Bluesound is adding a new high-end soundbar to its line-up. The $899 Pulse Soundbar+ is a 120W system with support for Dolby Atmos, 24-bit Hi-Res audio, AirPlay 2, and multi-room.
Black or white
Bluesound sees its new high-end soundbar as "the ultimate audiophile-grade" solution that "is to audio what the 8K TV is to video" – perhaps not the best reference considering the sorry state of the 8K TV market.
Nevertheless, it does look like a very capable system with 8 drivers, 24-bit audio processing, and 120W of total power that could compete head-to-head with soundbars like the Sonos Arc. It can be paired with the company's Sub+ subwoofer for even more power.
Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+
- "The Pulse Soundbar+ is a system solution that replaces the need for bulky AVRs. Designed to fit perfectly under HD TVs, the Pulse Soundbar+ offers a fully immersive sonic experience thanks to its range of features," the company said.
Other features include multi-room (via BluOS), Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, USB, optical, HDMI eARC, an ARM Cortex A53 Quad-Core chipset, two WiFi chips, and support for voice assistants from Amazon, Apple, and Google.
Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+
The company says that the soundbar supports Dolby Atmos, although it does not appear to be equipped with up- or side-firing units. The user can wirelessly pair Flex 2i speakers to serve as rear channels for an improved surround sound effect.
The Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+ is available for $899 / €999 / £799 in black, or $999 / €1099 / £899 in white from bluesound.com. It will start shipping in April.
Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+ specifications
| Operating System | BluOS |
|---|
| Supported Controller Operating System | iOS, Android, Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10, macOS 10.10-10.15, 11 |
| Supported Audio File Formats | MP3, AAC, WMA, WMA-L, OGG, ALAC, OPUS |
| Supported Hi-Res Audio File Formats | FLAC, MQA, WAV, AIFF, MPEG-4 SLS |
| Supported Mult-Channel Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos; Dolby Digital |
| Supported Network File Sharing | Server Messsage Block (SMB) |
| Native Sampling Rates | up to 192 kHz |
| Bit Depths | 16-24 |
| Music Service Integrations | 23+ |
| 3rd-Party Integrations | AirPlay 2 |
| | Apple Wireless Accessory Configuration (WAC) |
| Control System Integrations | Crestron, Control 4, RTI, ELAN, URC, Push, Lutron, iPort |
| Voice Control Integrations | Amazon Alexa Skills; Actions on Google |
| *via software update | |
| | |
| Features | |
| Status Indicator | Front Panel LED |
| Play/Pause Button | Touch LED |
| Volume Control Buttons | Touch LED |
| Previous/Next Track Buttons | In-App |
| Preset Buttons | In-App |
| Proximity Sensor | |
| Audio Controls & EQ | In-App |
| Processor | ARM Cortex -A53, Quad-Core, 1.8GHz per core |
| DAC | |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | |
| Distortion | THD+N, 0.030% |
| Amplification | Digital |
| Power Output | 120W total system power |
| Speakers | 1" (25mm) Tweeter x 2; 2" (50mm) Mid-Range x 2;
4" (102mm) Woofer x 2; 4" (102mm) Passive Radiator x 2 |
| Frequency Response | +/- 1dB 70Hz - 20kHz; 3dB down at 55Hz; 3dB down at 25Hz |
| | |
| Connections | |
| Power | Universal bi-pin AC cord input (100-240AC) |
| Ethernet/LAN | Ethernet RJ45, GigE 1000 Mbps |
| Wi-Fi Built In | 2x Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), dual-band |
| Bluetooth Quality | Bluetooth 5.0 aptX HD |
| Bluetooth Connectivity | Two-Way (transmit & receive) |
| IR Optical Built In | IR Sensor Built In - front panel with IR Remote Learning |
| IR Input | |
| Optical/Analog Input | TOSLINK x 1; 3.5mm Analog Line In x 1 |
| HDMI Input | HDMI eARC |
| USB IN | Type A (Fat32 Formatted) |
| USB (other) | Type B (mini) for product servicing |
| Audio Output | |
| Coaxial Output | |
| Optical Output | |
| Trigger Out | |
| Headphone Output | Bluetooth |
| Subwoofer Output | RCA Analog x 1; Wireless via Secondary Wi-Fi module x 1 |
| Speaker Terminals | |
| Function Button | |
| | |
| Finish | Black/White |
| | |
| Included Accessories | 120V AC Power Cord |
| | 230V AC Power Cord |
| | Ethernet Cable |
| | Optical Audio Cable |
| | HDMI Cable |
| | Kickstand Feet x 2 |
| | Wall Mount Bracket |
| | Wall Mount Bracket Template |
| | Wall Mount Spacers x 8 |
| | Safety/Warranty Guide |
| | Quick Setup Guide |
| | |
| | |
| Dimensions (Product) | |
| (WxHxD metric) | 1073 x 141 x 70 mm |
| (WxHxD imperial) | 42.25 x 5.5 x 2.75 in (not including wall bracket or kickstands) |
| Weight | 6.8kg/15lbs |
| | |
| | |
| Dimensions (Shipping, Single Unit) | |
| (WxHxD metric) | 1230 x 170 x 230 mm |
| (WxHxD imperial) | 48.43 x 6.7 x 9.06 in |
| Weight | 10.38kg/22.84lbs |
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