Bluesound PULSE CINEMA Assessment

House theater opinions are a few of my favorites to do. I imply, who wouldn’t like to observe films and hearken to music for a dwelling? The primary house theater overview for 2026 is the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA soundbar. I’ve used Bluesound gear prior to now, and I totally loved it. That is the primary house theater product of theirs that I’ve used, and I used to be excited to get the PULSE CINEMA in for a run.

Estimated studying time: 17 minutes

I examined the PULSE CINEMA with the TCL QM9K 4K TV and likewise examined it with the Klipsch FLEXUS SUB, since Bluesound means that you can use Third-party SUBS with this soundbar. I additionally examined AirPlay and Bluetooth sound through my MacBook Professional M1 Professional and my iPhone 17 Professional Max. This soundbar is flexible in its connectivity, which does make it an amazing decide for customers in search of a one-stop store for sound. Let’s get into the complete overview of this premium soundbar from Bluesound.

NOTE: Resulting from my testing space not being very conducive to taking good pictures (and it’s not the nicest-looking space), I used inventory pictures for this overview.

The Fast Take

The Bluesound PULSE CINEMA is a wonderful soundbar with a large and clear soundstage. It does an distinctive job of film playback and even higher with music. The construct high quality is off the charts. There are many methods to develop it. And it presents up quite a lot of connection choices. There are some imperfections, the most important being that it doesn’t assist DTS-X, which might have an effect on sound when streaming content material with that codec.

Rating and Backside Line

Bluesound PULSE CINEMA

USD 1,499

Ease of Use/Setup

10.0/10

Nailed it

• Distinctive Audio High quality
• Immersive Theater Sound
• Expandability Choices
• Construct High quality
• Versatile Connectivity

Wants work

• Dear
• Giant profile
• No DTS-X assist
• Sound is nice however some should need a SUB for deep rumbling bass

There’s rather a lot to like concerning the PULSE CINEMA, and even the cons aren’t that unhealthy. Whereas I do have some imperfections, the most important one is the dearth of DTS-X assist, and that’s not even that large of a difficulty. Listed below are my key takeaways from the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA.

• What’s nice concerning the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA soundbar?
  • Distinctive Audio High quality: The sound coming from the PULSE CINEMA has a deep, heat feeling with excellent backside finish. Listening to music on this soundbar is certainly one of its most distinctive experiences.
  • Immersive Theater Sound: Devoted up-firing drivers permit for genuine Dolby Atmos efficiency, offering a peak and depth that another soundbars wouldn’t have.
  • Expandability Choices: It may well simply be changed into a full wi-fi 5.1 or 7.1 encompass system by including a PULSE SUB+ and PULSE FLEX audio system as rear channels. You may as well add some Third occasion SUBS if you have already got one.
  • Construct High quality: The PULSE CINEMA options an aluminum physique and a sleek-looking design that stands out from the plastic enclosures utilized by different soundbars.
  • Versatile Connectivity: It presents trendy necessities like HDMI eARC, alongside legacy assist for optical and RCA inputs, plus AirPlay 2 and two-way aptX Adaptive Bluetooth.
• What wants work or could also be a difficulty for some?
  • Giant Bodily Profile: With a peak of roughly 5.5 inches (ca. 14 cm), it’s taller than many common soundbars. This could result in it blocking the underside of a TV display or the IR receiver if positioned straight on a media stand.
  • Premium Worth: It’s positioned on the larger finish of the market, and whereas the construct high quality justifies the associated fee, it’s a large funding.
  • Subwoofer Nonetheless Beneficial: Whereas it has two built-in woofers and 4 passive radiators, for true theatrical backside finish in related films, a devoted exterior subwoofer continues to be a great factor to have.
  • DTS-X Points: Doesn’t but assist DTS-X, which might have an effect on streaming content material broadcast on this codec. Sound works, however you’ll be able to hear that it’s not the identical because the sound from different sources, and the SUB stops working.

Total, in the event you’re searching for a premium soundbar that delivers in design, construct, sound, and expandability. The Bluesound PULSE CINEMA is a wonderful alternative. Sure, it’s dear however price that value. DTS-X assist often is the solely difficulty for some.

