Edifier Es60 vs Goldring Gr3 Turntable Review: Performance, Price, and Verdict

I've been living with both the Edifier Es60 and the Goldring Gr3 turntable (one after the other, and sometimes side-by-side) for the last several months. As someone who started out with a simple shelf system and gradually fell back into vinyl, I wanted gear that sounded good, was easy to live with, and wouldn’t require a master’s degree in setup. What I found was that these two pieces of equipment approach the same goal—bringing records to life—in very different ways. Below I share my hands-on impressions, the things I loved, the things that bothered me, and a practical buying guide if you’re trying to decide which one to make part of your listening room.

Introduction: Why I compared these two

My interest in this comparison began because the Edifier Es60 represents a modern, user-friendly approach to vinyl playback—often pitched to people who want an attractive, relatively foolproof turntable that slots into a living room—whereas the Goldring Gr3 felt like a more traditionally slavish take on analogue sound: quieter, perhaps more revealing, and geared toward someone who cares about cartridge and tonearm synergy. In my experience, those differences matter a lot when you actually live with a turntable. Over months of listening I evaluated setup, day-to-day use, sound quality (across genres), build and finish, and how forgiving each unit is when records aren't immaculate.

Unboxing and first impressions

When I unpacked the Edifier Es60, what struck me first was the presentation: neat foam inserts, a glossy dust cover that feels sturdy enough for regular use, and clear, simple instructions. Setting it up took me about 15–20 minutes—out of the box the platter was balanced, the counterweight had to be dialed in, and the built-in (switchable) phono preamp made integration with my powered speakers painless. I wasn’t fiddling with tools or docs for long, which I appreciated.

The Goldring Gr3 arrived in a more understated box and felt heavier out of the case. The platter has a reassuring weight to it and the tonearm vibes were noticeably different: smoother action, less side play, and a more delicate headshell mount. Setup required a bit more patience—aligning the cartridge and dialing tracking force felt like a task worth taking my time with. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys fine tuning, you’ll like this; if you want a plug-and-play living-room solution, it’s more demanding than the Edifier.

Build quality and usability

In my experience, the Edifier Es60 favors good looks and sensible ergonomics. The chassis is solid, though not massively heavy. The dust cover closes cleanly and the cueing lever is smooth. The Es60’s controls are straightforward and labeled clearly. One practical thing I appreciated: the Es60’s speed switching is reliable; I had zero weird speed-hunting moments after months of use on my everyday records.

The Goldring Gr3 has a more traditional, purposeful feel. The platter inertia is noticeable—records coast more naturally when you stop playback—and the feet isolate the unit better from the small table I used. The tonearm’s bearings felt tighter to me, and I noticed fewer rumble artifacts when I compared the two with quieter passages. The trade-off is that the Gr3 requires slightly more careful table placement and time spent on cartridge alignment for optimal performance.

Sound: what I heard over months of listening

Sound is where the differences become most meaningful. I cycled through jazz, acoustic folk, modern indie, orchestral recordings, and a few bass-heavy electronic records to get a rounded impression.

Low end and rhythm

With bass-heavy tracks, the Edifier surprised me. It tends to present a slightly fuller mid-bass that makes modern pop and electronica feel immediate and gratifying—excellent for casual listening and parties. I noticed more oomph from 40–120 Hz, which can make drums and basslines sound punchier on first listen.

The Goldring Gr3, on the other hand, delivered tighter and better controlled bass. It didn’t try to impress with sheer size; instead, it articulated the bass lines with more clarity and separation from the mids. If you want bass that sits in the mix precisely and doesn’t blur into the midrange, the Gr3 won that round for me.

Mids and vocals

This is where personal taste and the rest of your system matter most. Vocals on the Edifier sounded warm and a touch forward, which is inviting for casual listening. I appreciated how it made singers feel present and immediate.

The Goldring Gr3 leaned toward a more neutral presentation. Vocals retained micro-dynamics and breath; on quiet acoustic tracks I noticed small details—finger noise, subtle room reverberations—that the Edifier sometimes smoothed over. If you prioritize emotional nuance and subtleties in the midrange, I found the Gr3 to be more revealing.

Highs and air

The Es60’s high end is pleasant and safe—crisp enough for cymbals and acoustic strings, but never piercing. I noticed fewer sibilance issues, which a lot of listeners will appreciate.

The Gr3 offered more “air” and sparkle. Cymbals had more transient snap and classical recordings gained extra sheen in the upper harmonics. That extra detail can feel rewarding, but it also makes poor pressings sound brittle—so cleanliness of source matters more with the Gr3.

