If you want better EQ customization
Choose JBL Go 5. It scores 4.3 vs 2.4 for EQ customization, with a 4.2 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
52 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.023 (44%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.417 (33%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.47 (13%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.44 (8%)
-
Very negative below 1.51 (2%)
Pros
-
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.
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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.
-
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.
-
The ES60 plays unexpectedly loud for its size and can fill bedrooms, living rooms, garages, and even larger social spaces. Wired USB-C playback can be noticeably quieter for at least one owner.
-
Music playback is generally enjoyable, with strong bass, good scale, and engaging dynamics. The main reservation is that more critical listeners hear less nuance and refinement than top 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.
Cons
-
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.
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Codec support is a recurring limitation: the ES60 is criticized for SBC-only Bluetooth with no AAC, LDAC, or aptX options.
-
A customer reported a serious charging-resume problem: after reaching full charge, the speaker would not automatically begin charging again without reconnecting the cable.
-
Fast-paced gaming is a clear weak spot, with noticeable audio delay reported in PUBG-style play even though movies and ordinary video stay acceptably synchronized.
-
One reviewer specifically disliked that no wall charger is supplied in the box, leaving charging speed dependent on the adapter already available.
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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 Omnidirectional sound, Wired input, Design and aesthetics, near average in Overall sound quality, Bass performance, below average in Power reliability, EQ customization, Bluetooth connectivity.
Comparison summary
48 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher19 (40%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts16 (33%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower13 (27%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power reliability | 1.0 | 4.0 | -3.0 |
| EQ customization | 2.4 | 3.8 | -1.4 |
| Bluetooth connectivity | 3.0 | 4.6 | -1.6 |
| Omnidirectional sound | 4.5 | 3.2 | +1.3 |
| Battery life (if portable) | 3.3 | 4.2 | -0.9 |
| Wired input | 4.3 | 3.2 | +1.1 |
| Bluetooth codec support | 2.0 | 3.2 | -1.2 |
| Design and aesthetics | 4.9 | 4.3 | +0.6 |
Consider This Instead
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 Bluetooth codec support
Choose JBL Boombox 4. It scores 4.4 vs 2.0 for Bluetooth codec support, with a 4.4 overall score.
If you want better Battery life (if portable)
Choose JBL Go 4. It scores 4.3 vs 3.3 for Battery life (if portable), with a 4.1 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
- 4.0
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
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