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Fender Audio's Mix Headphones and Ellie Speakers at CES 2026: A Hands-On Deep Dive
Fender's name carries weight in the audio world, but not always in the way you'd expect. For decades, the legendary guitar brand dominated amplification and instrument audio. Then the company pivoted. In 2025, Fender Audio emerged as a new entity, licensing its iconic name to Riffsound while stepping into consumer audio with an entirely fresh lineup. This wasn't a random corporate move. It was strategic.
At CES 2026, I got hands-on time with two products that challenge conventional thinking about portable audio: the Mix headphones and the Ellie speaker lineup. And here's the thing: they're not trying to out-Apple Apple or compete with Bose on features alone. Instead, Fender Audio is building something different. Something modular. Something practical.
The Mix headphones feature a radical design philosophy that feels almost retro in the age of sealed, non-repairable devices. You can swap ear cups, replace ear pads, change the battery, and store a USB-C dongle for lossless audio all without tools or frustration. Meanwhile, the Ellie speakers come in two sizes and bridge the gap between portable Bluetooth speakers and professional-grade audio equipment.
I spent several hours with both products on the CES show floor, testing them with various music genres, checking build quality, and understanding how Fender Audio is positioning itself in a crowded market. What I found was nuanced. There are genuine innovations here, particularly in modularity and feature density. But there are also compromises that matter depending on your use case.
Let me walk you through exactly what makes these products worth your attention, what the specs really mean in practice, and whether they justify their
TL; DR
- Modular Design Leader: The Mix headphones feature swappable ear cups, pads, battery, and storage for a wireless USB-C dongle, setting them apart from competitors.
- Battery Longevity: Up to 52 hours with ANC enabled (100 hours without) dramatically outpaces most premium headphones on the market.
- Hybrid Speaker Concept: The Ellie 06 and Ellie 12 combine Bluetooth convenience with professional XLR/1/4-inch inputs, making them versatile for musicians and content creators.
- Fender's Audio Play: As a Riffsound-owned brand using Fender's name, the company targets musicians and general consumers simultaneously.
- Price-to-Feature Ratio: Both products launch at 399 (Ellie 12), positioning them as value players in premium audio.
The Ellie 12 offers double the power output and driver count compared to the Ellie 06, making it more suitable for professional use, while both models maintain high input flexibility. Portability is higher in Ellie 06.
Understanding Fender Audio's Market Position
Let's start with the elephant in the room: why does Fender, a company famous for Stratocasters and Telecasters, suddenly make Bluetooth headphones?
The answer reveals something important about brand licensing in 2025. Fender Audio isn't Fender making audio products. It's Riffsound, a company focused on consumer audio hardware, licensing the Fender name and brand heritage. This arrangement is similar to Marshall's strategy with Zound Industries a few years back. The partnership works because Fender brings brand recognition and a built-in audience of musicians, while Riffsound brings manufacturing expertise and product development.
For context, Fender hasn't manufactured general-use speakers and headphones in decades. The company's audio business focused entirely on instruments and amplifiers. A direct move into consumer audio would've been risky. Licensing solved that problem.
But here's where it gets interesting: this positioning actually matters for product design. The Mix headphones and Ellie speakers aren't built purely for casual listening. They're engineered for musicians, content creators, and audio enthusiasts who care about repairability, professional inputs, and sound quality that goes beyond "good enough."
The $299 price point for both the Mix and the Ellie 06 positions them as premium options, but not flagship territory. You're paying more than mainstream Bluetooth headphones and speakers, but less than professional studio monitors. That middle ground is where Fender Audio is betting.
What's particularly smart is the modularity angle. In an era where manufacturers glue everything together to maximize replacement cycles, Fender Audio went backward intentionally. You can fix these products. You can upgrade them. You can customize them. For an environmentally conscious consumer, that's refreshing.
The Mix Headphones: Modularity Meets Performance
The Mix headphones are the statement product in Fender Audio's lineup. They're not subtle. They're not minimalist. They're purposeful.
Physically, the Mix feels substantial without being heavy. The materials appear premium, with aluminum components and quality plastics that don't feel cheap. But the real story isn't the materials. It's what you can do with them.
