the PLASA show as a focus for new developments for the industry, the awards have undergone an important change for 2004, with the focus being much more on genuine innovation. The previous assessment criteria, which segmented the nominations into sectors, have been removed, so that products are judged purely on the grounds of their innovation. The judges looked for products which advance the industry, demonstrate a new style of thinking, represent a key step forward in terms of safety or improved technical practices. Despite this year's tighter judging criteria, 66 products were entered, raising over £10,000 for charity and bringing the total amount of monies donated to good causes over the past seven years to £55,000. Photo caption Picture shows (L to R): PLASA Chairman Diane Grant, Turbosound's Laurence Dickie, Jon Crawley and Martin Reid, and Professor James Woodhouse.