New, Very Interesting CD Transport

Hi @creativepart

I just received Shanling ET3 transport. I used a Cary 303 mk1 as transport before. I changed the DAC from Chord Qutest to SMSL DO300EX, a very affordable Chinese DAC built on an AK4499 chip and sounds unbelievable good.
From the box Shanling ET3 doesn’t sound better than Cary. But my experience shows all digital stuff need a very long break-in. I tried two outputs: Coaxial and I2S. So far I2S makes congestion on orchestral tutti that Coaxial doesn’t. But my Coaxial cable, the NBS Signature2, is much more expensive than my HDMI I2S Audioquest Forest.
How long did your Shanling ET3 transport break-in take?

How long did your Shanling ET3 transport break-in take?

I don't feel qualified to respond to this. I don't pay much attention to break in times. I just listen to music. I can't say with any authority that it sounds better now than the day I got it.  And, when I got it I had a Chord Hugo TT2 and during the first month I switched to the Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE. So, I'm not sure where the sound changed and why. When I tried USB output I did not like it. I also tried Toslink and that was better. But when I went to I2S with a $5 hdmi cable I felt it sounded best.

I wish my auditory neurons were cardboard like Jason's.  Would have saved me a lot of money.  My system is highly resolving and can make grown men cry.  I have used multiple CD transports and though the differences are not always huge, none of the sounded the same.  Kinda like giving a pitmaster a rack of ri s and a backyard grill hack one.  When done, they should taste the same cause they were both racks of ribs.  

jaymark

I wish my auditory neurons were cardboard like Jason's. Would have saved me a lot of money.

Probably Jason and you hear very similarly on a physiological level, but he enjoys not hearing a difference. That may be due solely to confirmation bias, something of which he's aware but misunderstands.  Meanwhile, he enjoys trying to shame those who do detect differences. It's what he does.

@cleeds

+1

On point as usual.

Charles