What components might I check into that have a small foot print?

Yes, all those acronyms. All those choices. Its almost impossible to sort out. OK, another vote for the vault. You have me beat, My Fiat 124 Sport Coupe and Spider are only 43 and 40 years old.

Harv, I am 63 also.  No wife or kids either.  I never had internet until I retired in November of last year.  I added it through my cable tv provider.  I started with an iPad which has been easy to learn and mostly fun to play around with.
 I also never had a cellphone until nine months ago.  Leased an iPhone from Verizon.  The phone mirrors the iPad so it’s easy to use.

 I drive a 48 year old BMW and a 19 year old Toyota truck so I’m obviously not a techie.  No love for or interest in computers or in the myriad things they do or not.  The programs and acronyms are beyond confusing.

Now, I have used computers in my business and specialized diagnostic equipment used in repairing late model BMW’s with their complex operating system which gives me some prior experience.  It also instilled a disdain for the complexity of all the interconnected computer modules.

The purchase of a summer home presented the dilemma of how to take my music collection with me.  The answer was the Bluesound Vault 2.  It is not a geeky computer setup.  It is very well thought out so that a non computer type person will find it intuitive to operate.  I love the interface with it and the expansion of musical enjoyment.

So Harv, if someone like me can make it work, so can you.  You will be thrilled and amazed.  Internet is available everywhere.

Well Markto, no need to apologize for getting off topic. you have given me great insight on a subject that is also currently on my mind. It cant get any easier than Crutchfield too. Thank you so much

If you have a robust cd collection, no extreme need to embrace streaming for digital.  Of course cds and streaming don’t affect your analogue ambitions at all. 

if you do move in the direction of streaming, be sure to choose a hardware/software approach with the best and simplest user experience available.  The blue Sound vault may be a contender.  I haven’t used one personally but I have heard good things. You start by popping in a cd just like a CD player.  It copies it to its internal storage, you do this for your entire collection, and you then access your digital music with a smartphone or tablet.  You can keep your cds forever in boxes, or get rid of them at some point. 

If you master this, and start with streaming your own collection, the next logical step will be to experiment with accessing non-cd digital music from the same piece of gear. Baby steps :-)

i belive crutchfield sells this piece and offers a 60 day return, gives you two months to experiment to see if you like it! 

the blue Sound vault has a dac built in, but also has a digital output to connect a better DAC of your choosing. It also has a small footprint. If any of this is mildly intriguing, give crutchfield a call and talk to someone who knows bluesound well to get the skinning.

i know I veered off from the original point of this post, but when I see someone reluctant about technology I tend to look for a solution. No need to shy away, it an be easy if done smartly, and I think bluesound has a good approach.

oh, last but not least, bluesound makes little self amplified speakers that you can put in other rooms away from your hifi setup. This means you can access your digital music on the patio or in the bedroom, or elsewhere. It’s really cool.

good luck!

Thank you all for your suggestions. I know I will have to (and really do want to) embrace digital streaming, but just not ready yet. 63 now and no kids in the house to help me through it. The calculator had not even been invented yet when I went through school. Sure, I can use the computer, but not so digitally inclined. Very satisfied with a really, really good analog set up and dinosaur CD's for now. No internet access in this property yet either. I had forgotten about McCormack's micro line. Nagra probably too pricey, Did not know the Rega player was so small, good idea. Also, I think now I do remember PS offering some smaller chassis units..I will check out most of your suggestions and see where it leads me. I am picky, so, if I go solid state, it better be very, very good. Reason I am even considering SS is that there will be times when visiting family will be using the house on their own.

Older Gold Note (Blue Note) products like HP7, AP7 PH7.

Schiit, Peachtree, Cyrus Audio, Wyred 4 Sound, and a couple of offerings from PS Audio

Or if only wireless, use something like a netgear Ethernet extender with port to make that wired connection in your small space

Mytek Brooklyn DAC/pre

Mytek Brooklyn stereo amplifier

Mustic streamer. 

My recommendation is to ditch the CD player completely.  Replace it with a Bluesound Vault 2.  It measures approximately 8x8x4.  Copy all your CD’s to the Bluesound which is simple with the built in drive.  Selection, internet radio, streaming, and volume control from an iPad or iPhone.  Easy to use and sounds great.  Then add a Tidal subscription to really expand your musical appetite.

Note it does require a hardwire internet connection.

Now if you only have wireless at that location, you could just use a Bluesound Node 2 with a Tidal subscription.  Unless your collection is very eclectic, Tidal will likely have the albums you already have on your CD’s.

Nagra has a small format

For SS, you could try to find some McCormack Micro Line and Power Drives. SMc Audio just upgraded my amps to monoblocks and upgraded the preamp
A Rega Apollo should fit in the space you described.
Bob