Fender Mix Headphones Review: Modular Over-Ears

Unlike the Fairbuds XL, which tin beryllium astir wholly disassembled successful 9 parts, the Mix are composed of 4 main ingredients: the headband, the receptor cups, the receptor cushions, and the battery. While repairability is intelligibly a benefit, Fender’s main absorption is connected the quality to premix and lucifer the parts—hence the name. Eventually, each portion volition beryllium disposable successful 5 antithetic colors, and immoderate parts, similar the receptor cushions, volition travel successful antithetic materials for warmer oregon cooler climates.

My 10-day stint with the Mix wasn’t astir capable clip to measure whether the USB-C-based connections betwixt the receptor cups and the headband (an constituent they stock with the Fairbuds XL) volition beryllium sturdy capable for semipermanent use, but they didn't amusement immoderate evident signs of weakness. In fact, I was impressed astatine however solidly the parts clicked together, and conscionable however good built these cans consciousness successful general. Holding them oregon wearing them, you’d ne'er conjecture they could beryllium pulled isolated with a tug.

I recovered the Mix comfy to wear, adjacent with glasses. The receptor cushions supply a brushed but effectual seal, and the headband does a decent occupation of distributing pressure. The clamping unit felt a small assertive erstwhile I archetypal enactment them on, but aft a fewer minutes, I got utilized to it and happily wore them for hours astatine a stretch. My lone nitpick is the size of the receptor cushion openings; they’re a small constrictive for my taste. I similar a roomier fit.

Like the Apple’s AirPods Max, the receptor cushions magnetically latch to the receptor cups, but connected the Mix, it serves a dual purpose: Not lone does it marque swapping cushions a cinch, (they’ll merchantability for $29 a brace aboriginal this year), but it’s besides however you entree that USB-C Bluetooth transmitter, which lives nether the near receptor cushion, and however you get to the artillery compartment (under the close one). Fender expects replacement cells to outgo $49 but hasn’t said erstwhile they’ll beryllium available.

Farewell Bad Transmissions

The transmitter is simply a remarkably utile small tool. Using its fastener (and LED indicator), you tin power betwixt lossless (red), low-latency (blue), and Bluetooth Auracast (purple) modes. Lossless (via the LHDC v5 codec successful lawsuit you were curious) is simply a bonus, particularly for iPhone owners, who are typically constricted to lossy SBC and AAC connections. I don’t game, but if Fender’s assertion of sub-20-millisecond show for the low-latency mode is accurate, that should fulfill each but the astir diehard, fast-action crippled players. Auracast (via LE Audio/LC3) is simply a existent treat: It lets you stock your audio with anyone who has an Auracast-compatible acceptable of headphones oregon earbuds. The Mix tin besides tune into immoderate different Auracast broadcasts, too, but there’s a catch.