Enthrall and unequipping items

[DonutHole]

I have a question about the timing window on equipping items as it relates to the bard's enthrall ability. In short, when can a player choose to unequip items after the bard has discarded and announced the intent to enthrall another player?

In our group, one player attempted (me) to enthrall another player. After the die roll was completed the now enthralled player argued that they should be free to unequip items (like weapons and armor) as they were not in combat yet (the enthralled player wanted to make sure I didn't win the encounter and receive the levels and treasure). I argued that they most certainly were in combat once the enthrall ability was resolved. But this raised a future issue of when precisely a player can change their equipped items. Obviously, if the enthrall special action hasn't begun, other players are free to change their loadout, but at what point in the enthrall process could they? Could they do it the second the action is announced? Could they do it after discard, but before the die roll? Or is it like kneepads of allure, where you should just unequip your items at the end of your turn if you want to avoid being compelled?