‘Bass-heads need not apply’: I tested a polished-sounding wireless speaker with an impeccable sense of space — it’s just a shame that it flubs the sub | Tech Radar

Overview

‘Bass-heads need not apply’: I tested a polished-sounding wireless speaker with an impeccable sense of space — it’s just a shame that it flubs the sub

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What the Bluesound Pulse Flex does well, it does very well indeed. Not only does it offer spacious, well-expressed mids but it provides detailed, hi-res sound and fantastic connectivity options. However, it is a bit lacking where bass is concerned and its basic EQ settings and lack of room calibration only compound the issue. If you’re happy with well-rounded, non-confrontational sound it’ll suit you well. But bass-heads need not apply.

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The Bluesound Pulse Flex is a reboot of the brand’s 2018 wireless speaker. Capable of hi-res playback and being part of a multi-room setup, its most obvious rival is the Sonos Era 100. But is it capable of squaring up to Sonos’s entry level option?

First off, it deftly handles the separation of various elements in the mix. Listening to Nervous Tics by Maribou State, I was impressed with how judiciously it balanced each instrument, with the guitar and the arpeggiated synth given plenty of room. Vocals especially always felt like they were given their due deference, sounding fantastically clear and soaring above the rest of the mix.

A big part of this is that the Pulse Flex dedicates plenty of space in the mix for the mids to express themselves, rather than boosting bass and treble as a cheap way of adding punch. Playing Cirrus by Bonobo, I was immediately struck by how energetic the Kalimba sounded and the satisfying resonance and reverb to the chimes. Honestly, its performance in this frequency range is as good as I’ve heard from any of the best wireless speakers in this price range.

That’s not to say it doesn’t have any sonic shortcomings though. For example, as it doesn’t have stereo drivers, it’s only capable of mono playback unless you pair it with another Bluesound speaker, meaning you’re not going to get as satisfying a soundstage as you might otherwise. The speaker’s also surprisingly quiet – I rarely need to run most speakers at more than 50% volume, whereas I had to crank the Pulse Flex at around 65% just to get a similar level of loudness out of it.

There are also some areas of the mix it handles less well than the mids. For example, when playing Us (Pola & Bryson Remix) by Alchemist, I was immediately struck by how subdued the sub felt, particularly compared to a more bass-heavy wireless speaker like the Sonos Era 100. On occasion, transients like hi-hats can also feel like they’re lacking in crispness and bite, suggesting the treble is a little muted.

Of course, this is where many speakers would fall back on their EQ settings as a defence, reasoning that at least you can compensate for their audio weaknesses here, should you wish. Unfortunately for the Pulse Flex, its EQ settings are seriously limited, only allowing you to boost or reduce bass or treble. It also doesn’t have any form of built-in room calibration, meaning it won’t compensate for unfavorable placement.

But while it’s a little lacking in audio features, it makes up for it in terms of connectivity options. Wireless options are impressive enough, with integrated streaming apps, Air Play 2 and Bluetooth apt X HD. However, it’s the variety of wired inputs that really impressed me – it offers a staggering range for a speaker of this price, including a 3.5mm analog jack, optical in, USB for connecting external drives and USB-C for running a digital input from your PC or laptop.

This smart physical design is echoed elsewhere throughout the Pulse Flex’s build. I’m a big fan of its styling, with its flattened front face and attractive colorways helping it to stand out from the crowd of interchangeable wireless speakers. Meanwhile, the acoustically transparent fabric of its grille and matte plastic of its body feel wonderfully tactile. I only wish that its buttons were slightly less fine, as they’re not as pleasant to press as circular buttons would be.

All things considered, the Bluesound Pulse Flex is an effective speaker for its $349 / £279 price. It offers excellent resolution and handles crowded mixes pretty deftly, as well as making vocals and other mid-range elements shine. Unfortunately, it does lack where sub is concerned and offers too few sound-tweaking features though, so if you’re into a bassier sound or just like tailoring audio to suit your preferences, you might be better off with one of the best wireless speakers instead.

Bluesound Pulse Flex review: price and availability

Having launched on December 16, 2025, the Bluesound Pulse Flex is available direct from Bluesound, as well as from third-party sellers such as Amazon. Its list price is

For that price, you get your choice of three colorways: Black / Charcoal, White / Pebble Grey and the stunning looking White / Tan finish. Each speaker is mono though, so if you’re dead set on having a stereo, you’ll want to budget for two units, not just one.

Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3 apt X HD, 3.5mm optical / analog combo, USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet

Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3 apt X HD, 3.5mm optical / analog combo, USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet

Blu OS app, Apple Air Play 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready

Blu OS app, Apple Air Play 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready

Multi-room groups, loudness optimization, tone controls, replay gain, mono / left / right settings, volume limits

Multi-room groups, loudness optimization, tone controls, replay gain, mono / left / right settings, volume limits

Setting up the Bluesound Pulse Flex is pretty simple. Like many other wireless speakers, you simply need to connect to its built-in Wi-Fi using your device’s settings, then authorize it to use your chosen Wi-Fi network. Admittedly, this process failed the first time I tried it but the second time it connected with minimal drama, so I’ll give it a pass here.

The Bluesound app is easy to use overall and offers decent functionality. It allows you to manage your streaming services – including Amazon Music, Deezer, Spotify and Tidal – and group or ungroup all of your Bluesound speakers into a multi-room system. Additionally, it allows you to create presets for its three preset buttons, for example triggering your fave playlist on Tidal at a single tap.

Unfortunately, there are some areas that are much more limited, particularly when it comes to sound-tweaking features. The EQ settings are the most rudimentary you’re likely to get in a wireless speaker, literally only allowing you to boost or duck treble or bass by 6d B either way. There’s no six- or nine-band EQ available here, let alone the innovative parametric EQ offered by Wiim’s speakers, which really limits how much you can rebalance and refine its sound profile.

There’s also no room calibration here. The "flexible placement options" I originally hoped would refer to algorithmic calibration just mean it can be placed on a table, wall or stand-mount. Meanwhile, Bluesound says that its Front Row feature "shares several traits with the equalization principle of loudness compensation". I’m assuming this milquetoast statement means that it is essentially loudness compensation, but your guess is as good as mine here.

One area I will absolutely give the Pulse Flex its dues though is when it comes to connectivity. For a speaker at this price point, it offers an absolutely chasmic range of connectivity options. Not only do you get multiroom connectivity and hi-res audio at up to 24-bit/192k Hz over Wi-Fi but it also offers Bluetooth apt X HD, meaning you can still stream in near lossless quality from devices that don’t offer Air Play 2.

But, perhaps even more impressive, it offers a whole load of physical ports. Its optical and 3.5mm inputs allow you to hook up digital and analog sources with ease, while its USB-A port lets you play content from an external drive and its USB-C connection means you can stream digital audio straight from your laptop or PC. In comparison, the slightly cheaper Sonos Era 100 only offers a single USB-C port and even then you’ll need the sold-separately Sonos Line-In Adapter to plug anything into it.

All in all, the Pulse Flex has some strong features for its price. But it really is far behind the competition when it comes to sound polishing functionality – these days, I’d expect more granular options than just bass or treble boost and reduction.

Of course, lackingcomprehensive EQ settings is less of an issue if a speaker nails its sound in the first place. The Bluesound Pulse Flex performs reasonably well on this front, although it is lacking in one or two significant areas.

On first playing the Bluesound Pulse Flex, I was impressed with how gorgeously well-rounded the mid-range frequencies were. Playing No Skin by Frameworks, I loved how clearly expressed and resonant those mallet noises were, while the vocals soared clear of the mix. There’s a real warmth and presence to these frequencies that suggest the Pulse Flex doesn’t scrimp in the lower-mid range, a real pet peeve of mine.

When it comes to bass though, it’s immediately apparent that something is lacking. Spinning Us (Pola & Bryson Remix) by Alchemist, I was pleased to hear that the torn edges of its distorted bassline had a real sense of definition when they ripped right up into the lower mids. But there’s often a palpable void where the sub would be, making you keenly aware you’re hearing a reproduction of the recording, rather than a perfect facsimile. A little more emphasis on the low end here would just help ground everything a little better and place it on a firmer footing.

The treble is much less problematic, at least on first impression. Few songs are as good at diagnosing a flaky high end as Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac and certainly it didn’t betray any unnecessary sharpness or limiting. Again the vocals sounded fantastically well-defined, although this did come slightly at the expense of the guitars – these usually sound as taut as piano wire, so it does feel like the treble is occasionally sacrificed on the altar of that expressive mid-range.

