Why I still recommend this $ 180 Bluetooth speaker, even after one year of its release

Key takeaways of zdnet

• Fender X Tefel Rockster Cross Speaker is now available for $ 250 (currently $ 200) on Amazon.
• With an immersive option to punch the massive sound and high and climb, this speaker is a great option for those who love it vigorously.
• Rockster cross immersive options may be slightly rigid for some listeners.

Bluetooth speakers are more than a dozen. You can find them on the end caps at the drug store in your neighborhood, and if we can somehow melt the 80s and now, you will probably find them as a toy surprise in grain boxes (yes, I just agitate ourselves).

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Not all Bluetooth speakers are made the same. Bluetooth speakers are almost always found that you pay for a “proposal”, which means that cheap speakers often look like cheap speakers. Once you get involved in the prices of midrange, you will find a lot of speakers that look great. And every time you get down like this Fender Rockster CrossSomething that defines a mid-pris Bluetooth speaker again.

This is the result of a collaboration between Bluetooth speaker guitar brand Fender and Tafael (a popular European audio brand). The series consists of three separate speakers and a backpack in the series as a whole. The rockster cross lineup has a middle -sized speaker.

When I first unboxed this speaker, it immediately added images of the guitar Emps, with its gray metal grill and fender logo. I wanted to catch my old Cramer guitar, channel the spirit of Randy Rhodes, and crank it. Talking about Randy Rhodes, the inauguration of “Mr. Crowlle” made me cold enough through the Rockster Cross. Oh yes

Instead, I had to compromise to crank a song or two characterized by Mr. Rhodes (RIP). The word “wow.”

My experience

When I first added The Rockster Cross, I did my normal drama of Rush’s “Signal” album. My initial response was, “It looks great.” I crank the volume, which would normally be acceptable outside my office, and my response developed, “Okay, it’s impressive.”

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Then … I hit the immersive sound button on the back panel and took a turn to “OMG”. Suddenly, every track thrown by me on the speaker came into life through the methods of a Bluetooth speaker that should not be able to be able to.

After going through the “signal”, I crank the new single, “Powerland,” of Dewin Townsand and rejoiced in the talent of that crazy music scientist. I crank the speaker again and found it to handle decibels without increased deformity. Once I hit around 80 dB, I started worrying about my cat’s comfort and turned it down.

Yes, it handled it better, as much as I would have thought… because it is on the rocks.

Also: This waterproof speaker floats with you in the pool, but it is not its best feature.

Okay, let’s talk about the quality of sound. One thing I should mention that I was mastering the early van Helen albums, so my ear prefers a good balance of climb and height. If you have heard enough albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, you understand what I am talking about.

The Rockster Cross is an ideal match for such an EQ curve. For some, at least can be very high in traced (between 2K and 5K). With wrong music (on the right versions), this frequency range can wear on you. If you find that this is the case, disable the immersive sound feature, and you will find the sound a little more comfortable.

As far as bass is concerned, this child has a lot of punch. Keep your hand on the speaker, and you can feel all while talking. However, climbing to please an audiofile cannot be sufficiently defined, if you want your music to make a big sound, crank it, and you will just get it.

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Soundstage (location between instruments) gets crowded with the rockster cross, but it is quite common in the Bluetooth speaker. This is not to say that there is no soundstage with this speaker, but if it is your priority, you would like to see elsewhere (and in a much higher price range).

One of my favorite coral numbers, OFRIKS Ešenvalds by “The Long Road” was breathtaking as it spread to the rockster cross. If you have never heard that song, do a favor yourself and take it to the Vox 8. It is very beautiful, and this fender speaker does it justice. Each voice is present and different (whatever is saying because some speakers mix them a little tightly).

Sound on one side, one of my favorite aspects of this speaker is a side handle, which allows you to grab and go without any concern that you can leave the rockster cross. Looking at the very grippy rubber coating of the device, you can snatch it with confidence. At the top of it, you do not have to worry about it when Decable hit the rafters, whatever surface it is to slip.

ZDNET purchase advice

I am not going to say that it is an ideal Bluetooth speaker. it. Regularly priced at $ 180, however, I am working hard to think about a more impressive speaker Rockster CrossI love how this clearly handles the volume and never fights in clarity. Although not everyone will appreciate the immersive sound feature, the standard sound is still enough to shake the party, dance people and destroy music.

latest updates:

August 1, 2025: A new comparison chart was added to the Bose Soundalink Plus compared to the Fender X Tefel Rockster Cross. The latter provides a better battery life, surely more powerful bass, and a better suit to travel to its compact design. However, it is more expensive. The old link was also replaced.