About The Bluesound Pulse 2i Wireless Speaker
Introducing Bluesound PULSE 2i. Tested and perfected at one of North America's most advanced sound labs and by some of the same engineers and musicians who started the original HiFi revival in the 1970s comes the Bluesound PULSE 2i all-in-one network music player.
With Bluesound you can enjoy high-end audio in more rooms of your home. While there are many streaming speakers in today's audio landscape, Bluesound's multi-room music system focuses on helping you enjoy the most from not just low level files, but more importantly high-resolution audio files.
What's New In Gen 2i?
"Ever since Bluesound's exciting debut (2014), we have listened to the marketplace and worked hard to make significant improvements throughout the line," explained Matt Simmonds, Bluesound's Product Manager. "Gen 2i represents another leap forward with major technological enhancements that make this generation of Bluesound products even more compelling. Best of all, Gen 2i is compatible with existing Bluesound systems."
Apple AirPlay 2 Support: All Bluesound Gen 2i models are designed to support AirPlay 2, which will be delivered to Gen 2i owners via an upcoming software update. With AirPlay 2, Gen 2i owners can stream just about any sound from their iPhone, iPad, or Mac to their Bluesound system — all in sync. Customers can stream music, books, and podcasts from their favourite Apps, or watch videos on their Apple device while streaming the audio through to their Gen 2i Player – imagine watching Netflix or YouTube on an iPad while filling the room with premium sound from a Bluesound system.
AirPlay 2 also gives users more options for control, including using Siri voice assistance. Once you add your Gen 2i Player to the Apple Home App on your iPhone or iPad, Apple Music subscribers can use their iOS device or HomePod to say things like: "Hey Siri, play smooth jazz in the Living Room" or "Hey Siri, turn it up in the Kitchen."
By grouping a Gen 2i Player with older Bluesound Players in the BluOS App, existing customers can add AirPlay 2 compatibility to their entire BluOS system.
Two-Way Bluetooth: Gen 2i contains Bluesound's most advanced take on Bluetooth to date – two-way Bluetooth, featuring both Receive and Transmit functionality. Receive capability allows users to wirelessly stream from their device to a Bluesound Player just like they're used to doing with Gen 2. The Transmit capability means the user can now use their Bluesound Gen 2i Player as a source, sending what they are listening to via Bluetooth to a pair of wireless headphones.
aptX HD Bluetooth: While Bluesound has improved the Bluetooth connectivity in Gen 2i, engineers also made sure that audio quality improvements are part of the Gen 2i Bluetooth story. The advanced Qualcomm CSR8675 chip used in these new products also supports aptX HD Bluetooth wireless audio. aptX HD is an enhanced codec that supports 24-bit audio over Bluetooth and has been engineered to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, resulting in lower background noise. With the ability to support streams up to 24bit/48kHz, a customer streaming from an aptX HD compatible device to a Gen 2i Player is actually able to listen to better-than-CD quality, wirelessly. It all fits into the Bluesound story – modern wireless convenience without sacrificing quality.
Dual-band Wi-Fi: Bluesound has also upgraded the Wi-Fi chipset technology in its Bluesound Players to the latest and greatest Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) dual-band offering. Best-in-class products deserve best-in-class connection; with the new Wi-Fi chip onboard, Gen 2i owners can take advantage of the less noisy 5 GHz band if needed. This results in faster connection times and fewer interruptions from other network traffic.
The PULSE 2i
The Bluesound PULSE 2i is an all-in-one wireless network music system with a built-in 35-bit/844kHz DAC, integrated audiophile-grade speakers designed by PSB and a patented Direct Digital amplifier by NAD Electronics. The Direct Digital amplifier is rated at 80 Watts total power with 0.005% THD. Direct Digital amplifier technology provides rich, clear, and distortion free sound. PULSE 2i lets you play tunes from the Internet and songs stored on a networked computer or hard drive. This all-in-one speaker's small size belies its high-quality sound performance.
Music Options: Bluesound was designed to play just about any digital music you might have in your collection, including high-resolution files up to 24-bit/192kHz. Access the music stored on your computer or a networked hard drive, or tap into Internet radio stations like Tunein with over 70,000 FREE stations and online streaming services like Rdio, Spotify, Deezer etc (Subscription required) with the Bluesound app. Each Bluesound player also features a USB input for playing files "locally" from a thumb drive or hard drive, so if a friend brings over their favourite album or playlist, you can listen to it through your system.
Optical/Analogue Input: The PULSE 2i is fitted with a 3.5mm Auxilliary input which can be used as an analogue or digital connection. As an analogue input, simply connect a stereo minijack audio cable from your analogue source to the PULSE 2i's Auxilliary input. As a digital input, use the included 3.5mm-to-Optical adapter along with an optical digital cable (sold separately) to connect your digital source to the PULSE 2i's Auxilliary input. As an analogue or digital input, the unit's Auxilliary input supports 2 channel PCM audio (not Dolby Digital or DTS). Audio from the Optical/Analogue Auxilliary input can be played back at the PULSE 2i speaker and wirelessly distributed to other Bluesound components in your home for multiroom playback.
USB (Type-A) Input: The Bluesound PULSE 2i features a USB (type-A) port to directly connect your USB mass storage class (MSC) device; such as a thumbdrive, or external hard-drive. The unit's USB port supports music playback from these compatible USB devices formatted in FAT 32. The USB port is not compatible with the direct connection of an Apple iPod/iPhone/iPad or Android devices.
Note: There is also a mini-USB (type-B) port that is used for service purposes only (not for consumer use). Only authorized service personnel can access this USB port.
