Servers: Are we there yet?

I don't agree. The Vault has to be connected to the internet only to download album art for the locally stored files, or play music from cloud service providers such as Spotify or Tidal. Even if you're sharing files within your network, you don't need internet access. I thought that was the whole point of the Vault product.

I looked into the Sony product but it also required internet connection to download cover art or play Tidal. The other thing is that I don't see any digital output on the Sony. I might be wrong but I think what that means is that you cannot use another DAC if you wish to at some point.

I'm confused. How is the Sony any better (in terms of functionality only, as we don't know the SQ differences) than the Bluesound Node 2 and Valut 2 combo? What am I missing?

I'll second that.  I have a Bluesound Vault 2 and Node for downstairs.  I happen to have my computer next to it so that I can pull in files from a previous iTunes collection via the Vault but I don't need the computer to run the Vault.  In fact, I'm typing on said computer right now and listening to CDs that I have burned directly to the 2TB hard drive of the Vault

Thanks guys for the input.  I was pretty sure that's how the BlueSound product worked.

Also, if I've read the Sony HAP manual correctly, the only way to get CDs into it's internal drive is via the CD drive on a computer with Sony's proprietary software installed.  So you would actually HAVE TO use the computer to do that function.

arafiq....
You can disagree but you are wrong.

If the vault could connect to the internet for all the metadata and whatnot,  be unplugged,  taken downstairs and connected to my stereo system via whatever cables and played from its hard drive,  I would not have purchased the Node.

I may be looking for something that doesn't exist,  but some manufacturer out there should take note!

Some day- not today nor tomorrow. There is much more improvement to be accomplished.