Bluesound Pulse Soundbar 2i Review

Lots to love about this soundbar-cum-system – and there’s lots of it to love, too

Extensive specification; Multi-room ability; Full, rich and high-calorie sound;

Quite a visual statement; Short of outright dynamic headroom; Control app is quite easily confused;

Bluesound Pulse Soundbar 2i: Great sound in a bad UI

Bluesound may not be a household name, but it’s been a close competitor to Sonos in the battle of overconnected, smart, high-fidelity audio. The Pulse Soundbar 2i is the company’s second-generation soundbar designed for the living room, and it boasts serious audio chops. At $900, it’s slightly more expensive than the Sonos Arc, but doesn’t offer Dolby Atmos support as its competitor does. Does it have other features that might make it a better choice? Let’s take a look. The Pulse Soundbar 2i is not pretty. When we review soundbars, we do so from the perspective that they should not draw attention to themselves. The best ones are slim and compact, and when you are forced to look at them, they at least have refined lines and a classy finish. The Bose Soundbar 700 is a great example of this. The Soundbar 2i looks built to do the polar opposite. With more emphasis placed on sound quality than how it would look placed in a room, the Soundbar 2i stands at a towering 5.5-inches tall. To put t...

Excellently balanced, neutral sound; Tons of connection and accessory options; Compatible with wireless whole-house audio; Works with Airplay;

Bulky, tall design limits placement; Poor overall user experience; Expensive;