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Bluesound PULSE CINEMA Specs

• Audio Specs
  • Speaker Configuration: 3.2.2 channel system with a complete of 16 drivers.
  • Driver Array: 5 × 0.75” tweeters, 5 × 1.5″ × 3″ mid-range drivers, 2 × 4” woofers, and 4 × 4” passive radiators for enhanced bass.
  • Complete System Energy: 500 Watts of sensible DSP amplification.
  • Audio Codecs: Helps Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby TrueHD.
  • Hello-Res Audio Help: Native sampling charges as much as 192 kHz with 16-24 bit depth; helps MQA and DSD256 playback.
  • File Codecs: Suitable with FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, and OPUS.
• Connections & Networking
  • HDMI Enter: HDMI eARC for high-bandwidth audio return out of your TV.
  • Audio Inputs: Options each Toslink Optical and Stereo RCA Analog inputs for legacy gadgets.
  • Subwoofer Output: One bodily RCA output for wired subs, plus wi-fi assist for the PULSE SUB+.
  • Wi-fi Connectivity: Twin-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and two-way Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive assist.
  • Wired Networking: Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 (1000 Mbps) for a secure, high-speed connection.
  • USB Port: Sort A port for exterior storage playback (FAT32 or NTFS formatted).
• Key Options
  • BluOS Multi-Room Platform: Seamlessly stream from over 20 companies (Tidal, Spotify, Qobuz) and group with different BluOS merchandise.
  • Good DSP Orientation: Encompasses a proximity sensor and automated orientation sensing that adjusts the sound profile primarily based on whether or not it’s wall-mounted or on a stand.
  • Wi-fi Encompass Enlargement: May be paired with PULSE FLEX or PULSE M audio system to create a full wi-fi encompass system.
  • Good House Integration: Works with Amazon Alexa and Siri and integrates with Control4, Crestron, RTI, and Lutron.
  • Listening Modes: Consists of three tailor-made modes: Film, Music, and Late Night time.
  • IR Studying: The built-in IR sensor permits the soundbar to study instructions out of your current TV distant.

What’s In The Field?

• Bluesound PULSE CINEMA
• AC Energy Twine
• Ethernet Cable
• HDMI Cable
• Wall Mount Bracket
• Wall Mount Template
• Wall Mount M6 Bolt x2
• Wall Mount Hex Instrument
• Security/Guarantee Information
• Fast Setup Information

Design

From a way of life perspective, the design of the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA is smooth and trendy with out wanting useless. If that makes any sense to you. It swaps the standard plastic construct for a refined aluminum physique and a pleasant material wrap that appears extra like furnishings than a gadget. Although I’ll say that material does usually appeal to mud, so long-term you could want to scrub it steadily.

The form can also be a departure from the norm, with an rectangular type of tablet form to it. I like the sleek, rounded traces and general aesthetic. The underside of the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA homes the I/O, which you’ll see within the picture beneath.

One factor to remember is its peak; it sits a bit taller than another bars, so that you’ll wish to be sure that it doesn’t block the underside of your TV display. It barely clears the TCL QM9K with the stand set as excessive as it can go. I do know some TVs have very low clearance with their stands, so you could find yourself having to wall-mount the soundbar.

The highest of the soundbar has contact controls, that are good, however I hardly ever even contact these. There isn’t any distant management included with this soundbar; every part is finished with the app and the controls on the soundbar, and it ought to auto-detect your distant from the TV and pair up with out something needing to be completed.

Total, this can be a very nice-looking soundbar. It’s a bit thicker and heavier than another soundbars, however given the variety of audio system on this factor, I can forgive that, figuring out it’s not thicker and heavier for nothing. There is a wonderful array of {hardware} inside.

Ease of Use/Setup

Utilizing the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA is easy. Upon getting it plugged in and related to the TV, you simply open the app, and the bar ought to already be sending out a sign for pairing. The bar will present up within the app, and also you join. At that time, you’re prepared to begin tweaking.

You possibly can simply depart it at that and easily use the defaults and tweak nothing. However leaping into the app and exploring is inspired. Establishing the bar bodily is straightforward as nicely. I simply put it on the TV stand in entrance of the TCL QM9K, and that was that. There are wall mounts and {hardware} within the field so you can throw it up on the wall too. I’d advocate discovering studs to drill into or utilizing heavy-duty wall anchors.

