1.     Don't be a dotard!
    Read these "rules" AND introduce
    yourself     before your first post
  2. A healthy approach to understanding measurements
    Being true to what the artists intended
  3. After being asked for the 308th time, Merv lists top 5 headphones
    (opinion / entertainment piece)
    Dismiss Notice
  4. $1000 to the first to design a headamp using discrete components with better measurements than Magni 3+
    Dismiss Notice
IMPORTANT: New Members Read This Don't Be a Measurement Fascist Merv's Top 5 Headphones - 2023 Edition $1000 Challenge

Shanling ET-3 CD Transport Review - Golden Schlong Worthy

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by purr1n, Aug 13, 2023.

Page 2 of 10
  1. Bina

    Bina MOT - Shanling

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    536
    Trophy Points:
    93
    We are in the early stages of cooperation with Roon, trying to get it to our other models. So while I would be happy to have it on ET3, not sure when that might happen.
     
    Bina, Aug 14, 2023
    #21
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    90,117
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Read up on the impressions here, the Theta Data III (changstar), and the Lynx PCI card that @zerodeefex mentioned. There's a certain sound that I think @zerodeefex and I are going for with respect to digital sources that feed DACs. Sure there's the top 10 list in the post above, but such lists should always been qualified. My top 10 may not be your own top ten.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
    purr1n, Aug 15, 2023
    #22
  3. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    14,095
    Trophy Points:
    113
    here's a question @purr1n: what if you feed it USB and output AES to your DAC? how does it do with that?
     
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 3
    • List
    zerodeefex, Aug 15, 2023
    #23
  4. SnowPuppy

    SnowPuppy Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2017
    Likes Received:
    223
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Omaha, NE
    Have a Shanling ET-3 on order. Look forward to trying it. Formfactor is ideal fit on top of console between TT and Tube integrated amp (system 2). I use DLNA on my iFi Zen Streamer in my upstairs system (system 1). Works great on my Android phone. Hopefully will be good enough for me to move the Bluesound 2i to the headphone rig in the office.

    Appreciate purr1n bringing this transport to our attention. Will post impressions here after it arrives.
     
    SnowPuppy, Aug 15, 2023
    #24
  5. feverfive

    feverfive New

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    3
    I'm gonna pay attention to this device even though I have like maybe 100 CDs at most in my possession (though I'd probably start buying CDs again if I got something like this). I am intrigued by the ability to connect an external SSD containing my music library via USB and play using the iOS app, I presume. Really hope early users will comment on the reliability/ease of use of this feature.

    -------

    I've been mulling over putting together a desktop rig that will allow me to decouple my Macbook Pro from the chain. **I only listen to local 16- and 24-bit ALAC; no streaming music services for me.** I was really close to buying an M2 Mac Mini to run headless purely for music into my DAC (Bifrost 2/64) controlled via screen sharing on the aforementioned Macbook Pro. However, it seems Apple is making such set-ups not as long term viable with macOS update weirdness (they break as much stuff as they purportedly fix it seems these days).
     
    feverfive, Aug 15, 2023
    #25
  6. lithiumnk

    lithiumnk Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2018
    Likes Received:
    65
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Delhi/India
    @purr1n Any impressions on internal upsampling ?
     
    lithiumnk, Aug 15, 2023
    #26
  7. SnowPuppy

    SnowPuppy Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2017
    Likes Received:
    223
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Omaha, NE
    When I started using an iFi Zen Streamer, I installed a DLNA app on my Android Phone called “mconnect”. There are other apps that do this but so far mconnect has been the best I have tried. It allows me to stream from qobuz with a very decent user interface. I have a very large amount of music including hi rez downloads on my phone’s SD card. I noticed there was a local storage option in mconnect’s Browser Library right next to qobuz. I was pleasantly surprised to find that when I selected local storage all the music from my phone’s micro SD card was ready to stream. It is easy to navigate, shows artwork, and sounds very good. According to my DAC, mconnect is sending the file’s original resolution.

    I am thinking that when the ET-3 arrives and it is connected to the network, I will be able to use mconnect in the same manner to stream music through it.
     
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
    SnowPuppy, Aug 15, 2023
    #27
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    90,117
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    i was just thinking about that, using it as a DDC, but the ET-3 won't take an USB from the computer.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • heart heart x 1
    • List
    purr1n, Aug 15, 2023
    #28
  9. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,510
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NW Pennsylvania
    @Bina is the ET3 for sale anywhere? When I look, all I find is the EC3...
     
    dasman66, Aug 15, 2023
    #29
  10. ergopower

    ergopower Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2018
    Likes Received:
    821
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    South Central PA
    musictek
    linsoul
     
    ergopower, Aug 15, 2023
    #30
  11. Bina

    Bina MOT - Shanling

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    536
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Yes, MConnect is a good app and favourite among lots of Hi-Fi crowds in Europe too.

