[It promises audiophile-friendly features such as support for Dolby Atmos and 24-bit high-resolution audio formats. But while the company boldly claims that the Pulse Soundbar Plus is "the 8K TV for audio is the 8K TV for video," there are other tricks that may make audiences like this new soundbar even more when it launches in April.

Of particular interest to us is what Blue Sound Sound calls "zero-lag" performance from the customized ARM Cortex A53 chip. This could make the Pulse Soundbar Plus a good match for gaming consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, where out-of-sync audio can spoil the fun.

To further enhance stability and performance, the Pulse Soundbar Plus is equipped with two Wi-Fi chips that also enable multi-room capability and AirPlay 2 support. Two-way aptX HD Bluetooth adds wireless flexibility, and ports for HDMI eARC, TOSLINK, RCA, and USB are available. BluOS, Blue Sound's proprietary music streaming system, also works.

On the power side, BluSound claims that 120 watts of output power will come from eight full-range drivers. Unlike the Sony HT-S40R, another large soundbar announced this week, the Pulse Soundbar Plus is a stand-alone speaker without a bundled subwoofer and rear speakers.

This may mean that the Dolby Atmos surround sound effect is not as strong as a "true" surround sound system, but purchasing the Blue Sound Pulse Sub Plus ($749) and Pulse Flex 2i satellite speakers ($299 each) separately can be added to the soundbar.

The Pulse Soundbar Plus itself is priced at $899, even more expensive than the Sonos Arc. Still, the combination of high-res audio support, Dolby Atmos, and minimal time lag makes it a potentially versatile soundbar for all. For audiophiles, movie buffs, and gamers alike.

Bluesound is currently taking pre-orders and will begin shipping on April 30.