Bluesound is expanding its wireless audio platform with two new soundbars, Pulse Cinema and Pulse Cinema Mini, which are direct competitors to the Sonos Arc Ultra and Beam.
Both new soundbars from Canada's Bluesound can be placed either flat or mounted on the wall. They are made from aluminum and fabric.
Both support Dolby Atmos for movies and gaming, but this is where you will notice the biggest difference. The larger Pulse Cinema is a 3.2.2-channel system with 16 drivers, including upward-firing units, and stronger bass thanks to 500W total output. The Cinema Mini is a classic 2.1 solution.
- "We wanted to build soundbars that didn’t just sound great—they needed to be beautifully simple to live with," said Matt Simmonds, Product Manager at Bluesound. "Both soundbars offer high-performance audio in elegant, low-profile forms that can adapt to any space. You get immersive, cinematic sound without any of the typical AV clutter."
The two soundbars can either be placed flat...
Expandable to surround
Like Sonos, Bluesound has a wireless audio platform that lets users connect rear speakers and a subwoofer, as well as set up BluOS multiroom. A wired subwoofer can also be connected, but they are “wireless by design” according to Bluesound.
In other words, you have the option to expand to surround and elevate the Dolby Atmos experience in your living room, if you are looking for an alternative to the traditional AV receiver and cable setup.
The TV connects via HDMI eARC, while HDMI CEC ensures that power and volume can be controlled with the TV’s regular remote. This is now standard, meaning connecting extra boxes and a soundbar does not require an additional remote.
Also read: Guide to HDMI CEC: Control your TV and media player with a single remote
... or mounted on the wall.
Wireless audio protocols and limitations
Both soundbars support a range of wireless audio connections and protocols including Bluetooth, Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2 via WiFi.
You will notice, however, that Google Cast (Chromecast) is not supported.
AirPlay 2 allows the soundbars to connect wirelessly to Apple TV 4K instead of HDMI. Bluetooth can also be used with various TVs, but results vary and you will only get stereo sound.
Bluesound also markets the Pulse Cinema and Pulse Cinema Mini as music systems, but be cautious. The soundbar form is not ideal for music, which FlatpanelsHD has repeatedly confirmed in our reviews of soundbars and other TV audio solutions.
Pulse Cinema Mini is available in either black or this color. Photo: Bluesound
No DTS audio formats are supported. In other words, your TV or media players must be capable of decoding DTS sound to PCM, or converting it.
Bluesound Pulse Cinema (P530) and Pulse Cinema Mini (P431) are now available for pre-order, with shipping to start on September 24 around the world. The prices are $1000 / €900 / £800 for the Mini and $1500 / €1300 / £1150 for the bigger bar.
Bluesound Pulse Cinema – specifications
 The ports on the Bluesound Pulse Cinema. Photo: Bluesound |
| Pulse Cinema | Pulse Cinema Mini |
- 47” multi-room streaming soundbar built for TVs 55” and larger
- 500 watts of total system power and a 16-driver array that includes a center channel, dual 4” woofers, and dedicated upfiring speakers
- Dolby Atmos decoding
- Wall-mount bracket included; Smart DSP with automatic orientation sensing
- HDMI eARC, optical, analog RCA inputs, two-way Bluetooth and Airplay 2
- Subwoofer output for wired or wireless bass extension
- Seamless multi-room streaming with BluOS™ app-based controls and access to thousands of internet radio stations, local music libraries, and 20+ natively integrated streaming services including Spotify Connect, Tidal, and Qobuz
- Wireless surround sound when grouped with one of Bluesound’s stereo solutions as rears and the SUB+
- Movie, Music, and Late Night listening modes
- High-res audio and MQA playback support
- Works with Control4, Crestron, RTI, and more
- Available in black finish with dark grey fabric grille
| - 33” multi-room streaming soundbar
- 280 watts of total system power with angled drivers and dual 4” woofers
- 2.1 channel Dolby Atmos processing with virtualized height effects
- Wall-mount bracket included
- Wall-mount bracket included; Smart DSP with automatic orientation sensing
- HDMI eARC, optical, and analog RCA inputs, two-way Bluetooth and Airplay 2
- Subwoofer output for wired or wireless bass expansion
- Seamless multi-room streaming with BluOS™ app-based controls and access to thousands of internet radio stations, local music libraries, and 20+ natively integrated streaming services including Spotify Connect, Tidal, and Qobuz
- Wireless surround sound when grouped with one of Bluesound’s stereo solutions as rears and the SUB+
- Movie, Music, and Late Night listening modes
- High-resolution audio and MQA playback support
- Works with Control4, Crestron, RTI, and more
- Available in black finish with dark grey fabric grille, or white finish with tan fabric grille
|
FlatpanelsHD
