by KMB Communications | Sep 22, 2022 | Leon Speakers, News
A new work by digital artist Chris Saunders will be on display at CEDIA Expo 2022 across three newly released vertical Ente SoundTiles
[Ann Arbor, MI] – In the three years since Leon Speakers first announced the Ente SoundTile for SONOS Amp at CEDIA Expo 2019, the Ente line has become renowned for bringing art and music together in one unique, user-friendly package. Now, Leon introduces a brand-new Artist Edition Ente featuring a lion mandala by digital artist Chris Saunders—in triptych form.
“The lion has long been emblematic of everything the Leon brand stands for,” says Leon Speakers founder and president Noah Kaplan of the mandala’s subject. “Strength, adaptability, pride and a fierce appetite to discover what’s next.”
Just like the original Ente, the new triptych delivers reference-grade plug-and-play audio across three of Leon’s newly announced 12” x 36” vertical Ente tiles. The new tiles, which are able to display a variety of artworks, can be oriented vertically or horizontally and can work together to create works like Saunders’ triptych or separately as a two-piece set or individual single channel.
Commissioned as part of Leon’s 25th Anniversary celebration, Saunders created the Lion in addition to a collection of four exclusive sound-inspired mandalas. These will also make an appearance at Leon’s CEDIA Expo 2022 booth. All pieces will be available as prints signed by Saunders on Leon’s website: leonspeakers.com
“I really wanted to create a series that was a visual expression of sound, shape and symmetry,” says Saunders of the new series. “I did a lot of research on sound mandalas and visual shapes that were created from the result of a certain frequency being played.”
The prints and entire Ente collection will be made available for direct purchase at Leon’s new online storefront.
Where to See Leon Speakers at CEDIA Expo 2022
CEDIA Expo 2022 attendees can see Leon Speakers’ Artist Edition Ente SoundTiles by digital artist Chris Saunders at Booth #18099. It joins Leon’s other design-forward technology concealment and customizable speaker solutions, TcBar soundbar cabinet and Terra LuminSound Bollard landscape speakers. Systems integrators and designers can learn more about Leon Speakers complete line of innovative residential and commercial solutions at www.leonspeakers.com
About Leon Speakers
Leon brings a creative approach to technology by designing and manufacturing customizable speakers and technology concealment solutions that enhance the sound and style of any space. For 25 years, the company has been a leader in the conversation about merging design with technology, creating innovative products that serve both the Residential and Commercial markets. Learn more by visiting www.leonspeakers.com and by following @leonspeakers on social media.
Media Contacts
Press Contact: Katye (McGregor) Bennett of KMB Communications, (425) 328-8640 or katye@kmbcomm.com
Company Contact: Carolyn Ceccoli, Sales & Marketing Director at Leon Speakers, (734) 926-4092 or cceccoli@leonspeakers.com
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by KMB Communications | Sep 21, 2022 | Leon Speakers, News
Kicking off its 25th year of Sound and Style, Leon Speakers debuts a new trim package, artist collaboration and more at CEDIA Expo 2022.
[Ann Arbor, MI] – Known for its innovative products and creative approach to the audiovisual industry, Leon Speakers celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. In recognition of this important milestone, Leon invites clients, customers and fans alike to join the celebration by unveiling an exclusive, limited edition trim package upgrade to its Ultima line of speakers, a new artist series of Ente SoundTiles and other design-forward technology concealment and customizable AV solutions at CEDIA Expo 2022.
CEDIA 2022 Booth
The unique design of Leon’s 2022 CEDIA Expo Booth #18099 is a testament to the company’s boundless creativity. The intentional juxtaposition between the exterior walls and interior space of the booth lends visual interest and demonstrates the versatility of Leon’s evolving line of products. The bold exterior walls showcase Leon’s exclusive Anniversary speaker collection, an all-new artist collaboration and its new Ente product, while the interior of the booth brings to life an inspirational high-design Leon Living Space theater that symbolizes the type of beautiful spaces in which dealers work.
Leon 25th Anniversary
Leon’s 25 Years of Sound + Style anniversary campaign draws inspiration from the concept of “Creativity Untamed”—a nod to Leon’s core values and to the lion imagery visible on a mural at Leon’s headquarters and in a brand new artistic collaboration with digital artist Chris Saunders. Saunders’ black-and-gold lion mandala is featured throughout Leon’s 25th Anniversary exclusives.
