Fender is stepping beyond guitars and amplifiers, unveiling its first mass-market consumer audio products at CES 2026.
Under its Fender Audio brand, the iconic instrument maker has announced two portable Bluetooth speakers and a pair of wireless headphones, marking a significant push into the crowded personal audio market.
The new range arrives as Fender celebrates its 80th anniversary and will be showcased in Las Vegas in January.
While Fender has long dabbled in pro-focused audio gear, this is its clearest attempt yet to take on lifestyle brands like Marshall, JBL and Sony.
Headlining the launch is the ELIE (Extremely Loud Infinitely Expressive) portable speaker series, available in two sizes: the ELIE E6 and the larger ELIE E12.
Both models feature built-in subwoofers and what Fender describes as a “world-first” Waves system-on-a-chip design, combining DSP and amplification to deliver higher volume with lower distortion.
The ELIE E6 outputs up to 60W and promises up to 18 hours of battery life, while the more powerful ELIE E12 doubles the output to 120W with a slightly reduced 15-hour battery rating.
Pricing starts at US$299 for the E6 and US$399 for the E12 (Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed).
What sets the ELIE speakers apart is flexibility. Each unit can handle up to four audio sources at once, mixing Bluetooth audio with wired inputs via XLR or ¼-inch connections, plus additional wireless channels using Fender accessories. Multiple speakers can also be paired in stereo or synced together for larger spaces.
Alongside the speakers, Fender Audio has unveiled the MIX over-ear wireless headphones.
Featuring 40mm graphene drivers, hybrid active noise cancellation and spatial audio, the MIX headphones target premium rivals at the US$299 price point.
An included USB-C wireless transmitter enables lossless, low-latency and Auracast audio modes, while battery life is rated at up to an eye-catching 100 hours with ANC off.
The MIX headphones also lean into sustainability and longevity with a modular design, allowing parts to be replaced rather than the entire headset discarded.
