Changing from Vinyl to Digital in Brave New World

Boy, that is a tough problem for someone so into vinyl. If it were me, and it surely isn't, I would cull my collection to 2000. Store the rest or slowly sell off. Keep the 2000 LPs in a closet on shelves and buy a great, compact, set and forget table like the new SME 20/3A. No isolation, no pumps, little space. Also a pair of small monitors after careful auditioning and a Class A SS amp (or integrated) appropriate for the speaker load.

Live with that for a while as you very slowly explore the rapidly changing world of digital files. Go computer if you are comfortable enough, otherwise a high quality CDP, but honestly, I don't see much space savings really.

If you go iPad and docking station with computer speakers fine. Then you'll save real space, otherwise, maintain great sonics and the history of your collection.

Sounds like a fun way to begin retirement. Enjoy it.

You'll need to get a smaller Guanyin!

_______

CDs are getting as vintage as vinyls. What's the point of switching to digital when you can get HDD or SSD based computer or network player system with top line modern DAC that would get you much closer to analog than conventional CD/SACD player?

Peterayer: I think you nailed it- a turntable with fewer demands of space, time and energy, and killer smaller speakers. The contrarian in me, after so many years of basic amp-preamp (currently add the third box, phono stage) loves the idea of an integrated. On the digital side, I'm way more intererested in non-CD digital audio, and maybe as you suggested, I could experiment. It is obviously the next wave and while i've never been a computer hobbyist, it might be fun if tied to music. As Rtilden pointed out, there is the temptation to get all crazy on that front, and be in the same place, with expensive black boxes.
Part of this is also motivated by ease of use. I hate to admit it, but the notion of warming up the tube amps, warming up the cartridge, etc. is always an obstacle to just playing music. And, if I don't buy or rent a space with a dedicated room, I'll have the system in my living space, which raises additional issues (ahem, two cats, ahem).
As to space saving, the current pile of vinyl takes up a good amount of space. I just computed, very back of the napkin, using 100 discs per linear foot, and actually probably have 10,000 records, maybe more. The frightening thing (maybe this thread should be relabelled -confessions of a vinyl junkie) is that I have never organized them. Oh, yeah, when i find yet another copy of Way Out West, or the umpteenth copy of Rickie Lee Jones' first album, I put it with the others. How many pressings of Tea for the Tillerman should one person own (especially when the UHQR boxed set that cost stupid money, even when i bought it at the time it came out) sounds far less lively than the island pink label that I bought off the street in Greenwich Village for a buck?
Thank you for helping me think this through.
So, should I start another thread on serious, trouble free turntables? (SME sounds terrific; I had the Kuzma Reference before the XL with a Triplanar and it was also set and forget, no isolation issues; any others that are of this ilk?)
And integrated amps (I love the Dartzeel concept, even the fact that it measured lousy per that Stereophile review; Burmeister? Boulder? I don't need one with a phono stage if I keep the Manley Steelhead, but here we go again with boxes).
And, monitors: I want to hear the Magico V3 which seems like a lot of bang for the buck, used; I have never really warmed up to Wilson speakers. Any other relatively small killer monitor style speaker that is a must listen to and would enjoy a relationship with a SS, rather than tube amp?
Man, this feels like a sex change. But fun. :) Thanks everybody.

I would keep your LPs until you are very sure you like your new digital system. I did the same thing, and ultimately went back to LPs. I am glad I only sold off a few in the process (which I had to pay alot of money to replace).