Skip to main content

Fender’s new pro earphones are affordable enough for amateurs

fender earphones 100 available fxa7
Image used with permission by copyright holder
In January, Fender announced that in addition to the guitars, amplifiers, and other musical instruments the company is known for, it would also introduce a new line of in-ear monitors (IEMs). At the time, the company said that the new line would launch in March, but that month came and went without the release.

It may be a little later than the company said, but the new IEMs — a total of five different models — are now available. Though the Fender name would imply that the in-ears are aimed primarily at musicians, the company says that they are meant for everything, and with a range of prices starting at $100 and going up to $500, there are models for a variety of different budgets.

Related: Sony’s new high-end gear aims at the practical enthusiast

“Fender Pro In-Ear Monitors offer something for everyone at different price points, transforming the listening experience for performing musicians, audiophiles and serious music lovers, alike,” said Jim Ninesling, VP of Fender Amplifiers and Pro Audio. “These products represent years of development and showcase Fender’s commitment to quality, innovation, and best-in-class design.”

The FXA2, FXA5, FXA6, and FXA7 all feature 3D-printed digital hybrid technology housings, custom-designed drivers, and feature Fender’s patented Hybrid-Dynamic tuned Balanced Armature Array. Each model is available in its own color (all of which are fairly flashy), or in a more subdued metallic black. The lower-end DXA1 comes in a transparent plastic housing.

Every model features a detachable MMCX cable — a nice feature often only seen in higher-end IEMs. A variety of different ear tips, a cleaning tool, and a deluxe carrying case are included with each model, even the more affordable models, making them a solid buy, as long as they fit you well. Fender says that each model fits 95 percent of ears, but we haven’t yet had the chance to try them out and see for ourselves.

The new IEMs are available now from Amazon as well as musician-focused online retailers like American Musical, Guitar Center, Sam Ash, and others, with in-store availability at select retail stores coming soon. For more information, see Fender’s website.

A version of this post first appeared on our “brother site” Digital Trends.

Kris Wouk
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
Everything points to Apple TV+ making a change you’re not going to like
Is an ad-supported tier coming to Apple TV+?
The Apple TV Plus Logo

It turns out that TV worked pretty well under its old model. According to a new report from Business Insider, Apple TV+ may be the latest streaming service that's set to introduce an ad-supported tier and charge those who don't stream with ads a premium fee to access their great shows and movies.

At this point, the report is still speculation, but Apple has made several recent hires in the advertising space that seem to suggest the direction they're planning to take. The company recently hired former NBCUniversal ad executive Joseph Cady to serve as executive vice president of advanced advertising and partnerships, a move that comes following the company's hiring of another former NBCUniversal executive, Jason Frum, who joined Apple's video ad sales team.

Read more
From Gilda Radner to Ali Wong, these are the best female comedians of all time
These women from all generations will make you laugh out loud
Ai Wong comedian 2017 Moontower comedy festival

Hot take: I don’t care for straight male comedians. It’s not that they’re not funny, they’re just … I don’t know, boring? Maybe that’s reductive of me, but I never seem to leave a straight male comedian’s set feeling particularly inspired. And though some may argue that it’s not important for a set to "inspire" its audience, I’d actually argue that the opposite is true. For me, I want to see a comedian use humor to address real issues and say real things about the world, even if they do it in a completely goofy way.

Therefore, I tend to prefer female and female-identified comedians. They’re sharp, tough, and have often seen shit that makes their comedy feel raw and true. Undoubtedly there are male comedians who do this, too, but to a much lesser degree, in my very humble and very personal opinion.

Read more
12 classic sci-fi books everyone should read
If you love science fiction and reading, these classic sci-fi novels are a must
Man reading a book and drinking coffee

It may feel like we were recently living in a science-fiction dystopia life -- and in some ways, we were -- but that doesn't mean that we should simply avoid an entire genre of writing. Hardly. In fact, this is probably the perfect time to explore classic sci-fi books, to see what the masters have written, and maybe even see if someone predicted anything like this. Many, though, simply ignore sci-fi wholly and completely because of an association with robots, aliens, and the like.

Long story short, if you think you don't like sci-fi, you have never read great books from the genre. But indeed, many such books abound, including a number that has delighted generations of readers going back well over 150 years. In fact, one of the best things about so many sci-fi books is their very timelessness. As by definition, this type of fiction breaks away from the norms of the everyday world -- whether slightly twisting things or taking place on entire other worlds -- the stories often feel as fresh and relevant today as when they were published decades ago.

Read more