"Portable Bluetooth speakers seemed like an odd pivot until I saw the ELIE 6 at CES 2026. The design language reminded me immediately of brands like Vifa or Bang & Olufsen, that distinctly Nordic approach where simplicity becomes sophistication. A perforated grille, a wooden handle, clean geometric proportions. Nothing about it shouted "look at me," yet I couldn't stop looking."
"They let the ELIE 6 perform at moderate levels, and the three-driver configuration with its dedicated subwoofer produced soundstage depth I didn't expect from something this compact. The wood on that top panel carries particular meaning for anyone who's held a Fender guitar. It's actual fretboard wood, the same material musicians touch every time they play. That detail transforms a carrying handle into something that connects this speaker to decades of musical heritage while maintaining the almost-IKEA minimalism that makes it fit anywhere."
Fender's ELIE 6 presents a minimalist Nordic design with a perforated grille, a wooden fretboard handle, and clean geometric proportions. The handle uses actual fretboard wood, creating a tactile connection to Fender's instrument heritage. The speaker uses a three-driver configuration—dedicated tweeter, full-range driver, and separate subwoofer—to deliver surprising soundstage depth from a compact enclosure. Fender's team demonstrated the speaker at moderate listening levels, avoiding trade-show volume extremes to preserve nuance. Physical volume knobs offer direct tactile control instead of relying solely on smartphone apps. The overall aesthetic balances confident heritage cues with almost-IKEA minimalism for versatile placement.
Read at Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]