Pulsar Merger Duo NXP50: Sensational Dual-Tech Binoculars

By combining digital and thermal channels Pulsar's innovative Merger Duo NXP binoculars provide superb viewing any time of day or night.

September 03, 2024 By Brad Fitzpatrick

Pulsar is one of the leaders in thermal optics technology, and the company’s Merger Duo NXP50 multispectral binoculars provide exceptional clarity and target recognition around the clock. The term “multispectral” refers to the ability of these binoculars to use both digital and thermal channels simultaneously, and that provides a level of performance not previously available from thermal binoculars. Best of all, the Pulsar binoculars offer all this technology in a package that is simple to operate and user-friendly.

Technological Deep Dive

man holding binoculars — (Photo courtesy of Brad Fitzpatrick)

The Pulsar Merger Duo NXP50 binoculars have a thermal sensor with a resolution of 640x480 pixels and a 17-micrometer pixel pitch, and the sensor has a NETD (Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference) of less than 25 milli-Kelvins (mK). Thermal sensors with values less than 25 mK can detect small temperature changes, and the result is a very crisp, highly detailed image. The digital CMOS sensor has a resolution of 1920x1200, and the combination of these two sensors results in unparalleled viewing in a wide range of light, temperature, and environmental conditions. The Merger Dup NXP50 features an F50mm/1.0 thermal objective and an F50/1.4 digital objective, and magnification is 3-24x for thermal and 2-16x for digital. The thermal channel offers a 12.4-degree field of view with the thermal channel and a 17.5-degree field of view with the digital channel.

There are lots of new thermal owners who may not immediately understand what these numbers mean, so how does the Pulsar compare to other thermal or digital monoculars or binoculars? For starters, the resolution and contrast offered by the sensors is very high, and that translates to exceptional detail. Years ago, thermal sensors offered very limited detail, and a warm blob across a field might be a hog, a deer, or the neighbor’s dog. With the advanced sensors in the Merger Duo Multispectral binoculars, you get a much clearer image that’s far superior to anything that existed on the civilian market just a few years ago. Additionally, the thermal channel offers a field of view of up to 21.8 meters at 100 meters and the digital channel’s field of view is 30.7 meters at that same range. This wide field of view offers enhanced situational awareness and is great for scouting a nighttime field for coyotes or pigs, and even on low power the sensor quality provides a clear image of what you’re seeing instead of the generic “hot spot” you’ll get with interior optics. What’s more, the detection range is 1,800 meters for the thermal sensor—well over a mile.

Quell Any User Apprehension

Most hunters and shooters understand the value of quality thermal optics, but many are put off by the potential complexities of owning an optic as advanced as the Merger Duo NXP50. The reality is that Pulsar does a fantastic job providing owners with resources that make operating their devices extremely easy. Begin by charging the included lithium battery and, once it has reached full charge, insert it into the rear of the binoculars between the eyepieces as instructed and remove the lens caps. You’ll have to adjust interpupillary distance, but unlike traditional binoculars with bridges that expand or contract, you adjust the eyepieces by sliding left or right. The diopter adjustment allows you to sharpen the symbols inside the binoculars (this is not focusing on objects—that’s a later step), and once the internal displays are visible you are ready to begin viewing.

There’s a mode button behind the power and camera buttons on the top of the unit (symbolized by two transverse arrows) and pressing this button with the power on allows you to switch between thermal and digital display. A long hold of the mode button activates picture-in-picture (PiP) mode, and an additional short press switches the PiP display between thermal and digital. If you want to exit PiP mode, simply hold the mode button for a few seconds and the PiP feature disappears.

Toggle Without the Mind Boggle

pulsar toggle buttons — (Photo courtesy of Brad Fitzpatrick)

The menu button allows you to customize the display by changing palettes, and there’s a camera button that allows you to take video or still shots. To toggle between the two modes, simply hold down the camera button. The digital and thermal imaging channels are separate (if you’re holding the unit in front of your face for normal viewing the digital channel is on the right, the thermal on the left) and each channel features an independent focus ring near the objective lens.

Included in the box with the binoculars are a charging chord and station, a neck strap and chest case, and an IR illuminator. The IR illuminator fits into the USB-C connector on the bottom of the binoculars and screws into the tripod socket, ensuring it won’t fall off in the field. When activated, the illuminator provides a flood of IR light in front of the binoculars for improved image quality.

