Bluesound Pulse Cinema review: a nice Sonos alternative

If you are looking for for a top Dolby Atmos soundbarit’s hard to beat the Sonos Arc Ultra. But Sonos is still recovering from its self-imposed software fiasco in 2024, and many of its once-loyal customers have sought refuge with the company’s competitors. Chief among them is Bluesound, a wireless multiroom audio ecosystem from the Great White North.

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

Like Sonos, Bluesound also offers home theater sound, but in this area it lags behind, particularly in its unobtrusive support for the height-channel sound effects that epitomize Dolby Atmos, until now. Bluesound’s $1,499 Pulse Cinema is a pricey new chapter for the Canadian company: its first Dolby Atmos soundbar with dedicated upward-firing speakers and a center channel.

A footprint similar to that of Sonos

Photography: Chris Haslam

There’s a single HDMI-ARC/eARC port and, as with most Bluesound 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 even a wired subwoofer output, which is far from standard on most soundbars. Aside from the lack of HDMI inputs, it’s a generous and versatile collection that leaves the Arc Ultra in the dust.

In terms of size, the two speakers are similar: the Pulse Cinema, at 47 inches, is only an inch wider than the Arc Ultra. Both will look great under 50- to 65-inch TVs, but the Pulse Cinema, with its wraparound fabric grille and gentle curves, might appeal more to those who want a less high-tech look. If you prefer to mount it on the wall, a bracket is included. (Sonos sells its wall mounts separately.)

Equipped with a 500-watt, 3.0.2-channel, 12-speaker array, the Pulse Cinema delivers impressive levels of detail for movies and music. It’s this commitment to both formats that allows it to stand out. Most soundbars are a major step up from your TV’s internal speakers for movies and TV shows, but few offer a similarly enriching listening experience when it comes to music.

Ideal for dialogue

Photography: Chris Haslam

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