Fender Gets in the Portable Audio Game With Bluetooth Headphones and Speakers

By Jonathan Zavaleta

Jonathan Zavaleta

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Fender is getting in the consumer audio game with a line of Bluetooth headphones and speakers. Announced in January at CES, Fender Audio’s lineup is now available to buy from Fender Audio, Best Buy, and Amazon. The range includes two Bluetooth speakers, which feature an XLR input (so they can double as a portable speaker for a guitar) and a pair of modular wireless noise-canceling headphones. 

Key to the appeal of Fender Audio’s Mix headphones is their repairability; the various parts, including the headband, earcups, and even the battery, are user-replaceable. And because the components will be available in different colors, buyers will be able to mix and match the headphone parts for a more customized look. The replaceable components aren’t on sale yet, though a brand representative said they should arrive “very soon.” 

Fender Audio Mix Headphones

$299.00

The headphones are available from Amazon, Best Buy, and Fender Audio.

Even though the battery is replaceable, Fender Audio designed them to last for a long time — the headphones boast up to 100 hours of battery life with ANC off, or 52 hours with ANC on. Fender Audio claims they tested this with the headphones playing at 50% volume.

The headphones also include a USB-C transmitter, allowing for wireless, high-fidelity audio. One of the drawbacks of Bluetooth is that it relies on a confusing mix of codecs, with the transmitting and receiving device needing to support the same codec for high-resolution audio (Apple, for example, doesn’t support Sony’s LDAC or Qualcomm’s AptX codec). 

I briefly tested the headphones and was impressed with the comfort and tactile controls, including a handy multifunction knob. The sound quality was decent, although not showstopping, and I wish the headphones featured wear sensors for auto-play and pause.   

And while the Fender Audio line is not built in-house — it’s licensed from the Los Angeles-based guitar company — a pair of headphones with Fender’s classic logo has undoubted appeal. But the most impressive part of these headphones is not the name, but the versatility. The parts can be swapped, they come with a high-res USB-C transmitter, and they can be used with a passive wired connection. The speakers, meanwhile, feature a stylish look and solid sound — they can also be used as a stereo pair or a multiroom speaker, thanks to Auracast Bluetooth. In the very crowded headphone and speaker market, Fender Audio made a compelling debut.

Fender Elie 6 Bluetooth Speaker

$299.00

The speaker features an XLR input and can be used as a stereo or multiroom speaker.

Fender Elie 12 Bluetooth Speaker

$399.00

The larger speaker features two full-range drivers, two tweeters, and two woofers.