Total, that is easy to make use of. The toughest half is likely to be the app; you could have a studying curve there, nevertheless it’s small. At the least for my part it’s.

App Expertise

The software program behind the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA is BluOS, and it’s primarily the mind that manages every part out of your preliminary setup to music streaming. Bluesound is fairly happy with its want to offer distinctive music playback high quality, and this app helps that aim. It’s secure and quick in relation to enjoying high-resolution audio, which is the place it actually beats out extra fundamental soundbars. You may pull in virtually any streaming service you’ll be able to consider—like Spotify, Tidal, or Qobuz—straight via the app moderately than simply relying in your telephone’s Bluetooth.

The BluOS Controller app itself acts as your command middle. When you get it up and operating in your telephone or perhaps a pill, you employ it to regulate the soundbar’s specialised “listening modes,” reminiscent of Film, Music, or Late Night time. It’s additionally the place you deal with the “increasing” options; for instance, in the event you determine so as to add a PULSE SUB+ or rear audio system later, the app is what “bonds” them collectively wirelessly right into a single encompass system. It even has a intelligent Good DSP characteristic that routinely detects if the bar is mounted on a wall or sitting on a stand and adjusts the software program settings to ensure the audio isn’t muffled by your furnishings.

That stated, the consumer expertise does have a little bit of a studying curve. Some fundamental customers might really feel a bit overwhelmed, however I believe it’s not too troublesome to get used to. When you spend a number of days getting used to the place every part lives, most individuals discover it to be a dependable and extremely versatile method to run a house theater. I gained’t say I miss a fundamental distant, however I believe some customers might favor only a fundamental distant for fundamental capabilities. Total, the app expertise is nice, and the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA advantages from BlueOS and this app.

Sound/Options

After I first arrange the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA and performed some content material, my fast impression was simply how massive and the way a lot depth it had for a standalone soundbar. I’ve used quite a few soundbars on their very own, and this one had way more muscle to it than others.

As a result of it makes use of 16 particular person drivers, the soundstage is remarkably large. Dialogue stays crisp and centered whereas background results appear to search out their house, and the combo creates a really good immersive expertise. One of many nicer sound options of the PULSE CINEMA is that it has devoted upfiring audio system that offer you true Dolby Atmos. Different soundbars have a tendency to make use of software program to compensate and recreate that have moderately than precise {hardware}.

This implies overhead sounds in a film truly bounce off your ceiling and again right down to your ears. It’s a really pure impact that provides a layer of depth to your films. The Bluesound PULSE CINEMA doesn’t include a SUB, although you should buy one, however even with out a SUB, the bass is surprisingly punchy and regular. I’d nonetheless advocate a SUB in the event you’re actually right into a full immersive theater expertise. Whereas this does a superb job, you simply can’t go unsuitable including a SUB.

That brings me to one of many nicest options of the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA: including a SUB. Sure, you should buy one from Bluesound however you probably have a SUB at house already. Chances are high you’ll be able to plug that into the PULSE CINEMA and use it. After testing this soundbar by itself for a number of days, I plugged within the Klipsch FLEXUS SUB to see how nicely this characteristic works. To my shock, it really works exceedingly nicely. Including the SUB does convey the wall-shaking backside finish to films.

My recommendation in the event you purchase this soundbar. Use it with out a SUB first and see in the event you’re pleased with it. It actually does sound spectacular by itself. When you really feel you want extra backside finish, then strive a SUB you have already got or purchase one from Bluesound.

Past simply films, the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA is a little bit of a musical weapon for music lovers. Because it’s constructed by Bluesound, it runs on the BluOS platform, which is designed particularly for high-quality music streaming. You may pull in your favourite playlists from companies like Tidal or Spotify with just some faucets in your smartphone. Music sounds superb on this soundbar; I imply actually spectacular and immersive. Films and TV sound wonderful, however music actually shines right here. I used Qobuz to stream to the soundbar, and I totally loved utilizing this for music, and I usually don’t use soundbars this fashion.

