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Why I still recommend this $180 Bluetooth speaker even a year after its release

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Fender Rockster Cross ZDNET's key takeaways The Fender x Teufel Rockster Cross speaker is available now on Amazon for $250 (currently $200).

With massive sound and an immersive option to punch up the highs and lows, this speaker is a brilliant option for those who love it loud.

The Rockster Cross immersive option might be a bit harsh for some listeners. $179.99 at Amazon

Bluetooth speakers are a dime a dozen. You can find them on the end caps at your neighborhood drug store, and if we could somehow meld the 80s and now, you'd probably find them as toy surprises in cereal boxes (yeah, I just aged myself).

Also: The best Bluetooth speakers of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

Not all Bluetooth speakers are created equal. Bluetooth speakers are almost always a "get what you pay for" proposition, meaning cheap speakers will often sound like cheap speakers. Once you get into the midrange prices, you'll find plenty of speakers that sound pretty good. And every so often, you land on something like the Fender Rockster Cross; something that redefines what a mid-price Bluetooth speaker can be.

This Bluetooth speaker is the result of a collaboration between guitar brand Fender and Teufel (a popular European audio brand). The series, as a whole, consists of three different speakers and a backpack. The Rockster Cross is the mid-sized speaker in the lineup.

When I first unboxed this speaker, it immediately conjured images of guitar amps, with its gray metal grill and Fender logo. I wanted to grab my old Kramer guitar, channel the spirit of Randy Rhodes, and crank it up. Speaking of Randy Rhodes, the opening of "Mr. Crowley" gave me sufficient chills through the Rockster Cross. Oh, yeah.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Instead, I had to settle for cranking up a song or two featuring Mr. Rhodes (RIP). The word of the day is "wow."

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