Shanling ET-3 CD Transport Review - Golden Schlong Worthy

How to use the Shanling ET3 as a lossless Roon endpoint


I wanted to do a write up since I recently set this up. Then, realizing Darko covered the ET3 recently I figured I should stop being lazy and get this done. It’s very easy and very straight forward so if it seems like a lot of steps don’t let that deter you. I tried to ELI5 this so that hopefully anyone can do it without running into trouble. Let’s get started.


*This will let you stream to your Shanling ET3 as a Roon Endpoint, however, you will have to use Roon Remote or the Roon app on your PC (or media controls on your keyboard, etc.) to select the next track after a song has ended. If someone finds a workaround and lets me know about it I will include it here and remove this heading. If you’re good with that let’s continue*


What you’ll be doing:


Setting up the ET3 as an endpoint that you can select in Roon that will be capable of playback of lossless, Hi-Res up to 24/192 and DSDx64 (so long as your DAC supports it on your input of choice).


How we’ll do it:


Using iFi Audio’s app iFi Bridge for Roon. You will need to set it up on a PC on your network. Once it’s running the ET3 will appear as a Squeezebox device on your network and can be used in Roon.


Getting Started:


Download iFi Bridge for Roon from iFi Audio’s support and downloads page here

• HERE is a direct link to the download of iFi Bridge for Roon. If it doesn’t work or you want to do it manually continue on below, if not, skip to the next section
  
  
• In the dropdown box to the right select Pro iDSD Signature
  
  
• Enter a dummy serial number (needs to begin with 30130 followed by 5 random digits). You can just use 3013012345
  
  
• Select to the option to download iFi Bridge for Roon

Extract the Download and begin setup

• You will need to extract the download several times to get to the actual software folder (iFi-iFi-Bridge-for-Roon > iFi - iFi Bridge for Roon - iFiBridge-master - iFiBridge-master - iFi-Bridge - iFi-Bridge)
  
  
• Once you reach the folder titled “iFi-Bridge” you can just drag it to your desktop and delete the rest of the folders you just extracted
  
  
• We’ll come back here in a sec to continue, head over to the Shanling ET3

If you haven’t already set your Shanling ET3 up to connect to your WiFi you’ll need to do that first (I̶’l̶l̶ d̶r̶o̶p̶ a̶ h̶o̶w̶ t̶o̶ a̶t̶ t̶h̶e̶ e̶n̶d̶) but now we’ll make sure the ET3 is setup to be seen on your network

• Power on the Shanling ET3 and go into the menu and select WiFi Setting
  
  
• Turn on WiFi, and Toggle on DLNA in this menu

Finish Setup and start iFi Bridge for Roon

• Back in the iFi-Bridge folder, double-click iFi-Bridge.exe
  
  
• Select “Search for devices” and wait 15 - 30 seconds until you get the pop-up message that says “Config file created, you may now start the bridge” and then click OK on the pop-up
  
  
• BEFORE you start the bridge go back to the folder where the iFi-Bridge.exe is and search for “config”. Alternatively you can manual navigate there (iFi-Bridge\RoonBridge\files\application\bin)

Setup for Hi-Res Playback

• Locate the Config.xml file, right click and select “open with” then “Notepad”
  
  
• Look for <sample_rate> and change the numbers beside it from 44000 to 192000. It should look like this: <sample_rate>192000</sample_rate> If it looks super garbled when you open the file, close notepad and re-open the file, it happens sometimes
  
  
• Save the file: You can use the menu (File > Save) or just press CTRL + S, then close the file

Starting the Bridge and we’re done here

• Back on the iFi Bridge app, click Start Bridge
  
  
• Launch Roon and go to Settings > Setup and toggle on Enable Squeezebox Support
  
  
• In Roon go to Audio in the Settings menu and the device will appear under the Squeezebox section
  
  
• There will probably be more than one appear (don’t know why), Enable them one at a time, select them as the output in Roon and try to play to them
  
  
• Whichever one actually works it the only one you need enabled (I would disable the other one to avoid confusion)

Optional settings and info that may be useful:

• DSD Playback Strategy should be set to DOP
  
  
• MQA will depend on your DAC same as always
  
  
• If you want Hi-Res and your DAC is capable set that to 192 in Roon for this device under Device Setup > Advanced
  
  
• Under Device Setup > Advanced > FLAC Compression being toggled on will send FLAC as FLAC to the ET3, if you turn it off it will convert it to and send it as WAV instead (I leave it on)

Normal operation after setup is simple. There isn’t any order you need to follow other than the ET3 needs to be on before you start the iFi Bridge. Then you would just pick the output in Roon like anything else that’s already been enabled in Roon. Also, you can close out of the iFi Bridge App after you have clicked “Start Bridge”. It runs in the background as a service.


