These Fender headphones rivaled my Sony WH-1000XM6 in ways I wasn't expecting

Source: ZDNet

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Fender Mix are available for preorder in Skyscraper Black and Olympic White for $299.
• They offer several connectivity options, hi‑fi streaming, and a marathon‑length battery.
• For the price, they underperform in audio consistency and noise‑cancellation performance.

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There’s a new headphone brand in town. You may have seen Fender on a guitar amp or on a rock‑legend’s stage, but the company is now entering the consumer‑audio market with the Mix headphones.

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If you’re looking for affordable headphones with multiple connectivity options, solid audio, decent noise‑cancellation, and a long‑lasting battery, the Fender Mix are worth a look. They’re a solid first attempt, but Fender still has a few kinks to iron out.

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Performance Overview

• Audio quality: The Mix can reach 96 kHz/24‑bit lossless audio, with latency as low as 20 ms in Low‑Latency mode. They support Auracast, wired, and USB‑C audio transmission.
• Connectivity: A removable left earcup houses a wireless transmitter that improves audio quality and latency when used instead of a standard Bluetooth link.

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When I paired the Mix with my iPhone 17 via standard Bluetooth, the sound was bass‑heavy and imbalanced—left channel emphasized bass and lower mids more than the right. Switching to the USB‑C transmitter made the audio significantly more balanced, putting it on par with similarly priced JBL or Beats models.

Jada Jones / ZDNET

Controls & App

• No dedicated companion app, so EQ adjustments are limited to three preset modes: Music, Voice, and Entertainment.
• Two multifunction buttons on the right earcup handle power, device connection, volume, playback, track skipping, noise‑cancellation modes, and EQ presets.
• The joystick‑style button is intuitive, but without visual feedback you must rely on chimes and LED colors to confirm changes.

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Noise Cancellation

• Performs well in quiet to moderately noisy environments (e.g., an office), comparable to Sennheiser or JBL budget models.
• Struggles in louder settings such as gyms; overhead music and machinery noise are only partially attenuated. Raising the volume to compensate muddies the bass and vocal clarity.

Jada Jones / ZDNET

Practical Considerations

• Modular design: Removable earpads for style changes and an easily accessible battery for self‑repair.
• Water resistance: None. Getting the headphones wet could damage internal components, especially the battery and transmitter.

Bottom Line

The Fender Mix headphones are a decent entry‑level option for users who value multiple connectivity methods and a long battery life. They deliver respectable sound and noise cancellation for the $200‑$300 price range, but they fall short of flagship Sony or Bose models in consistency and overall performance. If you’re comfortable working around the lack of a companion app and can keep the headphones dry, they’re a solid, stylish alternative to other mid‑range over‑ear options.

ZDNET Buying Advice

Fender Mix – A solid choice for users who want reliable connectivity and low‑latency performance (thanks to the USB‑C dongle). Ideal for office or study environments and on‑the‑go gaming between meetings or classes.

If you need better audio quality, active noise‑cancelling performance, and a companion app for customization, consider one of the following:

• Bose QuietComfort Headphones
• JBL Live 770NC