This retro-style Bluetooth speaker is trying to outdo Marshall at its own game, but is it up to the task?

Date:
Sat, 17 Jan 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Description:
The Edifier ES60 is a decent retro-style speaker, but its audio performance and underwhelming battery life hold it back from brilliance.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Edifier ES60: two-minute review

Elegant and Supreme. According to Edifier, those are the two words that
define its ES line of speakers. So, as you can imagine, my hopes were pretty high for the Edifier ES60 a Bluetooth speaker that promises immersive and high-quality 360-degree sound.

And in some ways, it met my expectations. Especially in regard to its Elegant side. Yes, this is a very nice-looking speaker. Its retro-style design which is clearly pretty Marshall-inspired is a hit, with its golden details, faux-leather casing, and appealing speaker grille winning me over.

Sure its not the lightest speaker in its size-class, and its IP66 waterproof rating has been outdone by many of the best Bluetooth speakers , but its
still highly portable and able to withstand a good splashing.

I wasnt totally convinced of the ES60s supremacy, though, especially in the audio department. This is a solid-sounding speaker in general, with clear overall audio output and punchy enough bass. However, it lacks the nuance
that many similarly priced rivals offer. Vocals dont sound beautifully separated, and it's not as expressive or energetic as models like the JBL
Flip 7 . The treble is also a little overzealous, and sounds particularly harsh at higher volumes.

The ES60s suite of features is also a bit of a mixed bag. Im a fan of the customizable ambient lighting, USB-C audio passthrough compatibility, and inclusion of a built-in mic for hands-free calls. However, the EQ options are very basic, and theres no custom option, which I wouldve used to temper that treble a touch.

Also, you only get nine hours of battery life from this model, which is underwhelming compared to much of the competition in this price range. For instance, the aforementioned Flip 7 can live for as long as 16 hours, and the Marshall Emberton III can go for up to 32 hours.

When you consider that the Edifier ES60 typically comes in at $199.99 /
119.99 / AU$199.99, it just doesnt feel like great value for money. Rivals outdo it in too many crucial areas, including audio performance, battery
life, and waterproofing. Its still a solid speaker overall, with an
especially eye-catching design, but unless its on sale, I cant recommend it outright. (Image credit: Future) Edifier ES60 review: price and release date $199.99 / 119.99 / AU$199.99 Launched in March 2025

The Edifier ES60 launched in March 2025 as part of Edifiers ES line, which also includes models like the palm-sized Edifier ES20 and larger Edifier
ES300 . It typically sells for $199.99 / 119.99 / AU$199.99, but I have seen it going for less than $150 over on Amazon US on occasion. You can grab the ES60 in either Black or Ivory. Edifier ES60 review: specs

Drivers

1x 18W mid-bass driver; 2x 8W tweeters

Dimensions

7.5 x 3.6 x 3.9 inches / 190 x 92 x 98mm

Weight

2.3lbs / 1kg

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C

Battery life

9 hours

Waterproofing

IP66 (Image credit: Future) Edifier ES60 review: features Attractive customizable lighting Limited EQ options Nine-hour battery life isnt great

Under the hood the Edifier ES60 has a fairly standard configuration for a speaker of its size. Its packed with a single 18W mid-bass driver, alongside two 8W tweeters. That means youre getting a maximum power output of 34W similar to that of the JBL Flip 7, but quite a bit more than its main rival, the Marshall Emberton III .

So, how good does it sound exactly? Ill get onto that later lets take a look at its list of features for now.

You get a lot of the usual stuff here, such as multi-point connectivity, dual-speaker pairing, and companion app compatibility. However, you do get a few neat extras, including a high-sensitivity microphone, which enables you
to take hands-free calls. This even has integrated noise-cancelling technology, which can carve your voice out from busy surroundings.

Another notable inclusion is EQ settings, accessible via the Edifier ConneX app. In honesty, these are pretty basic. You get the default music tuning, alongside a game, movie, and outdoor calibration. There are no genre-specific alternatives, and theres no custom tuning available. That last part is a real shame if theres a specific sound Im aiming for, I always appreciate the option to implement it.

Another negative for me was the speakers battery life. It only delivers nine hours of listening, which just isnt that much for a speaker in its size
class. By comparison, the JBL Flip 7 delivers as much as 16 hours, while the Marshall Emberton III provides a colossal 32 hours.

Its not all bad news, though. One of the best things about the Edifier ES60
is its integrated LED lighting. This emits from the underside of the speaker, and can shine onto a surface to create a bit of ambience. You can customize the color and effect of the lighting in the Edifier ConneX app, which is a nice touch. This can also be disabled entirely if you want to focus on conserving battery life.

You can also access wired audio via the speakers USB-C port, which opens up higher-resolution, more stable listening. Thats an enticing inclusion, and something that a lot of Edifiers rivals skip on. Features score: 3.5/5 (Image credit: Future) Edifier ES60 review: sound quality Decent at mid volumes,
with solid bass output But treble can sound a little overeager Not the best
in terms of nuance and instrument separation

I absolutely adored the sound signature of the Edifier ES60s smaller-sized sibling, the Edifier ES20, so I had pretty high hopes for this one. On top of that, Edifier itself claims that the ES60 plates up a superior sound performance with deep, punchy bass, so I was pretty excited to get into my listening test.

