Shanling ET-3 CD Transport Review - Golden Schlong Worthy

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

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I am going to have a take a stream of consciousness approach because the ET-3 does so much! Shanling, for those who do not know, used to make really good sounding CD Players back in the day. Here's a CD300 back the first meet that @CEE TEE organized along with Rockcod's B22.
    [​IMG]
    Meet photo from 2010. San Francisco.

    Shanling was also responsible other CDPs like this (this unit exhibited more diverging views on its looks)
    shanling2.jpg

    Their DACs used various chips from BB. They had a consistent house sound which was a more toward classic R2R than modern R2R. Bottom line is that Shanling made good sounding DACs and has the chops. I asked @Bina while back when Shanling was going to get back into the high-end act. I know this is a tough sell because high-end is dead. High-end has become ridiculously expensive. The people who can afford high-end have one foot in the grave - that is look like our current politicians in the USA who either keep falling down the stairs or have a literal brain-fart in the middle of a speech. Also, 88% of high-end audiophiles are kind of cringe (the crowd here on SBAF is good though). @Bina did say something to the effect of maybe in the future.

    IMG_1293.jpg
    Shanling ET-3 sitting on up of an Emotiva ERC-4
    FWIW, the ERC-4 is totally outclassed as a CDT by the ET-3, it's not even worth talking about


    Well, I guess the ET-3 is it. And at $729, it's priced right! This is something that normal people can afford without eventually becoming 65 year old goofball incels disowned by their wife and kids. When I first saw the ET-3 at a distance, my magic eight ball foretold: IT WILL BE GOOD. First of all, I like the sound of top loaders. I noted that the ET-3 followed the top-loader philosophy of the ancient Shanling CDTs. A Rega Planet CDP which was also a top loader (with mechanism mods) sounded great, that is until my youngest shoved a carrot into it. Second, Shanling tended either dampen or massload their transports by design (something I've done extra as mods to with mediocre cheap CDTs). Although I wasn't sure back then, I expected Shanling to carry forth this approach. Turns out to be true. The ET-3 is a decent weight for its quarter form factor size. The chassis of the ET-3 is well dampened with a thud and doesn't ring. The ET-3 represents the best of what Chi-Fi has to offer. Quality at relative good value. And no, Chi-Fi isn't a bad word. If anything I think it's companies like Topping/SMSL and forums like ASR that have promoted the temple of SINAD which have ruined Chi-Fi's reputation in the past five years.

    Since the ET-3 is an obvious CD Transport, it does almost everything under the sun including Bluetooth, WiFi, Apple Airplay, and maybe even butt cleaner like the Japanese toilets, I had to start somewhere: how does the ET-3 sound as a CD transport?

    Anyway, feel free to interject and ask random questions including comparisons to other gear I happen to have on hand and other use cases.
     
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    Last edited: Aug 13, 2023
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    So a couple of things immediately stood out about the ET-3:
    • It's SUPER QUIET. I thought it was broken until I lifted the cover and saw the CD spinning. Those used to 80s and 90s CDP expect to hear a "psss" sound while the disc is spinning. I heard jack-shit.
    • User interface is easy. Biggest button on the top is the play/stop button. FF and RW buttons work as expected with reasonable fast track change times. (It's still slow compared to computer interfaces which are almost instant today). In fact, if I hit FF or RW several times in succession, the ET-3 will remember how many X times I hit the button and go X tracks forward or X times back. It's amazing how little things like this make a difference. Neato! In case one forgets what buttons do what, the iconography well laid out and visible.
    • The top cover is completely removable by design. It's of fairly decent weight being made from glass. There's a metal bearing mechanism with a magnet in the center to ensure a good clamp on the CD.
    • The chassis is a decent weight for its size. But it's not just that. The chassis when tapped on doesn't ring. It's damped. Knock, knock, thud. I know it sounds ridiculous, but these things make a difference and explains why I've preferred the sound of heavier CDTs like the Theta Data III or modded (dampening and massloading) lightweight CD players.
    IMG_1294.jpg
    Glass top cover turned over. At the center is a metal bearing with a magnet that snap clamps the CD into place

    IMG_1295.jpg
    It doesn't get easier than this. The play / pause button is centered and larger than the others. If I forget what does what, the iconography is easy to see. Implementing a good UI isn't that hard!
     
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  3. Gazny

    Gazny MOT: ETA Audio

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    The old cd player sound is something I wish I could remove from my mind, its similar to dentistry work.

    Does it do CD > USB transport? or is it limited to usb for its other source modes?
    Also is this a wifi streamer too? I read airplay but does it do the DLNA/UPNP thing?
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    So how does it sound as a CD Transport?

