Bluesound has introduced the Pulse Cinema, a $1,499 Dolby Atmos soundbar aimed at music enthusiasts seeking a Sonos rival. The device excels in dialog clarity and music playback but falls short on full immersive effects without upcoming software updates. It features a versatile array of inputs and supports high-resolution audio formats.
Bluesound, a Canadian wireless audio brand popular among audiophiles for its support of lossless and hi-res formats, has entered the home theater market more aggressively with the Pulse Cinema soundbar. Priced at $1,499, this 3.0.2-channel system marks the company's first Dolby Atmos offering with dedicated up-firing drivers and a center channel, positioning it as a premium alternative to the Sonos Arc Ultra—especially amid Sonos's recovery from a 2024 software controversy that alienated some users.
The Pulse Cinema measures 47 inches wide, fitting neatly under 50- to 65-inch TVs, with a fabric grille and soft curves for a less industrial aesthetic. It boasts a 500-watt, 12-driver setup, including two woofers and four passive radiators for solid bass response. Connectivity is robust: a single HDMI-ARC/eARC port, analog and digital inputs, USB for storage, two-way Bluetooth with aptX Adaptive, Ethernet or Wi-Fi options, and a wired subwoofer output—outpacing many competitors in versatility, though it lacks additional HDMI inputs.
For television and movies, the soundbar delivers exceptional dialog clarity, ensuring voices remain centered and intelligible amid complex scenes. In tests with films like Dune, it captured subtle details such as ornithopter engine thrums and distant radio crosstalk without muddiness. The soundstage extends wide and tall, enhancing immersion in action sequences from Mad Max: Fury Road and Ford v Ferrari. However, height-channel effects in Dolby Atmos, such as enveloping gunfire in No Time to Die, do not match the precision of the Sonos Arc Ultra or Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus.
Music performance stands out, with sparkling highs, resonant bass, and a wider soundstage than the Arc Ultra when upmixing stereo sources. Yet, the absence of EQ adjustments—limited to Music, Movie, and Late Night modes—can lead to listener fatigue from slightly sharp treble. The BluOS app provides quick control and access to services like Tidal and Qobuz, but it has gaps: no native lossless Apple Music support, no Google Cast, and delayed Dolby Atmos Music compatibility.
Bluesound plans software updates to enable 5.1.2 expansion with compatible speakers and subwoofers, add low-frequency effects processing, discrete channel tweaks, and potentially Dirac room correction. Until then, at this price, it suits music-focused users more than those demanding complete home theater prowess.