Streaming

I appreciate all the help, but I remain confused in my limited understanding of the digital world....if I now understand, my iPhone is the streamer, sharing with the BlueMe via Bluetooth...both those devices, doing these functions, are, to some degree "lossy"(new term I just learned).  As my preamp is vintage, and has only analog inputs, and my router is in another room, Im still a little confused as what "better" options are available to me....is WiFi LESS LOSSY than Bluetooth?  How do I get a less lossy digital signal to my preamp, given the above limitations?  Thanks for your help, and I apologize for being a digital age virgin...lol

Yeah, I'm not deep pocketed enough to have enjoyed the best of the best, but all this long, long, longtime audiophile can say is that I'm just plain wild about streaming.  For better or worse, my current weapon of choice is a Mytek Brooklyn Bridge.  My ammo is Qobuz and Primephonic.  My delivery vehicle is Ethernet.  Fidelity-wise, streaming doesn't always outclass my vinyl and SACD gear but it does so often enough to make me a happy camper.  The vast amount of material available via streaming makes it a slam dunk.

JW, bluetooth is a way to transmit digital signals. It is low fidelity but fine in a car.  WiFi is the "network" environment to enable transmission of digital signals either with or without an ethernet cable. My set up.....modem receives wifi signal from my service provider via coaxial cable. Modem is physically linked to the router with an ethernet cable, which distributes the signal creating transmission of your "wifi" network. Everything runs off the network. I have a one box streamer with a dac that is ethernet cable connected to my router. The streamer-dac is connected to my integrated amp with analogue cables. I use a music streaming service Qobuz that I access through my Ipad or iPhone with an app....it's fairly simple and you don't need to be a computer expert. I've been into streaming music since it first was available, years ago.

jw, The music comes in through your internet connection. For most people that is wifi these days. You connect a streamer to your wifi modem (router) wirelessly (wifi) or wired (ethernet cable, Cat 6 or 7 whatever they’re up to today).

You then send digital out from your streamer to your DAC over a digital interconnect, or if your streamer is a streamer/DAC, send it to your preamp from the analog out jacks with ordinary analog interconnects. The Bluesound Node 2i is a streamer/DAC.

Then to control your streamer you download an app (usually free) to your phone or tablet. The Node 2i uses the BluOs app which is very easy to use and functions really well. It is all pretty simple and you can get help if you need it