Audio T Verdict
The Bluesound PULSE CINEMA is a serious all-in-one home cinema and music system, combining a genuine 3.2.2 speaker configuration, dedicated centre and upward-firing channels, Dolby Atmos decoding and 500 watts of total system power.
Its wide 1200mm enclosure and substantial collection of active drivers allow it to produce a broader, more powerful and more precisely focused presentation than the smaller PULSE CINEMA MINI. Dialogue benefits from a physical centre channel, while the dedicated upward-firing speakers create genuine height information rather than relying entirely on virtual processing.
HDMI eARC, BluOS high-resolution streaming, wired or wireless subwoofer options and compatible wireless rear-speaker expansion make it an unusually complete solution. It does not offer DTS decoding, wired headphones, Dirac Live or the flexibility of a full separates-based AV receiver, but it is an excellent choice where immersive sound and a clean installation are equally important.
Bluesound PULSE CINEMA 3.2.2 Dolby Atmos Soundbar
The Bluesound PULSE CINEMA is a premium 3.2.2-channel soundbar combining Dolby Atmos home cinema, BluOS high-resolution music streaming and multi-room playback within one wide, low-profile enclosure.
Sixteen acoustic elements, including dedicated centre and upward-firing channels, are powered by a Smart DSP amplifier system rated at 500 watts of total system power.
Connect the soundbar to a compatible television through HDMI eARC to enjoy clearer dialogue, greater bass weight and a more enveloping presentation without requiring a separate AV receiver or passive front loudspeakers.
The system can be expanded with compatible Bluesound rear speakers and either a wired powered subwoofer or the wireless Bluesound PULSE SUB+.
What Does the PULSE CINEMA Do?
Dolby Atmos Soundbar
- Genuine 3.2.2 speaker configuration
- Dedicated left, centre and right channels
- Dedicated upward-firing height channels
- Dolby Atmos decoding
- Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD support
- Movie, Music and Late Night listening modes
Wireless Music System
- Built-in BluOS music streaming
- High-resolution playback up to 24-bit and 192kHz
- DSD playback up to DSD256
- AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect
- Qobuz Connect and Roon Ready
- BluOS multi-room playback
Expandable Home Cinema
- Add compatible Bluesound rear speakers
- Add a conventional wired powered subwoofer
- Pair wirelessly with Bluesound PULSE SUB+
- Create a BluOS home cinema fixed group
- Adjust channel levels through the BluOS app
- Expand without rear speaker cables
Genuine 3.2.2 Speaker Configuration
The PULSE CINEMA uses a 3.2.2-channel internal speaker arrangement.
- Three front channels for left, centre and right
- Two integrated low-frequency channels
- Two upward-firing height channels
The dedicated centre channel anchors dialogue and central effects to the television, while the left and right channels create the main width of the front soundstage.
Dedicated upward-firing speakers direct height information towards the ceiling so it can reflect towards the listening area.
The effectiveness of reflected height sound depends on the ceiling height, ceiling material, room shape, soundbar position and listening position.
Dedicated Centre Channel
A physical centre channel provides a more stable and clearly defined position for dialogue than a phantom centre created by left and right speakers alone.
This can be particularly useful when several people are watching from different seating positions, as voices remain more closely connected to the screen.
The centre channel also handles other centrally positioned soundtrack information, helping the left and right channels concentrate on width, movement and music.
The Centre Channel Depends on the Source
A dedicated centre channel is used when the incoming programme contains suitable multi-channel information.
Ordinary two-channel music does not contain a separate centre channel and will be reproduced according to the selected listening mode and processing settings.
Television and source-device settings must allow a compatible Dolby or LPCM signal to reach the soundbar.
Dedicated Upward-Firing Height Channels
The PULSE CINEMA includes physical upward-firing speaker channels designed to reproduce Dolby Atmos height information.
These speakers direct sound towards the ceiling, where it is reflected towards the listening position to create the impression of effects occurring above the screen.
Height effects may include aircraft, weather, environmental ambience and objects moving vertically through the soundtrack.