Create Your High-Resolution Multi-Room Music System: Combine multiple Bluesound players to enjoy high-end sound throughout your home. Controlling the system is easy with the free Bluesound app for your smartphone or tablet.
Easy To Expand: Place a PULSE 2i in your kitchen and another in the master bedroom, attach a NODE 2i to your home audio system and use the POWERNODE 2i to drive some compatible speakers in the lounge-room. Up to 12 Bluesound devices can be connected in a wireless environment but if you want to connect more than 12 Bluesound devices, you will need to connect the Bluesound devices to your network using a hard wired connection to EVERY product. Bluesound can then control up to 34 devices in this environment. Although wireless connectivity is very convenient in small and close to router setups, more elaborate setups and larger homes will benefit from hard-wiring even if it is only 3 or 4 items never mind 12!
Control In The Palm Of Your Hand: In addition to creating high-end music players, Bluesound also developed free apps for Apple and Android so you can control the system easily with your portable device. You can download the free Bluesound Remote App from iTunes or Google Play in order to use your Apple iOS (5.0+) or Android (2.1+) device to control PULSE. You are able to browse your local music library from a NAS or Windows/Mac computer on your network. You can also search for and listen to online music from TuneIn, Rdio and more. In addition, you can create, edit and retrieve your favourite music playlists.
The Bluesound Remote App even provides artist/song/album information and Album Art. The remote app can be used in portrait or landscape mode. There are three main screens; the Centre Screen which has the playback controls and source information, the Menu Screen which is swiped in from the left side, and the Players Screen which is swiped in from the right side. Simply pinch, swipe and tap the screen of your iOS or Android device to make selections. If you have multiple Bluesound devices on the same network, you can use the Bluesound Remote App to control each of them separately. Play music in one room, all rooms, or different tracks in different spaces around your home.
In The News
"The designers at NAD and PSB have come up with a brilliant solution to the problem of high-res, whole-house audio that combines superb sound reproduction with twenty-first-century connectivity." The Absolute Sound
"This tabletop, wireless all-in-one brings the expertise and sensibility of PSB Speakers' founder Paul Barton to the integrated system. The solidly built Pulse 2i accommodates a wide range of inputs, but will most likely be driven by streaming sources via the BluOS app. The sound has a warmth and richness in the bass and midbass that are often missing in the category. The Pulse 2i projects a sound far larger than its size would indicate and has the ability to fill a mid-sized room. The mids and treble are warm and engaging, again defying expectations." The Absolute Sound Editors' Choice Awards 2023
Our Take
What makes Bluesound so special it that it's all about high-resolution audio. Sonos, Heos and others currently don't handle high-res music. The Bluesound PULSE 2i wireless speaker is part of their wireless high-resolution audio eco-system that consists of music players, amplifiers, hard-drives and wireless speakers to playback your high-res and low-res music files, along with your favourite online music services throughout your home using your home's WiFi network. With an advanced WiFi antenna design and blazing ARM Cortex9 Processors, Bluesound ensures you get one of the best wireless connections in your home although as we mention above, there are limitations and a hard-wired connection is best for elaborate setups. Yes, you can play your music in perfect sync on every Bluesound connected device or play different music simultaneously to any Bluesound device in any room. If you're looking to downsize or expand to more areas around your home but still want good quality sound combined with versatility then you'll be extremely impressed with the depth and clarity of sound delivered by PULSE 2i. No it won't go as loud as a big pair of floorstanders, but will give many a run-for-the-money.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Wireless Network Music Player with built-in amplifier and speakers
- Direct Digital Amplifier: Tri-amplification renders digital music sources with fine detail, even at low volumes
- Power Output: 150 Watts Total Power
- Speakers: 2 x 133mm Woofers, 2 x 125mm Tweeters
- Frequency Response - 45Hz - 20kHz
- Signal-To-Noise Ratio: 100dB ( A-weighted)
- THD: 0.005%
- Compatibility: Communicates with other Bluesound players via your home network (wired or wireless)
- Free App: Control the system with a free app for your smartphone, tablet, or computer (Android, iOS, Kindle Fire, Windows and Mac)
- Files: Plays MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, WMA-L, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, MQA, and AIFF files
- Sample Rates: Supported sample rates: From 32kHz to 192kHz
- Bit Depths: 16-bit to 24-bit
- Internet Radio: Plays Internet radio stations from TuneIn Radio; Radio Paradise and others
- Spotify Connect: Lets you play Spotify's streaming music library through your Bluesound system via your smartphone or tablet (requires Spotify app and a premium subscription; firmware and app version 1.10.0 or higher)
- Cloud Services: Plays streaming music from WiMP, Rdio, Slacker Radio, Qobuz, HighResAudio, JUKE, Deezer, Murfie, HDTracks, Spotify and TIDAL depending on your location
- Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant voice control compatibility (external Amazon or Google device required).
- Multi-Room: Play music in multiple rooms when you add other Bluesound players
- Controls: Top-mounted controls for volume, play/pause & skip forwards or backwards
- Bluetooth: Two way high quality 5.0 aptX HD Bluetooth capability built-in
- Headphone Output: 3.5mm front mounted jack
- USB Port: Connect a thumb drive with music files
- Analogue Input: Rear 3.5mm stereo jack
- Optical Input: Rear 3.5mm jack - adaptor for optical cable provided
- Ethernet Port: This is for a wired connection to a home network
- Supplied Accessories: AC Power Cord, Ethernet Cable & Toslink Optical to 3.5mm Mini Adaptor
- Power: 230 Volt/50Hz input
- Power Consumption: 14 Watts
- Detachable Power Cord: Allows for upgrade to something better
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 420 x 198 x 192mm
- Nett Weight: 5 Kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.