With I Just Wanna Stop by Gino Vannelli, the overall sound was fairly
pleasant at mid-volumes, with clear vocals and well-balanced bass. However, I did sense that drums in the treble range were a tad overstated, which was
only emphasized as I cranked up the loudness.

It was a similar sort of story in the more upbeat Keep the Fire Burning by Gwen McCrae bass was tempered but clean, but those higher-pitched percussive elements were a little over-eager. Again, vocals were quite clear, but not beautifully separated. More generally, instrument separation isnt incredible on the ES60 it doesnt feel as if every individual element can express itself fully.

After this, I tried something a little different, with the bass-heavy Fascinator by Max Dean. I was fairly impressed here, with the deep, pumping bass in the build-up sounding agile and decently regimented. Those highs were pretty aggressive again, and they could potentially get grating over long listening periods, but vocal chops in the midrange were balanced quite well, and didnt sound obscured.

M-Highs 12 O.C Riddim was also handled pretty well. Bass gets very dark in this track, and although the ES60 couldnt quite muster up the full-bodied low end might required to replicate that, it certainly produced a meaty effort.
At higher volumes, though, bass does thin out quite a bit, and theres very obvious compression that treble goes from overzealous to shrill, and vocals lose tonal accuracy.

Another positive is that the ES60 sounds pretty good from every listening angle. I tried walking around our music testing space and office, and the speaker remained fairly consistent at all times.

But how does this model compare against the competition? Well, I tested the ES60 alongside the JBL Flip 7 a speaker with a similar amount of power, and similar price (in the UK at least). And this comparison hammered home why the Flip 7 sits atop my guide to the best Bluetooth speakers .

The key difference I picked up on was the Flip 7s ability to carve out vocals and bring them to the fore, creating a truly emotive listen. In Ned Dohenys Ive Got Your Number , strumming guitars were beautifully weighted on the Flip 7 and sounded as if they occupied their own pocket, while soulful vocals came through with clarity and direction. The ES60 delivered a more one-note performance, which never sounded harsh or unpleasant it just lacked the nuance of JBLs speaker.

Meanwhile, Love At First Sight - Kid Creme Vocal Dub by Kylie Minogue just
had a bit more energy and drive on the Flip 7, a speaker that ultimately surpasses the ES60 in terms of control, instrument separation, and expressiveness. So, even though Edifiers speaker sounds solid overall especially in the low end I just dont think its audio performance can stack up to some big-name rivals.

If the ES60 had a custom equalizer or even some more presets to play around with, it may well be able to compete more effectively, but as I mentioned in the Features section, the options at your fingertips are very limited.

Its also worth flagging that this model only supports the most basic SBC
audio codec theres no fancy stuff like LDAC or aptX Adaptive on-board, and not even any love for AAC. That means you wont get the most insightful, high-resolution listen around if youre streaming over Bluetooth. Sound
quality score: 3.5/5 (Image credit: Future) Edifier ES60 review: design Appealing retro-style aesthetic Decent IP66 waterproof rating Pretty solid feel

The category in which the Edifier ES60 arguably excels the most is design. Sure, its clearly inspired quite a bit by Marshalls Bluetooth speakers, in particular, the Emberton line, but Edifier has pulled off the retro style nicely here.

Its got an attractive speaker grille, faux-leather casing, and golden
details, which help it stand out from much of the crowd. You can also grab this model in either Black or Ivory, and both colorways complement the speakers luxury look beautifully.

On the top side, this model has a simple and effective array of buttons,
which allow you to adjust lighting, playback, or power in an instant. Youll also find a USB-C port on the reverse side of the speaker, which can be used to charge it up or access wired audio.

Earlier, I discussed the speakers LED lighting, which conjures up a little
bit of ambience for immersive listening sessions, and is customizable in the Edifier ConneX app.

So, Im a big fan of the layout and look of the Edifier ES60, but how does it fare in terms of practicality? Well, not too badly. First of all, it's not
the lightest of speakers, coming in at around 2.3lbs / 1kg. However, its just about small enough to carry around one-handed, and theres a fabric strap included if youre traveling a short distance.

The ES60 is also IP66-rated, meaning that its fully dustproof, and able to withstand powerful jets of water from multiple directions. That rating is decent overall, but a lot of the competition goes further, with the JBL Flip 7, for instance, holding an IP68 rating, making it able to survive a dunking under 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes.

Still, this is a solidly built model, and should survive the odd drop when youre out and about. Combine that with its swell look, and the Edifier ES60 nets plenty of points in the design department. Design score: 4.5/5 (Image credit: Future) Edifier ES60 review: value Fairly pricey, especially in the
US Better value rivals out there Still, by no means a bad speaker

Though the ES60 exceeded in the last category, it falls a little flat in
terms of value. Its quite a pricey model, coming in at $199.99 / 119.99 / AU$199.99. Thats especially pricey for the US buyers out there, although I have seen it going for a bit less from time to time its actually selling for around $149.99 on Amazon US.

