Shanling has unveiled the ET3 digital CD transport. Unlike the previous EC3, the analog signal is not used in the new product, the form factor of the metal case that came out of the CNC machine remained the same – only 25.5 x 18.8 cm. The manufacturer suggests using the ET3 as a “high-quality digital transport for high-quality DACs “. Although in reality Shanling ET3 is something more.
In addition to a CD drive (it’s a venerable Philips SAA7824 with a Sanyo HD850 laser) that reads CD-R CD-RWs, there’s a CT7302CL upsampling chip on board that handles All-to-DSD or All-to-PCM options. At the same time, in addition to optical, coaxial, AES EBU digital outputs, Shanling ET3 has USB and I2S, capable of outputting a signal with resolution up to PCM 768 kHz / 32 bit and DSD 512.
At the same time, ET3 can read Hi-Res files from connected USB drives or using a local wireless network and DLNA streaming. Moreover, with a memory device connected via USB, ET3 can play the role of a NAS server – for this it has a Wi-Fi 2. 4G / 5G module with DLNA / Airplay support. Not forgotten and Bluetooth 5.0 with support for LDAC, AAC and SBC.
The ET3 works on the basis of the Ingenic X2000 platform, for control, in addition to the complete remote control, you can use a mobile application. The list of supported audio formats is extensive, but MQA CD support is a bonus feature. All this, according to the manufacturer, will be available in June.
In the US, the MSRP for the Shanling ET3 digital CD transport is $730.
Shanling ET3 features:
- Same compact design as EC3 (just 25.5 x 18.8 cm)
- CNC Machined Metal body
- Developed as a pure digital transport
- CT7302CL Upsampling chip
- All-to-DSD or All-to-PCM Upsampling function
- I2S / Optical / Coaxial / AES EBU / USB Digital Outputs
- Philips SAA7824 CD Drive
- Sanyo HD850 Laser
- Playback from USB Drive
- 2.4G/5G Wi-Fi with DLNA/Airplay support
- Bluetooth 5.0 input with LDAC, AAC and SBC support
- MQA CD Support
- Can act as NAS server with USB drives
- Based on Ingenic X2000 Platform
- Companion app
- Remote Control included
Specifications:
- Power consumption: 15W
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 188 x 255 x 68mm
- Weight: approx. 2.5kg
- CD Drive: Philips SAA7824
- Disc compatibility: CD; CD-R; CD-RW
- USB output: up to PCM 768kHz / 32bit, DSD 512
- I²S output: up to PCM 768kHz / 32bit, DSD 512
- Coaxial / optical / AES output: up to PCM 192 kHz / 32bit, DSD 64
- System: Ingenic X2000 platform, developed in-house
- Screen: IPS 320 x290
- Controls: Multifunctional wheel & Hardware Buttons
- USB Drive audio format support:
- DSD (“.iso”, “.dsf”, “.dff”) *dst not supported
- ISO / DXD / APE / FLAC / WAV / AIFF / AlF / DTS / MP3 / WMA / AAC / OGG / ALAC / MP2 / M4A / AC3 / M3U / M3U8 / OPUS
- MQA Support: MQA Full Decoder (PCM176.4 kHz output to all DACs) // MQA Core (PCM 88.2 kHz output to MQA capable DACs)