“Leon is so much more than just a speaker manufacturing company—it’s a way of thinking,” says Leon Speakers founder and president Noah Kaplan of the company’s 25-year commitment to creativity. “There’s always a way to be more creative, more imaginative, more artistic—to push the boundaries just a little bit further. And that’s not just part of our process, it’s what defines who we are.”
Anniversary Trim Package
Inspired by the colors and motifs of Saunders’ work, the Limited-edition Anniversary Trim Package includes a new luxe grille, premium cabinet finish, and trim customization upgrades across Leon’s Ultima speaker platform and Edge Media Frame. The grille, which Leon calls Check 1-2, is a dual-tone black woven fabric designed exclusively for Leon’s 25th Anniversary. It blends seamlessly with a one-of-a-kind charred shou sugi ban cabinet wood finish. Both are complemented by brass accent pieces that elevate select Leon speakers into one-of-a-kind statement pieces. The trim package will be available on the Ultima Series of Leon speakers including the Horizon, Profile, Detail, and Timbre, and also the A10 Subwoofer and Edge Media Frame products. CEDIA Expo attendees can see several of these solutions at the Leon booth.
Chris Saunders Artist Edition Ente SoundTile and Ente SoundTile Triptych
Saunders’ new soundwave-inspired Lion and mandala series artwork is on full display at the Leon booth as an Artist Edition Ente SoundTile in a new triptych format. This new Ente SoundTile series delivers reference-grade plug-and-play audio across three of Leon’s newly announced 12” x 36” vertical Ente tiles. Prints of Saunders’ collection will also be featured.
Leon Living Space Theater
Leon has collaborated with Calgary-based, FORT architecture to bring to life a design-forward, modern living space right on the CEDIA Expo show floor, blending a variety of textures and finishes that exemplify the customization capabilities of Leon. A highlight of the space is Leon’s latest collaborative effort, the LiquidView Window LV. Leon is working with LiquidView to bring to market a virtual window that provides homes and businesses stunning, 24-hour high-resolution views that synch to the location and time of day. Other featured products showcased in the Leon Living Space Theater include the Edge TV, Denza, and Timbre bookshelf speakers.
Just outside the Living Space Theater, Leon’s Terra outdoor collection is a must-see—featuring the brand new Terra LuminSound Bollard with 360° lighting and seven ultra-durable finish options to complement any outdoor environment.
Where to See Leon Speakers at CEDIA Expo 2022
CEDIA Expo 2022 attendees can see Leon Speakers’ extensive collection of design-forward technology concealment and customizable speaker solutions at Booth #18099. Systems integrators and designers can learn more about Leon Speakers’ complete line of innovative residential and commercial AV products at www.leonspeakers.com
About Leon Speakers
Leon brings a creative approach to the AV industry by designing and manufacturing customizable speakers and technology concealment solutions that enhance the sound and style of any space. For over 25 years, they have been a leader in the conversation on merging design with technology, creating innovative products that serve both the Residential and Commercial markets. Learn more on their website.
All products, product names, trademarks and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Media Contacts
Company Contact: Carolyn Ceccoli
Sales & Marketing Director at Leon Speakers
(734) 926-4092
cceccoli@leonspeakers.com
by Lisa Montgomery | Sep 14, 2022 | Apex Technologies, Blog, D-Tools, Leon Speakers, NuTech Group, Trade Show news
Self-care is more important than ever and tradeshows can be grueling. AV Yoga offers a group yoga practice Saturday, October 1, to help CEDIA Expo attendees network and de-stress.
DALLAS, TX (September 12, 2022) — AV Yoga—a group of AV industry peers and a community of yoga practitioners—is excited to announce the first-ever in-person AV Yoga @ CEDIA Expo, hosted by KMB Communications and sponsored by CEDIA, Leon Speakers, Apex Technologies US, D-Tools, Integration Controls, Kaleidescape, NuTech Group, and PureTech Alliance.
