Refurbished Bluesound Vault 2

Just about any Bluesound product you are going to want to use a good DAC as that is its weakest link, especially the older Vault models.

Only the new models have 5ghz network capability.
+1 on adding a DAC for best sound, but the internal isn't bad for the money-This goes for all models.
B

I am not interested in purchasing a Bluesound unit at this time, but I am wondering if they have a trade in policy for the older units so that owners can upgrade to the 2i series.  If so, then they must have a lot of units to refurbish.

I don’t see any info on a trade in program. My guess they had a few returns but majority is NOS. They might have let dealers return the previous units in exchange for the current model and now the discounted price. 

I have no plans to use the built in DAC and not sure my area has 5G anyway and question it’s going to make much of a difference. Think I’ll take a chance on a refurbished unit as if I decide to sale it later I probably will not lose much if any.

@adg,
I didn't mean 5g wireless, but 5ghz wifi signal. There are 2 bands, 2.5 and 5ghz. The latter is less used and offers higher transfer rates, but with a lesser range of coverage.
I got a Netgear 5ghz adapter for my Node 1. It works like a charm.
@Mahler,
No trade in program. Refurbished might have been units they replaced to to some malfunction under warranty.
B

the Vault doesn't have wifi, the Nodes do

Some of these units may have been returned to the dealer by customers during  the trial period. Then given a clean bill of health for resale.

Agree that some Node 2 were returned NIB by dealers in exchange for the newer model.

2.5 or 5 doesn't really make any difference for audio . . . doesn't need that much bandwidth

The device may operate better on 5gHz due to less traffic; less dropouts, less skips.
Most wireless devices around the home/work are using 2.5gHz. It's connectivity, not audio quality. 

Faster transfer rates helps with issues of skipping/pops, etc.
B

Just added my Refurbished Vault II to my system and so far very happy. Not sure what refurbish means but all seems there and the price was great. 

First hooked it up directly using its own DAC using WyWires Silver IC’s to preamp and not bad. I’m sure with a little burn in things will improve.

Moved over to the DAC in my Cambridge 851C using a Nordost Siver Shadow cable and no comparison. As expected the Cambridge DAC is much better and you don’t have to concentrate on it; it’s there.

Not sure I have it up and running all there as I’m not seeing what the Bluesound App does, so at the moment I have to control what I’m doing thru the Spotify App. Will load Tidal next; already had Spotify Premium for the car so started with that. If Tidal is really that much better I’ll be very happy. I ripped a CD and no idea how to access it as the Bluesound App just hangs when I try to add a player. Just got it up and playing so I’m sure I’ll figure it out.

That “hanging “ what are you referring to?

Couldn’t get the Bluesound App to do anything but I figured it out. I was seeing my network but needed to apparently be plugged into my WiFi router which follows after my Cable/Mediacom router. Switched that first thing this morning and as soon as I opened the Bluesound App it asked me to update and now It works and I can see the first CD I ripped. Question I have now is do I still have the leave the App and go to my Spotify App directly to play music there and will Tidal be the same way? If so, is this why I hear people talking about using the Roon App so one can control everything in one spot?

Digging this Vault so far. Pretty sure I’m going to have a lot of fun with this thing. I have a Furutech plug for the player connection so now it’s time to build my own PC. The thought of using the noodle of a PC that came with it is making me ill.

All streaming services are controlled thru the BluOs app. Hit the menu button in the upper left to see your Spotify, Tidal and other sources.

https://support.tidal.com/hc/en-us/articles/201775551-Bluesound