Music Server format?

dBpoweramp has a setting for "uncompressed" flac, which is basically wav with really good metadata. I've used this since it was released for Mac. Highly recommended.

......Seems like any on line music purchase requires you purchase entire album even if you only want three tracks.

Try Chandos and Linn.
They allow purchase of individual tracks in an album. :)

Thanks to all of you for replies. Never knew how helpful these blogs could be. Light years of information.
Still lost but at least some really interesting avenues to try.

Awooof

When you get the ripping, formats and playback software sorted there's also the computer's operating system to consider. Windows, for one, does hundreds of things in the background that have nothing to do with music playing. "Stripping out" a Windows install can noticeably improve playback sound quality. You can either do this yourself (daunting at the least) or there are commercial products that will do it. Windows Server 2012 R2 seem to be the preferred OS for this.

You can get a dedicated music server that will your CDs and take the PC out of the equation.  Then you will not have to worry about mastering a playback software program such as Roon, J River, etc.
. I use the Bluesound Vault 2.  It costs around $1100.  Pop the CD in, get it ripped to FLAC, stored in it's 2 TB hard drive, and use the App to control from your phone or tablet. It spupports numerous streaming services, has Tune In for Internet Radio, and if you run out of space you can add extra storage.  It has a decent DAC but you can use its digital outputs to connect to the Oppo or another DAC.  It plays high Res files.