While the current headphone and speaker market is somewhat saturated, a huge household name like Fender will always have a place, and with their new lossless headphones, they’ve quickly proven why.
Worldwide company Fender are bringing a new pair of Bluetooth headphones to the market. While this might seem a little pointless in a market that is already heavily saturated, they do have the upper hand of being a respected brand.
Not only that, but their headphones have huge buyer appeal. They are modular lossless headphones, which, for those who don’t know, essentially means they offer a system inbuilt which compresses audio without losing any quality or original information.
They’re also bringing portable Bluetooth speakers to the market, which can also be used as XLR amps. Despite Fender being a retro name, going back to 1946, their quality is as modern as it comes, so are their designs.
Both the band and earcups detach. The band is connected to the drivers by USB-C plugs, which makes attaching and detaching easy. Fender included a small USB-C dongle to improve audio quality and reduce delay.
While the headphones normally connect using Bluetooth, the dongle lets them use special high-quality, low-latency connections. This means clearer sound, less lag for gaming, and support for Auracast features.
Under one earcup sits a removable battery, once the magnetic cup is pulled away, the inside divider can be slid from the battery and then replaced quickly. Of course, a good pair of headphones aren’t complete without noise cancellation.
This pair in particular allow up to 100 hours of playback if the ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) is turned off, but with it on, they still allow up to 52 hours. It looks like Fender aren’t just relying on their name for this.
They do cost $299 but to have this level of technology, and attention to detail, is probably worth it. When it comes to Fender’s new speakers, the Elie 06 and the Elie 12, they both offer the same level of sound in a portable product.
The Elie 06 is smaller. It’s a tall speaker but doesn’t take up much space, however, it can last up to 18 hours from full charge. The larger version, can only last up to 15 hours. So, while you’re saving space, you’re also adding on play time.
Both have a retro but sleek design. They both feature wooden accents around the top of the speaker, which fits in with Fender’s original design. They’re really nice to look at, unlike some speakers, we’re sorry to say. This would be a great addition to any home.
The coolest feature in our opinion? The fact the back of the speakers have an XLR input for a guitar or microphone to be plugged in. This isn’t something you’d see on standard speakers. It almost acts as an amp, with a button for 48V phantom power.
The Elie 06 will cost $299 while the Elie 12 will cost $399. Both quite fair price points. While this tech seems a little costly, with a brand like Fender, you know it’s built to last. You won’t be looking at a new speaker this time next year.
