Almost embarrassed to ask, but...

I stream to my Oppo 205 using a lap top- USB -Roon/Tidal-into a tube preamp then into a solid state amp and it really enjoy the music!  I’ve tried the Oppo 205 direct into the amp but there is something about the tube preamp that is more statisfying.

@taheeti May I ask which preamp are you using?

I stopped in to my local dealer on a whim, just to see what he had. They suggest digital out from the 8802a pre/pro into the Oppo is the most seamless, then Ontario the streaming with phone/tablet as I do now. I listened to a PL Evo400 pre they have setup into a SS power amp and it sounded really wonderful. Reviews on that pre support my theory that adding a pre could very well improve the experience, as I’m hoping. Now to decide on the pre amp....

That EVO400 would be the upper end of the budget, 4500. I have no previous experience with tubes. I am not a hobbyist, I have no interest in the rabbit hole of tube rolling, but the idea of a tube pre is one I’m open to. Not wedded to, but open to.

I just went through something similar. I switched to Roon + Tidal. I purchased a Roon Nucleus( they are may other servers option to use Roon) that is feed into my Oppo 105 via USB, Oppo feed Into my Marantz SR7005 via analog. Very happy with results. 

I suggest you search out the thread titled preamp deal of the century on this forum. It will help you learn about the supratek preamp which is right around $2,000 and the Don Sachs SP preamp and the ultraverve preamp. These are all tube preamps and are universally praised for their sound.