Streamer/CD ripper

a. Too long but you are free to do anything else while waiting. Why weren’t you ripping every CD for 25 years?

b. They do not sound ANY different with equivalent quality playback gear. A more important comparison would be ripped vs streamed. Don’t worry about it.

as others haver noted SQ shouldn't be an issue with decent equipment.  I would get a decent DAC streamer combo that will allow you to use the Rotel as a transport while you rip those CDs.  It is easier to include the storage as part of the streamer, but if you have the storage on a server then you can change servers at will, or stream to a second player elsewhere in the home.  I recommend the Melco N100 as a NAS/Streamer.  You would have to get an external DAC but the3re are lot of options here

I wouldn’t worry too much about ripping CDs if you subscribe to something like Qobuz as most of your CDs will likely be available there and some even in hi-res.  I rarely spin a CD anymore.  I’d recommend looking at the Innuos Zen Mk3 for a streamer/server.  Best of luck.   

My Innuos Zenith Mk3 rips CDs.  I figure that's what I'll use if I ever want to listen to a CD again.  Haven't used it. Jerry

I’m currently using the new Node N130 with a NAS as my server and am very happy, but I have updated the power supply and and am using an external DAC.