    Disclaimer / Warning to People of the "Audio Science" Religion: I believe that CD Transports (or any digital source) have a sound that carries over regardless of DAC. Aspects of the sound can synergize, making something good better, making up for something that is lacking, of maybe not even make a difference if the DAC sucks too much. The tl;dr version is this: cease reading immediately if you are of the of "Audio Science" Religion.

    Well, put it this way. My favorite CDT of all time was the Theta Data III. The darn thing weighed about 50lbs, was made in the 90s, and over time stopped working consistently. I eventually built a Pi2AES (and now have Mercury), which all sounded almost as good as the Data III, but good enough, especially when streaming is taken into consideration. Still, I have a ton of CDs, and CD media seems to be coming back (like vinyl). I also have to admit that I miss the sound of CDs from specific types of transports. My daughter asked if she could have a CD Player. I bought the ET-3 for her. However, after hearing it, she's getting the ERC-4 instead.

    Perhaps unsurprisingly, the ET-3 sounds a lot like of the Data III, at least from the AES outputs. I would describe the sound as stately, tight, articulate, just slightly over-damped (as opposed to zippy), black, spacious without being overly diffuse, and very liquid. This last part is very important to me with respect to transports (since I listen to plenty of vinyl). @zerodeefex inquired about the ET-3 has a good replacement for his Data III which surprisingly works to this day, but it's only a matter of time.

    It is as good as the Data III? Although I don't have one on hand, I'd dare to say yes all things being equal. Readers already know how good my audio memory is.
     
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    Last edited: Aug 13, 2023
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Here's your answer:

    IMG_1296.jpg
    DNLA, NAS, AirPlay options. Pretty sure there's a clean butthole a la Japanese toilet feature too.

    With respect to AirPlay, is was super easy to set up after I read the manual and realized that I needed to install the Shanling Eddict App to configure the network. Basically the App lets us put the phone into a it's own temporary WiFi. The big button on the Shanling ET-3 under WiFi setup then syncs the the devices and extracts the home WiFI info into the ET-4. I had to run the process twice, but it picked up immediately the second time. AirPlay then becomes a cinch. Here I'm using Tidal.

    airp.gif
    iPhone AirPlay via Tidal into the ET-3


    Yes, it supports USB output mode as a transport very similar to the Urd. I have a slight preference toward the AES outputs.

    (A) ET-3 --AES-->Schiit Proto MIL version B (see below) --SE Out--> Piety --> JAR600 / RS2X (F-pads)
    (B) ET-3 --USB-->Schiit Proto MIL version B (see below) --SE Out--> Piety --> JAR600 / RS2X (F-pads)

    The USB output (B) has more "plankton", the AES output (A) is more liquid sounding. I can easily see more people preferring the USB output (B). In fact, option (B) sounds a lot of like this: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...eak-out-pci-usb-card-with-unison.11822/page-3

    It's a proto described here for purposes of real science: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...ue-science-and-exploration.13584/#post-411624
     
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    Last edited: Aug 13, 2023
  6. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    Yo connectivity fiends, here is the user manual with all the exhausting details.
     
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  7. Bina

    Bina MOT - Shanling

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    Glad to see ET3 is to your liking :)

    USB output works for all modes of input. Only limitation is that it can't do upsampling, as that is done on separate circuit only for the other 4 digital outputs.

    I use it with the basic UPNP/DLNA apps on Android and it's working nicely.

    Let me know if there is anything I should add to the manual, they are something I do extra on the side.
     
  8. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Oh man. As someone with a lynx PCIe card and a working data III (replaced the laser with one from an old pioneer elite unit that was never used), this is of great interest to me.
     
  9. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    How does the streaming sound compare to our PI2AES and Mercury?

    Michael - Pi 2 Design owner, designer and chief bottle washer
     
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  10. JK47

    JK47 Friend

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    Should also be nominated for the "Aurthur Fonzarelli limited edition leather jacket award", for cool form factor.
     
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  11. BlizzardiCleric

    BlizzardiCleric New

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    Is it possible to browse folders and play files from a USB drive simply from the device interface? Without the need to do it through the app? The manual sort of implied that it's not, but I'm an optimist.

    I try to avoid using phones or ipads when I'm listening to music. Getting up from the couch every now and then is good exercise, too.
     
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I can't answer as a direct question from you because you are an MoT. However I can indirectly answer this given this thread where I have three transports (and of course the Mercury and pi2AES at different spots in the house)

    YMMV. According to my own preferences. Note ties.

