Streaming questions

I had Bluesound Node 2i.  Their software was not good.  Qoobuz sounds better and is seamless with several softwares.  It is a very nice jump to move into the nice streamers.  Lumin, Innuous,  Aurender work well with Qobuz.  DAC are too numerous to mention I like USB from streamer. I bought used.  I hear lots about eversolo, wiim but don't know how they compare.  Price difference!

Run ethernet from internet to streamer. This will get you started.  You can add switches or filters later if you like.

A lot of people have asked about my budget. I have no problem with buying used.I have found that people who are serious about a hobby tend to take care of their equipment. I would like to get everything I need to stream with my Rega Elex-R integrated and stay around $1000. Greatly appreciate all of you taking the time to help a newbie.

I use a Lumin U1 Mini and pair it with a couple of DACs by Line Magnetic and Canor. I also have an SBooster on the Lumin with a JPS Labs PC. I don't want a screen for album art and or any of the other features some models have. Just a top quality streamer (app is just OK), Power Supply and DAC team. Couldn't be happier. Lots of options out there, these are just mine. Enjoy! 

+1 on Mahler123's recommendation on WiiM streamers.  While my main system has an Innuos Stream 1, my second system uses a WiiM Pro Plus for streaming, and I am quite pleased with it.  The price was modest--just over $200 with an internal DAC. The build quality appears to be good, and the sound is quite nice.

I've tried quite a few budget streamers & think for your price range the Node Icon is extremely good. App has been flawless with WiFi & LAN connection. Quboz connect is a beautiful thing. The sound quality was indeed better than expected. Preferred it over the more budget priced WiiM Ultra & my slightly more expensive IFI Neo Stream. Using the Icon as an All-in-one threw a very enjoyable soundstage between & beyond the speakers. I have paired the unit with my cheaper R2R dac but the internal dac in the Icon is quite capable. 

I use the Icon in my living room & have hooked my TV into it & it spits out the TV signal digitally to a downstream dac. I feel that feeding my TV into the Icon instead of straight to Dac brings an improvement..I have no idea why as it shouldn't make a difference. Brings me a taller TV soundstage though. Navigation of switching from TV to streaming service is smooth, easy, & quick. I press on Quboz, Tidal, or Spotify & it cuts the TV volume & goes straight to streaming my selected music track. 

I prefer devices that allow me to use my own 3rd party power supplies & I was curious as to how I would perceive the noise floor from the Icon device. I was pleasantly surprised that the Icon has a nice dark background & clear separation of instruments..space. 

I easily perceive the difference when upgrading to a more expensive R2R dac which makes the Icon future proof if you ever want to step up your performance. Teddy Pardo has already released a better regulator & power supply for an even better future upgrade. The Dirac upgrade option from Bluesound is another bonus. I have not used the Icon Dirac option but I've owned a few minidsp devices in the past. The results that Dirac can have on your lower frequencies & phase issues is something everyone should experience in my opinion. Fixing any phase issues, flattening your rooms frequency response in the mid & low bass range, removing any boominess & muddiness will greatly improve your soundstage & focus..also allowing one to clearly hear the details & texture in bass strums & plucks. Cleaning your bass up. 

Otherwise I would say save up or do what you have to do & go for the big boys like Lumin, Aurrender, Innous. I would skip their lower base models though. Go all the way or half way but if you can't swing the extra bread like many of us right now then pull back &  look at things like the Icon, Rivo +, or the list of other streamers already mentioned. 

If you have never owned a streamer almost any of the competent ones mentioned here is going to be a revelation. It's totally convenient..the amount of music at your fingertips is staggering. Fantastic for finding new music. And no matter which unit you go for it will be much better than something like Bluetooth & more a long the lines of a good CD player. 

Streaming changed everything for me. But opened a world of digital that turned out to be more complicated than what I had been taught & believed for years. These devices do not all sound or perform the same..even when just simply using them as a transport...In My Opinion