Bluesound Vault 2i Music Server, White

The Bluesound Vault 2i in White is a network music server that combines a CD ripper, a 2 TB hard drive and a hi-res streamer in one enclosure.

Insert a CD, rip it losslessly, done – from then on your entire collection sits on the network and is accessible in every room via the BluOS app. Honestly: nobody misses getting up, hunting for the disc and inserting it. The Vault 2i turns the CD shelf into a searchable library and streams Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify or internet radio on the side. One system, two worlds – physical and digital.

Why the Vault 2i?

Because it handles archiving and streaming in one device, for which you'd otherwise buy two. The integrated D/A converter (32 bit / 192 kHz) delivers clean, calm sound – analog via RCA, digital via coax or Toslink, to active speakers or to headphones. Multiroom comes standard: the same music in every room, or something different in each.

What you get

An ultra-quiet 2 TB hard drive for tens of thousands of tracks, ripping in FLAC, WAV or MP3 with cover art and track info, bidirectional Bluetooth aptX HD, and connections for a subwoofer and a 12-volt trigger. You can adjust the analog RCA output directly on the Vault, or set it to a fixed level in the app when volume is controlled elsewhere. Full control runs via the BluOS app or the touch panel.

Who is the Vault 2i for – and who isn't it for?

Spot on for anyone with a grown CD collection who wants to digitize it losslessly and listen throughout the house. If you never touch a CD and only use Bluetooth Spotify, a pure streamer like the Node serves you better. Straight talk: the Vault needs a network cable, it has no Wi-Fi module of its own. Its value unfolds where real discs still sit on the shelf.

Does the Vault 2i run without a streaming subscription?

Yes. It plays ripped CDs, local network files and free internet radio entirely without a subscription. You can add streaming services like Qobuz or Tidal, but you don't have to – the choice stays yours.

Our verdict

The Vault 2i is the finest bridge between a CD collection and streaming – archive, converter and multiroom source in one elegant enclosure. Our roots in this industry go back to 1993, and devices of this kind have accompanied us at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil since the very first generation. On request, we'll set it up completely for your network.

Technical data

• Type: network music server with CD ripper (BluOS)
• Storage: 2 TB internal hard drive, ultra-quiet and power-saving
• CD drive: slot-loading mechanism for audio CDs
• Rip formats: FLAC, WAV, MP3 (320 kbit/s), selectable
• Supported formats: MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, WMA-L, ALAC, OPUS
• Hi-res formats: FLAC, MQA, WAV, AIFF
• Sample rate: 32–192 kHz
• Resolution: 16–24 bit
• D/A converter: 32 bit / 192 kHz
• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz ±0.3 dB
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 110 dB
• Total harmonic distortion: 0.005%
• Input: 1× combined Toslink / analog stereo (3.5 mm)
• Outputs: 1× analog RCA stereo, 1× coax RCA digital, 1× Toslink digital, 1× subwoofer RCA, 1× 12-volt trigger
• Output level: analog RCA output adjustable, switchable to fixed level (FIXED) in the BluOS app
• Headphone output: yes, 3.5 mm stereo jack
• Network: Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45); wired connection required, no Wi-Fi on board
• Bluetooth: 5.0 with aptX HD, bidirectional (send and receive)
• Additional playback: AirPlay 2
• USB: 1× Type A (USB storage, backup and restore), 1× Type B mini (service)
• Control: BluOS app (Android/iOS), touch panel, learning IR remote control
• Processor: dual-core ARM Cortex A9, 1 GHz
• Power consumption: 11 watts (idle)
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 220 × 90 × 192 mm
• Weight: 1.84 kg
• Color: White
• Included: 2× power cable, power supply, stereo RCA cable, 3.5 mm mini-to-RCA cable, Ethernet cable

Frequently asked questions

How does the Vault 2i rip my CDs?

You put the audio CD into the slot, the Vault 2i reads it automatically and stores it losslessly as FLAC or WAV, or alternatively as MP3, on the internal 2 TB hard drive – including cover art and track info. After that, the album is available across the whole network and searchable via the app.

Do I need an amplifier for the Vault 2i?

For passive speakers, yes. The Vault 2i is a server and source, not a power amp: analog via RCA to your amplifier, digital via coax or Toslink to active speakers or an external DAC. For headphones, it has its own 3.5 mm jack you can use without extra equipment.

Can I run the Vault 2i without a network cable?

No. The Vault 2i connects to the network via Gigabit Ethernet; it has no Wi-Fi module of its own. That's also the more stable route when ripping and distributing large hi-res files. If no cable is available, a powerline or access point adapter solves the problem.

Can I play multiple rooms?

Yes. Via BluOS you group the Vault 2i with other Bluesound players and play the same music in sync everywhere – or something different in each room. Control runs comfortably through the app, optionally also via AirPlay 2 straight from an iPhone or iPad.

Why buy the Vault 2i from HD Zürisee?

Because with us, things don't stop at the sale: we've looked after network audio for years, integrate the Vault cleanly into your home network and tune it to your system. Personal advice, our own in-house technician and the Qobuz Hi-Fi partnership are naturally all part of it.

Goes well with

The Music Servers, the Streaming Components and the Headphones from our range go well with this.