BLUESOUND
Bluesound versus soundbar
Another application that we have found for Bluesound
is as a substitute for a Soundbar. All modern TVs have an
optical output, and the Bluesound PowerNode 2 has an
optical input. Place the PowerNode 2 at the TV location
(given its size, this is easy to do), and then connect a
suitable pair of speakers.
There are a number of advantages to this – the main
one being sound quality. A PowerNode 2 and a pair of
small speakers such as Triangle LN01s (pictured right)
will easily outperform the great majority of Soundbars.
Secondly it will form the platform of a high-performance
multi-room wireless streaming system.
More importantly, the Bluesound App allows you
to learn the basic controls of your TV and associated
equipment into the App, meaning that your system can
now be controlled from a single device.
High-quality streaming
The advent of CD-quality streaming
sites such as Tidal has changed
consumer expectations when it
comes to wireless streaming products
such as Bluesound. We all want
the convenience that we are now
accustomed to, but we are also now
expecting a level of performance that is
on par with what we have experienced
with component Hi-Fi of past.
Bluesound is cashing in on this shift.Apps for iOS and Android allow convenient
control of a Bluesound system. Using a tablet is
an attractive option, as you can enjoy browsing
through your music collection and online services
with touch-to-select full-colour album artwork.
Bluesound Pulse 2
This is the largest of Bluesound’s wireless speakers. Rated at 80 watts, it is an
excellent performer, capable of filling the largest of rooms. We can see why this
product was awarded the ‘Product of the Year’ in the 2015 WHAT HI-FI? Awards.Control the new
Pulse 2 from your
smart device or
using the neat
controls on top....and now for the
really good news:
NOW THAT THE complete range of
Gen:2 Bluesound is here, the distributors
have been caught with some stock of
the older Gen:1 models, and are offering
them for sales at significant savings.
This has been also helped along by
the fact that most of this stock was
purchased at a time when the A$ was
worth somewhat more than now.THE NEW PRICING IS:
Pulse $799 (Gen 2 RRP $1,499). This must
be one of the best buys in the industry
at the moment. While Gen:2 is certainly
an improvement on the previous version,
the difference in performance does not
warrant the difference in price.
Node $499 (Gen:2 RRP $999)
Power Node $699 (Gen:2 RRP $1,599)
Vault (black only) $999 (Gen:2 $2,199)29