New, Very Interesting CD Transport


On John Darko's website today we learn of the brand new Shanling ET3 CD Transport. And for $729 USD it looks really capable. Top loading with Philips SAA7824 drive. AES/EBU, coaxial, TOSLINK and I2S digital outputs. Plus Wifi and Bluetooth. USB to connect to a external HD and built in upsampling, too. It even will output digital to USB for connection to a DAC but not with upsampling.

Here's the skinny:

https://darko.audio/2023/06/shanlings-et3-cd-transport-comes-with-two-twists/

128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xcreativepart

I was thinking that. I just looked it up and it’s 3200 usd. I was drooling over it a year or so ago and had 4K stuck in my head for some reason. 
 

Again not saying the Shanling is anywhere near the sound quality. Maybe it is and maybe not. I will say I have a Chinese Musician Aquarius dac and its heads and tails better than any other dac I’ve owned although I’ve never had an Uber expensive one. Just saying I believe for the most part you get more sound quality per buck with some of the Chinese stuff. At least the more trustable brands of them. 

@mofojo : what’s a cheaper China transport that costs much less and sounds the same as the Shanligr-Jana transport? It must be one

I saw this CDT this morning and noticed it uses only digital outs with USB being one of them. I don't think any other CDT or CDP has that feature. As for looking "plasticky" it has an CNC machined all metal body. Must be the front with the display that gives that appearance. Here's the main site with all the details.

All the best,
Nonoise

A cd transport has no dac, so only digital outputs needed. My transport only has usb and optical.