Where/how to start?

I am almost 70… I agree with your thinking.

First, you do have a DAC… the OPPO has a digital input… coax and USB (don’t use the optical). So you can start streaming.

Ultimately you want a high end streamer and DAC and good streaming provider. Qobuz is the best for streaming service audio. I would change to Qobuz… Tidal is pretty good as well, but Qobuz is better. At ony $14.99 / month with the first month free… it is a screaming deal.

Streaming sound quality can equal CD or SACD, streamed files or vinyl at multiple price points at this point in time. You can see my system under my ID… you do not have to go as high end as I have to get there.

To simplify how to look at the formula to get there… assuming you do your homework and get good sounding components… just looking at cost: $TT = Phono stage = streamer = DAC = Preamp = amp. All of my components are very roughly the same cost. My streamer is the most expensive by a bit. This simply communicates that all the pieces are critical and particularly those at the beginning of the signal path.

So, if I were you: I would look into a good streamer… a Bluesound if you want to go budget… Aurender if you want to put your foot on audiophile stuff. Any High end streamer: you plug it in (use your Oppo as DAC)… use your iPad to control it and to log on to your Qobuz account… and the world of nearly infinite music is available to you. You create a library of the stuff from albums you find on the service.

Then if you want to improve your sound further… get a high end DAC.

If you are retired and bored you can rip your CDs to files… but it is a complete waste of time. 

You do not want to do anything by Bluetooth. You want to use Qobuz service only. While you can rip your CDs to files and store them on a streamer, or network attached storage, or USB drive… this is all old tech.

You want a streamer… like an Aurender N10 (of Bluesound for a budget solution). If your router is not nearby… then just buy a cheap wall wart WiFi extender (~$59) at Best Buy or Amazon. And plug the streamer into this. That is it. You need not worry about files, storage, ripping files, or any of that stuff. PM me if you want to talk about more specifics. Or show phontos of your equipment and setup in your profile and we can be more specific.

OP… “Then, I can use a wall wart WiFi extender?”

Yes. I have a $100K+ system streaming off a $59 NETGEAR wall wart. Simple and cheap.