Well...I am taking the plunge into digital..

it's too late... (or do you think you'll live 110 years?)

I to have spent most of my life with vinyl. But added digital when it became available, although fidelity was alway second rate. But over the last few years all that has changed. Digital can now sound as good or the same depending what you want. The premium can be around 10%. The best thing is now you can have access to nearly infinite music. The is a paradigm changer. Now you can explore and open your horizons from playing only what you own. I now only play about 10%  of physically owned music.

Digital is just like analog. Every component matters… but particularly at the front end if you have a good system. Streamer, DAC, Preamp, and amp. Over the last 50 years I have slowly converted over to all tubes.. including my DAC which really improved the character of my system. If you have been a tube fan… I would not change to solid state now. You can see my systems under my ID. I was shocked to find my favorite tube company ARC makes a world class DAC… and has been for a long time. I compared this DAC with the Berkeley Reference Alpha 3 ($22K) and preferred mine… the difference was absolutely minuscule. I gave the node to the ARC because it was a touch warmer and more natural… minuscule though.

Beginning experimentation with a home theater system is good to get the ides of the technology down. But surround processors make poor sounding audio systems. Streaming from an iPhone or iPad works… but once you have a good DAC, they are really poor sounding. You can use it while looking around for a good streamer. 
 

You no longer have an analog system? If you still have your analog system  just get a streamer and DAC. 
 

If I was doing this, I would look at Aurender for a streamer (many people recommend Lumin), it is all they do and have streamers from inexpensive to one of the best available at any cost. For DAC look at ARC Reference 9 or Schiit Yggdrasil as a budget option. For an outstanding tubed integrated amp ARC Vsi75. I don’t have a recommendation for an inexpensive one.

On last thing. I would resist CDs. Put the money into streaming. Remember well chosen digital can sound just as good as analog and the same as CD, or file playing… well chosen… maybe the same cost as an analog rig. 

Not 
 

Touché serjio!

Thanks ghdprentice... I have 5 tube ham radios from the 1920's... which I restored to mint + over the years...I went over to state of the art solid state for that hobby and while I still use the tube stuff on occasion, 98% of my activity is with the solid state side now. I am completely refurbishing my Scott 299... love the amp, the sound, the look and feel... but I just want that system to be my " vinyl" room... 

Thanks for your comments... that's exactly what I plan to do... get qualified if u will on the home theatre side and really delve into the acrhitexture of what I am looking for and find the solution that I can really enjoy and be proud of...

in moving this system into from the engine room to the bridge, in addition to ALL of the audiophilic variables, I have to blend it into the room optics because harmony is not only a musical thing... I have a credenza that I am using to house the system, so all of a sudden component depth is a factor... speaker size, cable runs all need to be considered.... lots of fun so far... the variety, technology, engineering paths of these components are really interesting...

Streaming can be both frustrating and incredibly enjoyable. One can have relatively simple setup, for the curious many rabbit holes to go down. I'm in curious camp, steep learning curve in beginning,  network stuff can be very complex, over time things become clearer. If seeking deeper knowledge, audiophilestyle forum is the place to go.

@poke33 You have the proper attitude going in, finding the whole thing interesting is good!

Though digital streaming is just 1's and 0's, software is the beast behind the curtain. I would recommend that you either call or PM John Rutan (Audioconnection). He can give you great information at a great price-Free!.

Bob