MOVING TO computer/HD/audio player from CD's

Look at HDDs with 6TB-10TB capacity.
Prices range from less than $100 to $300 for HDD only.
CD quality files WAV are relatively large files.
If redundancy is not an issue a single portable storage device will work.
https://www.amazon.com/Elements-Desktop-Hard-Drive-WDBWLG0080HBK-NESN/dp/B07G3QMPB5/ref=zg_bs_595048_9?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=25126804WK413ZZXGMXF&th=1
Installation Option is available.
Reformat the Drive for MAC use.
A USB connection is Required.
Use a good quality USB cable.
You will need Digital to use digital USB input to the Preamp.
Control from listening position is a whole separate matter.

I think it would be easier to run a cable across the floor to my MBP connecting to a reasonable quality DAC behind the pre-amp.  No one listens to speakers like I have, and so anything less than 16bit,  44khz, is clearly audible on my system.    It seems that the easiest thing to do is to keep using CD’s since I’m not willing to pay more than $2000 for the convenience of transferring music 10 feet away.  

The conversion to digital with a large HDD or SSD, a good DAC, iTunes or a clone,  and connections from the PC to the Pre-amp was never the issue.  I can do that in lots of different ways.  

The control from the listening position was what I was trying to drive toward.    I suspect that it might be possible with a separate wifi adapter on a NUC broadcast from my Mac, but being able at the same time surf the internet and do what I do on the pac while listening is probably a no-go.  The Mac can’t be both a receiver and a transmitter at the same time.  

Look into getting a streamer - Bluesound, Lumin, etc.  Some can also act as a server, allowing you to copy your CD collection onto it.  

I use Bluesound, so that's what I will speak to, but the concept should be similar with other streamers. 

I have a lot of music files on an external hard drive connected to my PC.  I share that folder of files on my network and the Bluesound software "sees" it and can stream to my stereo via analog outs, or in my case via a coax out to my DAC which is then connected to my preamp via analog outs.  I also stream Tidal, Qobuz, Radio Paradiso, TunedIn, Spotify, etc.

I use PC/Android, but I believe the Bluesound will work on Mac also.

I have almost 1000 CD’s of everything but taking music, more than 1/2 classical.  

The purpose is to put all the cd’s on an external SSD and  play them using an audio music player on the computer.  This would save massive space, make it portable, and make finding a selection much easier.   Optimally,  I would simply like  play them from across the room using my late 2013 quad core 2.6 ghz macbook pro.  

But... I’m not willing to spend $2000+ just to get a wifi or blue tooth connection between my pre-amp and my macbook pro.  The MBP has thunderbolt, usb 3.0, HDMI, and of course the headphone output, but the headphone output is also a digital output.  

For $300, I can buy a used 13 inch core 2 duo with optical output and hard wire connect it to my hi-fi system, doing the above.

I’m not sure whether my questions was answered because when I looked up the items listed(I’m not sure what they do) their prices far exceeded the price of a used 13 inch MBP and a couple of two terabyte SSD’s.  

You should look into high res music.  If you feel your system is revealing you'll certainly notice a benefit in this.  Learn how to compress your music files into the lossless flac format if you don't know how already.  A bit perfect extractor that can convert the music directly from the CD to flac (or any other format) is EAC or Exact Audio Copy.  Free software and the best thing out there for the purpose.

Using a NUC with wifi will cost you around $500.  Add a 10GB external drive via USB to it.  Don't use SSD.  They introduce more electrical noise than your standard spinning platter discs.  They are also much more expensive at the higher capacities.

You can install software directly on the NUC that can stream the music to your DAC.  I don't think you mentioned having a DAC so if you don't that could change this entire conversation.

I would recommend using Roon as your player/library software.  Otherwise JRiver.  You limit yourself with iTunes.