Generally, I found the Bluesound Pulse Flex was pretty tolerant of lower quality recordings, which is a real plus if you’re likely to use it in Bluetooth mode – especially if your device doesn’t have Bluetooth apt X HD. Yes, I could detect a bit of downsampling on elements like hats and cymbals and it could be a little less dynamic than I’d like but it honestly wasn’t that different to some of the Bluetooth speakers I’ve tested.

Give it a slice of hi-res audio and it really shines though. Playing Wasting My Young Years by London Grammar on Tidal’s hi-res tier, it really communicated the gorgeously honeyed timbre of the vocals and yet didn’t crush the piano or guitar too much, allowing both elements to interplay with the long reverberant tail of the vocals. It’s a spacious sound that really allows instruments plenty of room to express themselves.

It is worth noting though that this speaker is mono, unlike rivals like the Sonos Era 100 – as a result, its soundstage is naturally very one dimensional. That’s a shame as the extra width could really help carve out a distinct space for each element. And yes, you could pair two into a stereo pair but that means spending twice the price, which really changes the value you’re getting out of the speaker.

One other minor criticism I have of the Pulse Flex is it’s a bit of a shrinking violet. While some affordable wireless speakers can be overconfident in terms of their output levels, the Pulse Flex seemed a little on the quiet side to me. While I rarely ever play the Sonos Era 100 louder than about 50% volume, I had to boost the Bluesound’s speaker up to 65% - 70% just to get the same subjective volume. Yet if I cranked it up a few more notches to 80% volume, it quickly started to sound harsh and a bit squeezed, even if it wasn’t quite actively limiting yet.

All in all, the Pulse Flex’s sound quality is good. Don’t get me wrong: my socks remained unblown when it came to either bass or volume but it’s performance in the mid-range is surprisingly capable and I liked how deftly it handled the dynamic separation of different instruments. Vocals in particular sound fantastic for a mid-price speaker, so if you’re not as bass-obsessed as I am, you’ll likely find it serves you well.

Unboxing the Bluesound Pulse Flex, I found its look to be pretty refreshing. In the main part, I think that’s because it eschews the basic cylinder shape that’s become almost ubiquitous in wireless speakers at this price point. Instead, it has a flattened front face – from above, its cross-section gave me gumdrop vibes – making it perfect for nestling into a corner and projecting its sound into the room.

And this flexibility is supported by its Lilliputian size. At 5.15 x 7.73 x 4.37 inches / 131 x 196 x 111 mm, it’s more the size of the Sonos Era 100 than a beast like the Wiim Sound. And weighing in at just 3.55lbs / 1.61kg, it’s not particularly heavy either – not only is that less than the Era 100 at 4.45 lbs / 2.02kg, it was light enough I could easily pick it up and reposition it with one hand.

Elsewhere, its design is a little less adventurous, but still appealing. Both its top and bottom are fashioned out of tactile matt plastic, while its drivers are covered with a fine, acoustically transparent fabric grille – Bluesound’s data sheet alleges this is removable but honestly I couldn’t work out how and felt like I was going to break it every time I tried.

I’m a big fan of the colorways on offer though. Black / Charcoal looks a little basic to me but the White / Pebble Grey version I tested here is stylish enough. And I flat out love the White / Tan finish, as it would be easy to match with a warm decor.

Along the top surface, the Bluesound Pulse Flex has the standard array of buttons, covering increasing and decreasing volume, skipping forward and backward and play / pause. There are also three shortcut buttons, which work nicely – using the app, I set one to launch our testing playlist in Tidal and it worked pretty seamlessly. But while the buttons themselves are pretty responsive, giving nice clicky feedback, I’m not totally sold on the shape of them, with their slim lines feeling a little too angular under your fingertips.

The good news is those buttons aren’t your only option for controlling the Pulse Flex. It’s also compatible with the Bluesound RC1 Remote Control, meaning you can operate it from the comfort of your couch. The bad news? It’s sold separately so you’ll have to spend an additional $69 / £49 if you want to get your mitts on it.

Excellent connectivity like Bluetooth apt X HD, analog / optical in and USB-C. But EQ settings are very basic and there’s no room tuning.

Excellent connectivity like Bluetooth apt X HD, analog / optical in and USB-C. But EQ settings are very basic and there’s no room tuning.

Offers hi-res, dynamic sound with well-rounded mids. Bass is a little lacking though and it’s quieter than most speakers.

Offers hi-res, dynamic sound with well-rounded mids. Bass is a little lacking though and it’s quieter than most speakers.