    (1) Theta Data III -> ATT ST Optical
    (2t) Theta Data III -> AES
    (2t) ET3 CD -> AES*
    (3t) ET3 CD -> USB**
    (3t) Pi2 Mercury Wifi (Tidal) -> AES
    (4t) Pi2 AES Wifi (Tidal) -> AES
    (4t) Urd CD -> AES
    (5) Urd CD -> USB (yes, I prefer the AES from Urd)***
    (6) ET3 Wifi AirPlay (Tidal) -> AES - digitally, AES takes the digital off
    (7) ET3 Wifi AirPlay (Tidal) -> USB
    (8) ERC-4 CD -> AES

    * The ET3 is a little less tonally dark as the Theta Data III
    ** ET3 USB has a more hifi sound which I suspect many others would prefer. I prefer the liquidity and mellowness of the AES output despite slightly less plankton
    *** I did not like the sound of Unison source and Unison receiver. It's like doubled up Unison. Too tubby, tubey, and soft.

     
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    Last edited: Aug 15, 2023
  13. SnowPuppy

    SnowPuppy Facebook Friend

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    I am currently in the market for a new CD transport for my second system. In my second system I have a Pro-ject The Classic TT, Cayin CD MK2 as transport, Rogue Cronus III amp, and pair of Spatial M3 Sapphires. Just ordered a Schiit Yggdrasil LIM DAC to go with it replacing its Bifrost 2/64 which will go back to my headphone system. With a new transport the Cayin CD MK2 would go back to my headphone system.

    I have a Cambridge CXC in my first system which has performed very well but have not compared it to anything. Was thinking about getting an Urd and putting it in either the first or second system with the other one getting the existing CXC. Now this Shanling ET-3 has me wondering if I should seriously consider it instead. I like that it does DLNA streaming. I assume it could be used with Roon. My second system has a Bluesound Note 2i which to me is only mediocre as a streamer transport. However CD sound quality is main priority.

    By the way my first system has iFi Zen Stream, Cambridge CXC, Project X8 TT, Schiit Mani 2, Schiit Yggdrasil OG A2 (USB 5), Schiit Freya S, Schiit Tyr's, and Mangepan 1.7is with SVS SB-3000 sub.

    It is fun having two systems though it complicates upgrades. The transport discussions here are very helpful.
     
  14. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    Any chance of a giving it a spin with network/local file playback (via DNLA or USB stick)?
     
  15. murray

    murray Friend

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    This thread sparked my interest, so I looked it up and saw that there is a related EC3 CD player, in the same form factor. How much is common (or different) between the ET3 and EC3?
    (Obviously apart from DAC/no DAC).
     
  16. Bina

    Bina MOT - Shanling

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    At this time you have to use our app to browse through the files. You can use playback controls on the player or remote to jump through the songs, but that would go simply folder by folder (I use it sometimes, but I have bunch of MicroSD cards especially for this purpose).

    But I hope we can add some folder browser directly onto the ET3 and I asked software team for it before. Screen is big enough for it and we have experience with the same system on our portable players. And updating firmware on it is very easy for the customer.

    EC3 is built with the same chassis, the same system and the same laser.

    But their focus is very different, with EC3 being more of all-in-one machine for a wider market, while ET3 is a much more specialized niche.

    ET3 has better CD Drive, adds the USB output, its digital output circuit is much better than the simple Optical out on EC3, have the dedicated upsampling and also got the Wi-Fi.

    In my experience, EC3 is a good device for an older customer, who is slowly switching from his CD collection to basic streaming over Bluetooth and having some files on USB drive. There he gets one simple device to connect to his headphones, Hi-Fi receivers, etc.
     
  17. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    When it says you can use the ET3 as a "NAS server" for an attached USB disk what does that mean exactly? Does it appear as an SMB network share you can copy files to? Or is it rather a UPNP/DLNA media server?
     
  18. Bina

    Bina MOT - Shanling

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    This function is for the DLNA media server.

    But you actually can transfer files to USB drive connected to ET3 over Wi-Fi. We have a simple Wi-Fi File transfer system in there, it shows IP address you can open on any browser and you could copy files in this way.
     
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  19. rfernand

    rfernand Almost "Made"

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    Not surprised! It is definitely a “house sound”. It’s tubey for sure. Soft, not sure what you mean — but it’s pretty clear there is some bloom around some attacks that wasn’t there.

    If you like nylon guitar, you may find Unison<->Unison pretty realistic as I did. But I think YMMV with, say, vibraphones. They sound super mellow. I will say that pianos in RVG recordings sound “improved” to me… Let the shaming begin, I guess. Different strokes…

    Urd AES vs. Pi AES, I concur. Tied.
     
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  20. leafy

    leafy Facebook Friend

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    Hi Bina, it's great to see your replies about the product. I am wondering if there is any future plan to make it a Roon endpoint?
     
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