Stereo Playback Unusable Due to Severe Sync Issues (2x stereo Pulse M, Qobuz, Wifi, Wired)

Answered
Kars Veling

I am experiencing persistent and severe sync issues with a stereo-linked setup and would like to request your assistance. I have carried out extensive testing to rule out network-related causes.

Setup details:

  • Devices: 2 × Bluesound Pulse M

  • Configuration: Stereo linked

  • Source: Qobuz

  • Playback methods: Qobuz Connect and direct playback from the BluOS app

  • Network topology:

    • Both speakers are connected via Ethernet

    • Both are connected to the same TP-Link Deco router

    • An unmanaged TP-Link Ethernet switch is placed between the Deco router and both speakers

    • IPTV / VLAN is disabled on the router

    • The issue occurs identically on both wired and WiFi configurations

Description of the issue:
When playing albums from Qobuz, the first track usually plays perfectly in sync. However, when the second track starts automatically, a significant sync delay occurs between the left and right speaker. This delay can be very large, sometimes one second or more.

This behavior is consistent and reproducible:

  • The issue occurs with many albums.

  • It happens with both Qobuz Connect and direct playback from the BluOS app.

  • The sync issue appears specifically during automatic track transitions.

  • Manually skipping to the next track immediately restores correct sync.

  • When the following track then starts automatically, the sync issue returns.

As a result, continuous album playback in stereo mode is effectively unusable.

Additional observations:

  • Playback of internet radio stations (e.g. jazzradio.com and classicalradio.com) works flawlessly and remains perfectly in sync.

  • Lowering the Qobuz streaming quality has no effect on the sync issue.

  • The problem occurs regardless of whether the speakers are connected via WiFi or Ethernet.

Troubleshooting performed:

  • Verified both speakers are on the same router and same Ethernet switch

  • Tested with and without WiFi

  • Tested different Qobuz quality settings

  • Confirmed IPTV / VLAN is disabled

  • Reproduced the issue consistently across multiple albums

Given the above, this appears to be related to how BluOS handles stereo synchronization and clock re-alignment during automatic track transitions, particularly with track-based streaming services such as Qobuz.

Could you please advise on further troubleshooting steps or check whether this is a known issue with Pulse M stereo pairs? I would be happy to provide logs, firmware versions, timestamps, or perform additional tests if required.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Kind regards,

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Comments

3 comments

Date Votes
  • Official comment
    Seppi Evans
    Hi-Res

    You need to use the BluOS App immediately after you loose sync to log a support ticket, this will then automatically send the log files to Bluesound for further investigation.

  • Kars Veling

    I would like to escalate this issue, as additional testing has now conclusively ruled out the network as a contributing factor.

    I connected both Pulse M speakers directly to the ISP router, completely bypassing the TP-Link Deco system (no mesh, no routing, no filtering). I also used the router’s own WiFi for control, ensuring that both the speakers and the control device were on the same local network.

    Despite this full network bypass, the issue persists exactly as before:

    • The first track of an album plays in perfect sync.

    • When the next track starts automatically, a severe left/right sync delay occurs (up to ~1 second).

    • Manually skipping to the next track immediately restores correct sync.

    • The issue then returns again on the following automatic track transition.

    • Internet radio playback remains perfectly synchronized at all times.

    Given that:

    • The problem occurs on both wired and wireless connections,

    • Persists after completely bypassing the Deco router and mesh,

    • Occurs with both Qobuz Connect and direct BluOS playback,

    • Is isolated to automatic track transitions in stereo mode,

    this strongly points to an issue in BluOS stereo synchronization / clock re-alignment on Pulse M stereo pairs during track transitions, rather than a network-related problem.

    Could this ticket please be escalated to engineering for investigation? I am happy to provide logs, timestamps of affected transitions, firmware versions, or perform any additional diagnostic tests you may require.

    Thank you for taking this further.

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  • Mark T.
    Sr. Support Crew Member

    Hi Kars,

    I have escalated your feedback to a support request. A member of our support crew will reach out to you soon.

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