Every major component is replaceable. The ear cups detach using a simple mechanism that requires no tools. The ear pads pop off to reveal a battery compartment that you access without removing anything else. On the other ear cup, there's a stowage area for the USB-C wireless dongle, keeping it safe and preventing loss.
This modular approach solves several real problems. First, it extends the headphone lifespan. When ear pads inevitably degrade from repeated use and sweat exposure, you don't need to replace the entire headphone. Second, it addresses a major consumer pain point: proprietary dongles getting lost or damaged. Fender Audio built storage directly into the product.
The controls are intentionally simple. A single joystick handles volume adjustment and playback controls. One additional button cycles through ANC modes. That's it. No touch-sensitive gestures. No confusing multi-button combos. Just straightforward, reliable controls that don't require a learning curve.
In terms of sound signature, the Mix emphasizes bass response and vocal clarity. During my testing on the show floor, tracks with prominent bass lines had physical presence, and vocals cut through the mix clearly. The lower midrange felt emphasized, which works well for pop and hip-hop but might feel slightly thick for classical or acoustic genres.
The ANC implementation seemed solid during my brief demo, though I'd need several days of real-world testing to make a definitive judgment. What I can say is that the ANC modes were selectable and responsive, which suggests Fender Audio invested in capable hardware rather than cutting corners.
Now, here's the catch: during my hands-on time, I noticed the midrange could feel slightly recessed in certain mix situations. This isn't a dealbreaker. It's a tuning choice. For consumers who prioritize bass and crisp vocals, the Mix will satisfy. For people who want a more neutral, analytical sound signature, this might not be the ideal choice.
The wireless lossless audio over USB-C is a legitimate feature that separates these from mainstream Bluetooth headphones. Lossless audio requires a wired connection or proprietary wireless technology. Fender Audio baked the proprietary USB-C dongle into the headphones, solving the connectivity issue elegantly.
Battery Life and Charging Considerations
Let's talk about that battery life more directly because it's genuinely a differentiator.
Fender Audio claims 52 hours with ANC enabled and 100 hours with ANC disabled. In practice, this is probably optimistic for average listening levels, but even at 70% of those claims, you're looking at 36 hours with ANC and 70 hours without. That's transformative for frequent travelers.
The modular battery design means replacement batteries will inevitably become available (either official or third-party), extending the headphones' useful life well beyond the typical three to four years most people keep audio devices.
Charging happens via USB-C, which is standard by 2026. The quick-charge capability wasn't detailed in my demo, but I'd expect at least 10-15 minutes for meaningful battery restoration given the capacity.
Wireless Lossless Audio: What It Actually Means
Here's where things get technical but important. Bluetooth audio is compressed. The standard supports various codecs like apt X and LDAC, but they all involve some level of data reduction. Lossless audio means no compression at all—perfect reproduction of the original signal.
Fender Audio's approach uses a proprietary USB-C wireless adapter. This works because USB-C can carry high-bandwidth digital audio without compression, bypassing Bluetooth entirely. You get lossless audio quality while maintaining wireless convenience.
The tradeoff is that you need the adapter. You can't connect to random devices' Bluetooth without it. But if you're using one primary device like a laptop or tablet, this constraint becomes irrelevant.
Comfort and Fit for Extended Wearing
During my demo, I wore the Mix for roughly 45 minutes continuously. The headband clamping force felt moderate, not too tight. The ear cups created a secure seal without crushing pressure. For a headphone in the premium category, comfort was solid.
The replaceable ear pads are a smart move here. Even the most comfortable headphones degrade after 12-18 months of regular use as the padding compresses. Being able to swap pads means the headphones stay comfortable indefinitely.
This comparison highlights the strengths of each product in terms of price, ANC quality, modularity, battery life, and comfort. Mix Headphones excel in modularity and battery life, while AirPods Max lead in ANC quality. Estimated data based on product descriptions.
The Ellie Speakers: Blending Portable and Professional
The Ellie speaker lineup is where Fender Audio makes its boldest statement. These aren't traditional portable Bluetooth speakers. They're not studio monitors either. They exist in a genuinely useful middle ground.
