Advice on a streamer


I'm starting to look into a dedicated streamer.  Recently, the CD's have been gathering dust while I hook up an ipad with the headphone jack to the preamp listening to youtube the majority of the time, and I'm ready to upgrade from that.  I have about 300 - 400 CD's that would be nice to rip to a server with some sort of loss-less format.  I'm still on the fence about that...nice to have, but I'm not completely sold on this yet (meaning that I probably won't buy any more CD's, so whatever I rip will be a one time thing (granted a long thing, but whatever)).  So if I sacrifice sound for ripping, then forget it.  I'm also a cheapish bastard that's not willing to drop a ton of money on a streamer. 

My current system is:
Marantz SACD SA8005
Krell KSP 7B (sometimes switched with a Berning TF10)
Mcintosh MC275
B&W 683

I've been looking at Cambridge audio and Cocktail Audio for streamers. I know the Bluesound Vault 2 would do the job, but, for what I've gathered, the sound quality just isn't up to par.  From what I've been reading, I will likely get Qobuz, as it seems to get more positive reviews than the other services.  

My budget is between $1000 - 1500 with some flexibility.  One key component is the WAF...one thing that we both like and feel it would fit in with our system is a small screen on the streamer that displays the album art (I know we should base it on sound and sound alone, but damnit, it's 2021!  I want great sound and good looks!).  That's why I'm leaning toward the Cambridge audio CXV/851N or one of the Cocktail Audio ones.  I do not have a dedicated DAC unit and would prefer not to purchase one.  

Last item to throw out there.  I would to take the streamer (well, more specifically a hard drive with my music on it) to a cabin where I don't have internet access.  Do these/any streamers work well without internet access to see or pull up music from a hard drive on my phone using an app through bluetooth (does that make sense?)

Does anyone have experience or suggestions on the ones I'm looking at or others I haven't suggested?  Thanks!   
jbeckley42
Are your cds rare enough NOT to be on the streaming services?  If not, forget about them and go all in on a streamer/dac.  At your budget, streaming and ripped files will probably be indistinguishable.  I don’t have any specific product recs, though.  Lots to choose from.
I’m using a Bluesound Node 2i streaming Qobuz with good cables all around (digital/PC/IC) via CAT8 paired with a decent DAC (ARC DAC7) sounds pretty frickin good to me. I’ve heard the Lumin U1 mini in a comparable rig and while it looks damn sexy I really couldn’t detect a sonic improvement worthy of the price difference over the Node2i.
I have 2 Bluesound Node 2i's on different systems which are great bang for buck. I also have a Lumin U1 mini on my main system but you would require a DAC.  For me there is a difference, more detail with the Lumin. The suggestion of a Lumin D2 is good.

Open Box or used Teac NT-505 totally responds with your requirements. Excellent streamer with capable DAC on board.
I 2nd the idea of a Raspberry Pi. I have one with with a hat connected to my dac. You can get one for under $100 and then have $1400 for a great dac. I use Volumio and their subscription ($4 / month or so) that let's me use Tidal Connect from my phone.