Room Design Affects Dolby Atmos Height
Upward-firing Atmos speakers work best with a flat, reasonably reflective ceiling of suitable height.
Very high, heavily absorbent, vaulted or unusually angled ceilings may reduce the strength and accuracy of reflected height effects.
A separates-based system with physical ceiling or height speakers can provide greater precision where the room and installation allow it.
Sixteen Acoustic Elements
Bluesound describes the PULSE CINEMA as using 16 carefully engineered drivers.
The published specification breaks this down into 12 actively driven speakers and four passive radiators:
- Five 21mm tweeters
- Five 44 x 75mm midrange drivers
- Two 102mm woofers
- Four 102mm passive radiators
The five tweeter and five midrange sections support the front and height channels, while the woofers and passive radiators provide the soundbar's integrated low-frequency performance.
500 Watts of Smart DSP Amplification
The PULSE CINEMA uses a Smart DSP amplifier system rated at 500 watts of total system power.
Each active speaker section receives dedicated amplification, allowing Bluesound to control crossover behaviour, channel balance, timing, equalisation and protection within one complete system.
- 38 watts for each of the five tweeters
- 38 watts for each of the five midrange drivers
- 65 watts for each of the two woofers
Bluesound publishes a total harmonic distortion plus noise figure of 0.030%.
A conventional amplifier power comparison is not straightforward because the amplifier channels, speaker drivers and DSP have been designed to operate together.
Dolby Atmos Decoding
The PULSE CINEMA decodes compatible Dolby Atmos soundtracks received through HDMI eARC.
Dolby Atmos uses object-based audio information to position sounds across the front, around the room and above the listening area.
The soundbar's centre, left, right and upward-firing channels reproduce the front and height information, while compatible wireless rear speakers can be added for dedicated surround effects.
A subwoofer can also be added when greater low-frequency extension and impact are required.
Supported Multi-Channel Formats
Bluesound lists support for the following home cinema formats:
- Dolby Digital
- Dolby Digital Plus
- Dolby TrueHD
- Dolby Atmos
- Compatible LPCM audio
The format received by the soundbar depends on the television, source device, streaming service, HDMI connection and digital-audio settings.
DTS Is Not Supported
DTS decoding is not listed within Bluesound's PULSE CINEMA specification.
A television, disc player or games console sending an unsupported DTS bitstream may produce no sound.
Where possible, configure the source device or television to output Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos or a compatible PCM signal instead.
HDMI eARC Television Connection
HDMI eARC provides the preferred connection between the PULSE CINEMA and a compatible television.
Television apps, set-top boxes, streaming-video players, disc players and games consoles connected to the television can send audio back to the soundbar through the same HDMI cable.
HDMI CEC allows a compatible television remote to control soundbar volume and standby.
An HDMI cable is included with the soundbar.
Television Settings May Need Changing
HDMI eARC and HDMI CEC may need to be enabled within the television's settings.
The television should be configured to output a supported Dolby or LPCM audio format.
Different manufacturers use names such as Anynet+, Bravia Sync, Simplink and VIERA Link for HDMI CEC.
HDMI eARC, HDMI ARC and Optical
HDMI eARC
- Preferred connection for compatible televisions
- Supports the widest range of Dolby formats
- Required for lossless Dolby TrueHD Atmos
- Supports compatible television remote control
- Uses the included HDMI cable
HDMI ARC
- May work with compatible older televisions
- Provides lower audio bandwidth than eARC
- May support Dolby Digital and compressed Atmos
- Format support depends on the television
- Does not provide every eARC capability
Optical
- Useful when HDMI is unavailable
- Uses a conventional Toslink cable
- Normally supports stereo PCM and Dolby Digital
- Cannot carry lossless Dolby TrueHD Atmos
- Remote control may require infrared learning
Optical Digital Input
A conventional Toslink optical input provides an alternative connection for compatible televisions and digital sources.
Optical can be useful with an older television that does not provide HDMI eARC or when HDMI control is unavailable.
It can also accept audio from a suitable CD transport, games console or another digital product.
Optical has less bandwidth than HDMI eARC and cannot carry every Dolby Atmos format.
