Old dogs can learn new tricks, and apparently so can old guitar companies. Just ask Fender, which has been making a splash lately in the non-music audio world. Earlier this year, it released its first-ever pair of over-ear headphones, the Fender Mix, which are a surprisingly thoughtful debut. They sound good, they’re modular and repairable, and they even have a dongle for 2.4GHz low-latency, lossless audio. In the crowded world of wireless headphones, they make their presence known.
Wireless headphones aren’t the only territory Fender wants a piece of, though; it’s also launched the $299 Elie 6, a Bluetooth speaker that doubles as a guitar amp. I got a chance to test out the Elie 6, and like the Mix, there’s a lot to love—but it’s one missing piece away from being great. 3.5 Fender Elie 6 The Fender Elie 6 is a good Bluetooth speaker, but its guitar amp capabilities that need work. Pros Sounds balanced and clear There's a subwoofer Plenty of ports Sleek look Cons No app for EQ or anything else No built-in effects Relatively quiet compared to competition Outmatched in sound quality/volume by the Sonos Play Great Bluetooth speaker, okay amp When discussing the sound quality of the Elie 6, you have to approach it in two ways. First, there’s Elie 6, the Bluetooth speaker. As a way of playing music, I kind of love the Elie 6. The audio quality is top-notch, thanks to a three-driver configuration: a dedicated tweeter, a full-range driver, and an integrated subwoofer. It’s that last part, the woofer, that gives the Elie 6 an edge over lots of other Bluetooth speakers. I love the bass in the Elie 6—it sounds present, organic, and well-rounded, which is more than I can say for most competitors this size.
