The 32-bit/192kHz DAC remains, as does its long list of connections, including RCA, coaxial, optical and subwoofer outputs, with physical inputs for optical, analogue and USB-A alongside wi-fi, Bluetooth aptX 4.1 and AirPlay 2. Another usability gripe is that the soundbar doesn’t automatically detect an eARC signal – you have to manually switch inputs within the BluOS app. Once configured, you can enable auto-detect on one source, but this only seems to function immediately after power-up, and not when switching from, for example, streaming to eARC. Of that power, 50W is used to drive an upward-firing 133mm mid/bass driver that sits behind an acoustic reflector that’s shaped to disperse the driver’s higher frequencies as far and wide as possible. It’s accompanied by a couple of 19mm tweeters driven by 15W of power each - they’re angled out at 45-degrees from each other in a further effort to create as wide a soundstage as possible. Bluesound calls this layout ‘omni-hybrid’. While it's worth experimenting, we feel the Bluesound is most musical when its upmixing is switched off, but even then it's trumped by the Sonos Arc which, while noticeably more processed in its delivery, is punchier, better organised and more engaging overall. Verdict

The Pulse 2i is built around the same BluOS operating system as the Node 2i so to save needless repetition, you can read about some of the basics in that review. It’s worth reiterating a few details though. BluOS is a closed system. If you have a third party UPnP app (bar one), the Pulse 2i will not appear on it. In this regard, it is more Sonos than Yamaha’s MusicCast for example. Arcam’s rPlaystreamer, in particular, offered improved sound in a compact unit at a substantially lower price. Consequently, the Node 2 dropped from five stars to three. If you’re short on space or simply fancy a Wi-Fi speaker you can mount on your wall, this could be the product for you. Ikea and Sonos’ third audio collaboration isn’t as discrete as the Wi-Fi-enabled bookshelf speaker and table lamp that preceded it, but sonically, it hits all the right notes. In fact, there is probably cleaner, more pronounced detail across the frequency range emitting from this new model, the Pulse 2i making use of its newly installed tweeters for a presentation that is in line with Bluesound’s characteristic body and warmth without dialling out any of the treble. Getting digital audio information on board in the first place is most easily done wirelessly, of course. Dual-band Wi-Fi is available, as well as Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD codec compatibility - and in addition there’s Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect. The Pulse M is Roon Ready, and as well as acting as a Bluetooth receiver it can be a transmitter and so can be used with wireless headphones.As far as wireless streamers and just-add-speakers systems go, you’d be hard pushed to find a sound quality superior to that of the Node 2i or Powernode 2i. Those improvements, along with a family of mostly talented products, has kept Bluesound as an attractive high-end multi-room proposition.

Outwardly, the Pulse 2i mirrors its predecessor, but beneath the surface it's a different being altogether. The previous driver configuration of two 7cm drivers and a single 13cm bass unit has been swapped for a pair of 25mm tweeters and two 13cm bass drivers. Unsurprisingly, pretty much every soundbar is marketed as if it's equally well-equipped for music and movies. Of course, that's rarely, if ever, the case, and our expectations were that the Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+ might, thanks to its large, forward-firing drivers, lose some ground to the best in class on movie sound but beat them with music.Given its larger-than-average and forward-facing drivers, we had high hopes for the Bluesound Pulse Soundbar+ as a music speaker, so it's with some disappointment that we have to declare it merely decent on that front. Alexa works very well and there’s support for Qualcomm’s high-resolution aptX adaptive Bluetooth codec but the Zeppelin’s big draws are how it looks and how it sounds. Its size will prove prohibitive for some but those with the space for it will likely love the airship-inspired design. There are no physical ports on the MS50A but you do get both wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as support for Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect. That ensures it’s very well-equipped for streaming and you can even integrate it into a multi-room system using the Alexa app should you wish. Effects loop to use your pedals and processors to apply reverb, delay or echo to your vocals and instruments, effects control dials to select which channel uses the effects The Pulse M is compatible with every worthwhile digital audio file type (MP3, WAV, FLAC, MQA and so on) as well as quite a few less worthy alternatives. The crucial digital-to-analogue conversion process is handled by a DAC chipset with 24bit/192kHz native resolution.

The best wireless speakers deliver exceptional audio quality in your lounge, kitchen or bedroom, and while playing music remains their primary function, the more advanced among them deliver an array of useful features.Internet radio, podcast player, TV soundbar and smart technology control hub are just some of the roles the best wireless speakers can play. All-in-one wireless speaker systems capable of all of that aren’t as cheap as a regular Bluetooth speaker but there are plenty of reasonably-priced, feature-rich options for those on a budget. Supplied with two passive speakers that need to be connected to the amplifier’s output terminals, this vocalist PA system delivers high-powered sound with wide frequency response. These 200W speakers feature a 10-inch woofer driver that perfectly reproduces vocals and music for high-quality, enjoyable performances. The overall sound can be adjusted with the available 3-band EQ controls, allowing you to increase or decrease the bass levels. There’s a flip-side to this arrangement, though - and that’s the slightly vague nature of the (admittedly very large) soundstage it creates. It’s just not the most explicitly defined - different instrumental strands or occurrences in a recording don’t stay in their lane quite as strictly as they should, and there can be some overlap and smearing. It’s not especially pronounced, you understand, and far from fatal - but it’s a factor nevertheless. Other features include support for music streaming services Spotify Connect, Tidal and Roon, in addition to Google Cast and Apple AirPlay 2. Its hi-res music support will be a big draw for some, and Bluesound’s app is a significant step up over the rather rudimentary Audio Pro offering.