Stereo RCA Analogue Input
A stereo RCA line-level input allows a conventional analogue source to be connected.
Suitable sources can include a CD player, tuner, cassette deck, external phono stage or another component providing a standard line-level output.
The connected source can be played locally through the soundbar or shared with compatible BluOS products in other rooms.
The RCA Input Is Not a Phono Stage
A moving magnet or moving coil cartridge cannot be connected directly to the PULSE CINEMA.
A turntable requires a suitable built-in or external phono stage before connection to the soundbar's analogue input.
The
Bluesound HUB
includes a moving magnet phono input and can make a turntable available throughout a compatible BluOS system.
Connect a Turntable
A turntable with a switchable built-in phono stage can connect to the PULSE CINEMA when set to its line-output mode.
A turntable without an internal phono stage requires a suitable external moving magnet or moving coil phono pre-amplifier.
The line-level output from the phono stage can then connect to the soundbar's stereo RCA input.
This allows the PULSE CINEMA to act as a simple television, streaming and vinyl system where space for separate amplification and loudspeakers is limited.
Movie, Music and Late Night Listening Modes
The BluOS Controller app provides dedicated listening modes designed for different material and times of day.
Movie Mode
- Designed for films, television and games
- Prioritises dialogue and spatial effects
- Uses compatible multi-channel information
- Supports expanded rear-speaker systems
- Suitable for normal home cinema listening
Music Mode
- Designed for two-channel music playback
- Provides a more music-focused balance
- Reduces unnecessary cinema processing
- Works with BluOS and connected sources
- Can be selected through the BluOS app
Late Night Mode
- Reduces large changes in volume
- Helps keep dialogue intelligible
- Controls sudden soundtrack peaks
- Useful for evening listening
- Suitable for flats and shared homes
BluOS High-Resolution Music Streaming
BluOS turns the PULSE CINEMA into a complete network music system when the television is switched off.
Compatible music services, internet radio, network storage, USB libraries and multi-room playback are controlled through the BluOS Controller app.
The app is available for compatible iOS, Android, Windows and macOS devices.
A quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor running at 1.8GHz per core manages streaming, home cinema processing, library indexing and multi-room synchronisation.
Streaming Services and Direct Integrations
The PULSE CINEMA provides access to more than 20 compatible music and internet-radio services through BluOS.
- Spotify Connect, including compatible Spotify Lossless playback
- TIDAL Connect
- Qobuz Connect
- Apple AirPlay 2
- Roon Ready
- Amazon Alexa Skills
- Internet radio through compatible BluOS services
Service availability, subscriptions, regional access and maximum playback quality are controlled by the individual provider and may change over time.
No Built-In Voice Microphones
The PULSE CINEMA does not contain its own microphone array or operate independently as a voice assistant.
Voice control requires a compatible external Amazon Alexa device and the appropriate account configuration.
High-Resolution Music and DSD256
PCM music playback is supported at native resolutions up to 24-bit and 192kHz.
Bluesound also lists DSD playback support up to DSD256.
Supported lossless and high-resolution formats include FLAC, MQA, Apple Lossless, WAV, AIFF and MPEG-4 SLS.
Additional formats include MP3, AAC, WMA, WMA Lossless, OGG and OPUS.
Play Music from Network Storage
Music stored on a compatible computer or network-attached storage device can be indexed and played through BluOS.
Server Message Block network sharing supports libraries containing up to approximately 200,000 files.
Practical library size and browsing performance also depend on the network, storage hardware, metadata, folder structure and album artwork.
USB Music Storage
A compatible FAT32 or NTFS-formatted USB memory stick or external drive can be connected to the rear USB Type-A port.
Music stored on the drive can then be indexed and selected through BluOS Local Server Mode.
This allows a local music library to be played without requiring a separate computer or network storage device to remain switched on.
The USB Port Is for External Storage
The PULSE CINEMA cannot operate as a USB sound device for a computer.
Its USB Type-A connection is intended for compatible external music storage and is not specified as an audio output for an external DAC.