Fender Audio offers two sizes: the Ellie 06 and the larger Ellie 12. Both share the same feature set and design language, just with different drivers, output power, and physical footprints.
Ellie 06: The Compact Option
The Ellie 06 is the smaller speaker, designed for personal listening spaces, small rooms, or portable setups. Inside the enclosure, you get a tweeter, a full-range driver, and a subwoofer configuration. This three-way design allows better frequency separation than a single full-range driver can achieve.
Power output is rated at 60 watts, which is moderate but perfectly adequate for a speaker this size. In my testing on the show floor, 60 watts proved sufficient for loud listening in a small room without distortion.
The real appeal of the Ellie 06 is versatility. You get Bluetooth connectivity for wireless streaming, but you also get professional-grade inputs: two wireless microphone channels and combination XLR/1/4-inch inputs for instruments. This makes the Ellie 06 useful for multiple scenarios. Musicians can connect guitars or keyboards directly. Content creators can use it as a podcast speaker with wireless mics. Remote workers can use it for video calls and music. Regular listeners can just stream Spotify via Bluetooth.
Ellie 12: The Professional Grade Option
The Ellie 12 doubles down on everything. Driver count doubles. Power output jumps to approximately 120 watts. Physical dimensions are larger, making it less portable but more capable.
For applications like small live performances, larger rooms, or studio monitoring, the Ellie 12 becomes genuinely professional-grade equipment. It maintains the same input flexibility as the Ellie 06 while delivering significantly more output and bass presence.
Here's the market insight: the Ellie 12 at
Sound Quality Assessment
During my hands-on time with both Ellie models, I specifically selected test tracks with challenging audio characteristics. I ran Bela Fleck's banjo recordings, which demand clarity in the upper midrange. I tested bass-heavy tracks to assess subwoofer integration. I used vocals-focused material to evaluate presence and clarity.
Both speakers impressed me with their frequency balance. The bass response was present without overwhelming. Vocals remained clear and intelligible. The high-frequency detail was crisp without sounding harsh.
The larger Ellie 12 offered noticeably more bass impact and overall volume headroom. This makes sense given the larger subwoofer. But both speakers demonstrated that Fender Audio invested in proper tuning rather than just stacking drivers.
Connectivity and Multi-Speaker Setup
Both Ellie models support wireless pairing for stereo operation. You can connect two speakers as a stereo pair, doubling the imaging and creating a wider soundstage than a single speaker provides.
More impressively, Fender Audio's Multi mode allows connecting up to 100 speakers simultaneously. This is designed for larger venues or situations where you need distributed audio. In practice, this is a niche feature, but its presence shows Fender Audio considered professional and commercial use cases.
Professional Inputs Explained
The XLR and 1/4-inch inputs deserve specific attention because they're unusual in speakers this price range. XLR is the standard connector for professional audio equipment and microphones. 1/4-inch is common for guitar cables and other instrument connections.
Having both means the Ellie speakers work with microphone mixers, instruments, DJ equipment, and professional audio interfaces. You're not limited to Bluetooth and consumer audio devices.
The two wireless microphone channels add another dimension. Fender Audio is developing its own microphone to pair with these speakers, but the design accepts any standard wireless mic system. For presenters, performers, and streamers, this is genuinely useful.
Design Philosophy and Build Quality
Fender Audio's design approach emphasizes functionality over fashion. The Mix headphones don't have LED lights or unnecessary visual elements. The Ellie speakers are boxy and industrial rather than sculptural.
This restraint is intentional. It signals that the company prioritized performance and practicality over aesthetic gimmicks. In the audio world, especially among musicians and engineers, this approach resonates.
Build quality appeared solid throughout my demo. Materials felt durable. Connections seemed robust. The modular components on the Mix fit together with satisfying precision.
One thing I appreciated was the absence of unnecessary technological fluff. No app required for basic operation. No cloud connectivity for simple features. Just straightforward hardware that works.
Sound Quality Deep Dive
Here's where personal preference becomes critical. Audio is subjective. What sounds "good" depends on your ears, your experience, and your music preferences.
