Communications, Voice, Audio Enhancements Highlight Latest Bluesound Lineup

Bluesound announced Monday its Gen 2i platform, adding dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2 support, upgraded Bluetooth codecs and amplification and acoustics upgrades. New models incorporating the enhancements are the Node 2i ($499), Powernode 2i ($799), Vault 2i ($1,199), Pulse 2i ($799), Pulse Mini ($499), Pulse Flex 2i ($299) and Pulse Soundbar 2i ($799 in black, $899 in white). All models are available now, except for the sound bar, due to ship in November. AirPlay 2 will be delivered to Gen 2i owners via an upcoming software update, enabling users to stream nearly all sound from an iPhone, iPad or Mac to their wireless multiroom Bluesound system, said the Lenbrook brand. That could include audio books and podcasts, along with video content from Netflix or YouTube viewed on an iPad, it said. AirPlay 2 also includes Siri voice assistance: Apple Music subscribers who link their Bluesound Gen 2i player to the Apple Home app on an iPhone or iPad can use their phone to make requests for playback of a music genre or playlist in a designated room. Existing Bluesound users can add AirPlay 2 compatibility to their system by grouping a Gen 2i Player with their Bluesound players in the BluOS App. The two-way Bluetooth included in higher end Gen 2i products adds transmit functionality to Bluesound, enabling owners to use their player as a source so they can send music via Bluetooth to wireless headphones, it said. Bluesound has improved the Bluetooth connectivity in Gen 2i, it said, and the platform is based on Qualcomm’s CSR8675 chip, with aptX HD Bluetooth wireless audio support for 24-bit audio. The aptX HD codec has an improved signal-to-noise ratio, said to result in lower background noise. The Pulse Flex 2i only supports receive, not transmit, functionality via Bluetooth and has the aptX codec vs. the more advanced aptX HD, Bluesound said. Bluesound custom-designed the digital amplifiers in the Pulse 2i and Mini 2i, doubling the available power used to drive the speakers, it said, resulting in improved bass response. All BluOS users who update to the 3.0 operating system will gain access to new music services, including Soundmachine, and an easier guided set-up process, said the brand. The software release will also include the backbone for BluOS’ voice integration with Amazon Alexa, its first voice control integration; a corresponding skills library will launch soon, Bluesound said.