This fun, all-levels practice is designed to help CEDIA Expo attendees de-stress and connect with friends and peers. The session will kick off the last day of the show, October 1, 2022 in Ballroom C1 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Doors open at 7:00 am and the group practice will begin at 7:30, going for roughly an hour. From 8:30-9:00 attendees can wind down and network with others or go prep for the day ahead and be on the show floor when it opens. The cost for this session is $25 per person and the first 30 registrants will receive a free yoga mat with the AV Yoga @ CEDIA Expo logo. [Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/av-yoga-cedia-expo-tickets-395266351297]
“What started as a weekly Covid-era online gathering of AV industry peers from around the globe doing yoga together has grown into a tight-knit community that has connected in a way no one could ever have imagined. It’s a place where all are truly welcome, there is zero judgment, and everyone comes as they are. We have a ton of fun together,” says Katye McGregor Bennett, CEO of KMB Communications and AV Yoga founder.
AV Yoga is led by Maddie Ringer of Sunshine Yoga located in Red Lodge, Montana. A dynamic and interactive instructor, Maddie will include inspirational stories, mantras, and exercises that can be taken home and incorporated into your daily routine to reduce stress, increase flexibility, gain strength inside and out, and even get a better night’s sleep. AV Yoga @ CEDIA Expo will be uniquely designed to accommodate attendees of all abilities—no experience is needed.
“Maddie (Ringer) makes yoga easy to learn and fun. Her style of teaching is highly relatable and entertaining. You’ll walk away feeling revitalized, refreshed, reinspired, and ready to rock the last day of CEDIA Expo!” McGregor Bennett exclaims. “This is a great opportunity to meet new friends, see people in person, and learn some ways to relieve stress and tension. We’ll be done before the show opens so you can still get a full day in at CEDIA Expo. What better way to wrap up a tradeshow than that?”
Register for AV Yoga @ CEDIA Expo here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/av-yoga-cedia-expo-tickets-395266351297.
About Sunshine Yoga
Nurturing body, mind, and soul, Sunshine Yoga of Red Lodge, Montana, offers a variety of yoga classes such as Vinyasa Flow, Strengthening Yoga Flow, Restorative, Yin, and even Pints and Poses where they team up with Red Lodge Ales at Sam’s Tap Room to combine yoga practice and leisure in an environment friendly for all. Classes are intuitively designed to invoke a deeper sense of awareness and healing through learning pranayama (techniques to regulate the breath), Hatha asana (yoga postures for stretching and exercise), mantra (sound repetition to create intention and vibration for healing), mudra (hand gestures for channeling energy to certain areas), and guided meditation (reminding the body, mind, and soul to unwind). Classes and private sessions are available in-studio and online. Visit www.yoursunshineyoga.com to learn more.
Media Contact
Katye (McGregor) Bennett, KMB Communications, (425) 328-8640, katye@kmbcomm.com
All products, product names, trademarks, and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.
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A 25+ veteran of the residential tech & AV integration industries, Katye McGregor Bennett is the CEO of KMB Communications, a boutique communications firm that anchors the intersection of technology + design by connecting brands, buyers, and prospective audiences through creating compelling content and conversation that elevates and amplifies. In addition to co-hosting Design Uncut with Veronika Miller, Katye hosts two popular podcasts, Connecting Tech+ Design and AV Trade Talk. She is part of the DesignHounds influencer group and also serves on the NAHB Custom Technology Work Group, is a strategic advisor in the CEDIA, HTA, and AVIXA communities, a frequent contributor to Residential Systems, Connected Design and founder of the AV Yoga group.
by KMB Communications | Jun 20, 2022 | Leon Speakers, News
Music industry TV personality Allison Hagendorf knows great sound when she hears it, choosing Leon’s Terra line of outdoor speakers for her and husband Brian Jaffe’s new SoCal abode’s outdoor spaces.
[Ann Arbor, MI] – June 20, 2022 – 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 provide 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.
About Leon Speakers
Leon brings a creative approach to the AV industry by designing and manufacturing customizable speakers and technology concealment solutions that enhance the sound and style of any space. For 25 years, they have been a leader in the conversation on merging design with technology, creating innovative products that serve both the Residential and Commercial markets. Learn more on their website.
All products, product names, trademarks and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.
