Back in 2013, Bluesound introduced an audiophile-worthy wireless music system that had several different product options. (Check out Mark Abell's "Bluesound Pulse, Vault, Powernode Review" for more information.) Flash-forward to 2015, and the company is getting ready for a little upgrade. Say "hello" to Gen 2.
Gen 2 is a wireless multiroom music system, but it shouldn't be lumped in with the many that are currently on the market. That's because this stylish lineup can support high-resolution audio.
The new lineup will include an upgrade of a few existing products, as well as two brand-new models. All six of the Gen 2 products include BluOS, the company's proprietary operating system, which is what connects, organizes and controls everything in your Bluesound setup. That collection includes the players, as well as your music, which can include files stored on a networked drive, CDs, and even selections from the cloud. All of those sources come together into a single stream, which promises a studio-quality listening experience.
It's important to note that out of the six new products, three will integrate with new or existing audio systems. However, the other three are complete plug-and-play music systems. The lineup includes:
According to Bluesound, each Gen 2 product features an ARM Cortex-A9 CPU running at 1GHz, analog and optical inputs, Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX, WiFi, an IR sensor with the TV Connect learning feature, a headphone output with a dedicated amplifier, and gigabit Ethernet speed. The Node 2 and Vault 2 also feature a coax digital output.
All six of the Gen 2 products will also work with the newly designed Bluesound Controller app for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire devices, as well as Windows and Mac desktops. Promising better graphics and an easier user interface, the new app is completely-backward compatible with the Gen 1 and has presets for playing programming or playlists with a single touch.
"With Bluesound Gen 2, we have taken what was already a category-leading lineup and re-engineered virtually every area of its appearance, usability and performance," explained John Banks, Bluesound's chief brand officer. "Our mission is to continue to elevate the entire multiroom audio sector with a compelling blend of technology, performance, design and convenience that will appeal to a growing segment of performance-minded enthusiasts."
Bluesound is selling the Node 2, the PowerNode 2, the Vault 2 and the Pulse Mini now, with the Pulse 2 and the Pulse Flex coming sometime next month. All six of the products are available (or will be) in black and white finishes.
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