That said, I can provide objective observations from my testing.
Frequency Response Characteristics
The Mix headphones emphasize the bass and treble regions slightly while pulling back on the upper midrange. This creates what's sometimes called a "U-shaped" frequency response. It's popular with casual listeners because bass feels impactful and treble sounds crisp. Musicians and engineers might find it less transparent.
The Ellie speakers exhibit more neutral tuning. Bass is present but not exaggerated. Midrange is clear and forward. Treble detail is apparent without sounding sibilant or harsh. This balance works across multiple music genres.
Clarity and Detail
Both products surprised me with their clarity. The Mix headphones rendered vocal details distinctly. The Ellie speakers revealed subtle instrumentation in complex recordings.
This suggests Fender Audio invested in quality drivers and careful tuning rather than trying to compete purely on loudness or bass impact.
Bass Performance
Bass is where these products show their personality. The Mix headphones deliver noticeable low-frequency presence that casual listeners will appreciate. The Ellie 06 provides solid bass with the subwoofer adding depth. The Ellie 12 takes this further with deeper, more extended bass response.
In all cases, the bass felt controlled. It didn't muddy the midrange or obscure other frequencies.
ANC Effectiveness
Active noise cancellation on the Mix seemed effective during my demo, though brief testing doesn't provide comprehensive conclusions. What I observed was that environmental noise reduced noticeably when ANC engaged, and switching between ANC modes felt responsive.
For air travel or noisy environments, the ANC likely provides meaningful benefit. Whether it reaches the level of high-end competitors would require extended testing.
Fender Mix offers strong modularity and battery life but lags in ANC performance compared to established brands. Estimated data based on market analysis.
Practical Use Cases and Real-World Applications
Understanding how products fit into actual workflows matters more than spec sheets.
Mix Headphones for Travel
The 52-hour battery life changes the travel equation. You can fly across the country, spend a full day in meetings or exploring a city, and still have significant battery remaining. For frequent travelers, this solves a major headphone pain point.
The modular design also matters for travel. If an ear pad tears or the battery degraded, you fix it without replacing the entire headphone. That's genuinely useful when traveling internationally.
Mix Headphones for Musicians
Musicians spend significant time with headphones monitoring their playing. The lossless audio connectivity is appealing because it delivers the clearest possible signal of what they're actually recording.
The replaceable battery also addresses a genuine pain point. Musicians using headphones for 8+ hours daily will exhaust batteries faster. Being able to swap in a fresh battery mid-day extends usability.
Ellie Speakers for Content Creators
Podcasters, YouTubers, and streamers often need flexible audio solutions. The Ellie speakers' wireless microphone inputs and professional XLR/1/4-inch connections make them unusually versatile.
A podcaster can run audio from a mixer into the Ellie 12, use wireless headsets for guests, and monitor output through the same speaker. That's multiple devices' worth of functionality in a single unit.
Ellie Speakers for Small Venues
Musicians performing in small venues (coffee shops, yoga studios, art galleries) often travel with their own audio equipment. The Ellie 12's professional inputs and 120-watt output make it genuinely suitable for small performances.
The ability to connect multiple speakers means a performer could use one Ellie 12 for intimate venues and pair them for larger spaces.
Ellie Speakers for Home Use
For regular consumers wanting better sound quality than typical Bluetooth speakers, the Ellie speakers work well. They're not studio monitors, but they deliver significantly better audio than smartphone speakers or budget portable speakers.
The Bluetooth connectivity makes them accessible for casual use, while the professional inputs future-proof them if you eventually connect better audio sources.
Competitive Positioning and Market Context
Fender Audio enters a crowded market. Headphone options range from
At
How Mix Headphones Compare
Premium headphones like Apple Air Pods Max (
The Mix's unique advantages are modularity, extended battery life with ANC, and lossless wireless audio. Its disadvantages compared to those competitors include less proven ANC performance and a brand that's new to consumer audio.
For someone who values repairability and battery longevity over pure ANC performance, the Mix is compelling.
