After much research, I bought a "Vortexbox Appliance" (a fanless PC specifically for ripping and sharing music on a home Wireless Network) and it is simplicity itself. This is as easy as it gets, if you don't want to bow down to iTunes. Simply insert the CD into the PC, let it do its stuff (ripping to flac format typically takes about 7-11 mins depending on content), and you're virtually there.
It is a 'headless' device, i.e. no keyboard or monitor - you login via another computer/tablet/smart phone's browser which is on the same wi-fi network. Can be bought off Amazon or eBay; or if you have a spare PC/are adept with building PCs/similar, the SW is free to download (didn't have the spare kit to do this, nor the experience in building PCs!). There is plenty of online info on the latter option.
Need to have mp3tag software (free download) to correct any tagging errors via my Macbook, (I have a fair few dance complication CDs that are on multiple disks, so this is essential to make sure that all the separate CDs that make an album are sorted correctly). Use the bliss software that comes with the VB appliance for cover art and checking file structure.
You then use the VB Appliance as a NAS that can be picked up by any DLNA kit, including the likes of high-end manufacturers like Linn and Naim.
Once all OK (i.e. cover art, tags), use the inbuilt "flac mirror" tool to make mp3 copies of the flac rips (which you can then use on your iDevice/similar, and the cover art is embedded, too) and then back-up to an external USB expansion drive.
I have also gone down the Logitech Squeezebox (SB) road, and have picked up a couple of SB radios (direct from Logitech in recent online sales) and a SB Touch (from eBay - yes I probably paid over the odds... ) to connect to my Denon AV receiver (using optical digital out), so use the included Logitech Media Server SW. (Sonos SW is also included, but haven't used this option). This SB stuff is fantastic kit: i know i have bought kit which is being discontinued - but based it on opinions on these forums and very many other online sources. I have to concur with them on what fantastic kit it is, and cannot understand why Logitech are moving away from this. It plays gapless too!
Yes, there are cheaper roads (including following the above but making your own Vortexbox solution from free downloads, etc), and in my opinion you really do need to read the VB support forums to help with initial set-up - they have some excellent FAQ/'How to' guides - but once I bit the bullet, this was actually a lot simpler than I thought it would be.
Bottom line is that both my Panasonic Smart TV and older Denon s52 portable unit pick up the flac music files over the wi-fi, the SB radios work throughout the house (cover art, internet radio, et al - but they do seem more wi-fi placement sensitive), the SB Touch is an amazing piece of kit and i get mp3 copies also to use in my iDevices and in my car (via copies on a USB stick): once the initial set-up is done, this is as close to 'insert and play' as I have seen...
Apologies for the long post: but I took so long thinking and worrying about which path to follow, I cannot contain my excitement that It Just Works... I truly believe this is one of the simplest routes to ripping your CDs. Yes, you still have to do a bit of work via a laptop, etc, in the early set-up, but then it is child's play.