Fender Audio's Foray into Portable Audio: A Promising Start, But Room for Improvement
The recent launch of Fender Audio's new headphones and speakers at CES 2026 marked an exciting moment in the brand's history. After a while of focusing solely on guitar equipment, Fender has decided to venture into the world of portable audio with its latest lineup. The Mix headphones and Ellie speakers offer innovative features that set them apart from their competitors.
One of the standout aspects of the Mix headphones is their modular design, which allows users to easily replace or upgrade individual components. This modularity can be a major selling point for consumers who want to customize their audio experience without having to purchase an entirely new device. The Mix headphones also boast impressive battery life, with up to 52 hours of playback time when ANC is enabled.
The Ellie speakers are another highlight of Fender's CES lineup, offering a range of features that cater to both individuals and party-goers. The speakers can be paired individually or in stereo, making them perfect for small gatherings or larger events. Additionally, the company has implemented a unique multi-mode connectivity option, allowing users to connect up to 100 speakers at once.
While Fender Audio's audio output is certainly impressive, there are areas where they fall short. In a brief demo session, I noted that the mid-range frequencies could have been more defined, although this may be a matter of personal preference rather than a significant design flaw.
Pricing for both the Mix headphones and Ellie speakers is relatively competitive, with the $299 price tag for the former and the $399 sticker for the latter. Overall, Fender Audio's entry into the portable audio market shows promise, but it remains to be seen whether they can deliver on their promises in terms of sound quality.
As CES 2026 comes to a close, it's clear that Fender Audio is making waves in the industry with its innovative approach to portable audio. While there may be room for improvement, the brand has undoubtedly taken an exciting step towards expanding its product range and establishing itself as a major player in the market.
The recent launch of Fender Audio's new headphones and speakers at CES 2026 marked an exciting moment in the brand's history. After a while of focusing solely on guitar equipment, Fender has decided to venture into the world of portable audio with its latest lineup. The Mix headphones and Ellie speakers offer innovative features that set them apart from their competitors.
One of the standout aspects of the Mix headphones is their modular design, which allows users to easily replace or upgrade individual components. This modularity can be a major selling point for consumers who want to customize their audio experience without having to purchase an entirely new device. The Mix headphones also boast impressive battery life, with up to 52 hours of playback time when ANC is enabled.
The Ellie speakers are another highlight of Fender's CES lineup, offering a range of features that cater to both individuals and party-goers. The speakers can be paired individually or in stereo, making them perfect for small gatherings or larger events. Additionally, the company has implemented a unique multi-mode connectivity option, allowing users to connect up to 100 speakers at once.
While Fender Audio's audio output is certainly impressive, there are areas where they fall short. In a brief demo session, I noted that the mid-range frequencies could have been more defined, although this may be a matter of personal preference rather than a significant design flaw.
Pricing for both the Mix headphones and Ellie speakers is relatively competitive, with the $299 price tag for the former and the $399 sticker for the latter. Overall, Fender Audio's entry into the portable audio market shows promise, but it remains to be seen whether they can deliver on their promises in terms of sound quality.
As CES 2026 comes to a close, it's clear that Fender Audio is making waves in the industry with its innovative approach to portable audio. While there may be room for improvement, the brand has undoubtedly taken an exciting step towards expanding its product range and establishing itself as a major player in the market.
Fender's entry into portable audio is a big deal! I mean, who wouldn't want to upgrade their music game with some iconic vibes? 
The modular design of the Mix headphones is genius - it's like they're saying "Hey, we know you like your gear customized just so!" 
And those battery life hours? 
52?! That's some serious juice. But for me, the mid-range frequencies could be a bit more... defined 
(don't @ me, I'm biased). The Ellie speakers sound pretty cool too - I'd love to throw a party with those bad boys blasting! 
Their modular design is genius! Who wouldn't want to customize their audio experience without having to buy a whole new device? 
And the Ellie speakers sound so cool too! 
Can't wait to try them out myself and see how they sound in real life 
. but, idk about the mid-range frequencies... maybe it just needs some time to grow on me 
. anyhoo, $299 for the mix headphones is def worth checking out 
. what do u guys think about fender's new audio lineup?
And 52 hours of battery life is insane! The Ellie speakers sound like they're gonna be a party favorite for sure. 
Still, $299 and $399 ain't too shabby prices considering the tech involved. Can't wait to see what else Fender's got cooking! 
. The modular design on their Mix headphones is a genius touch, and the impressive battery life is a major selling point for anyone who wants to rock out on-the-go 
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. The Ellie speakers seem like a great starting point for parties and gatherings, but I'd love to see some more advanced features down the line 
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. Bring it on!
You can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one. Fender Audio is definitely taking that leap into the portable audio world, but for it to be a success, they'll need to iron out those kinks and make sure their products live up to the promise 
. but for me, the mid-range frequencies were kinda lacking during that demo session 
. overall, it's a promising start for fender, but we'll have to wait & see if they can deliver 
And the Ellie speakers sound like so much fun for parties 
only thing that's got me skeptical is the mid-range frequencies... hope they iron that out soon 
. I can already see how they'd be a total game-changer for parties or small gatherings.
. Pricing is pretty sweet too - not too shabby on the $299 for those Mix headphones 
. as for the Ellie speakers, pairing them individually or in stereo is like music to my ears 
But seriously, Fender needs to step up their sound quality game if they wanna take on the big dogs in the portable audio market 
. and price? can't beat it 
ANC enabled too? Mind. Blown.
but 100 speakers at once? That's wild 
I'd totes use that for parties or events 
pricing is decent too 