Portable speakers are becoming more and more popular, largely thanks to the increased audio quality you can expect from one. The versatility offered by portable speakers is also high on the list of benefits for owning one. After all, many portable speakers can be used for both PC gaming and audio from smartphones.
Teufel might not be recognized by the gaming community, but the brand has been creating quality speakers for decades. They’ve recently begun branching out to deliver noise-cancelling headphones and crystal clear gaming headsets. They’ve even partnered with the exceptional standalone mic brand, Shure, to streamline quality audio recording setups.
Now, they’re partnering with the legendary guitar and amp brand, Fender, to create an updated portable speaker ready for all kinds of adventures. I got to test the Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2 this past month, and it has certainly impressed me, but what exactly does this nearly $100 speaker bring to the table?
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Box Contents
- Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2 speaker
- Charging cord
- Carrying strap
- Guitar pick
There isn’t much to the Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2’s packaging, but the addition of a Fender guitar pick is a nice touch. Since it’s not listed on the packaging list, it’s unclear which regions will receive the guitar pick or for how long they’ll be available.
Game Rant typically receives consumer-grade review samples, meaning we get shipped exactly what any buyer would expect.
Design & Portability
The trapezoidal speaker certainly takes after its Fender origins, with a cool, simple color scheme of black and metal, very much like a mini guitar amp. The minimalist design is modern, but the central logo catches light and shines in a perfectly retro style. Other highlights, in white, gray, and silver, also work to reflect light and create a shiny, retro aura around the speaker.
The top, bottom, and back are covered in a dark, soft rubber that feels great and won’t slip easily from your hands. Further helping your grip is the detachable fabric handle. This stretchy strap simply hooks onto one end of the speaker’s back and velcros around a hook on the other end. The velcro is surprisingly strong, and the strap is almost too taut.
That being said, the handle strap certainly feels secure. Walking with the speaker and even shaking it didn’t make the strap so much as hint at failing. Even if it did, the velcro connection is extremely strong, again being almost too resistant to separation.
Regardless, a full fall wouldn’t be too bad thanks to the rubberized top, bottom, and back that also protect against drops. Plus, the Rockster Go 2 is rated at IP67 against dust and water, meaning that it can even survive three feet of water for half an hour, and temperatures as low as 15 degrees.
The face of the speaker is definitely the weakest spot, despite the metal mesh covering. The most important part, the passive radiator, is recessed in the center, so it still manages to be very well protected against drops.
The battery life is really excellent. It lasted a bit longer than advertised on a single charge, though I used it for only about two hours at a time over two weeks before charging, which may have helped conserve energy.
However, charging is an overnight task for sure. There’s no quick charge, so when I charged the speaker for about an hour and a half after receiving the low battery warning tone, I only got 50% of the battery life back.
The battery light indicators are very useful. There are four of them, and when charging they will glow solidly or flash, depending on whether the corresponding percentage of battery life has been refilled. It’s a small detail to add, but not having to unplug or turn on the speaker or open an app to check the charge status is still a bit of a rare feature.
The tones used to notify you of a low battery, a new connection, or any of the other audio indicators are dulcet ones from a digital guitar strum, apparently a call back to the Fender brand. These soft tones are unique and unobtrusive, yet distinct and clear. It’s incredibly easy to recognize each note and what status change they represent.
Connectivity & Audio Quality
Everything about the Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2 feels easy-going, yet capable. Connecting to the Go 2 speaker is super simple and quick, especially thanks to the strong Bluetooth signal.
There’s a single connection button you need to press and, voilà, your phone, tablet, or computer is connected! The size again comes in handy here, as the speaker fits well on top of even the most compact desks and on narrow desk display shelves.
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I didn’t get the chance to test out connecting the Go 2 with a duplicate, but it’s worth mentioning that you can create a real surround sound experience by syncing two of these speakers. In fact, you can supposedly daisy-chain up to 100 of the Go 2 speakers!
Even if you don’t want to stockpile speakers, the Rockster Go 2 can deliver immersive sound. The speaker implements two main tools to enhance the audio output: a broad passive radiator and Dynamore, Teufel’s in-house audio technology.
The front passive radiator is a semi-floating disc embedded in a protective plastic and metal divot. When audio is playing, the disc visibly vibrates with the bass, which is not just a way for it to look cool, but helps beef up the deeper, meatier tones.
Turning on the Dynamore function definitely makes a big difference. It’s just a matter of pressing the Wi-Fi-looking symbol at the top of the speaker, but it’s useful for various situations. When it’s off, the music is much more pointed and shallow. Honestly, this is ideal for public spaces, such as the beach or a park.
With Dynamore on though, the audio gains an incredible amount of depth as the speaker creates a pseudo-surround sound experience. The soundstage widens in a way that’s ideal for indoor parties where the music can bounce off of walls and further increase both the volume and the surround sound qualities.
Even though this virtual approach is far from the real thing, Dynamore does create a pretty realistic surround sound listening experience. That being said, for FPS gaming or games heavy with dialogue, turning this function off delivers more pointed, crisp audio, as the echoes of the false surround sound amplify everything so much that these finer noises can get lost in the mix.
The Rockster Go 2 gave an excellent performance regardless of whether I was playing Fortnite on PC or listening to music through my phone while cooking.
Should You Get the Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2?
This new speaker from two respected audio brands is a promising addition to Teufel’s lineup. To be perfectly honest, the Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2 is a little pricey. However, it earns its price in a way that will have plenty of people picking one up.
Its retro style is perfect for warm, wooden PC desks, as well as outings to the beach or a friend’s house. Plus, the thoughtful design protects the speaker from even the most severe drops and spills.
I found it incredibly easy to connect to all kinds of Bluetooth devices, and switching between different devices was just as simple. Plus, the battery life was awesome. I loved not having to charge the speaker much, even if that inevitable charge was very slow.
The audio quality is, of course, the star of the show. Dynamore stretches the depths of the speaker’s ability, making it sound much higher-end than it actually is. Further, it’s not just a button that should constantly be turned on, with distinct differences making it better or worse for the type of audio you’re playing.
Similar Alternatives
If the Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2 doesn’t seem to be right for you, one of these portable speakers may be a better option:
|
Portable Speaker |
Key Feature |
Price |
|---|---|---|
|
Razer Leviathan V2 X Kuromi Edition Soundbar |
Unique, RGB Aesthetic |
|
|
Anker Soundcore 2 |
Budget Priced |
$28 |
|
Soundcore Motion 300 |
Multiple Colors |
$62 |
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