Shanling ET-3 CD Transport Review - Golden Schlong Worthy

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

  1. batriq

    batriq Probably has made you smarter

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,086
    Trophy Points:
    93
    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.

    IMG_4272.jpeg
     
    • Like Like x 24
    • Epic Epic x 1
    • List
  2. Aklegal

    Aklegal Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2016
    Likes Received:
    713
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Atlanta, GA
    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.
     
  3. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2016
    Likes Received:
    6,277
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Suburban DC
    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?
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    92,206
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Could be the CDs are different masters? We just don't know if the streaming services do any further processing of the files, even if they are sourced from the same release.

    Another possibility is that the Red and ET-3 have diametrically different presentations.
     
  5. Metro

    Metro Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,638
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    San Francisco
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    92,206
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    That being said, the ET-3 as a CD transport that does have its own distinctive sound (denser, dampened, controlled, liquid) similar to the some of the behemoth chassis Shanling, Theta Data III, and various sturdy top-loaders of the ancient past.

    My modded Marantz had a different sound, more alike to the Sony ES and a little Denon (when they were good) CDPs.
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2023
  7. Bina

    Bina MOT - Shanling

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    587
    Trophy Points:
    93
    There is the upsampling function with dedicated circuit, which you can bypass. Otherwise no DSP.
     
  8. Josh Schor

    Josh Schor Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2020
    Likes Received:
    1,104
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Ann Arbor Mi
    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
     
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    92,206
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    upload_2023-9-13_12-5-8.png

    The instructions don't seem to be complete.

    After the "Confirm", the ET-3 checks the file on the USB (prompt on the screen), and then the ET-3 shuts down. This is where a customer can be confused (I could have thought the entire process was completed here).

    After the ET-3 shuts down, it's important to press the large knob button for the ET-3 to power back up (while still having the USB stick in place?). The update actually occurs when the ET-3 powers up. The screen will when indicate that the updating is being done. Only after the screen says "update complete" has the update been applied.
     
  10. Bina

    Bina MOT - Shanling

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    587
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Will check on it, normally it should restart by itself during this procedure. If our software team didn't mess up anything.
     
  11. Bina

    Bina MOT - Shanling

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    587
    Trophy Points:
    93
  12. SnowPuppy

    SnowPuppy Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2017
    Likes Received:
    235
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Omaha, NE
  13. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2016
    Likes Received:
    11,603
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NOVA
    Home Page:
    Has anyone been able to compare ET-3 directly with an Audiolab 6000CDT?
     
  14. Bina

    Bina MOT - Shanling

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    587
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Is it working now? I haven't got any other reports about issues with our website right now.
     
  15. SnowPuppy

    SnowPuppy Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2017
    Likes Received:
    235
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Omaha, NE
    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.
     
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    92,206
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Slot loader, like WTF? No serious inputs (no BNC, no AES). $599 at Crutchfield retailer which translates into $299. Marv's Magic Eight Ball says: "Smells bad".
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Respectfully Disagree Respectfully Disagree x 1
    • List
  17. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2016
    Likes Received:
    6,277
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Suburban DC
    If you want to compare directly you are welcome to borrow my ET-3.
     
    • Epic Epic x 4
    • Like Like x 1
    • List
  18. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2016
    Likes Received:
    11,603
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NOVA
    Home Page:
    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!!
     
  19. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    92,206
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    All I needed to know. Most CDPs sound like ass, but this Audiolab sounds like they designed a legit CDT. This could be a hidden gem. Ordered a used one. Just need to dig into old boxes to find my CDRs and burn some test signals. Kinda of curious how the measured jitter will play out for the various CDTs and see if they relate at all to subjective impressions.
     
    • Like Like x 4
    • Epic Epic x 2
    • List
  20. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,518
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    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.
     

Share This Page