If you want better EQ customization
Choose Marshall Middleton II. It scores 4.5 vs 2.4 for EQ customization, with a 3.8 overall score.
Bottom Line
Choose it for premium retro styling, punchy bass, big volume, and handy USB-C audio. Skip it if long battery life, fine EQ control, advanced Bluetooth codecs, or the strongest full-price value matter most.
Best for
Best for listeners who want a stylish portable speaker with strong bass, high output, tasteful lighting, and useful USB-C audio for desks, rooms, or casual outdoor use.
Not for
Not ideal for buyers who prioritize long battery life, manual EQ control, advanced Bluetooth codecs, highly refined vocals, or the strongest value at full price.
Verdict
The ES60 wins people over first with its premium retro design, then backs that up with surprisingly large, punchy sound. Reviewers repeatedly praise the bass, room-filling volume, sturdy build, tasteful ambient lighting, and useful USB-C audio, while Bluetooth pairing and multipoint are generally trouble-free. The tradeoff is refinement and endurance: several listeners hear overemphasized treble or weaker vocal separation, the app offers only basic EQ presets, and SBC-only Bluetooth limits codec choice. Battery life is the biggest split, with some users finding roughly nine hours adequate and others calling it a major weakness. Value therefore depends heavily on price; discounted, it looks much stronger, while at full price several reviewers prefer competing speakers with longer runtime or more polished sound.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
50 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.021 (42%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.418 (36%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.46 (12%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.44 (8%)
-
Very negative below 1.51 (2%)
Pros highlights
-
Overall sound earns broad praise for scale, clarity, warmth, and bass impact from a compact enclosure. Critical voices still point to treble harshness, weaker vocal nuance, and limited refinement versus leading rivals.
-
Most reviewers like or recommend the ES60, especially for its style and energetic sound. The more cautious verdicts center on battery life, treble balance, EQ limits, and full-price competition.
-
Design is the strongest point of agreement: reviewers repeatedly praise the retro styling, faux leather, metal grille, gold accents, and premium feel. The ES60 is often treated as a speaker that doubles as a décor piece.
-
Bass is one of the ES60’s clearest strengths, repeatedly described as punchy, warm, powerful, and impressive for the size. A few listeners wanted deeper extension or noted thinning at very high volume.
-
Ambient lighting is usually praised as tasteful, cozy, and well matched to the design, though one reviewer wanted more color options.
-
Tuning draws mixed reactions: many hear a warm, balanced sound with clear mids and punchy bass, while others find the treble too aggressive, mids recessed, or the default sound over-bassy.
Cons highlights
-
Battery opinions are sharply split. Several reviewers found roughly nine hours adequate or even good, while others called it underwhelming, terrible, or a major weakness—especially at higher volume.
-
EQ control is one of the most repeated complaints. The four presets can be useful, but many reviewers say they change too little and strongly miss a true manual or custom EQ.
-
High-volume behavior depends on the listener and material. Some found no noticeable distortion or heard the speaker stay composed, while others reported compression, harsh treble, or thinner bass near the top of the range.
-
Microphone quality is serviceable rather than standout. Voices remain understandable, but reviewers describe the mic as somewhat muffled and less clear than hoped.
-
Codec support is a recurring limitation: the ES60 is criticized for SBC-only Bluetooth with no AAC, LDAC, or aptX options.
-
Imaging is mixed: some reviewers criticize weak vocal and instrument separation, while another heard a noticeably wider soundstage from the front/rear tweeter layout.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Portable Bluetooth Speakers, this product is above average in Charging cable inclusion, Omnidirectional sound, Wired audio connectivity, near average in Overall sound quality, Overall satisfaction, below average in Power reliability, EQ customization, Bluetooth connectivity.
Comparison summary
48 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher17 (35%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts17 (35%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower14 (29%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power reliability | 1.0 | 3.1 | -2.1 |
| Charging cable inclusion | 4.8 | 3.0 | +1.8 |
| EQ customization | 2.4 | 3.8 | -1.4 |
| Bluetooth connectivity | 3.0 | 4.6 | -1.6 |
| Battery life (if portable) | 3.3 | 4.2 | -0.9 |
| Omnidirectional sound | 4.5 | 3.3 | +1.2 |
| Wired audio connectivity | 4.3 | 3.3 | +1.0 |
| Bluetooth codec support | 2.0 | 3.1 | -1.1 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Bluetooth codec support
Choose JBL Go 5. It scores 4.3 vs 2.0 for Bluetooth codec support, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better Power reliability
Choose Marshall Bromley 450. It scores 5.0 vs 1.0 for Power reliability, with a 4.5 overall score.
