Bluesound Vault 2i CD Ripper, Streamer, and Network Hard Drive at Vinyl Sound Buffalo NY

The Vault 2i is a high-resolution network hard drive, CD ripper, and music streamer from Bluesound (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada), available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, NY. At the center of the Bluesound ecosystem, the Vault 2i combines a 2TB internal hard drive with a slot-loading CD mechanism, a 32-bit/192kHz DAC with MQA decoding, and Bluesound's BluOS multi-room streaming platform in a single component. It rips CDs in bit-perfect lossless FLAC and serves the resulting library to any Bluesound player on the network, while simultaneously streaming from TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify, and over a dozen additional services without requiring a computer to remain powered on. Recognized with The Absolute Sound Editors' Choice Award, a Stereophile Class B Recommended Component designation, and a Hi-Fi Choice Recommended Award, the Vault 2i is the definitive all-in-one music server for the analog and digital library owner in Buffalo, NY.

CD Ripping, 2TB Storage, and Network Library Management

The Vault 2i's slot-loading CD drive rips discs rapidly in bit-perfect formats, storing tracks to its ultra-quiet 2TB internal hard drive in FLAC, WAV, MP3, WMA, or AIFF. The 2TB drive holds an estimated 18,000 songs ripped in 24-bit/96kHz FLAC, with capacity for far greater quantities at CD resolution or MP3. The internal drive doubles as a network NAS drive, making the library visible to all Bluesound players on the same network through the BluOS Controller app. External USB drives with personal music collections or downloaded hi-res purchases can be connected via the USB Type-A ports and accessed alongside the internal library from any room in the home. A dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor at 1GHz handles simultaneous multi-room streaming, metadata retrieval, CD ripping, and library management without performance compromise.

32-Bit DAC, Connectivity, and BluOS Streaming

The Vault 2i's internal 32-bit/192kHz DAC handles MQA decoding and hi-res PCM playback up to 24-bit/192kHz, outputting to an amplifier or integrated stereo via analog RCA stereo outputs with a fixed-level option for direct connection to a power amplifier. Coaxial S/PDIF and TOSLINK optical digital outputs allow the Vault 2i to feed an external DAC for listeners who wish to upgrade the conversion stage. A 3.5mm headphone output with dedicated amplification enables private listening directly from the unit, and a subwoofer RCA output with an 80Hz low-pass filter connects to a powered subwoofer for extended bass. Gigabit Ethernet provides wired network connectivity for guaranteed hi-res streaming performance, while Bluetooth aptX HD and AirPlay 2 support wireless playback to and from compatible devices. The BluOS Controller app on iOS, Android, Windows, or macOS manages the entire library, streaming services, multi-room grouping, and audio settings from any mobile device or desktop.

Key Features

• Slot-Loading CD Ripper: A built-in slot-loading CD mechanism rips discs rapidly in bit-perfect FLAC, WAV, MP3, WMA, and other formats directly to the internal 2TB hard drive without requiring a computer.
• 2TB Internal Hard Drive and Network NAS: The ultra-quiet 2TB drive stores an estimated 18,000 tracks at 24-bit/96kHz FLAC quality and serves the entire library to any Bluesound player on the network through the BluOS app.
• 32-Bit/192kHz DAC with MQA Decoding: A high-resolution internal DAC handles lossless and hi-res audio formats including MQA, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, and ALAC at up to 24-bit/192kHz, as well as standard MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, and OPUS.
• Multiple Analog and Digital Outputs: Analog RCA stereo with fixed-level option, coaxial S/PDIF, TOSLINK optical digital, 3.5mm headphone, and subwoofer RCA outputs connect to virtually any amplifier, DAC, or speaker configuration.
• Roon Endpoint: The Vault 2i is certified as a Roon endpoint, integrating natively into Roon-managed audio systems for bit-perfect playback and full Roon library and DSP management from its stored and streamed content.
• Gigabit Ethernet for Flawless Hi-Res Streaming: A dedicated Gigabit Ethernet port ensures zero-skip, zero-delay hi-res audio streaming to multiple rooms simultaneously, even at 24-bit/192kHz file sizes.
• Bluetooth aptX HD and AirPlay 2: Two-way Bluetooth aptX HD supports studio-quality wireless transmission to compatible headphones and inbound streaming from mobile devices, while AirPlay 2 enables synchronized Apple ecosystem playback.
• Voice Control: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri provide hands-free control of library playback, streaming services, volume, and room selection through their respective apps and compatible devices.
• No Computer Required: Once connected to a wired home network, the Vault 2i rips, stores, and streams entirely independently, with the BluOS Controller app serving as the sole interface for all operations.

Technical Specifications

Connections at a Glance

• Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45)
• Bluetooth aptX HD (two-way)
• AirPlay 2
• Analog RCA stereo output (with fixed-level option)
• Coaxial S/PDIF digital output (RCA)
• TOSLINK optical digital output
• 3.5mm headphone output
• Subwoofer RCA output (80Hz low-pass filter)
• Combo input: Mini TOSLINK optical / 3.5mm analog
• USB Type-A x 2 (FAT32 or NTFS formatted drives)
• Micro-USB (service port)

Awards and Critical Recognition

• The Absolute Sound Editors' Choice Award
• Stereophile Class B Recommended Component
• Hi-Fi Choice Recommended Award

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Bluesound Vault 2i?

