Why I prefer this $180 Fender speaker over competing models by Sony and Bose

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Fender x Teufel Rockster Cross speaker is accessible now on Amazon for $250 (presently $200).
• With huge sound and an immersive choice to punch up the highs and lows, this speaker is a superb possibility for many who find it irresistible loud.
• The Rockster Cross immersive possibility is likely to be a bit harsh for some listeners.

Bluetooth audio system are a dime a dozen. You could find them on the top caps at your neighborhood drug retailer, and if we might someway meld the 80s and now, you’d most likely discover them as toy surprises in cereal bins (yeah, I simply aged myself).

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Not all Bluetooth audio system are created equal. Bluetooth audio system are nearly all the time a “get what you pay for” proposition, which means low-cost audio system will usually sound like low-cost audio system. When you get into the midrange costs, you will discover loads of audio system that sound fairly good. And occasionally, you land on one thing just like the Fender Rockster Cross; one thing that redefines what a mid-price Bluetooth speaker may be.

This Bluetooth speaker is the results of a collaboration between guitar model Fender and Teufel (a well-liked European audio model). The sequence, as a complete, consists of three totally different audio system and a backpack. The Rockster Cross is the mid-sized speaker within the lineup.

After I first unboxed this speaker, it instantly conjured pictures of guitar amps, with its grey metallic grill and Fender brand. I needed to seize my outdated Kramer guitar, channel the spirit of Randy Rhodes, and crank it up. Talking of Randy Rhodes, the opening of “Mr. Crowley” gave me ample chills by the Rockster Cross. Oh, yeah.

As a substitute, I needed to accept cranking up a tune or two that includes Mr. Rhodes (RIP). The phrase of the day is “wow.”

My expertise

After I first linked the Rockster Cross, I did my normal playthrough of Rush’s “Alerts” album. My preliminary response was, “That sounds fairly good.” I cranked up the quantity past what would usually be acceptable outdoors my workplace, and my response developed to, “Okay, that is spectacular.” 

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Then… I hit the immersive sound button on the again panel and took a flip for the “OMG.” Unexpectedly, each observe I tossed on the speaker got here to life in methods a Bluetooth speaker shouldn’t be able to.

After going by “Alerts,” I cranked up Devin Townsend’s new single, “Powernerd,” and rejoiced within the brilliance of that mad musical scientist. I cranked the speaker up but once more and located it to deal with the elevated decibels with out distortion. As soon as I hit roughly 80 dB, I began worrying about our cat’s consolation and turned it down.

Yeah, it dealt with it much better than I might have thought… as a result of this factor rocks.

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Okay, let’s speak concerning the sound high quality. One factor I ought to point out is that I used to be weaned on the mastering of early Van Halen albums, so my ears are likely to want a superb stability of lows and highs. Should you’ve listened to sufficient albums mastered within the late Seventies and early-to-mid Eighties, you perceive what I am speaking about.

The Rockster Cross is an ideal match for such an EQ curve. For some, there is likely to be an excessive amount of within the low-to-mid treble (between 2K and 5K). With the incorrect music (on the proper volumes), that frequency vary can put on on you. Should you discover that is the case, disable the immersive sound function, and you will find the sound a bit extra snug.

So far as bass is worried, this child has loads of punch. Place your hand on the speaker, and you may really feel the sub doing its factor. Though the lows may not be outlined sufficient to please an audiophile, if you need your music to sound huge, crank it up, and you will get simply that.

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The soundstage (the area between devices) will get crowded with the Rockster Cross, however that is pretty widespread in Bluetooth audio system. That is to not say there isn’t a soundstage with this speaker, but when it is your precedence, you will wish to look elsewhere (and into a lot larger value ranges).

One in all my favourite choral numbers, “The Lengthy Highway” by Ēriks Ešenvalds, was breathtaking because it spilled from the Rockster Cross. Should you’ve by no means heard that tune, do your self a favor and hearken to VOCES8’s tackle it. It is beautiful, and this Fender speaker does it justice. Every voice is current and distinct (which is saying one thing as a result of some audio system are likely to mix them a bit too tightly).

Sound apart, one in all my favourite elements of this speaker is the aspect handles, which let you seize and go with out concern that you simply may drop the Rockster Cross. Given the system’s very grippy rubber coating, you’ll be able to snatch this up with confidence. On prime of that, you do not have to fret about it sliding off no matter floor it is on when the decibels hit the rafters.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

I am not going to say it is a excellent Bluetooth speaker. It isn’t. Commonly priced at $180, although, I am hard-pressed to consider a extra spectacular speaker than the Rockster Cross. I really like how this factor handles quantity gracefully and by no means falters in readability. Though not everybody will admire the immersive sound function, the usual sound remains to be ok to get the occasion transferring, the individuals dancing, and the music blasting.

Newest updates:

August 1, 2025: Added a brand new comparability chart evaluating the Fender x Teufel Rockster Cross to the Bose SoundLink Plus. The latter presents a greater battery life, has arguably extra highly effective bass, and is healthier go well with for journey due to its compact design. Nevertheless, it’s dearer. Outdated hyperlinks had been additionally changed.