Shanling ET3 or Project CD RS2-T CD transport comparison

@qbitstate -I will echo/agree @robshaw . The Pro-Ject is an awesome transport, IF you don't have problems with it. Rob went one step further than I did, by getting a third one. After my second RS2 had playback issues, I sent it back and went in another direction. I still miss the sound quality.

If you decide you want one, do what Rob did and get it from The Music Room. Their service/support is the best.

FYI I started a thread Shanling ET3 vs SMSL PL200T

Thank you everyone for your input. What i have decided to do is purchase the ET3 as its a relatively small investment (My AES cable linking this to my DAC costs more! ...)

I might have the oppourtunity to home demo the Pro-Ject RST 2 soon if the distributor will play ball. This will allow me to answer my own question regarding the sound quality between the two and in my own system as well which is the ultimate i guess. 

I have the ET3 running in - in my system since Thursday. As has been reported elsewhere it doesn’t sound good out of the box (then what does really...)

I found like most components / cables i try at home from new they need at least 48 hours (usually up to a week) to run in and sound decent. This was Definitely the case with the ET3. (i used to think this was rubbish and was a cable sceptic as well but these things matter! and really make a considerable difference. But i had to hear it myself and i have many times...)

I’ve been running it on loop for almost 3 days with sporadic listening sessions and its improving greatly as each day goes by. 

What do i think of it? Fantastic value for money!  It really does sound amazing, caveat being i’ve only listened to redbook CD as that is what i purchased it for.

It’s very detailed, has a wide soundstage and good layer separation. It doesn’t

sound like any CD source i’ve heard. The music flows more like my Turntable- vinyl front end but in my case i’d say its more detailed than that.

Its going to be VERY interesting to see what the RST 2 brings to the table at nearly 4 times the cost will it be 4 times as good :)

I will report back here once i have had a chance to listen to the Pro-ject.

I bought the ET3 as a stop gap when my C.E.C. went to the US distributor for a check up (nothing major). I thought the ET3 sounded a tad too bass heavy in my system out of the box, but my system is voiced for vinyl in a pretty serious way.

I use the ET3 as a media player from an SSD, running it through a DDC to a relatively cheap DAC (Gustard X26Pro) via I2s. It sounds great, but much depends on the source. Even redbook standard can sound good. As to its merits as a CD spinner I found it ok, prefer the deftness of the C.E.C. but big price difference, even for the entry level C.E.C.

I'd say take this in the context of one specific system, one listener. Thing is well made at its price point, no drawer which adds to the mechanical complications. And it's pretty cheap- though I don't know if Shanling plans on keeping it alive, they seem to focus on new products and the ET3 is no longer "new."