"Real" streamer vs. Bluetooth adapter--what's the advantage?


Hi folks. Please explain this to me in simple terms.

I’m currently streaming from a Galaxy 8 phone, Idagio and Amazon HD, to Audioengine B1 adapter connected by digital cable to a Hegel Rost integrated.

Suppose I got a ‘real’ streamer—Bluos or Cambridge or Marantz. Since I would be using a phone app to tell the streamer what to play, why would the sound quality improve? I’d still use the DAC in the amp, since I reckon that will be better than the one in a $1k or less streamer.

I’m pretty certain I’m missing something, but like the entanglement of sub-atomic particles, I just can’t get my head around it.

Any insight gratefully accepted.


128x128rsgottlieb
Bluetooth is a compressed format so sound quality would be better if you are feeding your DAC directly from a streamer.  Apple Air Play is uses your WiFi network and is not compressed.  I don't know if it is as good as direct streaming but it is much better than Bluetooth.  One of the advantages of Air Play is that some streaming services (e.g. Primephonic, which has an enormous classical catalog) use only Air Play or Bluetooth.
COY21's first post and Sfar's posts nail it.
Not all, but many other posts contain incorrect assumptions.
The Node 2i does all the streaming directly from the source via ethernet or wifi.
Your phone only serves as a full featured remote.
No, wifi and ethernet are not equal, but high quality wifi gear and a strong signal can be good.
No conversion to and from Bluetooth.
My phone and bluetooth receiver both support Aptx....it's good but it's still Bluetooth and not even close to what a hi res source can provide.

I'd wager that deleting the phone out of the formula will be a step up, although I still run a 'shop system' with the cell as the source.

I run Spotify on the main audio puter direct from the router sans the cell and I can't find anything to complain about....*S*   
I can recommend the Audiolab 6000n streamer, belting price of kit for the outlay, plays just about every source going. 
The explanation in my first post wasn't meant as a criticism of using Bluetooth if that's what's available to you or what you prefer, for whatever reason. I've helped friends put together systems using Bluetooth and Spotify as their main source and they're thrilled with the results. I use it in my car with long playlists on my iPhone and it sounds great. I was only trying to answer the question about the function of a phone in the system rsgottlieb described.