Music is everything to television personality and music journalist Allison Hagendorf, and it’s easy to see why. Hagendorf’s love of music and renowned ear for rock has led to a career of dream music industry jobs. From VJing on MTV to scouting talent for Sony and Columbia to acting as Spotify’s “Head of Rock,” Hagendorf knows great sound. When it came to needing her own audio system in her new Southern California home’s outdoor spaces, it was important she found speakers that would accurately represent her music. Allison’s husband Brian Jaffe, also in the industry as a music manager, has high expectations for music reproduction, as well. They turned to Leon Speakers for audio that would allow them to hear the music as close to the original recording as possible.
“YUNGBLUD came over to our house, excited to play his new music,” says Hagendorf. “At the time we had just moved into the house, and we were listening to his music on an unacceptable speaker … I was devastated while he was playing his music. He didn’t care, but to me, it was about the integrity of hearing the music as it should be heard and respecting the work he put into it.”
Hagendorf was looking to use the outdoor area not just as a relaxing oasis, but also as a place to host company and allow industry friends and coworkers to share their music in a way that would honor their talent. It was important for her that the high-end audio blend naturally with the surroundings and withstand environmental wear and tear. Leon’s Terra line of customizable and durable outdoor audio was the perfect match.
Working with Leon and local integrator Futronix AV, Hagendorf and Jaffe divided their backyard into four distinct zones of audio: the front patio, back patio, outdoor kitchen, and pool. Various models of Leon’s Terra speakers provided the ideal blend of high-fidelity sound, outdoor durability, and subtle, design-focused style throughout each area.
In the front patio, Terra Boundary speakers, finished in a bright white to match the furniture and surrounding structure, are tucked discreetly into the eaves of the patio roof to deliver an immersive audio experience. The speakers’ cast-frame AC Series woofers and inverted titanium dome fluid-cooled tweeter provides powerful bass and high, clear tones for anyone dining or enjoying the shade on a hot California day.
Recessed into the wall of the back patio is the “sonic centerpiece” of the backyard: a custom-designed Leon Horizon soundbar built with marine-grade outdoor drivers and dimensions matching Hagendorf’s 75-inch Samsung outdoor television. More Boundary speakers round out the system to create a next-level surround-sound environment.
For the softscape surrounding the pool and outdoor kitchen, Hagendorf chose Leon’s Terra LuminSound outdoor speakers for their combination of subtle, modern style and full-range acoustics. At night, the speakers’ 360° LED lighting also creates a diffused glow throughout the area. Installed alongside the LuminSounds, the Terra Outdoor Speaker and partially buried Terra Subwoofer create the perfect far-reaching, wide-range acoustic experience for the couple and their guests as they move about the area.
The entire Terra line is IP67-rated against water and dust, and features marine-grade drivers in precision-fit, waterproof cabinets, meaning Hagendorf’s sound system will be fully protected from the elements in even the harshest weather.
“Our experience with everyone [at Leon] was just so unique and so wonderful. These are real music people … we turned our backyard into the best listening experience possible,” adds Hagendorf.
