Bluesound Pulse Sub+ Subwoofer

Out of Sight Sound What’s the one thing lacking in even the best soundbar? If you said “deep, realistic, room-filling, floor-pounding bass,” then you are absolutely correct.

- By Leslie Shapiro

Bluesound is known for its wireless multiroom audio components and speakers, a family that includes the Pulse soundbar. Bluesound’s original Pulse Sub subwoofer, created to pair with the company’s Pulse soundbar, was a welcome addition. But the new, re-engineered Pulse Sub+ delivers more power and a larger driver, plus even more sophisticated features to extend low frequency response with greater impact and accuracy.

Bluesound’s Pulse Sub+ ($749) is available in either black or white. The slim, trapezoid-shaped cabinet is designed to be mounted in a variety of ways. It’s slim enough to slide under a sofa or end table, and in that configuration four bottom-mounted rubber feet allow the 8-inch driver to fire upward. When positioned vertically as a side-firing sub, an additional set of rubber feet can be magnetically attached for floor placement, or you can use Bluesound’s included metal bracket for a wall-mount.

A 150-watt Smart Amplifier with DSP powers the 8-inch driver inside the Pulse Sub+, which has a rated low-frequency response of 22 Hz. The sub’s side panel has a colored LED ring that indicates pairing status and power, and inside the ring are buttons to control volume and other functions. It also has USB ports for firmware updates and a LAN port for a wired Ethernet connection.