getting into streaming

yes, despite some time having passed since i went through most of the starter streamers, i think the leading contenders are still

bs node (latest version)

cambridge cxn v2

innuos zen mini (used, as innous has phased this out for more expensive models)

ifi makes several models, very affordable, some with dac, some without

there is also the wiim puck... very inexpensive

Just wanted to note that both Cambridge Audio and NAD came out recently with some great (at least on paper) entry level streamer/DACs...so you might want to take a look at one of those as perhaps a "step above the WiiM Mini" to feed your CD player's internal DAC.  Cambridge has the the AXN10 and MXN10 network audio players, while NAD has the CS1 Endpoint Network Streamer. 

Figure they were getting eaten alive by the lower cost models by other manufacturers for newbies wanting to get into streaming and see what all the fuss was about, so they decided to come out with these.  Competition is a good thing. 

Maybe these might be worth a look. 

here was my stream sequence:

I started with an Apple TV to a cheap peachtree dac.

Then dedicated Arcam Airplay dac streamer thing.

Then a Bluesound Node 2i.

Then Node to a Chord Qutest.

Then added a LPS to Chord.

Then brought in Pontus II.

Then moved Teddy Pardo LPS to a Bluesound 130.

NOW have Auralic Aries G1.1 and THAT, my friends, (for me and my listening architecture) is game, set, match.

The Aries has its own HD and I am ripping CDs to it. It’s perfect for me. 
I can’t use an Ethernet connection and Auralic has figured out wifi. I loved the BLUOS app and I think Auralic app sucks….sorry. 

Get Roon and you’ll never look back. Consider investing in a Small Green Computer which functions as a dedicated Roon server. Consider an Optical Rendu which will eliminate all noise from your most imports to “last stop”, converting copper Ethernet to fiberglass Ethernet where noise cannot travel. 

so I may have found what i'm looking for from cocktail audio.  Some of their units come with hdmi outputs, so you can bring it up on your tv, which should negate the need for a tablet/ipad.

So are there any other manufacturers that have hdmi output on their server/streamers?