Fender Mix Headphones Review: Over-Ear Units

Unlike the Fairbuds XL, which can be almost completely disassembled into nine parts, the Mix consists of four main components: the headband, ear cups, ear cushions, and battery. Although repairability is obviously an advantage, Fender’s primary focus is on the ability to mix and match parts — hence the name. Eventually, each part will be available in five different colors, and some parts, like the ear cups, will come in different materials to suit warmer or cooler climates.

My 10-day stint with the Mix wasn’t nearly enough time to evaluate whether the USB-C-based connections between the earcups and headband (an item shared with the Fairbuds XL) would prove sturdy enough for long-term use, but it showed no obvious signs of weakness. In fact, I was impressed with how tightly the parts fit together, and how well-designed these cases are overall. When you carry or wear it, you would never guess that it can be separated with a tug.

Photography: Simon Cohen

I found this combination comfortable to wear, even with glasses. The earpads provide a soft, effective seal, and the headband does a good job of distributing pressure. The holding power felt a bit aggressive when I first wore it, but after a few minutes, I got used to it and happily wore it for hours on end. The only issue I have is the size of the ear pad holes; They’re a little tight for my taste. I prefer a roomier fit.

Like Apple’s AirPods Max, the earbuds attach magnetically to the ear cups, but on the Mix, they serve a dual purpose: Not only do they make swapping out the pads easy (they’ll be on sale for $29 a pair later this year), but they’re also how you access the Bluetooth USB-C transmitter, which lives under the left earcup, and how you access the battery compartment (below the right one). Fender expects replacement cells to cost $49, but did not say when they will be available.

Goodbye bad transmissions

Photography: Simon Cohen

The transmitter is a remarkably useful little gadget. Using its button (and LED indicator), you can switch between lossless (red), low latency (blue), and Bluetooth Auracast (purple) modes. Data loss (via the LHDC v5 codec in case you’re curious) is a bonus, especially for iPhone owners, who are typically limited to missing SBC and AAC connections. I don’t play, but if Fender’s claim of sub-20ms performance in low-latency mode is accurate, this should please all but the most hardcore and fast gamers. Auracast (via LE Audio/LC3) is a real treat: it lets you share audio with anyone who has an Auracast-compatible set of headphones or earbuds. Mix can also tune in to any other Auracast broadcasts as well, but there’s a catch.