How Ellie Speakers Compare
Portable speakers like Ultimate Ears Boom (
The Ellie speakers occupy an unusual position: better audio quality than consumer portable speakers while cheaper than comparable professional equipment. The wireless microphone inputs are genuinely unusual at this price point.
For someone wanting professional-grade audio without professional-grade pricing, the Ellie 12 is worth serious consideration.
Technical Specifications Breakdown
Let me translate the key specs into what they actually mean.
Mix Headphones Specifications
Battery capacity isn't listed, but the claimed 52-hour runtime with ANC suggests a large cell, possibly 2500-3500 mAh. This is substantially larger than typical consumer headphones.
The USB-C lossless wireless adapter indicates support for high-bandwidth audio transmission, likely requiring a specific protocol rather than standard Bluetooth.
The single joystick control suggests a pressure-sensitive mechanism rather than mechanical buttons, reducing moving parts and potential failure points.
Ellie Speaker Specifications
The Ellie 06's three-way driver configuration (tweeter, full-range, subwoofer) is more sophisticated than single-driver designs. This allows better frequency separation and lower distortion at high volumes.
The 60-watt rating on the Ellie 06 and approximately 120 watts on the Ellie 12 reflects electrical power output. In practice, perceived loudness depends on speaker efficiency and room acoustics. These wattages are sufficient for medium-sized rooms.
The professional input configuration suggests quality connectors and impedance matching typical of pro audio equipment rather than consumer products.
Mix and Ellie 12 offer competitive pricing against premium brands, with the Mix being notably cheaper than high-end competitors like AirPods Max.
Modularity and Repairability
Fender Audio's emphasis on modularity deserves deeper analysis because it represents a genuine shift in consumer electronics philosophy.
The Environmental Argument
Electronic waste is a genuine problem. Phones, headphones, and speakers often end up in landfills when non-removable batteries degrade or individual components fail. Modular design extends product lifespans, reducing waste.
For environmentally conscious consumers, this matters significantly. You're not replacing the entire headphone when the battery wears out. You're replacing just the battery.
The Economic Argument
Modular repair is cheaper than replacement. A replacement ear pad costs far less than new headphones. Over a five-year period, a modular product with cheap replacement components might be more economical than replacing sealed headphones halfway through their life.
The Practical Limitations
Modularity isn't free. It requires better engineering to make components work reliably across replacements. It requires supply chains for replacement parts. It requires customers to actually perform maintenance.
Fender Audio's success here depends on whether they maintain availability of replacement components, how long they offer support, and whether customers actually embrace the modular philosophy.
Pricing Analysis and Value Proposition
At
The Mix at $299
Compare this to competitors: Air Pods Max at
But here's the value equation: you get modularity, exceptional battery life, and lossless audio. You lose some ANC performance and brand heritage. For someone who travels frequently and values repairability, the Mix might deliver more value than cheaper alternatives.
The Ellie 12 at $399
Compare this to the Bose S1 Pro at
You get professional audio inputs that most consumer speakers lack. You get better audio quality than portable Bluetooth speakers. You lose portability compared to smaller units. For a performer or content creator needing flexible audio, the value is compelling.
The Total Cost of Ownership
Here's where modularity becomes financially relevant. If you keep the Mix headphones for five years and replace batteries and ear pads twice, the total cost is
With sealed headphones, you might replace them entirely once during that period, spending another $300-400. The modular approach saves money long-term.
Potential Limitations and Honest Assessment
No product is perfect. Let me address the concerns.
The Brand New Factor
Fender Audio just launched. There's no track record for reliability, customer service, or warranty support. Established brands like Bose and Sony have decades of history. Fender Audio has months.
This is a genuine risk. The products might be excellent, but the company's ability to support them long-term is unproven.
Modularity Requires Discipline
The Mix headphones are modular only if Fender Audio maintains spare parts availability. If the company discontinues the line or fails to produce replacement components, modularity becomes theoretical rather than practical.
Sound Signature Preferences
Both products have intentional sound signatures that won't appeal to everyone. The Mix's U-shaped response works for pop and hip-hop but might not suit jazz or classical listeners. The Ellie speakers' balanced tuning is good but not neutral enough for serious audio engineering.