Lightweight, attractive design with some gorgeous colorways on offer. Buttons work well, although feel less tactile than they could be.

Lightweight, attractive design with some gorgeous colorways on offer. Buttons work well, although feel less tactile than they could be.

Fairly reasonable price for its quality, although it’s more expensive than the Sonos Era 100, while not offering substantially better sound.

Fairly reasonable price for its quality, although it’s more expensive than the Sonos Era 100, while not offering substantially better sound.

You want polished sound Not only is the Pulse Flex capable of hi-res playback but it has a pretty polished mid-range, making many instruments and vocals in particular shine.

You want to connect a lot of sources The Pulse Flex offers a seriously broad range of connectivity options on top of its wireless connectivity, including a 3.5mm jack, optical in, and USB-A and USB-C ports.

You’re a bass fanatic The Pulse Flex is a little lacking in the low end. So if you’ve got a soft spot for sub-bass frequencies, it’s probably not going to scratch that itch.

You want advanced sound features Not only does the Pulse Flex swerve any room calibration tech, but its EQ settings are really quite basic, only allowing you to boost or reduce bass or treble.

2 x 25mm tweeters, 5-inch full-range woofer, 6-inch passive radiator

2 x 25mm tweeters, 5-inch full-range woofer, 6-inch passive radiator

10.48 x 6.76 x 6.59 inches / 266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4mm

10.48 x 6.76 x 6.59 inches / 266.3 x 171.7 x 167.4mm

Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3 apt X HD, 3.5mm optical / analog combo, USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet

Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3 apt X HD, 3.5mm optical / analog combo, USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet

Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C (3.5mm line-in and Ethernet via adapter)

Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C (3.5mm line-in and Ethernet via adapter)

Blu OS app, Apple Air Play 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready

Blu OS app, Apple Air Play 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready

Multi-room groups, loudness optimization, tone controls, replay gain, mono / left / right settings, volume limits

Multi-room groups, loudness optimization, tone controls, replay gain, mono / left / right settings, volume limits

Sonos multi-room control, Sonos home theater option, stereo pair option

Sonos multi-room control, Sonos home theater option, stereo pair option

Sonos Era 100 Not only is the Sonos Era 100 marginally more affordable than the Pulse Flex, it also serves up substantial bass and a lively, dynamic sound. While not quite as spacious-sounding as the Flex, it does offer more presence, not to mention stereo sound, making it a good choice if your priority is hefty sounding music with a substantial soundstage. Read our full Sonos Era 100 review.

JBL Authentics 200 There’s a reason we’ve rated the JBL Authentics 200 as our best wireless speaker overall. Not only is it pretty keenly priced but it offers rich detailed sound that’s sure to impress. It also has fun, retro styling like physical knobs – remember those? – and vintage detailing. Read our full JBL Authentics 200 review.

I tested the Bluesound Pulse Flex over the course of a week. To put it through its paces, I played a diverse range of music across many genres, including pop, classic rock, melodic techno and drum and bass. This helped me assess its performance in different frequency bands and ascertain how well it conveyed sparser and busier mixes.

To really get a picture of how it handled different quality recordings, I played music at a range of qualities, from Tidal's hi-res tier to basic AAC files. I also made sure to try out a range of connectivity options, whether that was integrated streaming apps, Air Play 2 or via Bluetooth.

In terms of my experience, I've been testing speakers for around six years. On top of this, I use a wide range audio gadgets on a daily basis at home. I also produce music as a hobby, giving me a keen understanding for assessing the balance of frequencies and weighing up the expression of various elements of a recording.

Josh is Reviews Editor at Tech Radar. With over ten years of experience covering tech both in print and online, he’s served as editor of T3 and net magazines and written about everything from groundbreaking gadgets to innovative Silicon Valley startups. He’s an expert in a wide range of products from Spatial Audio headphones to gaming handhelds. When he’s not putting trailblazing tech through its paces, he can be found making melodic techno or seeking out the perfect cold brew coffee.

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Key Takeaways

• ‘Bass-heads need not apply’: I tested a polished-sounding wireless speaker with an impeccable sense of space — it’s just a shame that it flubs the sub

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

• What the Bluesound Pulse Flex does well, it does very well indeed

• The best wireless speakers, all tested by us — from Apple, JBL, Sonos and more

• The best wireless earbuds for all budgets, all tested by our reviewers