Shanling ET3 Digital Transport - Silver

Five Ways Out of a Small Box

Most CD transports give you coaxial and optical and stop there. The ET3 adds AES/EBU on XLR, I2S over HDMI, and a USB output, which is rare on anything at this size or price.

That USB output matters more than it sounds. Most converters sold today are USB DACs, and this is a disc transport that will plug straight into one without an adapter or a conversion box in between.

Shanling recommends I2S for the best result, though that needs a DAC with an HDMI I2S input. All of it fits in a case 188mm wide, 255mm deep, 68mm tall, weighing 2.5kg.

A Lid, a Spindle, and No Tray Motor

The ET3 loads from the top. Lift the acrylic and aluminum lid, drop the disc onto the spindle, and close it. Tray and slot mechanisms are the part of a CD player that fails first, and there is not one here.

The drive is a Philips SAA7824 with a Sanyo HD850 laser. It reads CD, CD-R and CD-RW, and MQA-CD as well. A front knob powers it on and turns to move through the round display.

There is more than a disc drive in here. A rear USB port takes a storage device, and Wi-Fi handles DLNA and AirPlay. The ET3 can even serve as network-attached storage for the rest of the house.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Doug Schneider of SoundStage! Hi-Fi called the ET3 "one of the best, most feature-rich, and most practical options I have encountered," adding that "It is stylish, well-built, and reliable."

He noted that the extra outputs "are rare at this price point," and concluded that it "bridges the gap between these playback methods, making it a worthwhile investment for CD enthusiasts."

Who Is This CD Transport Best For?

• Your converter is a USB DAC — a USB digital output means the ET3 connects to it directly, which almost no other disc transport at this price will do.
• You want every option kept open — coaxial, optical, AES/EBU and I2S are all fitted too, so the ET3 still fits whatever converter replaces your current one.
• You want a mechanism that lasts — a top-loading lid removes the tray motor entirely, which is the part that usually decides how long a disc player lives.
• You have files as well as discs — a rear USB port plays DSD to DSD256 and PCM to 32-bit and 384kHz, with MQA decoding and gapless playback included.
• Space is tight — 188 by 255 by 68mm sits on a desk or a shelf. Browse our digital-to-analog converters for the other half.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Pick the output your converter accepts. I2S over HDMI and USB both carry the most, up to 768kHz PCM and DSD512, while coaxial, optical and AES/EBU run to 192kHz.

Your DAC then feeds the amplifier as before. Wi-Fi and the rear USB port add file playback, and the Eddict Player app on a phone controls the lot.

Pairs Well With

Building around the ET3? Here are some great companions:

• DAC: Including any USB converter you already own — see our Digital to Analog Converters.
• Integrated Amplifier: The next box in the chain — see our Integrated Amplifiers.
• Digital Cables: Coaxial, AES/EBU or USB — see our Interconnect Cables.
• Bookshelf Speakers: Finish a desktop system — see our Bookshelf Speakers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What outputs does it have?

Coaxial S/PDIF, optical TosLink, AES/EBU on XLR, I2S over HDMI, and USB, which covers just about every converter made.

Do I need a separate DAC?

Yes. The ET3 is a transport, so the converter you choose does the sound. Its USB output means most modern DACs connect without an adapter.

Which discs will it read?

CD, CD-R, CD-RW and MQA-CD, through a top-loading Philips SAA7824 drive with a Sanyo HD850 laser.

Can it play files?

Yes, from a USB storage device: DSD to DSD256 including ISO, DSF and DFF, and PCM to 32-bit and 384kHz, with gapless playback.

What is the upsampler for?

It converts CDs and files up to 768kHz PCM or DSD512 over I2S, and you can switch it off entirely to keep the disc's native rate.

What is the warranty?

Call us at 800-942-0220 and we will confirm the current Shanling warranty terms for this model before you order.

See It in Action

Passion for Sound reviews the ET3 with its matching converter:

And Audio Shrink weighs it against the larger CT90:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about CD transports, USB and I2S connections, or choosing a converter? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.