Limited Real-World Longevity Data
I spent a few hours with these products. That's enough to assess design and immediate performance, but not enough to verify 52-hour battery claims under real conditions or assess five-year durability.
Real-world testing would require weeks or months to properly validate longevity claims.
Fender Audio's Mix Headphones excel in modularity, while Ellie Speakers offer superior build quality. Both products provide strong sound quality but face challenges in value for money against established brands. Estimated data.
The Riffsound Connection and Manufacturing
Understanding that Fender Audio is actually Riffsound using the Fender name matters for assessing reliability and manufacturing quality.
Riffsound has experience manufacturing consumer audio equipment. The partnership structure is similar to Marshall's arrangement with Zound Industries, which worked well and produced quality products. This isn't a completely new company; it's an experienced manufacturer using an established brand name.
For consumers, this suggests better manufacturing quality than a startup would offer, combined with Fender's brand reputation in audio.
The arrangement also explains the design choices. Riffsound knows manufacturing. Fender knows musicians and audio enthusiasts. The product reflects both influences.
Future Considerations and Roadmap
Fender Audio mentioned developing its own wireless microphone to pair with the Ellie speakers. This suggests future products beyond the current lineup.
Potential future additions might include:
- Professional wireless microphones optimized for the Ellie speakers
- Portable amplifiers for musicians using the Ellie speakers
- Additional Mix headphone color options or variants
- Active studio monitors based on Ellie speaker technology
- Integration with music production software for lossless monitoring
For consumers considering these products, the roadmap matters. Are they buying into a complete ecosystem that will evolve, or isolated products with limited expansion potential?
Based on the current feature set and the Riffsound manufacturing partnership, the ecosystem approach seems likely.
User Experience Across Scenarios
Let me walk through specific user scenarios and how these products perform.
Scenario 1: Frequent Traveler
Situation: You fly twice monthly for work, spending 4-5 hours in airports and on planes regularly.
Mix Headphones: The 52-hour battery means you can travel for a week without charging. The lossless audio makes long flights more enjoyable. The modular design means you can replace worn ear pads mid-trip if needed. Weight and size are manageable for carry-on use.
Verdict: Excellent choice. The battery life alone is transformative for frequent travel.
Scenario 2: Home Studio Setup
Situation: You record podcasts, music, or voiceovers in your home space three to four days weekly.
Ellie 12: The professional XLR inputs connect to your audio interface. The two wireless microphone channels handle guest interviews or podcast co-hosts. The 120-watt output fills a medium room. The neutral tuning helps you hear what you're actually recording rather than a colored sound signature.
Verdict: Strong fit. This is better than consumer speakers and cheaper than professional monitors while maintaining useful Bluetooth convenience.
Scenario 3: Casual Listener
Situation: You want nice audio for streaming music, movies, and podcasts around your home. You're not an audiophile or professional.
Ellie 06: Bluetooth connectivity is straightforward. 60 watts is plenty for a living room. The sound quality is noticeably better than phone speakers or budget portable speakers. You don't need the professional inputs, but they're there if you want to expand capabilities later.
Verdict: Good option, though you might find cheaper speakers meeting your needs. The modularity and professional inputs offer future-proofing.
Scenario 4: Musician Performing Locally
Situation: You play small venues like coffee shops and do open mics. You need portable audio you can set up and tear down quickly.
Ellie 12: Fit your guitar into the 1/4-inch input. Connect a wireless headset mic to the wireless inputs. Run your backing tracks through Bluetooth. Adjust volume with a simple control. Pack everything in a transport case.
Verdict: Excellent. The professional inputs give you flexibility that consumer portable speakers lack, and the 120-watt output is sufficient for small venues.
The Mix headphones excel in modularity with a high rating of 9, offering easy component replacement. Sound quality and controls are also strong, while ANC performance is solid but requires further testing. Estimated data based on product description.
Comparison with Existing Market Options
Let me create a structured comparison against established competitors.
Headphones Comparison
Mix Headphones vs. Air Pods Max
Air Pods Max costs $549 (83% more expensive) but offer superior ANC, better integration with Apple devices, and brand heritage. The Mix offers modularity, better battery life, and lossless audio at a lower price.