Two-Way aptX Adaptive Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive allows the PULSE CINEMA to receive audio from compatible smartphones, tablets and computers.
Two-way Bluetooth also allows the soundbar to transmit audio to compatible wireless headphones and Bluetooth speakers.
Bluetooth quality depends on codec compatibility, distance, local interference and the source and receiving devices.
BluOS network playback will normally provide the most consistent route for high-resolution music.
Bluetooth Headphone Playback
Compatible Bluetooth headphones can be selected as the soundbar's audio output through the BluOS Controller app.
This allows films, television and music to be enjoyed privately without requiring a separate headphone amplifier.
No Wired Headphone Socket
The PULSE CINEMA does not provide a 3.5mm or 6.3mm wired headphone output.
Private listening requires compatible Bluetooth headphones or a separate headphone solution.
Apple AirPlay 2
Apple AirPlay 2 allows compatible iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV devices to send audio to the PULSE CINEMA.
This provides access to compatible applications that may not be integrated directly within BluOS.
The soundbar can also form part of a compatible Apple AirPlay multi-room system.
Roon Ready
The PULSE CINEMA can operate as a Roon Ready network endpoint within a compatible Roon system.
Music selection and library management are handled through Roon while the soundbar provides network playback, processing, amplification and speakers.
A separate Roon subscription and compatible Roon server are required.
BluOS Multi-Room Audio
The PULSE CINEMA can be grouped with compatible Bluesound and BluOS-enabled products throughout the home.
Grouped players can reproduce the same music in synchronisation, while different rooms can play separate sources at the same time.
Room grouping, playback queues, individual volume levels, sources and streaming services are controlled through the BluOS Controller app.
Ordinary multi-room grouping is different from creating a fixed home cinema group with dedicated rear speakers and a subwoofer.
Add Compatible Wireless Rear Speakers
A pair of compatible Bluesound products can be configured as dedicated rear surround channels.
Suitable Audio T options include the
Bluesound PULSE M
and
Bluesound PULSE FLEX 2i
.
The rear products and soundbar are configured as a BluOS home cinema fixed group rather than an ordinary temporary multi-room group.
Compatible surround information is then sent wirelessly through the network, while the soundbar continues to reproduce the front and height channels.
Rear Speakers Must Be Compatible BluOS Products
Ordinary Bluetooth speakers, wireless speakers from another platform and passive loudspeakers cannot connect directly as rear channels.
Passive rear speakers require a compatible Bluesound POWERNODE model acting as the rear-channel amplifier.
Reliable network coverage is essential for stable wireless surround operation.
Add a Wired or Wireless Subwoofer
A suitable powered subwoofer can connect through the PULSE CINEMA's mono RCA output.
This allows the soundbar to work with compatible third-party subwoofers available from Audio T.
The
Bluesound PULSE SUB+
can alternatively connect wirelessly through BluOS.
Subwoofer level and crossover settings can be adjusted through the BluOS Controller app.
Wired Subwoofer
- Connects through the mono RCA output
- Works with suitable powered subwoofers
- Provides a direct audio connection
- Requires a suitable subwoofer cable
- Allows a wider choice of subwoofer models
Wireless PULSE SUB+
- Pairs through the BluOS Controller app
- Requires no signal cable to the soundbar
- Allows flexible room positioning
- Provides app-based crossover and level control
- Can form part of a BluOS home cinema group
Automatic Orientation Detection
The PULSE CINEMA can be positioned horizontally on suitable furniture or mounted against a wall.
Internal orientation sensing detects how the soundbar has been installed and adjusts the Smart DSP processing to suit.
This helps maintain the intended channel direction and tonal balance without requiring a separate manual installation mode.
A wall-mounting bracket and installation template are included.
Tabletop and Wall-Mounted Dimensions
Tabletop Installation
- 1200mm wide
- 74mm high
- 140mm deep
- Suitable for many larger televisions
- Check the screen and remote-sensor clearance
Wall-Mounted Installation
- 1200mm wide
- 140mm high
- 84.5mm deep
- Wall bracket and template included
- Automatic orientation sensing adjusts the DSP
Positioning Below a Television
The PULSE CINEMA should be positioned centrally below the television with the front and upward-firing speaker sections unobstructed.
