STEREO GUIDE verdict
+ very natural sound tuning
+ Bass kicks with drums and convinces with good timing
+ excellent BluOS app and versatile connectivity options.
+ high quality processing
- unimpressive atmos and surround effects
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Sound: Tonal balance / transparency9.2
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Sound: Bass / Dynamics8.6
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Sound: Spatial imaging8.4
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Ease-of-use / Connectivity9.7
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Price / Performance9.4
With the smart BluOS app, the Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+ scored with top connectivity in the review. In addition, there is an audiophile sound tuning.
Directly to the individual contents of the review
The new Pulse Soundbar+ runs counter to TV sound conventions in more ways than one. First, there’s the fact that it’s a full-fledged part of the Bluesound Multiroom family, to which we’ve already dedicated this overview guide. But the Pulse Soundbar+ is the first of its product line to be put to the review at STEREO GUIDE. The Scandinavian’s family affiliation almost guarantees maximum connectivity equipment, and with HDMI-eARC, USB fixed storage, headphone output and even a Bluetooth transmitter function, you won’t be disappointed in any way. This even goes beyond what the market leader Sonos offers with its soundbars.
The design is also unusual: while many current soundbars are getting flatter and flatter, the Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+ is deliberately tall, but flat. With a good meter of width and only 7 centimeters of depth, this makes wall mounting under the TV a good choice. If you want to put it on the lowboard, just use two small supports that are included.
Stereo with full three ways
The record-breaking baffle of the Pulse Suondbar+ goes back to a simple acoustic reason: Bluesound accommodates a full 3-way arrangement with comparatively large 10 cm woofers on the front. There are exactly two of each of the chassis specialists – woofer, midrange and tweeter. These are classically controlled in two channels, so the Pulse Soundbar+ remains true to the manufacturer’s tradition of focusing on high-quality hi-fi stereo reproduction. In addition, the soundbar has two passive membranes that support the low bass when no subwoofer is connected.
You can easily add such an external bass module, both by means of a classic analog cable connection and wirelessly via the Bluesound system. The Pulse distributes a total of 120 watts of power over its three channels, which should ensure a rich movie sound even without a subwoofer.
Bluesound does without effect gimmicks like additional channels, indirect emitters, etc. in the Pulse Soundbar+. However, Dolby Atmos signals are processed just as smoothly as Dolby Digital signals since a firmware update at the end of 2021, but they are heard virtually. However, the virtualization algorithm is rather cautious – that much is revealed. If you want a real surround feeling, you can add Bluesound Pulse Flex 2i rear speakers wirelessly.
Bluesound with BluOS App and more
In HiFi circles, the Bluesound system enjoys a very good reputation, especially as a closed multi-room environment. This certainly stems from the integration of many components from NAD and Dali. In addition, the Bluesound engineers consistently rely on processing hires signals up to 192 kHz and 24 bits. The Pulse Soundbar+ is no exception and even processed MQA streams in the review.
But with its extensive connectivity concept, the soundbar from Scandinavia should also recommend itself to listeners who do not yet use a multi-room setup. In addition to the aforementioned HDMI-eARC connection, wired signals can also be fed in via analog input or optical-digital via S/PDIF-Toslink. Or you can fall back on Bluetooth. The wireless interface has also been integrated into the Pulse Soundbar+ in version 5.0 with aptX-HD.
Connectivity in a class of its own
Even more powerful than the widespread Bluetooth connection, however, are the streaming options via LAN with Ethernet cable or wirelessly via WLAN: In addition to Bluesound’s own standard from the very good BluOS app, the home theater bar easily understands Airplay (2), Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and even proved in the review to be Roon Ready. If you plug in a USB stick or an appropriately formatted hard drive, you can even use the Pulse Soundbar+ as a small server. If you want to stream from a NAS in the network to the bar, you should know one restriction: The system does not know UPnP or DLNA. You have to grant the BluOS app folder access to the computer or NAS via SMB. Likewise, a connection via Google Chromecast is possible.
For larger installations or integration into the smart home, extensive compatibility with well-known systems such as Control4, Crestron, RTI, Elan and iPort, to name just the most important ones, is offered.
There is bass and treble control in the BluOS app, which is basically a good idea when positioned close to the wall. Additionally, you can activate the “Virtualizer” for more surround sound, but this also cost precision in our review.
Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+ in practical test
In terms of design – you can buy the Pulse Soundbar+ in black or white – and workmanship, we can only report good things. The metal casing is solidly manufactured and makes a high-quality impression. Due to the chamfered outer sides, the bar looks quite inconspicuous even on the lowboard. A practical detail: The connection terminal is hidden in a small cutout and allows both access from above and an inconspicuous installation of the cables. Unless you use the stiffest and longest HDMI connectors, which could then stick out the top.
You can either hang the Bluesound soundbar on the wall or set it up by plugging in the included feet from the TV. However, one should keep in mind. The Pulse Soundbar+ is very flat compared to the JBL Bar 1300 or the Bose Smart Soundbar 600, which we also just reviewed. But for this he builds in height. Thus, it could possibly cover the infrared eye of the TV or possibly even a part of the screen.
Problem-free commissioning
After switching it on and simply connecting it to the network via Ethernet cable, the bar first updated itself and then immediately started playing the TV sound. Even beyond the good app and the many playback options, we were thrilled to see how the Bluesound developers thought of real-world usage scenarios. Thus, the Pulse Soundbar+ has a Bluetooth transmitter that sends signals to wireless headphones. Ideal when you want to quickly switch to headphones while watching a movie in the evening.
Even though you mainly control a Multiroom system via the app: an IR remote control and some touch fields on the device for important functions are also available. However, you almost never need this when operating via HDMI (ARC), because everything works smoothly via the TV’s remote control.
This is how the Pulse Soundbar+ sounds
The Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+ took over in the big, together with the colleagues from LowBeats
the role of the counterpart to the JBL Bar 1300. While the flat but wide US-American with its external wireless subwoofer and countless channels for Dolby Atmos put on a real cinema performance en miniature in the home theater test room, it remained quite colorless in music reproduction. The Scandinavian offered for it music tracks full of sound color splendor and with almost southern temperament. In return, the special effects in action movies did not look as impressive and the spatiality remained rather flat.
Let’s put it this way: Those who watch Tarantino movies like “Pulp Fiction”, “Inglorious Basterds” or “Django” because of their explosive excesses of violence will get less of their money’s worth with the Bluesound than those who appreciate the brilliant dialogs.
The review proves: made for music
Strictly speaking, the Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+ turned out to be a perfect, compact replacement for an audiophile stereo system, which can also be used very well for more fun and smack on movie watching. Its dynamic reserves are also impressive. However, those with higher home theater ambitions should consider adding the Bluesound Pulse Flex 2i for the rear surround channels and an external subwoofer like the Bluesound Pulse Sub+ in the long run.
The low-frequency reproduction was particularly convincing in the review with great timing in the music reproduction, which matched the soundbar’s relaxed, transparent playing style very well. The Bluesound concealed its limited low-frequency foundation with a very slight, charming upper bass emphasis. However, he did not succeed very well in creating an immersive surround feeling with his “Virtualizer”. Activating the function cost some precision without delivering tangible benefits in terms of spatiality. This shortcoming would then be solved with the wireless rear speakers.
If you don’t mind the expense, you’ll get an exceptionally potent sound system that hardly leaves anything to be desired in surround as well as in stereo. In contrast to the cheaper Bose Smart Soundbar 600, which also offered neither deep bass nor proper spatiality, the Pulse Soundbar+ spoils with audiohile qualities. It resolves very well, sounds neither strained nor pressed, and brings subtle details such as room reverb components or the decay of tones very authentically to the ear. In addition, the Bluesound developers proved to have a good sense for sound color fidelity. And they got the bass so perfectly under control that analog drums really kick, despite limitations in the tuning due to the principle.
Conclusion and alternatives to the Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+
People usually choose a multi-room system family because of the app and the networking options. Since the Bluesound Soundbar+ is the only HDMI-capable home theater component in its entire system family, there is no alternative in that case when using the BluOS app.
If you only want a soundbar on the TV with a bit of streaming, you will find various alternatives on the market. Some of which also make more bass thump, more home theater feeling and more show – for example, the JBL Bar 1300. But when it comes to stereo music from a soundbar, the Bluesound Soundbar+ is the undisputed winner across all price and size categories.
Technical specifications: Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+
- Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: 1100 euros
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 107 x 14 x 7 cm
- Weight: 6.8 kg
- Features: Virtual Atmos, HDMI eARC, Analog Input, BluOs Compatible, Roon Ready, Hires 192/24
- More at bluesound.com