Even so, thats quite a bit to shell out on a speaker of this size, especially when you consider the imperfect audio quality and feature-set on offer. Dont get me wrong, this is a nice-looking speaker, and it doesnt sound bad by any means, but the competition is just too hot.

Take the JBL Flip 7, for example. It's regularly available for less than the Edifier ES60, plus it sounds better, has superior waterproofing, and offers much more playtime. Even the Marshall Emberton III which this speaker draws inspiration from delivers great audio, stereo sound capabilities, and an
even more luxurious look.

As a result, the Edifier ES60 isnt the value marvel of its sibling, the Edifier ES20 and until it gets a juicy sale, I wont be able to recommend it outright. Value score: 2.5/5 (Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Edifier ES60?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Neat built-in mic and lighting, but poor EQ options and battery life.

3.5/5

Sound quality

Decently clear with solid bass, but lacks nuance and treble gets overexcited.

3.5/5

Design

Appealing aesthetic, well-built, IP66 rating isnt too bad.

4.5/5

Value

By no means a bad speaker, but it cant keep up with the competition in this price category.

2.5/5 Buy it if...

You want a speaker thats also a statement piece
The best thing about the Edifier ES60 is its retro-style aesthetic, which makes it a real standout pick. Its golden details, neat speaker grille, and faux-leather casing make for a great combo, as weve seen with Marshalls Bluetooth speakers, too.

Youre looking to enjoy an ambient listening experience
Another thing that makes the ES60 special is its integrated LED lighting.
This can be customized in the Edifier ConneX app, and helps to create a more atmospheric, ambient listening experience. Don't buy it if...

You want the best sound quality
When comparing the ES60 with the similarly powerful JBL Flip 7, the latter just operated at a new level in terms of audio quality. Unfortunately, the ES60 lacks the nuance, energy and control to compete with the best of the
best in its size and price category.

You dont want to charge your speaker too much
The ES60s nine-hour battery life isnt very impressive, and a whole lot of rivals outdo it for playtime. The two speakers Ive listed below, for example, are far better choices if you dont want to charge your audio companion all
too regularly. Edifier ES60 review: also consider

Edifier ES60

Marshall Emberton III

JBL Flip 7

Price

$199.99 / 119.99 / AU$199.99

$159 / 159 / AU$289

$149 / 129 / AU$179

Drivers

1x 18W mid-bass driver; 2x 8W tweeters

2x 10W full-range drivers, 2 passive radiators

1x 45 x 80mm mid/bass 'racetrack' driver, 1x 16mm tweeter

Dimensions

7.5 x 3.6 x 3.9 inches / 190 x 92 x 98mm

6.3 x 2.7 x 3 inches / 160 x 68 x 76.9mm

2.8 x 7.2 x 2.8 inches / 70 x 183 x 72mm

Weight

2.3lbs / 1kg

1.5lbs / 0.7kg

1.2lbs / 0.6kg

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C

Battery life

9 hours

32 hours

16 hours

Waterproofing

IP66

IP67

IP68

Marshall Emberton III
It only seems right to include the Emberton III here, as it's clearly a point of inspiration for the Elegant Superb 60. We really rated this speaker,
thanks to its pleasantly balanced sound, incredible battery life, and
gorgeous looks. Its certainly a better performer than Edifiers speaker it just doesnt have the integrated lighting. Read our full Marshall Emberton III review .

JBL Flip 7
Ive mentioned the JBL Flip 7 multiple times already, but for good reason. Its simply the best value-for-money Bluetooth speaker on the market, with S-tier waterproofing, an attractive cylindrical design, and almost unfathomably good sound for such a small cylinder. If youre going to buy one speaker in this price range, the Flip 7 would be my top recommendation. Read our full JBL
Flip 7 review . How I tested the Edifier ES60 (Image credit: Future) Tested over the course of one week Mainly used in the music testing space at Future Labs Predominantly tested using Tidal

I spent hours upon hours testing out the Edifier ES60, listening to a ton of music and fiddling around with its various features. During my time testing it, I tried all of its light customization and EQ options, and made sure to try it in a variety of settings.

For the most part, though, I used the ES60 in the music testing room here at Future Labs. When listening to tunes, I went through the TechRadar testing playlist , which features tracks from a range of genres. But I also sifted through a bunch of songs from my personal library mainly via Tidal , but sometimes on Spotify instead.

More generally, Ive reviewed dozens of speakers, headphones, earbuds, soundbars, and more here at TechRadar, where I have a particular focus on audio-visual technology. Ive tested most of the ES60s competition, so I know what it takes for a speaker to stand out in a highly convoluted market. First reviewed: January 2026 Read more about how we test



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/wireless-bluetooth-speakers/edifier-es60-revie w


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