Streaming

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

SO, bare with me......the Bluesound Node 2i does NOT need to be hardwired to the router, but can get a WiFi signal on its own, and then be interconnected to my preamp?  How do you chose the SOURCE material, please?

....and this is all relatively "lossless"?