Unlocking Sonic Value: Is the Bluesound Pulse M's Wireless Speaker Justified?

Bluesound Pulse M: A Comprehensive Review

The Bluesound Pulse M is a mid-range multi-room speaker that promises to deliver wide, immersive sound. With its compatibility with lossless streaming and hi-res audio over a wired connection, this speaker is geared towards audiophiles seeking a compact yet versatile device. The angled tweeters are touted as providing a broader stereo effect than many single-unit setups can offer.

Audio Performance

The Bluesound Pulse M’s audio performance is impressively detailed, with a warm and crisp sound that showcases its ability to produce hi-res audio. Paul Simon’s "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" sounded both warm and crisp, with his voice rising above the mix and the tight, noodly guitarwork cutting through.

However, the speaker’s audio performance is somewhat compromised by its unbalanced frequency response. The bass, while powerful, comes at the expense of the midrange, resulting in mids that suffer in comparison to other speakers in this price range.

Features and Design

The Bluesound Pulse M’s design is a highlight, with a sturdy build and a premium white matte finish that feels luxurious to the touch. The built-in proximity sensor is a nice touch, illuminating the buttons only when you wave your hand near. However, I would have preferred the touch-sensitive buttons to have some haptic feedback to provide immediate feedback when pressed.

Smart Features and Connectivity

The speaker offers a range of smart features, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB, and 3.5mm line-in connectivity. It’s also compatible with the BluOS app and Apple AirPlay 2. Alexa voice control is also supported, although I experienced some issues with the skill’s functionality.

Comparison and Verdict

In terms of competition, the Sonos Era 300 offers a more comprehensive feature set and better sound quality at a similar price point. The JBL Authentics 200, meanwhile, offers a more balanced frequency response and a wider range of connectivity options, albeit at a lower price point.

Ultimately, while the Bluesound Pulse M is a solid mid-range speaker, its unbalanced frequency response and limited smart features hold it back from being a top contender. If you’re looking for a speaker that can deliver hi-res audio and advanced smart features, you may want to consider other options.

Specifications

Feature	Bluesound Pulse M	Sonos Era 300	JBL Authentics 200
Speaker drivers	2x tweeters, 1x woofers	4x tweeters, 2x woofers	2 x 25mm tweeters, 5-inch full-range woofer, 6-inch passive radiator
Amplification	80W total system power, dual amp	6x Class D amps	90W
Dimensions	6.7 x 8 x 5.9 inches	6.30 x 10.24 x 7.28 inches	266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4mm
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, USB, 3.5mm line-in, Ethernet	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C (3.5mm line-in and Ethernet via adapter)	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, Ethernet, aux-in
Streaming support	BluOS app, Apple AirPlay 2	Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2	JBL One app, Apple AirPlay, Alexa Multi-Room Music (MRM), Chromecast
Voice assistant support	Alexa	Alexa, Sonos Voice Control	Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa

How I Tested

I spent many hours testing the Bluesound Pulse M over the course of several weeks. I tested it in a range of rooms and settings, using a wide range of music over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and wired connections. I also compared it to the Sonos Era 100 and hooked it up to a variety of devices, including my iPhone 16 Pro over AirPlay 2 and the Fiio M11S hi-res music player via analog stereo 3.5mm input.

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