Leon Speakers has never really blended in with the other audio manufacturers at trade shows. There may be a sliver of irony in the reason for that – it’s overwhelmingly focused on delivering audio solutions that address not just the needs of technical folks but also the architects and end users that want technology to integrate in an aesthetically pleasing way. In other words, blending in was a big priority for Leon Speakers at InfoComm 2019.
Just prior to InfoComm 2019, Leon announced its Ente Series, developed in collaboration with Sonos including Ente Sound Sculpture (a wall-hanging sculptural piece that incorporates sound and lighting), Ente SoundTile (which conceals speakers and amplifier behind a screen-printed artwork grill) and Ente Soundbar all featuring power by the SONOS AMP and audio by Leon.
The company sees the Ente Series as plug-and-play ways for integrators to add creative audio zones to lobbies, reception areas and more.
Watch this Architect Explain Why He Doesn’t Bring in Integrators Sooner
The Axis Pro Design Series, meanwhile, are commercial-grade, in-ceiling speakers with Décor Grills that can be custom-painted to match any color, or custom-printed with patterns, textures, or even company logos and graphics.
There’s also the Leon DAIS sleek metal media frame with integrated side-mount speakers designed to pair with digital streaming art services like Blackdove. Horizon Denza is a stylized soundbar and floating shelf in one with internal cabinet space to store small-format AV components.
Leon Speakers Ente-Sound Sculpture
Leon Speakers: New Perspective on AV
Leon Speakers isn’t just talking about creating products that end users will want to blend into their office environments and that architects will feel comfortable incorporating into their designs. By hiring a director of strategy that has been a part of that tech decision-making ecosystem, it’s taking that commitment a few steps further.
Melissa Price, director of strategy, Leon Speakers
Melissa Price, a former facilities director for Quicken Loans and CEO for a commercial interior design studio, says she has been responsible for commercial integration and designing spaces and that she understands the challenges of both customers and architects when it comes to blending in much-needed technology.
In joining Leon Speakers, “I was really excited to figure out how I can bring value to our integrators and our consultants and end users to ultimately help them early in the design process, so our work doesn’t have to be Photoshopped out.”
She’s not joking. “Too often, especially in the commercial interior design world, [AV products] can run that risk of being Photoshopped out if it’s not well thought out or if it doesn’t match the design intent.”
Price says Leon Speakers is focused on helping integration firms and consultants change that narrative by bringing more visual- and design-sense to quality commercial audio products. “We’re trying especially on the end user side to get further up in the process instead of being considered really a transactional installation because of the shorter lead times that are typical in our industry – and to really make sure that we’re being thoughtful about how these rooms are being activated and what solutions we’re bringing to them.”
More on Leon Speakers Ente Series (via press release):
Working in collaboration with Sonos to develop a line of lifestyle products focused around their Amp, Leon Speakers has launched a new series of products that bring the sound and style that they are known for to the Sonos platform. The Ente Series is comprised of three products: the Ente Sound Sculpture, the Ente SoundTile, and the Ente Soundbar—all featuring power by the SONOS AMP and audio by Leon.
“Our Tonecase line has been hugely popular with our dealers and the Ente Series is the next evolution of our solutions for Sonos,” said Noah Kaplan, Leon’s Founder and President. “Ente makes technology concealment easy for integrators, providing a design-friendly, plug-and-play solution that easily integrates into any Sonos system.”
Ente Sound Sculpture
The Ente Sound Sculpture is a wall-hanging sculptural piece that brings sound, light, and form together to create a dynamic entertainment experience. Wave-like, black and white Baltic Birch panels are interspersed between audio channels, creating a one-of-a-kind statement piece that adds both performance and style to the Sonos home or office.
Ente SoundTile
Art and audio in one, Leon’s Ente SoundTile may look like a piece of art, but behind the grill is two channels of reference-grade audio and a SONOS AMP. Chosen artwork is screen-printed onto a perforated metal grill, completely concealing the technology behind it. The Ente SoundTile can be customized to suit any décor and is a great piece for the home or in commercial spaces like lobbies and reception areas.
Ente Soundbar
While it’s often the goal for speakers to blend in, products like the Ente Soundbar are designed to keep the audio on display. Perfect for mounting below a TV, this Sonos-powered soundbar has a unique aesthetic that features a handcrafted Baltic Birch cabinet with exposed, raw edges and a stylized center grill.
The Ente Series is now available to order for Leon’s network of dealers worldwide. Learn more about the Ente Series on Leon’s website.
More on Leon Speakers at InfoComm 2019 (via press release):
Continuing to invest in their vision of bringing a design-focus to the professional audiovisual industry, Leon Speakers will be introducing new products and an expanded sales team at InfoComm 2019 (booth #4153). Headed up by newly appointed Director of Strategy, Melissa Price, former CEO of Detroit-based, commercial interior design firm dPOP, the new team is committed to growing the company’s presence in commercial spaces with design-driven AV solutions that deliver sound and style.
“We’re excited to introduce Melissa to the industry at InfoComm this year and we know that her extensive experience in both the interior design and technology worlds will be a huge asset to Leon and to our integrators,” said Noah Kaplan, Leon’s Founder and President. “We’ve always been committed to design and the products and people that we’ll have in the booth with us this year will prove that more than ever.”
This year’s booth features products that bring a thoughtful approach to integrating design with technology. Leon will be debuting their new Ente Series that was designed in partnership with Sonos® as a line of lifestyle products that incorporates their new Amp. On display will be the Ente Sound Sculpture, a wall-hanging sculptural piece that incorporates sound and lighting, and the Ente SoundTile that conceals the speakers and amplifier behind a screen-printed artwork grill. These plug-and-play solutions provide integrators with simple and creative ways to add zones of audio to spaces like lobbies, reception areas, and more.
Bringing customization to architectural speakers like never before, Leon will also be showcasing their Axis Pro Design Series of commercial-grade, in-ceiling speakers, highlighting their Décor Grills that can be custom-painted to match any color, or custom-printed with patterns, textures, or even company logos and graphics.
Other new and notable products from Leon are DAIS, a sleek metal media frame with integrated sidemount speakers designed to pair with digital streaming art services like Blackdove, and the Horizon Denza, a stylized soundbar and floating shelf in one with internal cabinet space to store small-format AV components.
Continuing to elevate the videoconferencing experience, Leon will also have a selection of new technology concealment solutions designed to pair with products from manufacturers like Cisco® and Crestron® on display, as well as their entire Terra Series of outdoor audio products.
