Pulse Plus ACTIVE40PRO-WH 5 Inches Active Speakers (Pair), 40W RMS, White

Product Information

Other features include support for music streaming services Spotify Connect, Tidal and Roon, in addition to Google Cast and Apple AirPlay 2. Though it will divide opinion aesthetically, there’s no questioning the Symfonisk picture frame speaker’s merit as a wireless streaming device. Of that power, 50W is used to drive an upward-firing 133mm mid/bass driver that sits behind an acoustic reflector that’s shaped to disperse the driver’s higher frequencies as far and wide as possible. It’s accompanied by a couple of 19mm tweeters driven by 15W of power each - they’re angled out at 45-degrees from each other in a further effort to create as wide a soundstage as possible. Bluesound calls this layout ‘omni-hybrid’. Its hi-res music support will be a big draw for some, and Bluesound’s app is a significant step up over the rather rudimentary Audio Pro offering.

While it's worth experimenting, we feel the Bluesound is most musical when its upmixing is switched off, but even then it's trumped by the Sonos Arc which, while noticeably more processed in its delivery, is punchier, better organised and more engaging overall. Verdict Key specs – Drivers: 4; Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in; Voice Assistant: No; Remote: Yes; Companion App: Yes; Dimensions: 210 x 218 x 212 mm; Weight: 5.6kg The top-end is bright and substantial, and there’s plenty of substance to treble sounds to underpin their shine. The Pulse M is capable of quite oppressive volume, but it doesn’t alter its characteristics even if you decide to listen at big levels - which is an especially welcome trait where the top of the frequency range is concerned. There’s no hardness or edge to treble sounds, no matter how loud you like to hear them. Complete PA system for singers comes with a wired handheld microphone for instant use, additionalmicrophones can be connected to the balanced XLR inputs

Scores

With an effects loop, you can choose to connect your effect pedals and processors for a more professional and full band setup. The effect dial allows you to select which channel you want these effects to be present on. What’s most striking is the improvement in this streamer’s organisation, timing and dynamic expression. There is greater life to the performance as well; the Node 2i shows not only an increased level of expression but also enthusiasm. The 32-bit/192kHz DAC remains, as does its long list of connections, including RCA, coaxial, optical and subwoofer outputs, with physical inputs for optical, analogue and USB-A alongside wi-fi, Bluetooth aptX 4.1 and AirPlay 2. The best wireless speakers deliver exceptional audio quality in your lounge, kitchen or bedroom, and while playing music remains their primary function, the more advanced among them deliver an array of useful features. Bluesound has also added some bonus features to its streamer, including that dual-band wi-fi and two-way Bluetooth, as well as a faster processor for an all-round more intuitive user experience.

Bluesound’s light touch when it comes to re-engineering these speakers has paid dividends. They retain the character from previous incarnations, so we get treated to that same confident, full-bodied presentation, only more detailed and spacious. In terms of build, though, you’d be hard pushed to spot the difference between the Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+ and its forebear, the Soundbar 2i. There is now a new centre strip on the front face with touch controls for volume and power, though, and either side of this sits a pair of 25mm tweeters, 5cm midrange drivers and 10cm woofers, with a matching passive radiator behind a tight aluminium grille. All the drivers are front-facing and, being larger in diameter than those in most competing models, give the Pulse Soundbar+ its distinctive slim, tapered-but-tall build. Playing George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, we try out the upmixing modes and, as with 5.1, they seem to have little effect individually. They make a much bigger difference when activated together, though, most noticeably by dramatically increasing volume but also adding a reverb effect that, while delivering a sense of greater spaciousness, also muddies the instrumentation. Most impressive, though, is the detail on offer. The substantial girth and presence of the midrange is dense with insight, laying out the timbre and tone of voices as competently as it renders the crashes and intensity of high-octane action.Top-performing drivers deliver a powerful listening experience greater than other all-in-one speakers. The Gen 2 model listed here added increased memory and updated the speaker’s processor but it’s otherwise identical to the original, which sounds great wherever you position it thanks to Sonos’ TruePlay feature, which tunes the EQ automatically according to the resonances of your room. The effects aren’t always dramatic but Trueplay always manages to improve the Sonos One’s already impressive audio output. Key specs – Drivers: 2; Wireless: Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2; Voice Assistant: No; Remote: No; Companion App: Yes; Dimensions: 406 x 60 x 559mm; Weight: 4kg We ensure that all connection options be they physical or wireless are put through their paces equally and that any features found in a companion app are thoroughly explored. Any EQ presets are critically analysed and we create our own EQs to evaluate the effectiveness of in-app graphic equalisers. READ NEXT: The best Bluetooth speakers to buy this year Bluesound Pulse M review: What could be improved?

