Bluesound challenges Sonos – new soundbars Pulse Cinema and Cinema Mini

Canadian Bluesound enters the ring with Sonos, presenting two soundbars designed for home cinema – Pulse Cinema and Pulse Cinema Mini. This is a response to the Sonos Arc Ultra and Sonos Beam models, but with a more audiophile touch, featuring power, Atmos, and full integration with the BluOS multiroom system.

Both models can be placed flat or mounted on the wall, and the aluminium and material construction ensures they look elegant in any living room.

Atmos and Power – Differences Between Models

The biggest distinction is seen in the channel configuration and power:

• Pulse Cinema is a 3.2.2 system with 16 drivers (including upward-firing speakers) and 500 W total power. This solution is for larger televisions and spacious environments.

• Pulse Cinema Mini is a classic 2.1, with 280 W power, which still provides the effect of virtual heights in Dolby Atmos.

As Matt Simmonds, product manager at Bluesound, says:

“We wanted to create soundbars that not only sound great – they also had to be simple to use every day. In a sleek, low-profile form, they offer cinematic sound without the typical AV clutter.”

Expansion to surround – without cables and an amplifier

Bluesound, like Sonos, focuses on easy expansion. Both models wirelessly connect with the SUB+ subwoofer and the brand's rear speakers, creating a complete surround system. A wired connection to the subwoofer is also possible – but as the company emphasizes, the equipment has been designed “wireless by design”.

We connect to the television via HDMI eARC, and HDMI CEC allows us to control everything with the TV remote. Zero additional remotes.

Streaming and Limitations

On board, we find Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2 via Wi-Fi and full support for multi-room BluOS (20+ services, including Tidal and Qobuz). However, there is a lack of Chromecast.

AirPlay 2 allows the soundbar to be paired wirelessly with Apple TV 4K, although in the case of Bluetooth, the quality depends on the television and is limited to stereo. It is also worth noting that the absence of DTS support means the need to convert the signal to PCM on the television or media player side.

Price and Availability

Both models are already available for pre-order, and global shipping will begin on 24 September.

Specifications