    In USA it's sold by Musicteck, but I think the current interest from SBAF got them sold out :) They should be re-stocking soon.

    https://shop.musicteck.com/products...tal-cd-transport?_pos=14&_sid=fb5f1c7c0&_ss=r
     
    • Like Like x 4
    • Epic Epic x 2
    • List
    Bina, Aug 15, 2023
    #31
  12. SnowPuppy

    SnowPuppy Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2017
    Likes Received:
    223
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Omaha, NE
    I purchased mine from Musicteck this morning and it has already shipped. UPS is posting an estimated delivery this Friday.

    I ordered the last in stock. Musicteck told me that they could get more in two weeks or less.
     
    SnowPuppy, Aug 15, 2023
    #32
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    90,117
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Using the AES output, I was able to get 192kHz upsampling to work. Considering that I am using the a proto MIL with the TI B chip, which I believe is a x4 oversampling DAC, this means that the the ET-3 would be doing all of the work (as opposed to x8 oversampling DACs where the resulting sound would be hybrid between the two different upscaling filters).

    ET3SRC.jpg

    Using the ET-3 SRC upscale results a much expanded soundscape (with speakers) that is wider and deeper. With headstage (headphones), the effect is more wide, but still discernibly deep. Headphone listeners who prefer a bigger headstage will appreciate this. The effect will be jarring to Schiit DAC owners who are used to the close up staging of the Schiit filters.

    I don't feel the soundstage is as sophisticated as other DACs with expanded soundstages like the Crane Song Solaris or Rockna Wavedream. There's less layering. The stage itself is more 2D without as much depth. The effect is the opposite of those who prefer NOS DACs who cite OS DACs as having too much of a cardboard cutout effect of instruments on the stage. Finally, there's a thinning out effect, which may be more noticeable because we are coming from a x4 OS DAC. There's a side conversation with @Hands elsewhere on this site where he talks about the differences between minimally OS x2/x4 DACs compared to highly resampled DACs x8/x16.

    I will try the ET-3's SRC at 192kHz with the LIM which is an x8 OS DAC and report back.
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2023
    purr1n, Aug 16, 2023
    #33
  14. zonto

    zonto Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,985
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Boston, MA
    How does the ET-3 sound compared to Urd when both are used with AES?

    What was the rest of the chain when using Unison from Urd into Unison input on the DAC? Was the DAC the Yggdrasil as shown in your other recent picture?

    I'm intrigued by this given the top-loading and using a Rega years ago at a shop a few times, but I don't love that it has all this other functionality and circuitry. I guess the Urd does too, but no WiFi, etc. at least.
     
    zonto, Aug 16, 2023
    #34
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    90,117
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Using AES, Urds sound a bit dirtier, more digital. (I prefer AES to the Unison output generally from Urd, AES has more ease, is less "Unison" sounding, although the Unison is warmer with marginally more plankton). ET-3 is AES cleaner, more refined, marginally better microdynamics. I get the sense that the CD mechanism (dampening, mass-loading, spinning stuff, laser beams) is better on the ET-3. Rest of chain is a proto MIL with the TI's B chip (using LIM now). Amp is Piety. Headphones are HD600 and RS2X with F pads. Secondary chain is Saga with 6SN7 and iESL/Aegir to Koss ESP950. (After doing another reality check - yup, I really love the sound of the ET-3 as a CDT).

    Pretend the other stuff doesn't exist like what I do (my intention was for this to be strictly a CDT). I guess the AirPlay stuff does came in handy in case you don't have the CD.
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2023
    purr1n, Aug 16, 2023
    #35
  16. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    12,626
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    If this transport is updated to be Roon Ready I will buy it. I love the idea of a high quality streamer and disc spinner in one box.
     
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 7
    • Like Like x 4
    • List
    Merrick, Aug 17, 2023
    #36
  17. Baten

    Baten Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,131
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    EU
    Samesies! BTW, I was browsing and noticed two new releases: Shanling CD80/CA80 (one that omits chip-based speaker amplification and one that includes it) that regrettably, seemingly have little to do with this unit that seems mighty well performing! Thanks purr1n for directing attention to it, I especially appreciate comparisons to Urd :D
     
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 3
    • Like Like x 2
    • List
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2023
    Baten, Aug 18, 2023
    #37
  18. SnowPuppy

    SnowPuppy Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2017
    Likes Received:
    223
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Omaha, NE
    [​IMG]

    Off to a good start. More impressions on the way.
     
    • Like Like x 9
    • heart heart x 1
    • List
    SnowPuppy, Aug 19, 2023
    #38
  19. Josh Schor

    Josh Schor Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2020
    Likes Received:
    978
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Ann Arbor Mi
    Have you used glass optical? Found that to be very good in the past
    best,
    Josh
     
    Josh Schor, Aug 20, 2023
    #39
  20. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,907
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Europe

    This got me very curious. Taking the chance of sounding a bit weird, do you still have one of your usb 5 schiit dacs (i believe that was the one before Unison?!)? Wonder if that tube on tube would disappear and it would sound just right.
     
    Walderstorn, Aug 20, 2023
    #40
Page 2 of 10

Share This Page