(Credit: Eric Zeman)
LAS VEGAS—Fender is a storied company in the world of music thanks to its guitars, amplifiers, and other instruments. Fender Audio, a licensee of the brand, aims to make a similar impact with music lovers worldwide through two Bluetooth speakers and a pair of Bluetooth headphones that it revealed at CES.
The Elie 06 is a sizable, yet portable, speaker; the Elie 12 doubles the drivers and size for a more impactful sound, and the Mix headphones are modular and adjustable in ways that few headphones are.
Unlike the speakers and headphones from Marshall, you won't find Fender's signature design or trade dress here. These products stand apart, despite being designed by a former Fender employee. The Elie 6 has one main driver, a tweeter, and a passive bass radiator that fires downward. It delivers 60W and lasts for 18 hours per charge.
What's unique about it is the inputs more than the outputs. It features a combined XLR and quarter-inch jack on the rear, allowing you to plug in a mix, guitar, or keyboard. It even supports phantom power for microphones and supports two wireless microphones. These allow it to act as a small PA system. It has thoughtful design touches, such as a folding handle, a maple cap, and high-quality knobs and buttons.
The Elie 12 is basically the Elie 6 times two. It features two main drivers, two tweeters, and two passive radiators that deliver 120W of sound output. It has the same set of controls, but Fender moved them around to make some of them more accessible. I like that it has dedicated knobs for adjusting the bass and treble. It lasts for up to 20 hours per charge. It's much heavier, of course, as well as more expensive.
The specs are quite impressive. You've got the AAC, SBC, LHDC, and LC3 codecs for high-quality playback, instant stereo pairing, lithium-ion polymer batteries, and impressive 96dB and 101dB, respectively, for the Elie 6 and Elie 12.
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Of course, we took a listen. Both speakers share a similar sound profile, which Fender says is intentionally neutral. It's not a flat EQ, but the sound doesn't overemphasize the bass or the treble. They deliver room-filling sound with ease, and the Elie 12 certainly has the power to fill a backyard party with music.
The Mix headphones are a curiosity for sure. They look like most over-ear headphones but have swappable ear cushions that allow you to mix and match the color scheme if you wish. Hidden under the earcups, you'll find a USB-C transmitter that can push lossless audio to up to two devices, as well as a removable and replaceable battery.
Features of the Mix include active noise cancellation (ANC), with 52 hours of battery life with the ANC on. You have both a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB-C port that handles charging and lossless playback via wire. I really like the physical joystick position on the rear of the right cup. This control is fantastic for easily managing playback and volume.
I found the headphones comfortable to wear, with plush padding and materials. The sound is similar to that of the speakers in that they deliver a more neutral sound, rather than one that's bombastic and highly tuned.
The Fender Audio Elie 6 ($299), Elie 12 ($399), and Mix ($299) will be available for sale online in the weeks ahead.