At 2 pounds, 14 ounces the Merger Duo NXP50s are rather heavy compared to traditional binoculars, but considering the level of advanced technology stuffed into the Pulsar Multispectral binos they’re extraordinarily lightweight. Pulsar ships these Merger Duo NXP50s with a chest case that makes them easy to carry, though. MSRP is set at $6,098.97, which may seem quite high by optic standards, but again you must consider the capabilities of these multispectral binos which far exceed even comparable thermal/digital products. Twenty years ago, optics of this type were limited to military applications and the cost was several times higher, so the fact that this type of multi-channel optic is available for sale today at any price is pretty extraordinary.

Dynamic Field Use

man looks through binos — (Photo courtesy of Brad Fitzpatrick)

Before I get into the performance details let me start by saying that if you spend any time using these multispectral binoculars, you’ll start finding ways to scrounge together the money to own them. They are indeed that good. In full darkness having the ability to switch between thermal binoculars and digital night vision with the touch of a button is fantastic, and the image quality is superb.

You’ll begin by downloading the Pulsar Stream Vision 2 app on your phone, and this allows you to communicate with the Pulsar via wi-fi. Once you connect your phone to the Pulsar’s wi-fi you can make menu adjustments and remotely view through the Merger Dup NXP50s. You can also update the software and access video and photo storage, and the process is very simple. The photos in this article were taken with the Pulsar and uploaded directly to my cell phone, a process that takes just seconds.

deer heat signatures — (Photo courtesy of Brad Fitzpatrick and the Pulsar Merger Duo NXP50 binos)

Kudos to Pulsar for designing a high-tech optic that is easy to operate. The mode button allows owners to toggle between thermal and digital viewing quickly, and this is a huge benefit when scouting at night. I watched a herd of deer moving through a soybean field under cover of darkness using the thermal channel, but when I needed to navigate, I switched back to the digital channel. If you’ve used a thermal monocular at night you know that “thermal blindness” is a very real thing, and being able to swap to digital night vision made it much simpler to walk without crashing into trees or falling into ditches, neither of which is much fun.

If you do take a spill there’s a good chance that your Pulsar multispectral binos will survive, though, and that’s because all this incredible technology is housed in a durable lightweight magnesium housing and the Pulsar is IPX7 submersion rated. If you spend enough time in the field—especially at night—accidents will happen, and it’s good to know that your optics won’t need a refurb every time you take a bad step.

The Pulsar utilizes a dual battery system and battery life is very good. I was able to use the unit off and on for four hours two nights in a row, and both times the battery was still above half charge. I didn’t get to wring out the full 1,800-meter potential of the thermal channel, but I could see deer moving at a lasered 550 or so yards without any issues. Image quality is simply astounding thanks to the excellent digital and thermal sensors, and high contrast HD AMOLED displays are easy to read, even for those of us born in the hair band era.

Multiple Applications

human heat signature — (Photo courtesy of Brad Fitzpatrick)

The Pulsar Merger Dup NXP50s are great for scouting, but you’ll find these optics are up to a variety of tasks. If I spent much time in a boat at night, I’d keep a pair of these close at hand to avoid unseen hazards like shorelines, tree stumps, and other boats, and they may be a lifesaver if someone goes overboard. The Pulsars are also a critical tool for home defense since you can view the world around you in complete darkness, and if you hear something going bump in the night you can investigate without revealing your position with a white light.

Even if you never have to scope out bad guys or find the bobbing head of a victim who has fallen overboard, you’ll love having a pair of these Pulsars, though. I spent hours watching wildlife scamper through the woods and fields surrounding my home, a world that the average person never witnesses. The biologist in me enjoys seeing flying squirrels, raccoons, and small mammals bustling around, but as a deer hunter, I get a unique view into the world of whitetails that you can’t replicate with a trail camera.

Are the Pulsar Merger Duo NXP50s inexpensive? Not really, but since this level of technology hasn’t really been available on the civilian market it’s difficult to quantify what constitutes a bargain in cutting-edge optical tech. But they’re well-built, easy-to-use, fun, and practical, and they’ll open a world you never knew existed. It’s hard to place a price on that.