Best standalone music server?

So here we are now and a very happy owner of the bluesound vault2 which fills my want list at every step!
so easy to use even my wife can handle it, i am controlling it via the bluos app in android and no issues at all, it found my network and home computer in seconds, i did not have to do a single thing!
busy ripping cds to it AND adding already ripped music to its library.
sound quality?
played same cd three diff ways, from my already ripped music files on the home pc, from a ripped file direct to the vault and the original cd through my esoteric.
tbh........possibly the esoteric had a little more warmth and feel but that may also be as it is running through cardas balanced connects whereas the vault only has rca although i am using a pair of mit terminator 2 connects on it.
all in all SO FAR.....very satisfied indeed!

My experience has been that they are all quite sonically lacking, even  B&W's and the new one. I've tried about everything, and truly believe it is not the equipment, but the terrible mixes available for mass consumption.

uberwaltz,

I recognize it's your decision but CDs will be eliminated as a medium very soon so I wouldn't place too much importance on finding a unit that can rip CDs. Many of us use TIDAL HiFi to listen to over 35 million songs in RedBook CD quality for $20/month.  I haven't purchased a CD in over a year and don't plan to. Have you tried to purchase a new car with a CD changer or even a CD player in it?  The auto manufacturers know we won't be using CDs much longer.

TIDAL recently introduced MQA tracks to their collection and once they expand their MQA titles, game over for CDs. Make sure whichever music server you select integrates with TIDAL in a seamless manner.

If you don't want to fuss with a computer to rip your CDs, you can use a service such as MusicShifter to rip your CDs for .69 cents per CD. MusicShifter returns your original CDs along with your music ripped in FLAC (lossless) format on DVDs, about 7 CDs per DVD. Their rips sound as good if not better than rips I make using DBPoweramp. You'll also have your CDs archived to DVDs so you can sell your CDs while they still have some value.

You will need a computer to copy the songs from the MusicShifter DVDs to your music server hard drive or a NAS. This is a trivial copy operation assuming you have a computer with a DVD drive on the same network as your music server.

Many A'gon members have suggested an Aurender music server. It's a great music server with terrific TIDAL integration but you'll still need a DAC. With MQA at our doorstep you owe it to yourself to audition MQA Studio tracks with a good MQA DAC to see whether you'll want an MQA DAC.

 

I fail to see how cds will be eliminated anytime soon, sure they said that about vinyl too....
However regardless of that i am just old fashioned
When I have stumped up $10 or $15 or $20 for an album, well I WANT an album physically not some download, I am the same with movies.
That aspect of my mentality will never change I am afraid.
As I said already have my solution right along the lines I envisaged and for now I could not be more happy.
My toe into the digital world but no way will I be selling the Esoteric any time soon......

I use an MIT MAGNUM DIGITAL COAX cable into my Krell Vanguard DAC...far better than any spinner I've ever heard.  Preserving the music and hearing it all again for the first time.