Fuzztone
The OP asked asked “How do I get my mp3 s from my Hard Drive to my speakers?” Since no other information was supplied in this pithy post, I assumed that he has his files stored on a hard drive. Most people use the term hard drive to either denote storage on a computer or an external hard drive. I therefore asked why can’t he just use whatever media player is on his computer.
OP
You don’t need an Apple device. A Windows Or Linux Computer will do the job. You may have to add an extra driver for Windows as that is common with many DACs.
Streamers are just specialized computers. They are made to resemble traditional audio components. They are computers that are optimized find files stored on a hard drive somewhere or else pull the files from the Internet (Streaming Services, such as Spotify). They then send the files to a DAC, or else they include a DAC and then send them to amplifier. Since they are specialized computers, their functions can also be performed by a general purpose Personal Computer.
Since you wish to avoid Apple, and you apparently want the convenience of using a tablet to control the files, you will need an Android Tablet that can control the Computer OS wirelessly. Your idea of tethering a tablet by usb to the DAC is again one that I am struggling with. It kills the advantage of using a tablet, namely being able to control the files without having to stand in proximity to the equipment. And are you going to have a thumb drive sticking in one end of a tablet and the usb cable sticking out the other? Tablets are also specialized computers, with stripped down storage and OS.
Unless you are one of the 14 people on the Planet that doesn’t own a Personal Computer, just use that for now. Stick the thumb drives in the usb input, connect the usb out to the DAC, and use either the computers media player or a downloaded program to control the files, and Bob’s Your Uncle When you tire of doing that, and wish to own a dedicated streamer, take that plunge.
And if you are only interested in playing mp3 files, don’t have so much angst about it. They will sound lousy no matter which route you take