If you want better Battery life (if portable)
Choose JBL Boombox 4. It scores 4.8 vs 3.3 for Battery life (if portable), with a 4.4 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
JBL Flip 7
- Alternative: dynamic all-around sound The JBL Flip 7 is recommended instead for buyers prioritizing a more capable all-around sound.
- Better: vocal separation and expressiveness The ES60 is less expressive and less convincing at separating vocals than the JBL Flip 7.
Marshall Emberton III
- Alternative: dynamic all-around sound The reviewer recommends the Marshall Emberton III instead for buyers wanting stronger all-around sound.
- Better: battery life The ES60's nine-hour endurance trails the much longer runtime cited for the Marshall Emberton III.
MP230
- Worse: sound output The ES60 is described as delivering dramatically more impressive sound than the MP230.
- Worse: sound quality A commenter in the source transcript says the ES60 sounds much better than the MP230.
FAQ
How does the Edifier ES60 sound?
Most reviewers praise its punchy bass, warmth, clarity, and surprisingly big volume. Some listeners hear too much treble or less vocal separation than top rivals.
How good is the battery life?
Battery feedback is mixed. Several sources found roughly nine hours adequate, while others called it underwhelming or poor, especially at higher volume.
Can you customize the EQ?
The ConneX app provides preset modes, but many reviewers criticize the lack of a true manual or custom EQ.
Is it good for outdoor use?
Most sources describe IP66 protection and view it as suitable for rain, splashes, dust, gardens, and poolside use, but not full submersion.
Does USB-C audio work well?
Usually yes: reviewers praise USB-C for stable, cleaner wired playback. One customer reported much lower USB-C volume and noted that the microphone only works in Bluetooth mode.
Is it worth the price?
Value depends heavily on the selling price. Several reviewers think it is compelling or excellent value, while others say the regular price is hard to justify against stronger rivals.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Brisy Tech Bytes
- Review score
- 4.1
YouTube - Tech Jamo
- Review score
- 3.5
YouTube - Dem Crumblies Tech
- Review score
- 4.7
Article Reviews
architeg-prints.com
Exploring the Edifier ES60’s blend of retro charm and sound—does this stylish Bluetooth speaker truly outshine Marshall?
- Review score
- 2.9
controllernerds.co.uk
Martin is back with a boom in his latest review which is the Edifier ES60. Come along and have a ready at what he thinks of this speaker.
- Review score
- 4.3
tomsguide.com
The Edifier ES60 is a great Bluetooth speaker, delivering punchy bass, and it's packed with features. But its rivals upstage it in more ways...
- Review score
- 3.9
techradar.com
The Edifier ES60 is a decent retro-style speaker, but its audio performance and underwhelming battery life hold it back from brilliance.
- Review score
- 3.3
whatgadget.net
Edifier are a brand we have been covering for a few years now, and we have reviewed several products from them, such as headphones like the...
- Review score
- 4.6
Top Portable Bluetooth Speakers to Consider
Best for rich, room-filling stereo sound, easy Sonos expansion and flexible Bluetooth/AirPlay playback. Skip it if Google Assistant, Dolby Atmos or true battery-powered portability is essential.
Pros: Bass performance, Overall sound quality
Cons: Google, Wired input
Best for powerful 360° sound, exceptional battery life, premium styling, and flexible mic/instrument inputs. Skip it if you want a light, inexpensive speaker or deep app-based control.
Pros: Battery life (if portable), Weight convenience
Cons: App reliability, Remote control usability
Choose the Boombox 4 if you want huge bass, extreme outdoor volume, long battery life, IP68 durability, and a replaceable battery in a carryable boombox. Skip it if price, lighter...
Pros: Overall satisfaction, Overall sound quality
Cons: Energy efficiency, Microphone
Choose the StormBox Micro 3 for rugged travel, magnetic mounting, long battery life, strong value, and surprisingly full sound. Skip it if you need premium codecs, aux input, refined detail,...
Pros: Magnetic mounting, Frequency response balance
Cons: Backwards compatibility, Distortion at high volume