Noise floor and surface noise

Across the board the Goldring Gr3 had a lower apparent noise floor in my setup. Surface noise and low-level pops were less intrusive, which made quiet passages shine. The Edifier was not noisy by any means, but it did reveal more surface noise on older records, especially when the volume was turned up.

Daily use and reliability

After several months of use, here's how each held up in daily life. The Edifier Es60 fit seamlessly into morning listening sessions, quick record spins, and even occasional social listening. The built-in preamp and ease of connection to bookshelf speakers meant I used it more often because it was less hassle.

The Goldring Gr3 demanded a bit more respect: gentle handling, correct speed selection, and occasional re-checks of tracking force. Because of that, I found myself using it more deliberately—usually for evening listening sessions where I wanted to sit down and pay attention. It rewarded patience with richer details and a more nuanced soundstage.

Pros & Cons

Edifier Es60

• Pros: Easy setup and integration, warm and engaging sound, reliable speed switching, user-friendly design, good value for casual listeners.
• Cons: Slightly higher surface-noise reveal, bass can be a touch woolly compared to higher-resolution decks, less revealing in the upper mids and highs.

Goldring Gr3

• Pros: Tight, controlled bass; revealing midrange; low noise floor; robust platter and tonearm feel—excellent for detailed listening.
• Cons: Requires more careful setup and maintenance, less forgiving with worn records, more demanding of the rest of your system.

Side-by-side comparison

Buying guide: Which one should you choose?

In my experience, the right pick depends on how you listen, how much effort you want to spend on setup and maintenance, and what you already own.

If you want simplicity and convenience

Choose the Edifier Es60 if you want something that looks good in a living room, is easy to set up, and sounds enjoyable without much fiddling. I noticed that I used the Es60 more casually: quick morning records, background music during dinner, and for guests who aren’t vinyl geeks. If you don't have a separate phono stage and just want a tidy, reliable package, the Es60 will likely make you happy.

If you prioritize resolution and long listening sessions

Choose the Goldring Gr3 if you're willing to spend a little more time on setup and want to squeeze the most detail from good pressings. In my time with it, the Gr3 rewarded careful tweaks with a more natural midrange, lower noise, and greater textural detail. It’s a better match for high-quality cartridges, a good phono preamp, and a dedicated listening environment.

Other considerations

• Room and speakers: If you pair either deck with bright speakers, the Es60’s warm tilt may sound balanced. If your speakers are colored or dark, the revealing nature of the Gr3 will show their character.
• Record condition: The Gr3 benefits more from clean pressings; if your collection is mostly older or dusty records, the Es60 may be more forgiving.
• Upgradability: The Gr3’s more traditional design makes it easier to swap cartridges and fine-tune; the Es60 is more of an integrated appliance-style product.

Practical tips from my months of use

• Always clean records before playback. With the Gr3 especially, a quick brush and occasional wet-cleaning made a dramatic difference in perceived detail.
• Take the time to align the cartridge and set tracking force. I shaved off surface noise and improved imaging across the board after a careful setup session with the Gr3.
• If you have limited space or want a simple, attractive setup, the Es60 gets you listening quickly without a complicated signal chain.
• Use a good isolation surface—both units benefited from a dedicated stand or platform rather than a wobbly shelf.
• Swap the phono stage if you want to experiment. I noticed that the Es60’s built-in preamp is convenient, but pairing the Gr3 with an external phono stage unlocked extra dynamics.

Final verdict

After months of living with both, here’s how I sum it up: the Edifier Es60 is a fantastic option if you want a friendly, attractive, and enjoyable turntable that integrates easily into a modern home. It made me play records more often because it removed friction from the listening process. The Goldring Gr3, by contrast, is for the listener who wants to sit down and discover new things in records—nuance, texture, and a tighter low end. It demands more attention, but in return it offers more clarity and musical fidelity.

In my experience, if I were building a system where the turntable is primarily for background enjoyment and convenience, the Es60 would be my daily driver. If I were rebuilding my main listening system and wanted a source that rewards careful listening and component matching, the Gr3 would be the one I’d choose for serious sessions.

Both gave me a lot of pleasure over the months I used them. I was surprised at how different their approaches to the same task could be, and I enjoyed having both perspectives in my listening room. Which one is “better” depends on how you listen and how much time and attention you want to give to setup. For what it’s worth, if I could only keep one, the decision would come down to whether I wanted convenience and warmth (Edifier Es60) or resolution and control (Goldring Gr3).

Conclusion

Vinyl is as much about ritual as it is about sound. The Edifier Es60 simplifies that ritual and makes it pleasurable every day, while the Goldring Gr3 deepens it and makes each session feel deliberate and revealing. In my experience, both are worthy choices; the right one for you depends on whether you want more convenience or more sonic insight. Either way, I ended up listening to more music, which is the point.