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We ensure that all connection options be they physical or wireless are put through their paces equally and that any features found in a companion app are thoroughly explored. Any EQ presets are critically analysed and we create our own EQs to evaluate the effectiveness of in-app graphic equalisers. Though it will divide opinion aesthetically, there’s no questioning the Symfonisk picture frame speaker’s merit as a wireless streaming device. 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. 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.
Most impressive, though, is the detail on offer. The substantial girth and presence of the midrange is dense with insight, laying out the timbre and tone of voices as competently as it renders the crashes and intensity of high-octane action. Sonically, the Move is a step up, too. Its mid-woofer and downward-firing tweeter provide a better-balanced sound, a wider soundstage and overall, the Move sounds cleaner than One, which is just as well, given it’s twice the price. This also extends to the soundstage. Now, this is a thorny area because ultimately, as a single chassis product, the Pulse 2i isn’t really capable of generating a stereo image. It does, however, manage to avoid the most obvious perception of the sound coming from a single place. The louder you can run it, the better this effect gets although it does start to harden up a little once you’re really pushing it. It might be best to view the Pulse 2i as a room filling sounding speaker though - it will always lose out to a stereo pair but sat off axis in a lounge it will ensure that every occupant receives a reasonable facsimile of the music being played.Key specs – Drivers: 2; Wireless: Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Bluetooth; Voice Assistant: Google Assistant; Remote: No; Companion App: No; Dimensions: 140 x 140 x 193mm; Weight: 1.43kg With Bluesound, set-up is simple and you’re presented with more streaming services and internet radio sources than you’re ever likely to use. Even the seemingly less important features, such as alarms, will help better integrate multi-room audio into your home life. But it’s not just in the size department that the Move improves on the One, it’s got a few neat additional features, too. In particular, you don’t have to set up Trueplay – Sonos’ room EQ function – manually by waving your phone around as you do with its smaller sibling; it tunes itself whenever it senses you’ve moved it.
Group two PULSE FLEX 2i’s with the PULSE SOUNDBAR + or POWERNODE and create a wireless surround sound system with dedicated rear channels.
What is the Pulse 2i?
The power to really press on, volume-wise, also allows the Bluesound to describe any big dynamic variations in a recording without any obvious effort or stress. It’s equally comfortable with the lower-level dynamic variations and harmonic shifts that are especially apparent in unaccompanied voices or solo instruments - which only adds to the impression of out-and-out musicality the Pulse M delivers. Swapping to The Social Network in 5.1, we try out the upmixing modes and find that they have little effect individually. Engage them both together, though, and a degree of extra spaciousness and atmosphere is added to the opening bar scene without the rapid-fire dialogue between the actors losing much in the way of clarity. Perhaps the most attractive aspect of Sonos speakers is the Sonos app, which supports a huge variety of streaming services and platforms. Most of these are fully integrated so there’s no need to go skipping around different apps as you play your tunes or listen to the radio. There’s no Google Cast support but both Spotify Connect and Apple AirPlay 2 work. 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. Combining portability and multi-purpose functionality, this complete PA system for singers can be used for both practice sessions and live performances. Its easy and instant setup makes it perfect for permanent use in your studio or for concerts in small venues, such as pubs.
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