Shanling ET-3 CD Transport Review - Golden Schlong Worthy

This CD transport is so good. I’m using AES into OG/A2, following by cinemag balanced to SE into passive volume control. It sounds liquid, full, articulate and has excellent synergy with the OG. It replaced an onkyo cd player which I found thin and bright but didn't want to replace with another low or mid end player or transport. I got the silver version.. including here since I haven’t seen images with silver ones in real setups.

 

I think I may have had a Mandela effect moment. I could have sworn this thing had an ethernet port. I almost purchased it just now but took a look at the back one last time. It would have been an automatic purchase if it did.

Still, I am caught between buying this and the Mjolnir 3. I am not buying both because I really don't need either lol.

 

I am curious if there is any DSP or something happening under the hood of the ET-3.

I’ve had it for a few days and with all of the CDs I’m playing the jump in tonal density is marked compared to the same files via Roon Rock ethernet into Red. Both AES out into SFD-1 Mkii into Starlett with Utopia and JAR600.
Red sounds thin in comparison. Via ET-3, the increase in bass texture is and details are welcome.
Caveats here are I have 98% red book files and can’t do any super hi-rez because of my DAC.

EDIT: Maybe I haven’t heard a truly excellent transport in my system?

 

All streaming services apply some loudness normalization, as explained in the video I posted in the Loudness Wars thread:
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/loudness-wars.13740/#post-415093

 

There is the upsampling function with dedicated circuit, which you can bypass. Otherwise no DSP.

 

Is the sound of the ET-3 different then streaming, better or worse? I know its system dependent, wondering where it stands in a good resolving system. Any thoughts appreciated'
best,
Josh

 

Will check on it, normally it should restart by itself during this procedure. If our software team didn't mess up anything.

 

Firmware Update V1.5 now available

Notes and download link on our website: https://en.shanling.com/article-ET3EH3FirmwareSept23.html

 

For some reason I can't get this link to work.

 

Has anyone been able to compare ET-3 directly with an Audiolab 6000CDT?

 

Is it working now? I haven't got any other reports about issues with our website right now.

 

If

Yes working now. If would not pull up on work computer but does on my home computer. Used thumb drive to update firmware and the update was flawless. ET3 is working great.

 

If you want to compare directly you are welcome to borrow my ET-3.

 

It smells fine for $300, used. It's subjectively better than Pi2AES (both running coax @44.1k into Yggdrasil LIM) in my system. More liquid sounding, and more authoritative sub bass. I fully realize it's a slot loader, and it'll crap out in a couple years, but that's not the point to me. I'm interested in comparisons to the ET-3 sonically.

You're awesome!! @sheldaze is planning on bringing both the ET-3 and Urd to the DMV meetup on the 30th, but I'm not sure I can make it. I'll take this to PMs!!

 

Ugh i might actually want this one, started playing with my old cd collection again lately. But my 20yr old Marantz makes a pop sound on my headphones/speakers when i power it on, i think some of the caps in the psu are on the way out(no bulges from the stolen formula though). Even so it kinda sounds meh/grainy and digital. Could also be caps but i doubt it will get much better.
Also when skynet is finally taking out the internet i would still like to be able to play some music.