USB CD Transports

I haven't compared and don't own the Schiit URD. I just set up my new Shanling ET3 purchased from from MusicTeck and paired it with my Pro-Ject DAC Box RS2--and I must say I am really impressed with the ET3's build quality and ergonomics. Great little remote that matches the on-unit controls. Of course, it's a top loader, and the drive cover is glass and aluminum. Overall, the ET3 feels like a higher-priced unit. It's sitting here running now. There's really no drive noise to speak of, nor do I sense any vibration. I'll let it burn in for a few days before I do any serious listening and then try the I2S connection (waiting on a cable from The Cable Company). I have a 2006 ROTEL RCD-1072 CD player that I just took offline and I can tell you the ET3 sounds a bit less polite than the 1072 but so far, not too forward or bright. More to come...

I continue to be amazed when posters ask about a transport or a CDP and then gets told by the usual half dozen suspects that they should be playing ripped CDs.

Agree. There are good reasons one might want to rip CDs. I have a DAC dongle that I use with my phone, IEMs, and my music files stored on a 1 tb microSD, and I also enjoy playing FLAC files from my PC through a DAC to my headphones or loudspeakers. But there are compelling reasons to play CDs--one of which is that one might enjoy doing so. Many times I like to actually load a Redbook CD and play it. Same with vinyl on my turntable(s). There's something to be said for the rituals we establish for ourselves, and there is much mindfulness to be found in the cleaning of vinyl, the alignment of a cartridge, or even the green painting of the edge of a CD if that brings pleasure to the listening experience.

The Shanling ET3 is burning in nicely and it is pleasantly surprising, both in build quality and in the music it retrieves. This may turn out to be higher value for money than I thought when I made the purchase.

I love the thought of owning the CEC, Jay's Audio, Aurender or other higher-end transport or player. For now, I am enjoying my under-$800.00 Shanling. I think the music I am hearing feels somehow "lighter"; maybe more airy or quicker. Yet there's a full, tight bass and a very smooth midrange. Not tube-like, certainly, but no harsh or sharp edges to vocals or acoustic instruments. I hesitate to say the PRaT are better than the ROTEL because I have yet to pull out my reference CDs and give an extended critical listen. I know the ET3 is a compromise but hey...I bought it just to see if it would be a fun new toy to play with as a substitute for the still-unavailable Pro-Ject transport. And it is. So I have no doubt that the high end transports would do a better job of reproducing my music. I just can't afford to go any higher right now.

I never meant to hijack the thread or doubt the knowledge or judgment of others. I know that we all have our opinions and levels of comfort with the hobby. But I do think that we ignore the bespoke technologies at times when they still have something to offer.

I have the cable, but haven't tried it yet. We just moved into a new house and unpacking is taking priority. In a few days maybe.

@mitchagain:

Sadly, the ET3 is going back to MusicTeck. The firmware consistently locks up, and though the CD is recognized and data is sent to the DAC, neither the remote nor the buttons on the unit will work, so playing the CD is impossible. The I2S did transmit data to the DAC, so at least that worked...