The Bluesound Vault 2i is a high-resolution network music server, CD ripper, and streaming DAC that combines a 2TB internal hard drive, a slot-loading CD mechanism, and a 32-bit/192kHz DAC with MQA decoding in a single component. Built by Bluesound in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, it operates on the BluOS multi-room platform and serves its stored library to any Bluesound player on the network while simultaneously streaming from TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify, and over a dozen additional services. It has been recognized with The Absolute Sound Editors' Choice Award, a Stereophile Class B Recommended Component designation, and a Hi-Fi Choice Recommended Award.

How does the Bluesound Vault 2i compare to the Naim Uniti Core, Innuos Zen Mini, and Cambridge Audio EVO One?

The Bluesound Vault 2i stands apart from the Naim Uniti Core, Innuos Zen Mini Mk3, and Cambridge Audio EVO One in its combination of network server functionality, integrated DAC outputs, and BluOS multi-room ecosystem depth. The Naim Uniti Core is a dedicated ripping server with no onboard DAC output of its own, requiring a separate Naim player or DAC for audio output, and operates within the Naim ecosystem rather than an open multi-room platform. The Innuos Zen Mini Mk3 is a strong ripping server with optional external linear power supply upgrade, but its multi-room functionality is limited compared to the BluOS platform's breadth of streaming service integration and player grouping. The Cambridge Audio EVO One is an all-in-one streaming amplifier rather than a pure server, and does not offer the Vault 2i's NAS-sharing architecture for distributing a ripped library to multiple rooms simultaneously through a dedicated network storage model.

Can the Bluesound Vault 2i be used with an external DAC?

Yes, the Bluesound Vault 2i is well suited to external DAC use. It provides both a coaxial S/PDIF output and a TOSLINK optical digital output, either of which can feed a standalone external DAC at up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution. This makes the Vault 2i an effective transport and server for listeners who wish to use a premium external DAC for the conversion stage while relying on the Vault for ripping, storage, streaming, and library management. The analog RCA outputs with fixed-level option are also available for users who prefer the onboard DAC and want to connect directly to a power amplifier.

What is Roon, and does the Vault 2i support it?

Roon is a premium music management and playback platform that provides deep metadata, editorial content, and DSP capabilities for local libraries and supported streaming services. The Vault 2i is certified as a Roon endpoint, meaning it can receive and play audio from a Roon Core running on a separate computer or NAS device. However, the Vault 2i does not function as a Roon Core itself, so a separate Roon Core is required. When used as a Roon endpoint, the Vault 2i appears as a network zone addressable from any Roon interface, with bit-perfect audio delivered through its analog or digital outputs at full source resolution.

How many CDs can the Bluesound Vault 2i store?

The Bluesound Vault 2i's 2TB internal hard drive can store an estimated 18,000 songs ripped at 24-bit/96kHz FLAC quality, representing a library of roughly 1,500 full albums at hi-res resolution. At standard CD resolution in lossless FLAC, the same drive accommodates several times that quantity. Ripping format is selectable through the BluOS Controller app, with options including lossless FLAC, uncompressed WAV, and space-saving MP3 for users who prefer to balance quality against storage footprint. An additional USB drive can be connected to one of the two USB Type-A ports for expanded external storage beyond the internal 2TB capacity.

Where can I buy the Bluesound Vault 2i in Buffalo, NY?

The Bluesound Vault 2i is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorized Bluesound dealer in Buffalo, NY. Vinyl Sound carries the complete Bluesound lineup and provides expert guidance on system integration, setup assistance, and post-purchase support for customers in Buffalo and the wider Western New York region. Purchasing from an authorized dealer ensures full manufacturer warranty coverage and access to Bluesound's ongoing BluOS firmware update program.

Does the Bluesound Vault 2i support high-resolution audio and MQA?

Yes, the Bluesound Vault 2i supports high-resolution audio playback at up to 24-bit/192kHz and includes native MQA decoding through its onboard 32-bit DAC. CDs ripped to the internal drive in FLAC format are stored and played back at full bit-perfect quality. Downloaded hi-res files in FLAC, WAV, AIFF, and ALAC up to 24-bit/192kHz are supported natively, as is MQA content from services such as TIDAL for full studio master quality authentication and unfolding without requiring a separate external DAC or hardware decoder.

Can the Vault 2i stream to multiple rooms at the same time?

Yes, the Bluesound Vault 2i streams to multiple BluOS players throughout the home simultaneously through the BluOS multi-room platform. All Bluesound players on the same network see the Vault 2i's library directly in the BluOS Controller app and can play from it independently or in synchronized groups. Multiple rooms can play the same source in perfect sync, or different sources in separate zones, all managed from the BluOS app on any iOS, Android, Windows, or macOS device. The Vault 2i's Gigabit Ethernet connection ensures sufficient bandwidth for simultaneous hi-res audio streaming to multiple endpoints without skips or delays.