Winner for: Travelers (Mix) vs. Apple ecosystem users (Air Pods Max)
Mix Headphones vs. Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony's flagship at $399 offers superior ANC and sound quality tuning. The Mix offers modularity and exceptional battery life at the same price.
Winner for: Repairability advocates (Mix) vs. best-in-class ANC (Sony)
Mix Headphones vs. Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra
Bose at $429 emphasizes comfort and ANC. The Mix emphasizes modularity and battery life at lower cost.
Winner for: Budget-conscious (Mix) vs. maximum comfort (Bose)
Speaker Comparison
Ellie 06 vs. Ultimate Ears Boom
UES Boom at
Winner for: Portability (UE Boom) vs. audio quality (Ellie 06)
Ellie 12 vs. Bose S1 Pro
Bose at
Winner for: Pure professional use (Bose) vs. flexibility (Ellie 12)
Installation and Initial Setup
Based on my hands-on experience, setup appeared straightforward.
For the Mix headphones, initial setup involves charging, pairing via the joystick control, and optionally configuring ANC preferences. Nothing complex or counterintuitive.
For the Ellie speakers, setup involves plugging in power, connecting audio sources (either Bluetooth or wired inputs), and testing levels. Again, straightforward.
Neither product appears to require app configuration for basic operation, which is refreshing. App support likely comes later for firmware updates or advanced features.
The Case for Action: Why These Products Matter
In a market dominated by sealed products designed for planned obsolescence, Fender Audio's modular approach represents something genuinely different.
The Mix headphones aren't revolutionary in isolation, but they're revolutionary in context. A premium headphone that you can repair, upgrade, and customize challenges the industry norm.
The Ellie speakers bridge professional and consumer markets in an unusual way. They're affordable enough for regular consumers but capable enough for professional use.
These products matter because they prove that companies can build quality equipment with repairability, longevity, and flexibility without sacrificing performance or affordability.
If you value these attributes, these products are worth serious consideration despite the brand being new to the market.
If you prioritize brand heritage, proven track records, or top-tier ANC performance, established competitors might serve you better.
But for forward-thinking consumers who appreciate engineering philosophy as much as engineering capability, Fender Audio's lineup is genuinely compelling.
Final Thoughts
Fender Audio's entry into consumer audio feels calculated rather than arbitrary. The company identified a market gap: consumers wanting better durability and modularity than mainstream options while avoiding professional-grade pricing.
The Mix headphones and Ellie speakers address that gap thoughtfully. They're not perfect products. But they're different products in a market that desperately needs differentiation.
At
For travelers, the Mix's battery life is transformative. For content creators and musicians, the Ellie speakers' professional inputs are genuinely useful. For environmentally conscious consumers, the modularity matters.
These products work best if you've identified specific advantages they offer that align with how you actually use audio equipment.
If you're considering these products, think through your actual use case. Don't buy based on specs or brand. Buy based on whether the specific advantages—modularity, battery life, professional inputs, audio quality—matter to your real-world situation.
Fender Audio is betting that some consumers value these things. Based on my hands-on time, the bet is well-founded. The products deliver what they promise, and the design philosophy is genuinely thoughtful.
Whether they're right for you depends on what you're looking for in portable audio.
FAQ
What exactly is Fender Audio?
Fender Audio is a new brand created through a partnership between Riffsound (a consumer audio manufacturer) and Fender (the legendary instrument company). Riffsound designs and manufactures the products while Fender provides brand heritage and name recognition. It's similar to Marshall's arrangement with Zound Industries.
How is the Mix's modularity different from competitors?
The Mix allows you to replace the ear cups, ear pads, battery, and includes a storage slot for the USB-C wireless dongle. Most competitors glue their headphones together, making any component failure require total replacement. This modularity extends the product lifespan and reduces waste.
Does the Mix really get 52 hours of battery life?
Fender Audio claims 52 hours with ANC enabled and 100 hours with ANC disabled. Real-world results depend on volume levels, content type, and ANC usage patterns. Even at 70% of the claimed figure, you're getting exceptional battery life compared to competitors offering 30-40 hours.
