Fender® x Teufel™ Bluetooth speakers bring big sound without the bulk

Fender® is a name synonymous with music, but Bluetooth speakers aren’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the brand. That’s where German audio company Teufel™ comes in. The two have teamed up for the ROCKSTER® series, combining Teufel™’s audio engineering with the unmistakable design influence of Fender®.

The lineup includes three speakers, ranging from the ultra-portable ROCKSTER® GO 2 to the much more powerful ROCKSTER® AIR 2. I spent time with the two models that will probably make the most sense for everyday listeners: the ROCKSTER® GO 2 ($99.99) and the ROCKSTER® CROSS ($199.99). Both manage to produce a surprising amount of sound without giving up the portability that makes a Bluetooth speaker convenient in the first place.

The ROCKSTER® GO 2 is small, but definitely not quiet

The ROCKSTER® GO 2 is the smaller of the two, measuring just 8.3 inches wide and weighing 1.6 pounds. At that size, it’s incredibly easy to take just about anywhere. I could easily toss it into a beach bag or backpack for a day out without having to think much about the extra space or weight.

What surprised me was just how loud it gets. During my testing, I had the GO 2 playing downstairs and could still hear it upstairs over the dryer. That’s a lot of volume from something this compact. I also think it would be perfect for a garage gym, where you want enough volume to compete with other noise without dedicating much space to a speaker.

Inside are two 50mm aluminum full-range drivers paired with a passive bass radiator on the front. That radiator also happens to be one of my favorite design details. You can actually watch it move along with the music, particularly when the bass kicks in. It’s a small touch, but it gives the GO 2 a little more personality than the average portable Bluetooth speaker.

Its size also makes the GO 2 particularly well suited to outdoor use. It has an IP67 rating for dust and water protection, making it a practical option for the beach, camping, or just spending time outside. Teufel™ rates the battery for 15 hours at medium volume, with up to 28 hours available in Eco Mode.

Setup couldn’t have been much easier. I paired the GO 2 directly with my phone over Bluetooth and started listening. I didn’t need to download an app or work through any additional setup first.

The ROCKSTER® CROSS takes things up a notch

The ROCKSTER® CROSS is the larger of the two, but I still wouldn’t call it a big speaker. It measures 15 inches wide and weighs 5.3 pounds, and the included Fender® guitar-style carrying strap makes it easy enough to move around when you want to take it outside or bring it along somewhere.

The difference I noticed immediately was the sound. The CROSS sounds fuller and clearer than the GO 2, with considerably more bass behind it. Inside my house, it had no trouble carrying from room to room. I could hear it throughout the entire house without an issue, and I could even hear it clearly over the vacuum while I was cleaning. That isn’t usually the case.

The bass was probably the biggest surprise. The CROSS uses a 5-inch woofer along with two passive radiators, and you can absolutely hear the difference. The bass is surprisingly powerful for a speaker that’s still relatively compact and easy to carry around.

But sheer volume isn’t what impressed me most about the CROSS. It’s the clarity that comes along with it. Even when I really turned it up, the sound stayed crisp and clear instead of getting overwhelmed by all that volume.

Taking it outside only made its power more apparent. There’s enough volume here that I can’t imagine needing much more for a backyard party or larger gathering. Teufel™ also includes an Outdoor Mode designed to improve the listening experience outside.

Like the GO 2, the CROSS was simple to get running. I connected it directly to my phone over Bluetooth and started listening. It also has an IPX5 rating for water resistance and a battery rated for up to 16 hours at medium volume.

So, which one would I choose?

The reason to pick between these two has as much to do with where you’re going to use them as it does sound quality.

I’d grab the GO 2 for the beach, camping, a day at the park, or a garage gym. It’s small enough that bringing it along doesn’t require much thought, yet it gets loud enough that I never felt like I was listening to a tiny speaker.

The CROSS is the one I’d reach for at home or for a backyard party. You’re giving up some of the GO 2’s grab-and-go convenience, but in return you’re getting noticeably better bass, more clarity, and enough output to cover a much larger space.

The Fender® influence is easy to spot on both speakers, from the branding and design details to the guitar-style carrying strap included with the CROSS.

With the GO 2, I get a speaker small enough to take practically anywhere without constantly wishing it had more volume. The CROSS gives me the bass and power I’d want for a party without requiring a massive speaker to get there. And after spending time with both, that’s what surprised me most about this collaboration: Fender® and Teufel™ didn’t just make Bluetooth speakers that look the part. They made two speakers that make you want to keep the music going.