Media Contacts
Press Contact:
Katye (McGregor) Bennett
KMB Communications
(425) 328-8640
katye@kmbcomm.com
Company Contact:
Carolyn Ceccoli
Sales & Marketing Director at Leon Speakers
(734) 926-4092
cceccoli@leonspeakers.com
by KMB Communications | Jun 7, 2022 | Leon Speakers
Designed to meet the demands of the modern worker, Cove by Leon helps you look, sound and feel your best at work, home or anywhere in between. With its dimmable lighting, sound-dampening technology and sleek design, Cove represents a new way to work in 2022.
[Ann Arbor, MI] – May 26, 2022 – Leon Speakers announced today the launch of Cove, a revolutionary new desktop accessory that enhances the overall work experience.
For 25 years, Leon has built a reputation for developing elegant and innovative ways of integrating audio and technology through attentive design—attracting renowned clients from the iconic Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, to global Fortune 500 companies like Slack Technologies, to design-conscious clients like actor Adrian Grenier and rock enthusiast Allison Hagendorf.
“Blending design with technology is what we do here at Leon,” said Leon founder and president Noah Kaplan. “So when we started seeing post-pandemic work environment changes, we felt like we could use our industry expertise and experiences as creators ourselves to take a new approach to the term ‘audiovisual.’ Cove’s design makes marked improvements in our daily workflow, communication and the way we feel on-screen and at the end of the workday.”
Experts estimate that by the end of 2022, 25% of all North American professional jobs will be remote—with that number continuing to increase into 2023. Though the work landscape is changing rapidly, current workplace technology desktop design has yet to catch up to many of the new demands associated with remote, hybrid and even on-site work. Cove represents a brand new solution to today’s increased conferencing and screen time demands.
Cove’s adjustable diffused lighting, sound-dampening felt interior and personalizable magnetic surface are meticulously designed to improve focus and privacy while reducing ambient noise and eye strain—all under the ultra-flattering glow of webcam-friendly lighting. It is built to house any tablet, laptop, or monitor up to 27 inches, including the new Apple Studio Display.
Natural LED bias backlighting by American Lighting comes with remote-adjustable color temperature and brightness, while Cove’s antimicrobial recycled TURF felt interior reduces ambient noise and elevates privacy, even in a crowded room. Cove’s precision-engineered steel is manufactured in the USA, and its sustainably sourced engineered Baltic Birch shelf is finished in Leon’s own workshop.
Leon is partnering with longtime industry collaborators Logitech and Shure to launch Cove on the crowdfunding site, Indiegogo—offering a variety of professional conference-ready bundles, at a great value to early backers.
The Indiegogo campaign is also Leon’s first foray into crowdfunding as a way to expand outside the audiovisual industry and build organic widespread interest. The Cove pre-launch campaign is expected to debut on June 6, with live ordering opening up on June 30.
Leon is guaranteeing fulfillment of all campaign packages, including a variety of steeply discounted bundles:
- Content Creator Package – $695. Includes: custom-color Cove, Logitech Streamcam and Shure MV7 microphone with tripod. (Valued at $1,150)
- Home Base Package – $495. Includes custom-color Cove and Logitech Brio. (Valued at $895)
- Workspace Studio Package – limited early access discount of $395. Includes custom-color Cove. (Valued at $695)
Each package comes with an added bonus: a branded Leon notebook and t-shirt, valued at $45. Backers can choose their Cove’s finish from one of three elegant colors: Almond, Black or Slate Gray.
For more information and to sign up for Cove updates, visit the Cove Indiegogo campaign site, titled Cove by Leon, beginning June 6.
About Leon Speakers
Leon brings a creative approach to the AV industry by designing and manufacturing customizable speakers and technology concealment solutions that enhance the sound and style of any space. For over 25 years, they have been a leader in the conversation on merging design with technology, creating innovative products that serve both the Residential and Commercial markets. Learn more on their website.
Media Contacts
Press Contact: Katye (McGregor) Bennett of KMB Communications, (425) 328-8640 or katye@kmbcomm.com
Company Contact: Carolyn Ceccoli, Sales & Marketing Director at Leon Speakers, (734) 926-4092 or cceccoli@leonspeakers.com
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