Fender Newport: a transportable speaker that loves softness

Ergonomics

The Fender Newport is clearly inspired by the aesthetics of the Fender amplifiers, in particular certain Silverface combos emblematic of the end of the 1960s. Logo, colors, metallic-looking plate, buttons and light indication: everything is there, or almost. Certain finishing elements and choice of materials may however disappoint aficionados. Indeed, if we put aside the few small metallic elements (switch, base of buttons and indicators ...), the enclosure is mainly covered and protected by plastic.

Apart from these aesthetic considerations which will depend on the appreciation of each one, one can all the same say that the enclosure is rather robust. The finishes are not really discreet and we can clearly see some assembly marks. However, the chassis of the speaker is particularly thick and solid. Too bad that no resistance in terms of waterproofing is provided by the manufacturer: caution near water points will therefore be required.

The Fender Newport is extremely simple to use. Several light and sound indications are there to guide the user (speaker status, pairing status, calls). Even in the absence of an NFC chip, wireless connection via Bluetooth (compatible with AAC and aptX codecs) is done very quickly. The speaker can also be wired via the 3.5mm mini-jack input on the back.

The USB port, also located at the back, only allows you to charge an external device. A microphone is integrated in the speaker in order to take calls. The continuous potentiometers, located on the upper face, are distinguished by their handling which is both very pleasant and very precise. The change of source is done automatically when a device is connected in mini-jack. It is not possible to connect the speaker to more than one device at a time.

The simplicity of use of this Newport is also due to the fact that it offers very few functionalities and possibilities of control. In fact, it only has two single-function buttons. Apart from launching pairing and managing calls, these buttons do not allow you to manage music playback (pause / play) or navigate between tracks, which is particularly frustrating especially for a speaker born in 2017. What's more, we would really have appreciated a more precise indication of the remaining battery level: only a red LED on the back and an audible signal alert when the battery is low.

Regarding autonomy, the speaker promises 12 hours of use with a full charge. In fact, we were able to exceed this threshold by approximately 4 to 5 hours, a relatively honest value given the size of the enclosure. When recharging a device via USB, battery life drops to less than 5 hours.

The on-board microphone does a good job of capturing. The signal is not extremely clean, since we can hear a very slight whistling sound, but that does not in any way affect the good intelligibility of the voice, which remains understandable even in more delicate situations - when you go back a meter from distance approximately , or when a very close noise is likely to scramble the voice (or to mislead a noise reduction algorithm).

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Audio

For its size, the Newport offers a convincing sound rendering, with a wide frequency response and a good balance across the audible spectrum. However, in view of its weight, its performance must be considered as that of a transportable enclosure. What is more, these very honorable performances are subject to fairly restrictive conditions.

Fender's compact speaker sits well in the extreme bass, allowing for deep bass and better overall seating. The two woofers put a little more emphasis on the bass (between 150 and 280 Hz approximately), which reinforces the roundness and the warm aspect (guitars, male voices, snare, toms, saxophone ...). The approach is interesting for shy songs in the bass, a little less for those who are naturally generous in this area. In this case, you can partially compensate by playing with the bass adjustment potentiometer, even if it means sacrificing a little bass. This setting can also be useful if you position the speaker near a wall or in a corner. Mediums benefit from a good balance. We especially appreciate a very nice highlighting of the voice, which is perfectly clear and intelligible in all situations. As for the highest frequencies, there is a focus that is a little too pronounced on the brightness. Cymbals, shakers, hissing voices and even claps are affected, which can be tiring in the long run.

To benefit from a pleasant and easily readable rendering, it is unfortunately necessary to spare the Newport. Indeed, an excessive rise in volume or the listening of certain pieces can lead the hard life to this speaker. The Newport behaves very well when it has to reproduce pieces with small formations or with a very chiseled mix; much less, however, as soon as the songs become more demanding and more complex (sound scenes very rich in sources, or harmonics). In both cases, it is above all the precision that takes a hit. The low / low midrange takes on more magnitude and forms a sort of mass which causes behind it some masking effects on the higher frequencies. We can calm this phenomenon by reducing the bass with the potentiometer, but this is not enough to regain precision. The shiny side, spicy in the treble and extreme treble, is also reinforced with the increase in volume.

Newport does not make a mark on the reproduction of stereophony. Despite its two woofers, the speaker delivers a particularly narrow scene. In addition, it is very directive, whether on a vertical or horizontal plane. If you want the best possible experience, place it well in the direction of the listening point.

In raw power, the Newport is very capable given its size. It can easily sound a small room (office, bedroom) and even suit larger rooms (living room or dining room, for example). However, as we mentioned above, an excessive increase in volume can have repercussions on the quality of listening.

In the field of communication latency, the Newport is far from being impeccable. Indeed, we were able to measure a latency of more than 200 ms. At this level, a delay between image and sound is slightly perceptible, even on certain sources which naturally compensate for latency (Netflix, YouTube on mobile, for example). If your reader allows, do not hesitate to compensate for this delay.

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Conclusion

The Fender Newport succumbs a little too much to the love of retro. The handling is certainly very simple, the buttons are very pleasant to use, but many essential and / or practical features are missing, especially for a nomad speaker from 2017. As far as sound performance is concerned, the pregnant does not deserve, but given its weight and many frustrating little points (very tight directivity, brightness in the treble, loss of precision on rich songs or with the volume increase ...), it can not claim to the fourth star.

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