Bluesound PULSE M
The warm, room-filling sound and easy BluOS streaming make Bluesound’s compact speaker a strong lifestyle pick. Gordon Brockhouse praised its lively presentation and rich app ecosystem, while Carrie-Ann Skinner noted clear vocals and full bass. It’s an engaging, versatile all-in-one that sounds bigger than it looks.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
85/100
Build Quality
81/100
Value for Money
86/100
Pros
Rich, lively sound with clear vocals and good detail for a compact all-in-one speaker.
Strong streaming flexibility with BluOS, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and Roon Ready support.
Produces a spacious, room-filling presentation that stays consistent across listening positions.
Thoughtful touch controls and proximity sensing make everyday use convenient.
Cons
Bass can turn a bit muddy or thuddy depending on placement, especially in corners.
A single unit does not deliver true stereo imaging, only a sense of spaciousness.
The glass top attracts smudges and fingerprints.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 85/100
The Pulse M sounds lively, rich, and generally polished, with good detail and a pleasing sense of scale for a single compact speaker. Reviewers also note a clear tradeoff: bass can get a bit muddy or thuddy in some placements, the sound can become more muffled without Front Row engaged, and the presentation is spacious rather than truly stereo from one unit.
Bass
84/100
Bass is described as full, robust, and well-defined for a compact speaker, with the ability to sound impressively strong on double bass and synth lines. That said, reviewers also mention some muddiness, thuddiness in the lower notes, and placement sensitivity that can make the low end less clean.
Mid
88/100
The midrange comes across as convincing and musical, with accurate piano tone and vocals that stay clear and natural. Reviewers repeatedly describe the overall sound as rich and warm, suggesting a midband that is easy to listen to and carries voices and instruments well.
Treble
85/100
Treble is generally clean, bright, and detailed, with cymbals, chimes, and other high-frequency effects coming through with good sparkle and clarity. A small caveat is that one reviewer found cymbals a bit too sizzly, so the top end is not entirely free of glare.
Soundstage Imaging
82/100
With a single speaker, reviewers are clear that it does not create a true stereo image, though it does produce a respectable sense of spaciousness. The omni-style design helps it sound even from different positions in the room, but it does not place instruments with the specificity of a true stereo pair.
Dynamics
82/100
The Pulse M can play loudly enough to fill a small office or bedroom without strain, and energetic tracks have good drive. Reviewers also note that some hard-driving passages can sound a bit thuddy or indistinct, so its punch is good rather than especially explosive.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
81/100
The speaker looks carefully put together, with a distinctive elliptical shape, cloth wrap, glass top, and touch controls that feel thoughtful in use. Reviewers also point out the lower plastic enclosure and smudge-prone glass surface, and they say little about long-term robustness beyond the general fit and finish.
Value for Money
86/100
At the reduced $399 / £399 asking price, reviewers present it as a premium product rather than a bargain, but one that makes sense if sound quality matters more than smart-speaker extras. Compared with rival wireless speakers and all-in-one streamers, the praise centers on it being good value for audio quality, though not an outright steal.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
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Specifications
- Supported Audio File Formats
- MP3, AAC, WMA, WMA-L, OGG, ALAC, OPUS
- Supported Hi-Res Audio File Formats
- FLAC, MQA, WAV, AIFF, MPEG-4 SLS
- Native Sampling Rates
- up to 192 kHz
- Bit Depths
- 16 - 24
- Audio Controls & EQ
- BluOS Controller App
- Distortion
- THD+N, 0.030%
- Amplification
- Smart DSP Amplifier
- Rated Power Output
- 80W total system power, dual amp 50W x 1 Woofer; 15W x 2 Tweeter
- Speakers
- 5.25" (133mm) x 1 Woofer; 0.75" (19mm) x 2 Tweeter
- Frequency Response
- 60Hz-20kHz ±1.5 dB, -10 dB @ 40Hz
- Operating System
- BluOS
- App Controller Operating System
- iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
- Processor
- ARM® Cortex™ -A53, Quad-Core, 1.8GHz per core
- Supported Network File Sharing
- Server Message Block (SMB) up to 200,000 files
- Album Art Supported
- JPG, PNG
- Music Services & Internet Radio
- 23+ Click Here
- 3rd-Party Integrations
- AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready
- Control System Integrations
- Crestron, Control4, RTI, ELAN, URC, Lutron, Josh.ai
- Voice Control Integrations
- Amazon Alexa Skills
- BluOS Home Theater
- Use as rear surround channels
- Power Supply
- Universal bi-pin AC cord input (100-240AC)
- Ethernet/LAN
- Ethernet RJ45, Gigabit 1000 Mbps
- Wi-Fi Built In
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), dual-band
- Bluetooth Quality
- Bluetooth 5.0 aptX HD
- IR Optical Built In
- IR Sensor Built In - front panel with IR Remote Learning
- Optical/Analog Input
- Combo - Mini TOSLINK/Stereo 3.5mm
- USB IN
- Type A (Fat32 Formatted)
- Headphone Output
- 3.5mm Stereo
- Subwoofer Output
- Wireless to PULSE SUB+
- Status Indicator
- LED x 2
- Play/Pause Button
- Touch LED
- Volume Control Buttons
- Touch Slider LED
- Previous/Next Track Buttons
- Touch LED
- Preset Buttons
- Touch LED x 5
- Proximity Sensor
- Yes
- Max Power Consumption
- 79W
- Finish
- Black/White; Matte Satin Paint
- Weight
- 2.54kg/5.6lbs
- Storage Environment
- -10°C to 50°C, 20% to 80% relative humidity
- Version
- P230
- Included Accessories
- 120V AC Power Cord 230V AC Power Cord Ethernet Cable TOSLINK Optical to 3.5mm Mini Adapter Safety/Warranty Guide Quick Setup Guide
- Operating Environment
- 0°C to 40°C
- Product Dimensions
- 171 x 204 x 149 mm (W x H x D) 6.7 x 8 x 5.9 in (W x H x D)
Manufacturer's Description — Bluesound
The PULSE M delivers lush, rich, room-filling sound at nearly all angles. Its Omni-Hybrid™ driver design includes an upfiring woofer and two tweeters mounted at 45 degree angles from each other. The PULSE M is not only pleasing to the ears but also the eyes – its elliptical shape adds an elegant accent to any home.
- Wireless music streaming speaker that delivers immersive, room-filling sound
- DSP smart amplifier and Omni-Hybrid™ driver arrangement are meticulously engineered to deliver clear, lush audio at nearly every listening angle
- Control music wirelessly with the intuitive BluOS Controller app for iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, and Windows & Mac OS X desktops.
- Place one in any or every corner of your home and let it add a contemporary touch to your décor
- Group two PULSE Ms with the Bluesound Soundbar or POWERNODE and create a surround sound system with dedicated rear channels.
- Control it with the optional Bluesound RC1 Remote Controller
- Connect Bluesound to your Amazon Echo with the skill in the Alexa app and use Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant to control Players around the home.
- AirPlay 2 lets you play music or podcasts from wireless speakers throughout your house — all in sync.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Bluesound PULSE M
- Holt Hill — online and in-store — Andover, Massachusetts, United States (website)
- In Living Stereo — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- Resolution A/V — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- Aalen Hifi — in-store — Schwäbisch Gmünd, Baden-Wurtemberg, Germany (website)
- Absolute Audio - Canada — in-store — Calgary, Alberta, Canada (website)
- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
- Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
- Ahead Stereo — in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
- ALAIN CHOUKROUN — online and in-store — Paris, Île-de-France, France (website)
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