In case you’re wanting for a top-notch Dolby Atmos soundbar, it’s onerous to beat the Sonos Arc Ultra. However Sonos continues to be recovering from its self-imposed 2024 software program fiasco, and plenty of of its once-loyal clients have sought refuge with the corporate’s opponents. Chief amongst these is Bluesound, a wi-fi, multiroom audio ecosystem from the Nice White North.
With a set of audio system, subwoofers, and music streamers that intently mirrors Sonos’ lineup, Bluesound is very common with audiophiles who worth the corporate’s assist of lossless, hi-res audio codecs and have been keen to pay a premium for it (Bluesound gadgets sometimes price 30 to 50 p.c greater than their Sonos counterparts).
Like Sonos, Bluesound additionally does residence theater audio, however on this division it has lagged, most notably in its discrete assist for the height-channel sound results that epitomize Dolby Atmos—till now. Bluesound’s $1,499 Pulse Cinema is a dear new chapter for the Canadian firm: its first Dolby Atmos soundbar with devoted up-firing drivers and a middle channel.
A Sonos-Like Footprint
{Photograph}: Chris Haslam
There’s a single HDMI-ARC/eARC port, and, like with most of Bluesound’s audio system, an analog enter, a digital enter, a USB port for exterior storage, two-way Bluetooth with aptX Adaptive, and your alternative of Ethernet and/or Wi-Fi. There’s even a wired subwoofer output, which is way from customary on most soundbars. Aside from the dearth of any HDMI inputs, it’s a beneficiant and versatile assortment that leaves the Arc Extremely within the mud.
Measurement-wise, the 2 audio system are comparable: The Pulse Cinema, at 47 inches, is only one inch wider than the Arc Extremely. Each will look proper at residence underneath 50- to 65-inch TVs, however the Pulse Cinema, with its wraparound material grille and gentle curves, could attraction extra to those that need a much less high-tech look. In case you’d want to wall-mount it, a bracket is included. (Sonos sells its wall mounts individually.)
Armed with a 500-watt, 3.0.2-channel, 12-driver array, the Pulse Cinema pumps out spectacular ranges of element for each motion pictures and music. It’s this dedication to each codecs that helps it stand out. Most soundbars shall be an enormous step up out of your TV’s inside audio system for motion pictures and TV exhibits, however few provide a equally rewarding listening expertise in relation to music.
Nice for Dialog
{Photograph}: Chris Haslam
For TV audio, dialog readability is a standout characteristic, with voices which can be each well-centered and simply comprehensible, even in scenes with plenty of competing background and encompass sounds.