You don’t even have to always search for devices and can usually just start iFi Bridge. You don’t need to edit the config file every time either but if for some reason you do need to edit the config file, be sure to stop the iFi Bridge first or you’ll run into issues.


Troubleshooting and tips:

• This software is the type that “runs” but doesn’t actually install anything so you will need to keep the folder “iFi-Bridge” on your PC. I stuck it in my Program Files folder and then pinned “iFi Bridge.exe” to my Start menu for easy access. You could also create a shortcut to it and do things. It’s whatever floats your boat really but make sure the Bridge is not running when you go to change where you're storing the folder. It needs the contents to work.
  
  
• If your ET3 isn’t indicating Hi-Res playback while streaming a Hi-Res file then your config file isn’t set up correctly and it is capping a 44.1. You need to edit the config file again (iFi Bridge needs to not be running while you do this).
  
  
• To stop iFi Bridge CTRL + Shift + Esc (or other methods) to open Windows Task Manager. In the search box type in “squeeze”. You will want to select “squeeze2upnp” and then select End Task. You can then modify the config file and/or restart iFi Bridge as normal
  
  
• Currently, you will have to manually skip to the next track and Gapless does not work. If it does, let me know how you pulled it off, I can’t get it to skip to the next track automatically and I have to manually go to the next track from my Roon Remote or keyboards media controls.

I’ll try to answer questions and help if you run into trouble.

 

As to your edit it does run in the background as a service once you start the Bridge and without the service running your device won't show up as a Squeeze box. I think that iFi have the iFi Bridge source on GitHub but I don't think they have any version of it other than the Windows release at present.

 

I don't know if this helps but I did some digging and since this is basically just Squeeze UPnP you may be able to set it up and then just do the config file changes I've done. I saw that there are people who use Squeeze with Linux. Here's a link that may or may not be helpful.

 

I don't know if anybody here has looked into the older Shanling transports? I've heard them at a couple AV123 meets. Wild looking. Great products though.

 

Got my new ET3 yesterday. Firmware 1.6. I am using it just as a CD transport connected via toslink to my Chord Hugo TT2. It is connected to my wifi.
Great sound and nice looking!
Does anyone know if it is possible to show art and metadata of the CD that is playing?

 

This is a great suggestion for future updates, what do you think @Bina ?

 

Any other owners having skipping and playback issues with only mildly scratched/dirty CDs?

 

Uhh. How would that work ?

 

Well, my Oppo Sacd/BR player can do it. It works in the same way of ripping software works. Shanling needs to makes a deal with some metadata provider and write a little bit of software. It would be really nice!

 

CDs come with booklets that have art and other goodies. This is the metadata you seek.

 

It seems that others had the same issues with firmware v1.5.
Thanks to @sheldaze I downloaded v1.6 and it solved my problems!

https://en.shanling.com/article-CDUpdateDec23.html

 

I'm seldom around these parts but I got my ET-3 from MusicTeck yesterday so I figured I'd chime in on this thread.

In this past year I've kind of gone down a CD Transport rabbit hole and bought and then sold a Cambridge Audio CXC, an Audiolab 6000CDT and a Jay's Audio CDT2-MK3.

That's kind of what led me to the Shanling. I was saving up money for a new DAC at the time and starting buying and selling these transports. Nine months in and I was sitting with the Jay's CDT2-MK3 and thinking "why do I need a $2000 CD Transport?" So, I sold it.

I liked the Audiolab 6000 so I thought I'd just buy another one of those but figured the Shanling would be more interesting.

it's only been 24-hours, but I'm enjoying the sound and the way this Transport loads and works overall.

 

Hello creativepart,
I am very interested in purchasing the Shanling ET-3. How does the Shanling ET-3 compare soundwise to the Audiolab 6000 and the Jay's CD2-MK3 ?
Thanks in advance !

 

Did I accidently predict this? Neon Acrylic is back baby.

 

Dumb question: will the ET3 remote rapidly skip to a high numbered track with a single sustained button press? I listen to a lot of CDs with 20 or more tracks and don't want to make 19 button presses to queue up track 19. Thanks.

 

Good ? for the manufacture and their support email.

 

That would be no, the next song button when hold is moving forward in the current track.

On ET3 there is no way how to jump directly to track 19.

 

Bina, Thanks. I would buy one today if I could rapidly select a track without repeated button presses. Maybe you could include that function in a firmware update.