Two passive 10-inch speakers deliver full range frequency response for accurate vocal and music reproduction Combining portability and multi-purpose functionality, this complete PA system for singers can be used for both practice sessions and live performances. Its easy and instant setup makes it perfect for permanent use in your studio or for concerts in small venues, such as pubs. Group two PULSE Ms with the PULSE SOUNDBAR+ or POWERNODE and create a wireless surround sound system with dedicated rear channels. Three main listening modes can be engaged – music, movie and late-night – and there are two upmixing options that can be toggled on and off. Bluesound says that the Surround Upmixer takes any channel-based audio and synthesises it to a multi-channel Dolby surround configuration intended to make use of a set-up that includes the optional surrounds and sub.For a product of this type, the all-in-one speakers ultimately carry most of the weight when it comes to performance. The fact that we would award none of the three Pulse speakers five stars means that overall, it cannot really be a five-star system. Alexa works very well and there’s support for Qualcomm’s high-resolution aptX adaptive Bluetooth codec but the Zeppelin’s big draws are how it looks and how it sounds. Its size will prove prohibitive for some but those with the space for it will likely love the airship-inspired design. Perhaps the most attractive aspect of Sonos speakers is the Sonos app, which supports a huge variety of streaming services and platforms. Most of these are fully integrated so there’s no need to go skipping around different apps as you play your tunes or listen to the radio. There’s no Google Cast support but both Spotify Connect and Apple AirPlay 2 work. The Pulse M is compatible with every worthwhile digital audio file type (MP3, WAV, FLAC, MQA and so on) as well as quite a few less worthy alternatives. The crucial digital-to-analogue conversion process is handled by a DAC chipset with 24bit/192kHz native resolution.

This also extends to the soundstage. Now, this is a thorny area because ultimately, as a single chassis product, the Pulse 2i isn’t really capable of generating a stereo image. It does, however, manage to avoid the most obvious perception of the sound coming from a single place. The louder you can run it, the better this effect gets although it does start to harden up a little once you’re really pushing it. It might be best to view the Pulse 2i as a room filling sounding speaker though - it will always lose out to a stereo pair but sat off axis in a lounge it will ensure that every occupant receives a reasonable facsimile of the music being played. The new Pulse range also supports Alexa Voice Control and Apple AirPlay 2– in line with all new 2i products on the new Bluesound 3.0 software – alongside two-way Bluetooth that offers the option of using it with wireless headphones as well as through that all-new driver array.

Group two PULSE FLEX 2i’s with the PULSE SOUNDBAR + or POWERNODE and create a wireless surround sound system with dedicated rear channels. The 2021 Zeppelin propels its way onto this list with streaming options aplenty, exceptional sound quality and Alexa built-in. Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect are both supported, while the easy-to-use B&W Music app allows you to integrate subscriptions to Qobuz, Tidal and more. The same thing applies to streaming standards. The best wireless speakers will support a range of these so you can send audio directly from your phone, tablet or laptop over your home Wi-Fi network to your wireless speaker. The big three standards are Spotify Connect, Google Cast, and Apple AirPlay but others such as DTS Play-Fi and, for audiophiles, Roon Ready support are worth looking out for as well. In fact, there is probably cleaner, more pronounced detail across the frequency range emitting from this new model, the Pulse 2i making use of its newly installed tweeters for a presentation that is in line with Bluesound’s characteristic body and warmth without dialling out any of the treble.