Fender Audio to debut ELIE Bluetooth speakers and MIX headphones at CES

Fender Audio, the consumer electronics arm of the instrument maker, will introduce two flagship products at this year's CES in Las Vegas under a licensing agreement with Singapore-based RiffSound.

The company is launching a new line of Bluetooth speakers called ELIE (Extremely Loud Infinitely Expressive), which includes two models, the E6 and E12. Fender says the speakers use a combination of DSP and system-on-a-chip processing to deliver more volume while improving power efficiency.

Each ELIE speaker can handle up to four audio channels at once—a Bluetooth source, a wired XLR or 1/4-inch input, and two additional wireless channels with compatible Fender Audio accessories—and two units can be synced for stereo. The announcement gave few specifics on how the E6 and E12 differ, though the E12 appears larger in shared images.

Fender will also unveil the MIX headphones, described as modular cans meant to adapt to a user's sound and style preferences. The MIX set includes a USB-C transmitter that supports lossless, low-latency and Auracast transmission modes, and uses 40mm graphene drivers with active noise cancellation.

The MIX headphones work wired or wirelessly and are said to offer up to 100 hours of battery life. Fender has not detailed the modular features, or revealed pricing and availability; a closer look is expected at CES.

Key Topics

Fender Audio, Riffsound, Elie, E6, E12, Mix Headphones