Fender Mix Headphones Review: Modular Over-Ears | WIRED

$299 at Fender Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Rating: 7 /10 Open rating explainer Information WIRED Fully replaceable and swappable parts, including the battery. Included transmitter provides lossless, low-latency, and shareable audio. Up to 100 hours of listening time. TIRED No companion app at launch. No wear sensors. Fender is known for its legendary electric guitars and amplifiers, and it’s now the latest company to enter the wireless headphone market. Its first release, the Fender Audio Mix ($299), is a pair that sticks to Leo Fender's legendary design philosophy: modularity. At first glance, these over-ear, wireless noise-canceling cans look exactly like dozens of existing products—a subtle Fender logo on the ear cups being their one distinguishing feature. But hiding behind their handsome yet conservative veneer are two things that set them apart. First are detachable and fully replaceable parts (including a massive battery). Second is a wireless transmitter that acts like a Bluetooth Swiss Army knife, equipping the Mix with lossless, low-latency, and Auracast connection options. Fixable Headphones for Musicians Photograph: Simon Cohen The Fender Audio Mix follow in the footsteps of the fully repairable Fairphone Fairbuds XL Headphones. And if they look similar to you, that’s no accident; they come from the same factory. Unlike the Fairbuds XL, which can be almost completely disassembled in nine parts, the Mix are composed of four main ingredients: the headband, the ear cups, the ear cushions, and the battery. While repairability is clearly a benefit, Fender’s main focus is on the ability to mix and match the parts—hence the name. Eventually, each part will be available in five different colors, and some parts, like the ear cushions, will come in different materials for warmer or cooler climates. My 10-day stint with the Mix wasn’t nearly enough time to evaluate whether the USB-C-based connections between the ear cups and the headband (an element they share with the Fairbuds XL) will prove sturdy enough for long-term use, but they didn't show any obvious signs of weakness. In fact, I was impressed at how solidly the parts clicked together, and just how well built these cans feel in general. Holding them or wearing them, you’d never guess they could be pulled apart with a tug. Photograph: Simon Cohen I found the Mix comfy to wear, even with glasses. The ear cushions provide a soft but effective seal, and the headband does a decent job of distributing pressure. The clamping force felt a little aggressive when I first put them on, but after a few minutes, I got used to it and happily wore them for hours at a stretch. My only nitpick is the size of the ear cushion openings; they’re a little narrow for my taste. I prefer a roomier fit. Like the Apple’s AirPods Max, the ear cushions magnetically latch to the ear cups, but on the Mix, it serves a dual purpose: Not only does it make swapping cushions a cinch, (they’ll sell for $29 a pair later this year), but it’s also how you access that USB-C Bluetooth transmitter, which lives under the left ear cushion, and how you get to the battery compartment (under the right one). Fender expects replacement cells to cost $49 but hasn’t said when they’ll be available. Farewell Bad Transmissions Photograph: Simon Cohen The transmitter is a remarkably useful little tool. Using its button (and LED indicator), you can switch between lossless (red), low-latency (blue), and Bluetooth Auracast (purple) modes. Lossless (via the LHDC v5 codec in case you were curious) is a bonus, especially for iPhone owners, who are typically limited to lossy SBC and AAC connections. I don’t game, but if Fender’s claim of sub-20-millisecond performance for the low-latency mode is accurate, that should satisfy all but the most diehard, fast-action game players. Auracast (via LE Audio/LC3) is a real treat: It lets you share your audio with anyone who has an Auracast-compatible set of headphones or earbuds. The Mix can also tune into any other Auracast broadcasts, too, but there’s a catch. With other Auracast-capable headphones, like JBL’s flagship Tour One M3 , the JBL companion app includes an Auracast assistant screen that finds and lets you connect to available broadcasts—even if your phone doesn’t support Auracast. The Mix doesn’t have a companion app yet, but Fender Audio tells me it's in the works and should be available later this year. In the meantime, the lack of an app not only limits what you can do with the headphones in terms of firmware updates or personalization, but it also means that iPhone users lose out on Auracast. As of Android 13, Auracast Assistant functionality is available on some handsets (e.g., Samsung Galaxy S23 and newer, Google Pixel 8 and newer), but Apple has never directly supported it and hasn’t provided any clues as to when or if that will change. Photograph: Simon Cohen Want even more connecti