A very intelligent characteristic is the Good DSP; the PULSE CINEMA truly is aware of in the event you’ve mounted it on the wall or positioned it on a shelf and routinely tweaks its inner settings to ensure it sounds its finest in that particular spot. It takes the guesswork out of the setup, which is an enormous win for anybody who simply needs issues to work with minimal setup.

This brings me to my one flaw of this soundbar: no DTS-X assist. That’s not the tip of the world, nevertheless it does have an effect on some content material. When firing up Disney+ and enjoying a film that’s broadcast in DTS-X, like Unbelievable 4, the SUB didn’t work, and the sound was flatter than within the Dolby Atmos films. So the sound nonetheless works; it’s simply not as immersive as different codecs which are supported. Once more, this isn’t going to affect every part you watch, simply films which are in DTS-X. It’s not such as you gained’t be capable of watch and hearken to that content material; it simply gained’t sound as good as it will if the codec have been supported.

Total, the sound and options are wonderful on the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA. Films sound implausible, particularly in Dolby Atmos, and music is likely one of the most stunning issues about this soundbar. Bluesound brings a ton of worth to the sound expertise with this soundbar. I’d say this can be a powerhouse for somebody who needs one elegant system to deal with each a cinematic Friday night time film and a high-fidelity Sunday morning soundtrack.

Worth/Worth

The Bluesound PULSE CINEMA is priced at 1,499 USD, and that’s not chump change. The excellent news is, the construct high quality, efficiency, and sound high quality of this soundbar are definitely worth the value. I’ll add, whereas it has a great backside finish, it does a great job of delivering nice film sound. In order for you a real immersion, you will have so as to add a SUB. You may add a Bluesound SUB or strive a Third-party SUB. However the worth is right here, and this does a formidable job as a standalone soundbar. Contemplating I’ve been spoiled by a bevy of sound choices as a reviewer must be thought-about. I imagine the typical consumer will love the sound and efficiency right here.

Wrap-Up

There’s rather a lot to like concerning the PULSE CINEMA, and even the cons aren’t that unhealthy. Whereas I do have some imperfections, the most important one is the dearth of DTS-X assist, and that’s not even that large of a difficulty. Listed below are my key takeaways from the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA.

• What’s nice concerning the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA soundbar?
  • Distinctive Audio High quality: The sound coming from the PULSE CINEMA has a deep, heat feeling with excellent backside finish. Listening to music on this soundbar is certainly one of its most distinctive experiences.
  • 3D Sound: Devoted up-firing drivers permit for genuine Dolby Atmos efficiency, offering a peak and depth that another soundbars wouldn’t have.
  • Expandability choices: It may well simply be changed into a full wi-fi 5.1 or 7.1 encompass system by including a PULSE SUB+ and PULSE FLEX audio system as rear channels. You may as well add some Third occasion SUBS if you have already got one.
  • Construct High quality: The PULSE CINEMA options an aluminum physique and a sleek-looking design that stands out from the plastic enclosures utilized by different soundbars.
  • Versatile Connectivity: It presents trendy necessities like HDMI eARC, alongside legacy assist for optical and RCA inputs, plus AirPlay 2 and two-way aptX Adaptive Bluetooth.
• What wants work or could also be a difficulty for some?
  • Giant Bodily Profile: With a peak of roughly 5.5 inches (ca. 14 cm), it’s taller than many common soundbars. This could result in it blocking the underside of a TV display or the IR receiver if positioned straight on a media stand.
  • Premium Worth: It’s positioned on the larger finish of the market, and whereas the construct high quality justifies the associated fee, it’s a large funding.
  • Subwoofer Nonetheless Beneficial: Whereas it has two built-in woofers and 4 passive radiators, for true theatrical backside finish in related films, a devoted exterior subwoofer continues to be a great factor to have.
  • DTS-X Points: Doesn’t but assist DTS-X, which might have an effect on streaming content material broadcast on this codec. Sound works, however you’ll be able to hear that it’s not the identical because the sound from different sources, and the SUB stops working.

Total, in the event you’re searching for a premium soundbar that delivers in design, construct, sound, and expandability. The Bluesound PULSE CINEMA is a wonderful alternative. Sure, it’s dear however price that value. DTS-X assist often is the solely difficulty for some.