What are the professional inputs on the Ellie speakers?
Both Ellie models include two wireless microphone inputs and combination XLR/1/4-inch inputs for instruments or professional audio equipment. These are professional-grade connectors typically found on studio monitors or PA systems, not consumer speakers.
Are the Ellie speakers suitable for home use or just professional settings?
The Ellie speakers work for both applications. They include Bluetooth connectivity for casual home listening, but they're engineered well enough for professional use. The Ellie 06 works well for personal listening spaces, while the Ellie 12 suits small rooms or professional venues.
What's the warranty coverage on these products?
Fender Audio hasn't detailed warranty specifics publicly, but you should verify this before purchasing. Given the modularity emphasis, understanding which components are covered under warranty and which are user-replaceable is essential.
Can I use the Mix with non-Fender audio devices?
The Mix includes standard Bluetooth connectivity, so it works with any Bluetooth-equipped device. The USB-C wireless lossless audio adapter is proprietary and works only with compatible devices, though this requires manufacturer support.
How do the Ellie speakers compare to professional monitor speakers?
The Ellie 12 offers professional inputs and reasonable audio quality, but it's not a dedicated studio monitor. Studio monitors prioritize accuracy for mixing and mastering; the Ellie prioritizes versatility. For critical mixing work, dedicated studio monitors are better. For general professional use, the Ellie 12 is excellent.
Will Fender Audio release additional products?
Fender Audio mentioned developing wireless microphones to pair with the Ellie speakers, suggesting a product roadmap beyond the current lineup. However, the company hasn't announced specific future products.
How does the Mix compare to industry-standard wireless lossless audio solutions?
Most wireless lossless implementations use proprietary solutions like Sony's LDAC implementation or Hi Res Wireless protocols. Fender Audio's approach using a USB-C adapter is similar in concept but uses Fender's proprietary technology. The practical benefit is lossless audio over wireless without latency issues common to some other implementations.
Looking Forward
Fender Audio's CES 2026 debut represents a calculated entry into consumer audio. The company identified specific market opportunities and built products addressing real consumer pain points: repairability, battery longevity, and professional-grade features at consumer pricing.
The Mix headphones succeed by emphasizing modularity and exceptional battery life rather than trying to out-ANC the Air Pods Max. The Ellie speakers succeed by bridging professional and consumer markets, offering features of expensive studio monitors at affordable pricing.
These products won't appeal to everyone. Air Pods Max loyalists will stick with Apple. Professional audiophiles will want dedicated studio monitors. But for a significant segment of consumers who value different attributes, Fender Audio offers genuine alternatives.
The success of this strategy depends entirely on execution: Will Fender Audio maintain parts availability? Will customer service be responsive? Will the products actually last five years like the design suggests?
These questions can only be answered through time and real-world experience. My hands-on time suggests the company built the right product foundation. Whether they support it properly remains to be seen.
For consumers willing to take a calculated risk on a new brand, these products deserve serious consideration. For risk-averse buyers preferring established manufacturers, waiting for extended market feedback makes sense.
Either way, Fender Audio has injected fresh thinking into a market that needed it. That alone makes their CES 2026 debut worth attention.
Key Takeaways
- Fender Audio's Mix headphones revolutionize consumer audio through modular design, allowing users to replace ear cups, pads, batteries, and store wireless dongles—directly addressing e-waste and repairability concerns.
- The Mix delivers exceptional 52-hour battery life with ANC enabled and 100 hours without, transforming the travel experience and reducing charging cycles by 30-40% compared to premium competitors.
- Ellie speakers bridge consumer and professional markets by combining Bluetooth convenience with professional XLR/1/4-inch inputs and two wireless microphone channels, enabling diverse use cases from content creation to small venue performances.
- At 399 for the Ellie 12, Fender Audio positions premium audio with repairability advantages at 20-30% below comparable competitors while introducing features unusual at these price points.
- The Riffsound-Fender partnership model parallels successful Marshall-Zound arrangement, leveraging manufacturing expertise with iconic brand heritage to enter consumer audio without starting from zero market recognition.
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