Music is everything for television personality and music journalist Allison Hagendorf, and it’s easy to see why. Hagendorf’s love of music and renowned ear for rock and alternative 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,” she’s done it all. Along the way, she’s formed many close friendships with famous musicians and music industry personalities.
When she isn’t hosting the official Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration or announcing the MTV VMA’s, Hagendorf likes to host company with her husband—musician manager Brian Jaffe—in the backyard of their new Southern California home. The couple’s outdoor space has a pool, an outdoor kitchen, and even a firepit, but shortly after moving in, they discovered it was still missing something: the right sound system.
“YUNGBLUD came over to our house, excited to play his new music; I was the first person who was going to hear it,” Hagendorf told Residential Tech Today. “And 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 space not just as a relaxing oasis, but also as a place to host company and allow friends and coworkers in the industry to share their music in a way that would honor their work. It was important for her to have high-end audio that would blend naturally with the surroundings while still withstanding environmental wear and tear. Leon’s durable selection of customizable outdoor audio was the perfect match.
Working with Leon and local integrator Futronix AV, Hagendorf and Jaffe decided to divide their backyard into four distinct zones of audio: the front patio, back patio, outdoor kitchen, and pool. Leon’s line of Terra outdoor speakers provided the ideal blend of high-fidelity sound, outdoor durability, and subtle, design-focused style throughout the entire 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 provide an immersive audio environment. 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 Horizon soundbar built with marine-grade outdoor drivers and dimensions matching Hagendorf’s 75” Samsung Outdoor television. More boundary speakers round out the system to create a next-level surround sound entertainment experience.
Around 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 entire 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.
The end result is a durable outdoor audio environment that looks and sounds stylishly inviting—ideal for a professional event, casual entertainment, or the ultimate family staycation.
“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.”
— Allison Hagendorf via Residential Tech Today.
Original article on leonspeakers.com