How music is ripped and served does count.
Ripping CDs in wav. with XLD is OK as are NAS .But it would still be better , in your shoes, consider something like a CORE which rips with perfect tags and serve them better to your streamer.
I would start from there for a sound and sensible path.
so with a Uniti-Core and cd's ripped the only connection that would be needed after that is use my extra Poweline for power and purchase a DC-1...this is if I wanna listen to my old CD collection and what if some Cd's are burned will they sound like crap anyways once ripped onto a unit?
About ripping ,opinions differ here.
I prefer the wav sound wise , anyway the server is important, not that the NAS is bad but any improvement in the source is easily heard along the chain.
Also, once you get a CORE you could just try and compare those burned CDs and new rips.
