The Fender X Teufel Rockster Air 2 isn’t your typical Bluetooth party speaker

The Fender x Teufel Rockster Air 2 is a bit of a niche product. Is it a party-ready Bluetooth speaker for your next tailgater? A guitar amplifier and PA system for your next gig? Or all of the above? With a feature-packed design inspired by classic Fender amps, let’s plug in and crank up the volume to find out in this Fender x Teufel Rockster Air 2 review.

What I like about the Fender x Teufel Rockster Air 2

After spending some time with the Fender x Teufel Rockster Air 2, I’ve discovered that it isn’t your average party-sized Bluetooth speaker. This collaborative speaker quickly catches your eye with its classic Fender amplifier look, right down to the signature silver grill and white piping along its border. While you won’t find any fancy beat-synced LED lights behind the grill, the real magic happens on the Rockster Air 2’s rear control panel.

Offering Bluetooth, XLR, 1/4″ and 3.5mm AUX connections, the Rockster Air 2 is worthy of basement jam sessions or a local coffee shop gig. Plug in your favorite XLR microphone, the 1/4″ output from your acoustic-electric guitar, and run any backing tracks via the Bluetooth or 3.5mm connection. You could even run two if you want to rock a proper stereo setup, or if you’re keen on blasting some eardrums, you can link up to 5 Rockster Air 2 speakers per side for 10 speakers at once with an external mixer. You can run them wired or wireless; Teufel states 58 hours of operation at “mid-volume,” and the unit takes 3 hours to charge. Oh, there’s also a USB-C out for charging your phone. Gig-ready indeed!

Now, I don’t own an acoustic-electric guitar, but I ran my PRS CE 24 electric guitar through the Rockster Air 2 with the help of my favorite amp simulator, two 1/4″ cables, and a Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 interface. With a few quick tweaks of the amp sim settings, I was happy with the tones I could achieve, a nice change from the sound of my tiny 3.5” desktop speakers I’m usually playing through. With my computer connected via Bluetooth, I could also cue up some YouTube backing tracks to jam along with, an underrated way to practice your leads and melodic phrasing. The Rockster Air 2 is proving its versatility once again.

Putting the guitar down and just listening to some tunes, once I increased both levels on the available Bass and Treble EQ knobs, the Rockster Air 2 provides a hefty bass response and noticeable high-end clarity when rocking out to Van Halen’s “I’ll Wait”. At higher volumes, almost cranked, some compression starts to push the guitars and vocals to the front of the mix, masking a good amount of the details from Alex Van Halen’s cymbal work, but there is plenty of usable volume for a single room party before it hits that point.

That said, if you’re throwing a rager on the regular, one speaker most likely won’t cut it. You’ll want to rock two of them for a proper stereo performance to keep your dance floor moving. They also offer built-in speaker stand mounts if you want your setup to look legit and get your tunes closer to eardrum level. Overall, the highs and lows from Rockster Air 2 sound acceptable for a party-sized speaker but could benefit from the addition of a midrange control knob, at a minimum.

What I don’t like about the Fender x Teufel Rockster Air 2

Unfortunately, there is no companion app for the Rockster Air 2, which is a missed opportunity. This means that when it comes to EQ options, you’re left with only the physical Treble and Bass controls on the top of the unit. A 2-band EQ doesn’t quite cut it in my book. It would be nice to fine-tune the sound of the Rockster Air 2 further or perhaps offer some visual controls over your I/O’s.

I’d also like to see some built-in reverb and delay, which are essential effects for vocals. Adding either or both to acoustic-electric guitars is also nice for a bit of texture, especially if you’re playing solo. It’s not a huge deal; guitar players are always looking for an excuse to buy another effects pedal, or they most likely already own one or two of them, but it’s one more thing to bring to a gig. You can’t beat the convenience of built-in effects when they’re available.

My last grievance, again a minor one, is that despite having the word “Air” in its name, the Rockster Air 2 is a bit of a beast at 30 lbs. It’s manageable with side handles and grips on both the top and bottom of the speaker, but a set of wheels would make it even easier to move. If there’s anything musicians love to complain about, it’s the weight of their gear!

Should you buy the Fender x Teufel Rockster Air 2?

At $479, the Fender x Teufel Rockster Air 2 isn’t cheap, but its connection options make it a solid choice for solo performers who want a versatile setup that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker with decent output. As mentioned, you can easily show up at a coffee shop or brewery patio and rock a set with this speaker, backing tracks, and all.

However, although it’s hard to resist its Fender-inspired rock and roll charm, suppose you don’t need to plug in a microphone or instrument, and you’re just looking for a party-worthy Bluetooth speaker to blast some dance tunes out of. In that case, you might find better value elsewhere—like the JBL PartyBox Stage 320 $599.95 at Amazon, which adds a telescopic handle and wheels, a beat-synced light show, and, more significantly, a more customizable sound thanks to a thorough companion app.

Fender x Teufel Rockster Air 2 review: FAQs