Avoid placing shelves, ornaments or other objects immediately above the upward-firing channels, as these may interfere with the reflected height sound.
Check that the soundbar's 74mm tabletop height does not cover the bottom of the television screen or infrared remote sensor.
The soundbar's 1200mm width makes it particularly well suited to larger televisions and wider furniture.
Check the Available Space Before Ordering
The PULSE CINEMA is considerably wider than the 850mm PULSE CINEMA MINI.
Measure the television stand, furniture and wall space before purchase, including clearance for cables and the upward-firing speakers.
Gigabit Ethernet and Dual-Band Wi-Fi
The PULSE CINEMA can connect to the home network through wired Gigabit Ethernet or dual-band Wi-Fi 5.
Bluesound specifies two built-in Wi-Fi connections to support network streaming and wireless home cinema grouping.
Gigabit Ethernet
- Uses a standard RJ45 network cable
- Supports network speeds up to 1000Mbps
- Provides the most predictable connection
- Recommended for home cinema groups where practical
- Ethernet cable is included
Dual-Band Wi-Fi
- Supports compatible 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks
- Allows installation without a network cable
- Performance depends on local wireless coverage
- May be affected by walls and interference
- Reliable coverage is essential for rear speakers
Touch Controls and Presets
Touch-sensitive controls provide access to frequently used functions without opening the BluOS Controller app.
- Play and pause
- Volume adjustment
- Two programmable preset buttons
- LED status indication
- Proximity sensing
Previous and next-track controls are available through the BluOS app rather than dedicated buttons on the soundbar.
Presets can provide direct access to compatible playlists, albums, radio stations and streaming content.
Infrared Remote Learning
A front infrared sensor allows the PULSE CINEMA to learn commands from a compatible television or universal remote control.
This is particularly useful when the soundbar is connected through optical cable or HDMI CEC control is unavailable.
Remote commands are assigned through the BluOS Controller app.
Smart Home and Control-System Integration
The PULSE CINEMA can be incorporated into compatible professionally installed control systems.
- Control4
- Crestron
- RTI
- Nice
- URC
- Lutron
Available functions depend on the control platform, installed driver and complete system configuration.
PULSE CINEMA or PULSE CINEMA MINI?
Choose PULSE CINEMA When
- The room and television area are relatively large
- A dedicated centre channel is important
- Physical upward-firing Atmos channels are required
- Greater scale, output and bass weight are priorities
- The 1200mm width suits the television and furniture
- Music and cinema performance are equally important
Choose PULSE CINEMA MINI When
- The room or television area is more compact
- An 850mm soundbar is easier to accommodate
- A 2.1-channel system meets your needs
- Virtualised height effects are sufficient
- A lower purchase price is important
- You still want BluOS and surround expansion
Soundbar or Separate Home Cinema System?
Choose the PULSE CINEMA When
- You want a clean and simple installation
- One front enclosure is preferable
- You do not want a separate AV receiver
- Wireless rear expansion is useful
- Minimal front speaker cabling is important
- BluOS music streaming is a priority
Choose a Separates System When
- You want physical speakers around the entire room
- Precise front and rear channel placement is important
- You require DTS or additional surround formats
- Several HDMI sources need to connect directly
- Individual components must be upgradeable
- Maximum home cinema performance is the priority
Planning a PULSE CINEMA System
Standalone Atmos Soundbar
- PULSE CINEMA connected through HDMI eARC
- Internal 3.2.2 speaker configuration
- Television remote used for volume
- No separate subwoofer or rear speakers
- Suitable for clean and simple installations
Soundbar and Subwoofer
- HDMI eARC connection to the television
- Wired powered subwoofer or wireless PULSE SUB+
- Greater bass extension and film impact
- Subwoofer settings controlled through BluOS
- Useful for larger rooms and action films
Expanded Wireless Surround
- PULSE CINEMA handles front and height channels
- Two compatible BluOS products provide rear channels
- Optional wired or wireless subwoofer
- Products configured as a home cinema fixed group
- Reliable network coverage is essential
Television and Music System
- Television connected through HDMI eARC
- Streaming services controlled through BluOS
- Optional CD player or phono stage through RCA
- Multi-room playback with compatible BluOS products
- Bluetooth headphones for private listening
Installation and Setup
The PULSE CINEMA can be positioned on suitable furniture or installed using the included wall-mounting bracket.
