Shanling Introduces CT90 MQA CD Player and Digital Transport

Shanling has officially expanded its desktop HiFi lineup with its latest launch, presenting the all-new Shanling CT90. It’s a high-end dedicated CD Transport designed for purist audiophiles. Shifting focus from the compact, portable-friendly designs of the past, the CT90 takes design inspiration from Shanling’s flagship SCD3.3 CD player. It’s not just a CD player; in fact, the CT90 offers a robust hub as a digital transport for all your high-fidelity requirements. Shanling has equipped it with a top-standard Philips Servo and Laser Head system, combined with a dedicated upsampling chipset for true-to-life sound response. Upgrade your arsenal today with the magical Shanling CT90 and bring those physical media days back!!

Shanling CT90 is officially priced at $999. It is available in Black and Silver color options. Check out more details here.

Unlike standard CD players, the CT90 is a "pure transport," omitting an internal DAC to focus entirely on precision signal extraction. It utilizes the industry-standard Philips SAA7826 Servo and DA11 Laser Head system with top-loading mechanism, featuring a precision-tuned CD puck and a sleek tiltable cover. Shanling has engineered the CT90 to minimize mechanical vibration and ensure stable, jitter-free CD playback. With MQA-CD playback support, CT90 enables studio-grade Master-Quality CD Playback. Simply pair it with an MQA-enabled DAC and enjoy master-grade sound quality at your setup.

The CT90 is designed as a comprehensive digital center hub that bridges traditional physical media with modern high-resolution playback. While it highlights disc playback, its true strength lies in its versatility: it features an FPGA-assisted I2S output with ten selectable pinouts for near-universal DAC compatibility, alongside a suite of dual AES/EBU, coaxial, and USB outputs. Modern listeners are well catered to via Bluetooth 5.0 (LDAC/aptX HD) and a USB-A port that transforms the unit into a 2TB local music server. To satisfy most audiophiles, the system ensures jitter-free performance through dual crystal oscillators and the flexibility to integrate external 10MHz or 44.1kHz master clocks as well.

One of the key features of the CT90 is its dedicated CT7302C upsampling chipset. This allows the users to upsample standard CD or PCM signals into high-resolution PCM(up to 768kHz) or DSD(up to DSD512) before reaching the external DAC. This maximum all-to-PCM/DSD function is available properly on the I2S output. The Shanling CT90 has an exquisite build quality with a CNC-machined aluminium alloy chassis featuring a 4.8” panoramic display screen. This display shows active playback settings and helps users navigate through different menus with ease. For remote operation, Shanling CT90 has complete integration with the Eddict Player application. Users can browse their USB drive library and manage CD playback directly from their smartphones. Shanling CT90 is crafted for enthusiasts who seek traditional physical CD playback with modern digital transport and upsampling features. It is available for $999; feel free to check out more information here.