At CES, I checked out Fender’s handsome new line of portable speakers and Bluetooth headphones, which bring even more ways to rock out.
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 engineer. 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.
