Streaming

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

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?

Yes. If you have a good wifi signal at your stereo it will play hi-res just fine over wifi.  A wired connection is not needed.  Then you just connect the Node 2i to your preamp exactly like you connect your phono pre to it.

How do you chose the SOURCE material, please?

Download the BluOs app to your phone or a tablet from the Apple store for Apple devices or Google Play for Android devices . The app is ready to connect with and control Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, internet radio and much more. You just open the app, select the service you want and then you can search or browse for music, it shows the album covers, the tracklist, etc. It’s all you need until you become hardcore.

If you have a decent wifi signal and can listen to cd, the sound quality will be fine. Not the ultimate, but good enough.

bgpoppab, Let us know what your EasyStream sounds like when you get it.

jw,  How is your adventure in streaming going?  Everything working OK?  Satisfied with the sound quality?  Selection of music available adequate?

I have an Android tablet and there’s a Settings icon on the home screen. I tap that, tap Connections and tap on my Wi-Fi Network. It opens up a box that tells me that I’m Connected and that my signal strength is Very Strong. It also gives some other info.  Same for my Android phone.

I’m sure Apple has something similar and I’d bet that you can download an app to measure and test your wifi signal.

Sounds like you're good to stream music.  If you can run an ethernet cable, many people feel a wired connection is better.  But if you can't, wifi will do.  It's just great to have access to all that music that streaming makes available.