In the market of multi-room system families, the Canadian manufacturer Bluesound has always held a special position. Not only are an experienced manufacturer of both hi-fi electronics and speakers involved in the project with parent company NAD and sister company Dali, it was also conceived from the start as a Sonos alternative for audiophiles with Hi-Res capability. In addition to its own app and proprietary streaming protocol, the system offers access to classic hi-fi and home theater components in the multi-room environment via module integration with many components from Dali and NAD.
Although or just because the software architecture of the app called BluOs is similarly closed as in the case of the market leader Sonos, they opened the system for some very common industry standards, whereby especially the full compatibility with Roon could be a purchase argument for many music listeners.
The fourth brand in the Bluesound empire is Cyrus, known for compact high-end electronic components. However, no Cyrus device currently offers Bluesound functionality, but this is supposed to come on the market soon.
Compatibility with many: from multi-room to high-end active box
The three classic transducer variants from the small portable Bluesound Pulse Flex 2i to the full-fledged one-box system called Bluesound Pulse 2i are largely in line with industry standards in terms of size and capabilities. All of them can also be paired to form a stereo pair, as long as you’re willing to buy two of them. A battery pack is also available for the Flex 2i, which doesn’t make it a completely lightweight system speaker, but one that is absolutely suitable for the patio and brings it into the Bluesound world. On top of that, there are streamers like the Bluesound Node 130, streaming amps like the Bluesound Powernode, and corresponding components from Cyrus and NAD.
A compatible soundbar (Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+) and optional wireless subwoofer (Bluesound Pulse Sub+) are also available in the lineup. Additional surround speakers can be connected to these speakers. This brings surround capabilities to the level of leading systems from Sonos and Harman.
In addition to the rather compact speakers explicitly labeled as Bluesound, there is now a wide range of wirelessly controlled active speakers from Dali, ranging from mini shelf speakers to massive high-end floorstanders, which can get full Bluesound capability via an additional module in the transmitter hub. This has the additional advantage that these wireless active sets can also be connected to the TV via HDMI(ARC), depending on the module used, and then equally wireless additional speakers such as center and onwall speakers make them a full surround set.
Probably the greatest variety on the market is found in the electronic components. Not only that a self-ripping server is offered under Bluesound in addition to the standard components zone streamer and zone amplifier. A lot of electronic components from the parent company NAD can be upgraded to a Bluesound endpoint via the module option already described, ranging from entry-level amplifiers to AV receivers.
Software and playback: BluOS App and more
The BluOS app is constantly being improved and is available for iOS as well as Android devices. It can address up to 64 speakers and electronics components simultaneously in a multi-room environment. In practice, it works stably and is mostly intuitive.
Bluesound has been designed for Hires data streams since the first generation, which theoretically allow for higher digital sound quality, 192/24 being the maximum. In addition to playback via the app, Bluetooth and Airplay 2 are integrated as standard, and all Bluesound components are also Roon Ready for optimal playback through the popular music server system.
The system can easily be used with streaming services via its own app, and the compatibility is wide. Besides, Amazon HD, Spotify, Deezer and Tidal, Qobuz and Napster are also integrated. Apple Music can be used without problems via Airplay 2 with suitably equipped devices.
There is no compatibility with the popular standard protocol UPnP, which is why Bluesound ignores correspondingly equipped servers, for example computers or NAS, in the network. However, it is possible to play music from such storage devices in the network, but this has to be done via the Bluesound app and a corresponding folder share of the server for the same, which requires a minimum of computer knowledge in practice. If you don’t want to bother with that, you can stream from the streaming service or order the convenient ripper server as well, a special feature on the entire multi-room market.
Another special feature is the compatibility of the Bluesound software architecture with well-known smarthome and automation systems such as the well-known Crestron, which underlines the professional claim of the system and should make architects and house planners sit up and take notice.
Ultimate flexibility in playback and operation
A real trump card of the Bluesound system speakers compared to competitors like Sonos or Denon Home is the playback options. All components not only have an analog input, but also an optical digital input, for example for playing TV sound, as well as a USB slot for mass storage. Rarely used, but all the more practical detail: a headphone output is standard as well as a Bluetooth transmitter for wireless headphones.
The Bluesound components also excel in operation without an app: The manufacturer promises a full-fledged integration of Apple’s voice assistant Siri, even though it is not integrated into the system components. The control panels on the system components include not only the classic control and volume commands, but also five freely assignable preset buttons for radio stations and playlists. Those who like it classic and do not always activate smartphone or tablet to start the music can also program an adaptive IR remote control to control a Bluesound component.
Feature: Dali and NAD
The aforementioned equipment and operating features all refer to the current generation system components sold under the Bluesound label. The modules in Dali wireless hubs or NAD HiFi electronics may differ. In practice, however, the integration into the Bluesound world is excellent even with these components.
For these requirements the Bluesound system is ideal
Bluesound is especially a qualitatively superior alternative to the similarly designed Sonos if at least one room in the house is to be equipped with a real stereo system or full surround setup. In this case, there are practically no limits to the possibilities and individual sound requirements, because there are many top components from the smallest active Dali speaker to the large high-end stereo receiver from NAD. Even the smallest blues sounds offer an astonishing audiophile sound level.
Those who simply want to bring music into any room without major hifi ambitions might be bumped by the somewhat high prices of the system speakers and the somewhat limited selection of small components. In this case, Sonos or Denon are indeed the cheaper, but by no means qualitatively better alternatives to the audiophile-oriented Bluesound.
All components of the Bluesound system with Dali and NAD at a glance
Mobile battery-powered system box:
Bluesound Pulse Flex 2i + BP100 battery pack
System-Onebox systems:
Bluesound Pulse Flex 2i
Bluesound Pulse Mini 2i
Bluesound Pulse 2i
Stereo compact loudspeaker
Dali Rubicon 2C (via module in wireless hub)
Dali Callisto 2C (via module in wireless hub)
Dali Oberon 1C (via module in wireless hub)
Floorstanding loudspeaker
Dali Rubicon 6C (via module in wireless hub)
Dali Rubicon 8C (via module in wireless hub)
Dali Callisto 6C (via module in wireless hub)
Dali Oberon 7C (via module in wireless hub)
Center speaker
Dali Oberon Vokal C (via module in wireless hub)
Onwall loudspeaker
Dali Oberon OnWall C (via module in wireless hub)
Soundbars
Bluesound Pulse Soundbar + – review
Subwoofer
Bluesound Pulse Sub +
Network player/digital sources
Bluesound Node 130
Preamplifier/Streamer
NAD C658
NAD M12
Amplifier/Receiver
Bluesound Powernode
NAD C700
NAD M10 Mk2
NAD M33
NAD C368
NAD C388
NAD C399
Ripper/Server
Bluesound Vault 2i
