Bluesound Pulse Cinema Review: A Pretty Sonos Alternative

If you are looking For a top-notch Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Sonos Arc Ultra is hard to beat. But Sonos is still reeling from its self-imposed 2024 software failure, and many of its loyal customers have sought refuge with the company’s competitors. Chief among these is BlueSound, a wireless, multiroom audio ecosystem from the Great White North.

With a collection of speakers, subwoofers, and music streamers that closely mirrors Sonos’s lineup, Bluesound is especially popular among audiophiles, who value the company’s support of lossless, hi-res audio formats and are willing to pay a premium for it (Bluesound devices typically cost 30 to 50 percent more than their Sonos counterparts).

Like Sonos, Bluesound also does home theater audio, but it’s lagged in this department, particularly in its discrete support for the height-channel sound effects that characterize Dolby Atmos – until now. Bluesound’s $1,499 Pulse Cinema marks an expensive new chapter for the Canadian company: its first Dolby Atmos soundbar with dedicated up-firing drivers and a center channel.

A Sonos-like footprint

Photograph: Chris Haslam

It has a single HDMI-ARC/eARC port, and, like most of Bluesound’s speakers, an analog input, a digital input, a USB port for external storage, two-way Bluetooth with aptX adaptive, and your choice of Ethernet and/or Wi-Fi. There’s also a wired subwoofer output, which is far from standard on most soundbars. Aside from the lack of any HDMI inputs, it’s an eclectic and versatile collection that leaves the Arc Ultra in the dust.

Size-wise, the two speakers are similar: the Pulse Cinema, at 47 inches, is just an inch wider than the Arc Ultra. Both will look perfectly at home beneath a 50 to 65-inch TV, but the Pulse Cinema, with its wraparound fabric grille and soft curves, may appeal more to those who want a less high-tech look. If you prefer to mount it on a wall, a bracket is included. (Sonos sells its wall mount separately.)

Equipped with a 500-watt, 3.0.2-channel, 12-driver array, the Pulse Cinema delivers impressive levels of detail for both movies and music. It’s this commitment to both formats that helps it stand out. Most soundbars will be a big step up from your TV’s internal speakers for movies and TV shows, but few offer an equally rewarding listening experience when it comes to music.

great for dialogue

Photograph: Chris Haslam

For TV audio, dialogue clarity is a standout feature, with voices well-focused and easily understood, even in scenes with lots of competing background and surround sounds.