Initial setup includes connecting the television, adding the soundbar to the network, installing current BluOS software and signing into the required streaming services.
Television installations may also require HDMI eARC, CEC and digital-audio settings to be configured correctly.
Additional setup can include listening-mode adjustment, infrared remote learning, subwoofer integration, rear-speaker grouping and network music-library configuration.
Audio T can help confirm television compatibility, position or wall mount the soundbar and configure a complete BluOS home cinema system.
Key Features
- Premium Bluesound Dolby Atmos soundbar
- Model P530
- Genuine 3.2.2 speaker configuration
- Dedicated left, centre and right channels
- Dedicated upward-firing height channels
- Sixteen acoustic elements
- Twelve actively driven speakers
- Four passive radiators
- Five 21mm tweeters
- Five 44 x 75mm midrange drivers
- Two 102mm woofers
- Four 102mm passive radiators
- Smart DSP amplification
- 500 watts of total system power
- 38 watts for each tweeter channel
- 38 watts for each midrange channel
- 65 watts for each woofer channel
- Dolby Atmos decoding
- Dolby Digital support
- Dolby Digital Plus support
- Dolby TrueHD support
- Compatible LPCM support
- HDMI eARC input
- HDMI CEC control
- Toslink optical digital input
- Stereo RCA analogue input
- Movie, Music and Late Night listening modes
- BluOS high-resolution music streaming
- PCM playback up to 24-bit and 192kHz
- DSD playback up to DSD256
- MQA file support
- More than 20 compatible music and radio services
- Spotify Connect with compatible Spotify Lossless support
- TIDAL Connect
- Qobuz Connect
- Apple AirPlay 2
- Roon Ready
- Amazon Alexa Skills integration
- Two-way Bluetooth 5.2
- aptX Adaptive Bluetooth support
- Bluetooth headphone output
- USB Type-A external music-storage support
- FAT32 and NTFS storage compatibility
- BluOS Local Server Mode
- Server Message Block network-library support
- Support for libraries containing up to approximately 200,000 files
- Mono RCA subwoofer output
- Wireless connection to Bluesound PULSE SUB+
- Compatible wireless rear-speaker expansion
- BluOS home cinema fixed-group support
- Automatic tabletop and wall orientation detection
- Gigabit Ethernet connection
- Dual built-in Wi-Fi 5 connections
- Quad-core 1.8GHz ARM Cortex-A53 processor
- Front infrared sensor with remote learning
- Touch-sensitive play and pause control
- Touch-sensitive volume controls
- Two programmable preset buttons
- Proximity sensor
- Wall-mounting bracket and template included
- Black finish
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA?
It is a 3.2.2-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar containing BluOS music streaming, dedicated centre and upward-firing channels, built-in amplification and sixteen acoustic elements.
Does it need a separate amplifier?
No. The PULSE CINEMA contains its own Smart DSP amplification and complete internal speaker system.
Does it support genuine Dolby Atmos?
Yes. The PULSE CINEMA includes physical upward-firing height channels and supports compatible Dolby Atmos soundtracks.
Does it have a dedicated centre channel?
Yes. A physical centre channel anchors dialogue and central soundtrack information to the television.
How powerful is the PULSE CINEMA?
Bluesound rates the Smart DSP amplifier system at 500 watts of total system power across the active speaker channels.
How many speakers are inside it?
It contains five tweeters, five midrange drivers and two woofers, together with four passive radiators.
Can it connect to a television through HDMI?
Yes. HDMI eARC is the preferred connection for compatible televisions and the widest range of Dolby formats.
Will HDMI ARC work?
