Please help me figure out what I need to do this. My head spins with tech talk..

Nekoaudio..yes...I know reviews can never substitute hands on...when I assembled my system I went through many hours /days/weeks listening..I enjoyed that high when i hit that slice of nirvana..Mahler: I am not counting out a SACD capable CDP...I have upwards of 800 classical CD's ..it's a couple of lifetimes of relistening that I plan to re-start...
2psyop: I get it, I really do..that I may be not taking advantage of new technology..There's  partially a practical reason: I work 6 days a week and to find the gear , (that's the fun part that I am up for), but what sounds like time consuming process of transferring my CD collection sounds like eating up precious listening time...  
audiothesis: that AMR could be a wow...
I need to make sure I same or better my nirvana...
 

If you are considering 2.5 to 3k possible to spend on a cdp, this one could also be setting you up for life
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gryphon-Adagio-CD-Player-with-box-remote-and-manual/132766285909?ssPageName...

I've had a few AMR CD-777 and they are fantastic - some of the best CD players I've heard. I recommended that one because I think not only will the performance meet your expectations but so will the infusion of the tube and what it brings to the table. 

I fear without a tube in the source you might be chasing gear for a while to be content. 

I really do think tubes have to be somewhere in this chain for me..I remember when I first started out in search..I went through many solid state cdp’s that left either ho-hum or near agitation...then my Jolida JD100 had me thinking I was on the right path..then the BAT flew in and it was like puppy dog tail wags and rainbows...and a Beethoven symphony brought tears of joy..

Go with a DAC, the spinning stuff is probably what caused the 'died' as that's a mechanical contraption. Rip or get bits as source material - that's the source future anyway.

So many excellent DACs under a couple of grand. Easy to decide. Go simple and do all the sonic work in the preamp with shortest possible cables. Don't worry about tubes in the DAC, too much noise in there anyway... seriously you'll waste $$$.

Super-simple R2R vintage PHILIPs DACs still sound the best musically - if you need processing of formats, do that ahead of time in your computer.