Can Bluesound’s Pulse Cinema Dethrone Sonos? A $1,500 Soundbar’s Real-World Test

Audiophiles seeking a Sonos alternative now have a Canadian contender—Bluesound’s new Pulse Cinema—but its steep price raises questions about value for money.

Priced at $1,499, the Dolby Atmos soundbar promises a 3.0.2-channel, 12-driver array with dedicated up-firing drivers and a built-in center channel. While it matches the Sonos Arc Ultra in versatility and footprint, it costs 30-50% more, prompting scrutiny over whether its features justify the premium.

The Pulse Cinema’s 500-watt power and wired subwoofer output aim to deliver cinematic depth, but real-world use cases matter most. For action movies with dialogue-heavy scenes, the soundbar’s "dialog clarity" feature could prove critical—though its performance against the Arc Ultra’s adaptive EQ remains untested.

Music streaming, however, might favor the Pulse Cinema’s 12-driver array, which could handle high-fidelity audio with less distortion than the Arc Ultra’s 9-driver setup.

Input flexibility is another battleground. The Pulse Cinema offers HDMI-ARC/eARC, analog/digital inputs, a USB port, and Bluetooth with aptX Adaptive—matching the Arc Ultra’s connectivity while adding wired sub support.

Yet Sonos’ ecosystem integration (Apple AirPlay 2, Alexa/Google Assistant) remains a strong advantage for users invested in smart home platforms.