It may work with compatible HDMI ARC televisions, but available bandwidth and audio-format support will be more limited than with HDMI eARC.
Can it connect through optical cable?
Yes. A conventional Toslink optical input is provided for compatible televisions and digital sources.
Does it support Dolby TrueHD?
Yes. Bluesound lists Dolby TrueHD among the PULSE CINEMA's supported multi-channel formats.
Does it support DTS?
DTS is not listed as a supported format. Configure the television or source to provide a compatible Dolby or PCM signal instead.
Can I add rear speakers?
Yes. Compatible Bluesound PULSE speakers or a suitable POWERNODE and passive speakers can be configured as wireless rear channels.
Can ordinary Bluetooth speakers be used as rears?
No. Rear-channel operation requires compatible BluOS home cinema products rather than general Bluetooth speakers.
Can I add a subwoofer?
Yes. A powered subwoofer can connect through the mono RCA output, or a Bluesound PULSE SUB+ can pair wirelessly.
Can it play music without the television?
Yes. BluOS provides independent access to compatible streaming services, internet radio, network libraries, USB storage, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth.
Can I connect a CD player?
Yes. A suitable CD player can connect through the stereo RCA analogue input or Toslink optical input.
Can I connect a turntable?
Yes, provided the turntable has a built-in phono stage or is connected through a suitable external phono pre-amplifier.
Does it have a built-in phono stage?
No. A moving magnet or moving coil cartridge cannot connect directly to the RCA input.
Can it play music from a USB drive?
Yes. Compatible FAT32 or NTFS-formatted storage can connect to the USB Type-A port and use BluOS Local Server Mode.
Can I connect a computer by USB?
No. The USB connection is intended for compatible external music storage rather than computer audio input.
Can it play DSD files?
Yes. Bluesound currently lists DSD playback support up to DSD256.
Does it support Spotify Lossless?
Yes. Bluesound currently lists compatible Spotify Lossless playback through Spotify Connect.
Does it support Qobuz Connect?
Yes. Qobuz Connect is included among its current direct streaming integrations.
Does it support Apple AirPlay 2?
Yes. Compatible Apple devices can send audio to the PULSE CINEMA through AirPlay 2.
Is it Roon Ready?
Yes. It can operate as a Roon Ready endpoint with a compatible Roon server and subscription.
Can it connect to Bluetooth headphones?
Yes. Two-way Bluetooth allows the soundbar to transmit audio to compatible wireless headphones.
Does it have a wired headphone socket?
No. Personal listening requires compatible Bluetooth headphones.
Can it be wall mounted?
Yes. A wall-mounting bracket, template, bolts and fitting tool are included.
Does it automatically detect wall mounting?
Yes. Its internal orientation sensor adjusts the Smart DSP processing for tabletop or wall-mounted installation.
Does it support Dirac Live?
Dirac Live is not listed as a supported feature for the PULSE CINEMA.
Can Audio T install and configure it?
Yes. Audio T can help with wall mounting, HDMI eARC, television settings, rear speakers, subwoofers, network setup and BluOS configuration.
Why Buy From Audio T?
- Expert advice comparing PULSE CINEMA and PULSE CINEMA MINI
- Demonstrations through participating Audio T stores
- Advice based on television size and room dimensions
- HDMI eARC and television configuration
- Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD and PCM source guidance
- Optical and analogue connection advice
- Turntable and phono-stage matching
- Wired and wireless subwoofer integration
- Compatible wireless rear-speaker setup
- BluOS home cinema fixed-group configuration
- Bluetooth headphone setup
- USB storage and local music-library configuration
- Network-attached storage advice
- Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet setup
- Streaming-service account configuration
- BluOS Controller app setup and demonstration
- AirPlay 2, Roon and Bluetooth configuration
- BluOS multi-room system planning
- Wall-mounting and cable-management advice
- Professional home installation options
- Part exchange available on suitable existing equipment
- Ongoing Bluesound and BluOS support
Contact your local Audio T store
to arrange a demonstration or discuss building a Dolby Atmos, music or multi-room system around the Bluesound PULSE CINEMA.