What is the deal?
Cyber Monday is over, however this low cost is not. The Fender x Teufel Rockster Cross is $50 off proper now — you should purchase this highly effective, long-lasting Bluetooth speaker for $200.
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Fender x Teufel Rockster Cross speaker is offered now on Amazon for $250 (at present $200).
- With huge sound and an immersive choice to punch up the highs and lows, this speaker is an excellent possibility for individuals who like it loud.
- The Rockster Cross immersive possibility is perhaps a bit harsh for some listeners.
Bluetooth audio system are a dime a dozen. You’ll find them on the top caps at your neighborhood drug retailer, and if we might one way or the other meld the 80s and now, you’d in all probability discover them as toy surprises in cereal bins (yeah, I simply aged myself).
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After all, not all Bluetooth audio system are created equal. Bluetooth audio system are nearly at all times a “get what you pay for” proposition, that means low cost audio system will typically sound like low cost audio system. When you get into the midrange costs, you may discover loads of audio system that sound fairly good. Sometimes, you land on a mid-priced speaker that redefines what a Bluetooth speaker within the $200 to $300 vary will be.
Such is the case with the Fender x Teufel Rockster Cross Bluetooth speaker. This speaker is part of the collaboration between Fender and Teufel (a well-liked European audio model), which incorporates three completely different audio system and a backpack. The Rockster Cross is the mid-sized speaker within the lineup.
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Once I first unboxed this speaker, it instantly conjured photos of guitar amps, with its grey steel grill and Fender emblem. I wished to seize my outdated Kramer guitar, channel the spirit of Randy Rhodes, and crank it up. Talking of Randy Rhodes, the opening of “Mr. Crowley” gave me ample chills by way of the Rockster Cross. Oh, yeah.
As an alternative, I needed to accept cranking up a tune or two that includes Mr. Rhodes (RIP).
The phrase of the day is “wow.”
Earlier than I get into it, let’s speak specs.
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The specs
- Audio system – two material tweeters, a single 5″ material subwoofer, and two passive radiators
- Frequency vary – 50 Hz to twenty,000 Hz
- Enclosure – closed
- Connectivity – Aux, Bluetooth 5.0, Micro USB, aptX, Bluetooth microphone
- Battery – 16 hours at medium quantity
- Amplifier channels – three
- Dimensions – 15″ x 6.3″ X 5.1″
- Weight – 5.3 kilos
- Worth – $249 on Amazon
My expertise
Once I first linked the Rockster Cross, I did my normal playthrough of Rush’s “Alerts” album. My preliminary response was, “That sounds fairly good.” I cranked up the quantity past what would usually be acceptable exterior my workplace, and my response advanced to, “Okay, that is spectacular.”
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Then… I hit the immersive sound button on the again panel and took a flip for the “OMG.” Hastily, each observe I tossed on the speaker got here to life in methods a Bluetooth speaker shouldn’t be able to.
The Immersive button is on to the left of the Energy button.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
After going by way of “Alerts,” I cranked up Devin Townsend’s new single, “Powernerd,” and rejoiced within the brilliance of that mad musical scientist. I cranked the speaker up but once more and located it to deal with the elevated decibels with out distortion. As soon as I hit roughly 80 dB, I began worrying about our cat’s consolation and turned it down.
Yeah, it dealt with it much better than I might have thought… as a result of this factor rocks.
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Okay, let’s speak in regards to the sound high quality. One factor I ought to point out is that I used to be weened on the mastering of early Van Halen albums, so my ears are inclined to choose an excellent stability of lows and highs. For those who’ve listened to sufficient albums mastered within the late Seventies and early-to-mid Nineteen Eighties, you perceive what I am speaking about.
The Rockster Cross is an ideal match for such an EQ curve. For some, there is perhaps an excessive amount of within the low-to-mid treble (between 2K and 5K). With the unsuitable music (on the proper volumes), that frequency vary can put on on you. For those who discover that is the case, disable the immersive sound characteristic, and you will find the sound a bit extra snug.
In true Fender vogue, the speaker comes with a versatile guitar strap.
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
So far as bass is worried, this child has loads of punch. Place your hand on the speaker, and you’ll really feel the sub doing its factor. Though the lows may not be outlined sufficient to please an audiophile, if you need your music to sound huge, crank it up, and you will get simply that.
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The soundstage (the area between devices) will get crowded with the Rockster Cross, however that is pretty widespread in Bluetooth audio system. That is to not say there is no such thing as a soundstage with this speaker, but when it is your precedence, you may need to look elsewhere (and into a lot greater value ranges).
Considered one of my favourite choral numbers, “The Lengthy Highway” by Ēriks Ešenvalds was breathtaking because it spilled from the Rockster Cross. For those who’ve by no means heard that tune, do your self a favor and hearken to VOCES8’s tackle it. It is attractive, and this Fender speaker does it justice. Every voice is current and distinct (which is saying one thing as a result of some audio system are inclined to mix them a bit too tightly).
The seize handles make it simple to hold the speaker with out worrying that you simply would possibly drop it.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Sound apart, one among my favourite points of this speaker is the aspect handles, which let you seize and go with out concern that you simply would possibly drop the Rockster Cross. Given the machine’s very grippy rubber coating, you possibly can snatch this up with confidence. On prime of that, you do not have to fret about it sliding off no matter floor it is on when the decibels hit the rafters.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
I am not going to say it is a excellent Bluetooth speaker. It is not. Repeatedly priced at $250, although, I am hard-pressed to consider a extra spectacular speaker than the Rockster Cross. I really like how this factor handles quantity gracefully and by no means falters in readability. Though not everybody will recognize the immersive sound characteristic, the usual sound continues to be ok to get the get together transferring, the folks dancing, and the music blasting.
It is tough to say for positive when the deal will expire. The $50 value drop has been a constant low cost since Black Friday and will stay effectively into Cyber Week.
Offers are topic to sell-out or expire at any time, although ZDNET stays dedicated to discovering, sharing, and updating the very best product offers so that you can rating the very best financial savings. Our workforce of specialists usually checks in on the offers we share to make sure they’re nonetheless dwell and obtainable. We’re sorry when you’ve missed out on this deal, however do not fret — we’re continuously discovering new probabilities to avoid wasting and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com.
