I started steaming many years ago, very few streamers available at the time. I was pretty much forced to build a diy setup from scratch based on a highly modded mac mini. I now have usb renderers, NAS, optical conversion units, linear power supplies for everything. Steep learning curve, many hours spent over at computer audiophile forum. Without the knowledge of the experts over there I would have never gotten this complex setup running.
If I were starting today I would just get one of the quality streamers from Lumin, Aurender, Innuous. Get one with large capacity HD, things are much easier to setup today. The good streamer manufacturers are responsive and computer audiophile has a wealth of information if you do have glitches. Networking is one of the common problems, and has been an issue of mine at times, computer audiophile has saved me every time.