The Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2 ($129.99) is the smallest and most portable Bluetooth speaker from the two companies, combining Fender design with Teufel engineering. We like its cool design, large battery, and waterproof build. It's meant to accompany you anywhere, thanks to a tight elastic carrying strap that securely attaches it to a variety of objects. However, it produces underwhelming audio, lacks an adjustable EQ, and supports only the AAC codec. For $79, the Anker Soundcore Motion 300 not only costs less, it offers more features and sounds better, so it remains our Editors' Choice winner in this price range.

Design: Small, Stylish, and Ready to Go

The Rockster is part of a lineup of Fender x Teufel speakers, all of which feature a similar geometric design. It positions a pair of small 1.97-inch speakers on either side of a larger 2.56-inch passive radiator that together produce a frequency response range of 60Hz to 20,000Hz. This is a small speaker, measuring just 4.3 by 8.3 by 2.4 inches (HWD) and weighing 1.7 pounds. By comparison, the Anker Soundcore Motion 300 measures approximately 2.2 by 7.9 by 3.9 inches and weighs 1.7 pounds.

(Credit: Mark Knapp)

Fabric mesh reminiscent of Fender’s guitar amplifiers wraps around most of the speaker. The back features a detachable elastic strap that lets the Rockster Go 2 conveniently attach to some objects. I found it wrapped well around my bicycle handlebars. Though it’s stretchy, there’s not a lot of space behind it, so it won’t reach around large objects, like thick tree branches or lampposts. When not in use, the strap stays flush against the back of the speaker. The Motion 300 has a lanyard loop for hanging.

(Credit: Mark Knapp)

Four little rubber feet keep the Rockster Go 2 standing upright, and there’s also a quarter-inch threaded hole for mounting the speaker on a tripod or other stand. The rest of the package is not so impressive. The speaker is rather flat, and its top buttons are labeled segments along a rubberized strip that crosses the top. The large size and basic rubber of the buttons give them a somewhat cheap appearance.

(Credit: Mark Knapp)

The controls are limited. You get volume, play/pause, and a special Dynamore mode button. The power and pairing buttons are located on the back of the speaker, along with four LED indicator lights that show the approximate remaining battery level. Button combos are required for more complex interactions, like pressing play and volume up to skip to the next song. Dynamore mode is a special stereo simulator that aims to widen the soundstage, and it actually does a decent job (more on this later). Holding the Dynamore button and volume down for 1.5 seconds activates a battery-saving Eco Mode, resulting in a predictable reduction in maximum volume.

On one side of the speaker, almost hidden, there’s a USB-C charging port. Surprisingly, the port isn’t covered in any way, yet the speaker has an IP67 rating against dust and water ingress. That’s pretty thorough protection, and it’s pleasing to see that the speaker doesn't require extra care on the user's part to keep the rubber gasket plugged in properly.

(Credit: Mark Knapp)

The speaker supports only the AAC codec, but handles multiple Bluetooth connections simultaneously and supports Google Fast Pair. You can pair multiple speakers in stereo mode, but it’s not a one-button setup like some speakers. You won’t find more advanced codecs, a 3.5mm audio jack for analog input, a microphone for speakerphone functionality, or an app for more advanced controls, such as an EQ.

Battery: Lasts All Day (and Then Some)

Though the speaker has an Eco Mode, it doesn’t use it by default. In its normal mode, the Rockster Go 2 offers up to 15 hours of playback at medium volume. Eco Mode boosts that to 28 hours. Anker, meanwhile, estimates that the Soundcore Motion 300 will last roughly 13 hours per charge. The Rockster takes roughly 5 hours to fully recharge.

Sound: Lively, But Lacking Detail

The Rockster Go 2 infuses the bass with plenty of energy and delivers clear mids. During The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the speaker pounds out the bass triplets and sub-bass quarter notes, giving the song its underlying structure. It also keeps the bass tight and avoids overemphasis. The mids are clear in the mix, giving the synth melody the bite it needs. But there’s a lack of brilliance that takes some of the life out of the upper vocal harmony and makes the light drum hits sound flat.

At around 60% volume, the speaker is plenty loud and more than sufficient to fill a space of approximately 100 to 150 square feet. If you push the volume any higher, the speaker begins to distort the lower frequencies, with every bass triplet in “Silent Shout” crackling. This tune is especially demanding in that frequency range, so it’s possible to push higher volumes on other tracks without the same distortion.

(Credit: Mark Knapp)

Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty” shows the Rockster Go 2's shortcomings a little more plainly. This song relies on deeper sub-bass notes than “Silent Shout,” and the speaker isn’t up to the task of playing most of them. It hits the kick drum well, but only one or two of the sub-bass notes in the song come through clearly. Meanwhile, the vocals are loud and clear but harsh due to excessive emphasis on the upper mids.

That overemphasis in the upper-mids hits Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” as well. Callahan’s baritone vocals are full and weighty, but there’s more rasp to his voice than there should be, and some of the background static of the room noise is too present. While this lets the guitars and fiddle stand out in the mix, they still lack the brilliance that would bring them to life. The cymbals suffer the same issue. On the flip side, the kick drum that patters eighth notes through much of the song sits at just the right level in the mix.

This frequency response isn't ideal for orchestral music, but it sometimes hides its shortcomings surprisingly well. In the opening to John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, the strong midrange helps the lead vocalist stand out and gives the horns some refreshing bite, making the track sound more dynamic. However, the deeper bass instruments are missing, and the choir still sounds a little hollow due to the weak high end.

Despite its shortcomings, the speaker’s weighty bass and mids can make for fun listening on the go. The Dynamore mode isn't the most neutral listening experience; it effectively simulates wider stereo separation, with panned instruments easily highlighting the broadened effect. With the widened soundstage, it’s easier to tune into and enjoy different instruments on tracks—something that’s usually difficult on compact Bluetooth speakers like this.