New, Very Interesting CD Transport

So has anyone actually tried this new Shanling ET3 CD Transport? If so, please give us a report on your impressions, and which other transport(s) you were comparing it to, as well as information on the other important parts of your system involved in the audio chain during the test.

I remember the CEC transport with the unique belt drive system. It was really expensive at the time. I seem to vaguely remember the price being somewhere around $10,000? As I recall it was positively reviewed by the audio critics.

Back to reality for my audio budget. lol

I use the transport section of an Onkyo C-7030 CD player with a few different dacs; all with good results. I paid $173 for it in 2017, and that included a separate 3 year extended warranty. Could the Shanling be that much better for $729? Maybe, maybe not.

It is kinda neat though. 😊

*facepalm*

I well remember back about thirty years ago when the golden-ear crowd was gaga over the CEC belt-drive transport! Anybody ever see one of those lately? Didn’t think so! How about the Theta transport praised by TAS that was actually a $200 DVD player hidden intact inside a metal shell? TAS said it was the best sounding transport ever and a new standard for digital playback!

@magnuman : I've been at this stuff a lot longer than you! Heck, if I thought spending four-figures on a transport would give me better sound I'd for sure do it! The digital world is totally unlike Analog - where structural integrity, mechanical precision and vibration control rule! 

Why waste money? I just ordered from eBay a Samsung DVD-HD841 to use as a transport. $16 including shipping and tax! All CD/DVD players have to conform to protocol and output the same digital bits! That's the difference between a digital device (transport) and an analog device (turntable). Turntables are inherently sonically colored while digital transports are not! This is the reality that the "golden ears" crowd prefers to wish away!

What a load of twaddle.

@mofojo, described in their own words.

Built around the class-leading CD-Pro 8 mechanism from the optical division of StreamUnlimited, and developed in collaboration with Pro-Ject Audio Systems, the CD Box RS 2 T’s drive alone features a high-quality aluminium chassis, carbon fibre cover and a carbon fibre turntable. The mechanism is then equipped with a SANYO HD850 OPU and internally coupled to a CD-84 servo board for maximum information retrieval and transmission. Vibration dampers are mounted on the very rigid carbon fibre chassis, and then the whole surrounding chassis is firmly connected to the body of the CD Box RS2 T for absolute rigidity and minimal vibrations. For reduced resonance, the CD Box RS2 T features a gravity design with a central mass point.

The drive chassis is milled from a solid block of aluminium and engineered to hold firm in any environment. Each turntable is also lathed from steel and chrome plated. This is critical for transportation and ensures it will last a lifetime. The suspension system consists of a rigid carbon fibre plate, carbon fibre tubes, springs, silicon dampers and screws. The suspension, cover and turntable platter is made of pure carbon fibre. Everything that’s gone into engineering this drive has been done to achieve absolute technical and mechanical perfection.

@mofojo

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

As an owner (Purchased new in November 2021) of the Pro-Ject RS2T I can report that it isn’t “plasticky “ . The chassis and the CD drive unit is made of aluminum. The top lid is carbon fiber and portions of the isolated vibration control mechanism is stainless steel/carbon fiber. Much attention is paid to addressing vibration and resonance with regard to the spinning CD.

It utilizes the latest CD drive technology made by Stream Unlimited, CD Pro-8 and is integrated with their Blue Tiger servo system. It retails for 3200.00 USD. Too expensive? Good value? That’s up to the potential customer to decide. I can state my assessment (Subjective obviously). Its sound quality is astonishingly good!!! A tremendous value for the sonic performance it is capable of providing. YMMV.

Charles

JasonBourne71,

I guess your system isn't very good if you're spending $16 on a transport lol maybe one day you'll be able to play in the big leagues. lol

JasonBourne71,

As usual your clueless, all digital transports don't sound the same sorry, compare your transport to an esoteric transport that uses the best CD mechanism in the world the VRDS clamping transport, there's nothing better on the market anywhere, esoteric makes the best transports period!!! there's not a better transport out there.

So?

The Shanling can only play CDs. The HD841 can play SACDs and DVD Audio (PCM) discs. Sure, the Shanling can read Hi-Rez files via USB but those would most likely already be on a computer.

When I was younger people used to say Japanese items were junk! Boy how times have changed! MANY Audiophile and other non-audio related products are made in China and are very high quality! It's all dependent on the quality control that is being used! It's obvious we have an older crowd who frequents these forums. It's amazing some people just automatically assume a product is better just because it's made in the US. People sound silly when they say this!

@secretguy : If someone wants to blow a wad of cash and drool over a CNC-machined-out-of-billet aluminum transport go right ahead!

I already have on hand a Denon, a JVC and two Sony's (DVD and Blue Ray) players for use as transports. After an Agon member recommended the HD841 I went looking for one on eBay. I expect it will do fine!

@jasonbourne71 Uh oh...you'll be in trouble. LOL

Why waste money? I just ordered from eBay a Samsung DVD-HD841 to use as a transport. $16 including shipping and tax! All CD/DVD players have to conform to protocol and output the same digital bits! That's the difference between a digital device (transport) and an analog device (turntable). Turntables are inherently sonically colored while digital transports are not! This is the reality that the "golden ears" crowd prefers to wish away!

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

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

@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 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 : the Project transport is four thousand American dollars?

Ahh sorry 1 extra 0 there. 

Well the $4,0000 Pro-ject transport weighs about 4 lbs and is all plasticky as well. If something is equivalent for 800 bucks maybe worth looking at. With I2s drive. I’m semi interested. Not saying it’s any good at all I have no clue. 

It certainly looks bare-bones cheap and plasticky.

$729 for a China transport. Is that cheap or expensive? I honestly don’t know