If you are going to explore streaming, and are new to it, you might not want to spend a lot initially on an expensive streamer such as Aurender, because some people just don’t get into it. Streamers are networking computers , gussied up to look like audio components. They are subject to the the same foibles that networking computers have. So for example if you have ever had a printer go offline on you, when you didn’t do a darn thing to cause it, and been driven mad until you resolved it, there may be some of that in streaming. Frequently software updates by either the streaming service (Spotify, Qobuz, etc) or by the streamer manufacturer, or even your internet provider, may cause incompatibility issues, and the various companies will point fingers at each other and leave you in the lurch.
I mention these issues, OP, because you have stated you don’t feel comfortable with IT issues. I’m not particularly IT fluent, but I’ve been streaming for years. I generally have been able to navigate the frequent problems, but in one case I ultimately sold off an expensive streamer, a Bryston, because it was so buggy and because it’s software program was basically unusable. If you love CDs, it’s really hard to beat plug and play. And while there are endless debates here about which sounds better, equivalent price level CDPs and streamers sound about the same in quality.
If you are using an external DAC, I would stream initially with your MacBook. You can load the service on the computer and see how you like streaming. If you love streaming I would still upgrade the CDP and then do it all.
