@dkidknow Did you ever try to contact Bluesound? Did they try to assist with diagnosis or offer repair service?
My Bluesound Vault 2 died. Where to next?
Don't know what happened-- I approved a player upgrade (not the software) as I have many times before, and now I have a steady red light and my app can't find the player. The unit was purchased new in 2014, so I guess that's pretty good for a modern computer-type thingie with a spinning-disc hard drive. I have all my music backed up in uncompressed .wav and also have the CDs, so I'm not freaking out, but I am a bit overwhelmed since there are so many more options now than in 2014.
In my setup, I fed data to the Bluesound via .75m ethernet and passed the digital out of the Bluesound via spdif to a Mytek Brooklyn DAC. I'd like my next server/streamer to do the same. In case you can't access my virtual system, I run the DAC to a Line Magnetic 518IA integrated and out through Merlin VSMs. I listen to my library and have a hifi Tidal subscription that I really like.
First question is whether I need integrated storage in a server or if I can just put a 256gb usb thumb drive into a streamer and use that as my NAS, and if so, priority would be given to a streamer that can do this seamlessly. If I need a server for onboard storage, then I will definitely want SSD storage so there's a lower risk of drive failure.
I suppose I could just get a current Bluesound product. 11 years isn't awful for the price I paid and I do like the Bluesound app. Wouldn't mind taking a bit of a step up in hopes of enjoying digital more. Don't want to open a "bits is bits" battle but I am curious whether a higher quality of server/streamer will affect the sound quality a lot, a little or otherwise. Especially since the power cable to my PS Audio Stellar Phono cost more than 2/3 of the Bluesound-- I have a bit of budget headroom. Along those lines, Budget is preferably $1500-$2500 and i'd love to buy used unless that's something "not to be done" in the case of a server/streamer in the fourth quarter of 2025. I have a vague idea that Innuos, Aurender & NAIM have esteemed products in the general area of what I want. I'm open to suggestions, including that I need something totally different. I really do want an easy set & forget system. I found the Bluesound really easy to integrate with my system and lifestyle, so don't want something that I have to supervise a lot.
Thanks in advance.
D
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@dkidknow please let us know if the PS "fix" worked. Thank you. |
I may be missing some nuance but never quite understood the advantage of the vault. I have four Node 2i and hook a small hard drive to the one in my listening room for my local library. That one's got an upgraded PS (not sure I can hear much improvement). Love that I can play any of the other systems in my house with the same interface and if I've got upgrade fever, I just look for a new outboard DAC. Change from the internal 2i one to outboard one was a distinct improvement. Cheap thrills. |
I’m quite happy sending audio via ethernet to a (dedicated) Mac Mini M2 (with a 500GB external SSD attached, which sends the signal along (via USB) to a Topping E70 Velvet (AKM chipset) DAC. Sounds great on my system… lots of detail & spatiality presented. I’ve never owned a BlueSound product, but my understanding is that the PCM resolution limit is 24-bit & 192kHz. Most contemporary DACs (including mine) can handle 32-bit depth files — and resolution up to 768kHz. It can also process (up to) DSD 512 files. The one place in my digital signal path where I indulged expense was my USB cable. Still, all in all, everything together came in under $1k. |
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