The luxury of listening to a CD

The CT90 represents one of the most mature and fascinating expressions of Shanling's design philosophy, a brand that has been naturally navigating between hi-fi tradition and technological innovation for years. This CD mechanism is designed to bring back the physical and sensory pleasure of the optical support to the center of the listening experience, reinterpreting it in a modern way, without forced nostalgia, but with a contemporary vision of sound and integration into modern audio systems.

The CT90 has a strong identity, with a solid and imposing design, built around a massive chassis that conveys robustness and precision. The top panel is dominated by a drawer compartment, at the center of which is a large circular porthole that reveals the rotating disc: a direct nod to the aesthetics of the great top-loading players of the past, reinterpreted through clean lines, modern materials, and the attention to detail typical of high-end products. Elegant and technical at the same time, capable of fitting naturally into both classic systems and contemporary audio chains.

From a design perspective, the CT90 is not just a CD player: it is conceived as a transport, based on the Sanyo DA11 mechanism and the SAA7826 decoder. Renowned for its robustness, the DA11 was developed with great attention to stability and vibration control, fundamental elements to reduce reading micro-errors and preserve the integrity of the digital signal.

And speaking of vibrations, the CT90 uses bamboo dampers, placed both on the magnetic stabilizer above the disc and in internal critical points, which according to the manufacturer significantly improve audio performance. CT90 is an extremely advanced device, supporting high-resolution streams up to PCM 32 bit/768 kHz, DSD512, and MQA-CD with upsampling, positioning itself not only as a CD transport but as a true high-performance digital hub.

Thanks to the dedicated upsampling chip CT7302, the signal can be adapted to almost all PCM or DSD DACs on the market, allowing great flexibility of use within complex audio systems. Upsampling is available via I2S up to PCM 32/768 and DSD512, and also via AES/EBU or SPDIF coaxial up to PCM 24/192 and DSD DoP64, while the USB output is designed as a direct connection to USB DACs without intermediate processing.

The support for the MQA format is particularly complete and articulated, with various operating modes that allow the CT90 to adapt to the DAC that follows it in the audio chain. It can be used with full decoding, with basic support, or in MQA source mode, making it compatible with both MQA full decoder DACs and devices that handle only part of the decoding process.

This makes the CT90 extremely flexible and ready to integrate into very different configurations, from the most traditional to the most advanced. Connectivity is one of the most impressive aspects of the project. The CT90 is the first dedicated Shanling CD transport equipped with FPGA-assisted I2S output, with as many as ten configurable pinout modes, a solution that ensures compatibility with almost all I2S DACs on the market.

Alongside this, there is the USB-A audio output, which allows a direct connection with modern USB DACs, in addition to the SPDIF, AES/EBU, and coaxial digital outputs, making the device usable even in professional contexts or in active speaker systems with digital input.

A very interesting feature is the USB-B input, which allows the CT90 to be used as a bridge. If you already have another digital source, such as a streamer, and your DAC has — as usual — only one USB-B input, the CT90 acts as a pass-through and thus allows you to connect a second digital source via USB.

There is also a BNC for connecting an external clock, which allows the CT90 to be synchronized with high-precision generators, further improving audio performance.

Another fundamental element is the dual internal clock system, based on two oscillators of 45 MHz and 49 MHz, designed to radically reduce jitter and ensure an extremely stable and accurate digital signal in every usage condition.

This attention to signal timing is one of the aspects that distinguish truly high-end products from those that are simply "performant" on paper. The power supply section is linear and is built around a 35-watt Talema toroidal transformer.

This technical choice ensures a stable current reserve, extremely low electrical noise, and a naturalness in sound presentation that modern switching power supplies can hardly match. The power supply is not treated as a mere functional element but as an integral part of the sound design.

The CT90 is also surprisingly modern in its features. It integrates Bluetooth 5.0 with support for AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX HD, and LDAC high-definition codecs, allowing for fast and high-quality wireless playback. It is also controllable via the Eddict Player app, which allows for complete device management, making the user experience smooth and consistent with contemporary audio standards.

In addition, it offers the ability to play liquid music directly from USB mass storage up to 2 TB, transforming the CT90 into a full-fledged streamer, capable of reading PCM files up to 768 kHz, DSD up to DSD512, and MQA, further expanding its role within the system.

What truly makes the CT90 special is not just its technical excellence, but the overall user experience. Inserting a disc, watching it spin under the transparent dome, feeling the silence of the mechanics, and then the gradual entry of the music creates a physical and ritual relationship with listening that many modern digital devices have lost. It is an object that invites you to slow down, to dedicate time to music, to experience listening as a conscious experience, without sacrificing the precision, resolution, and quality required by a modern hi-fi system. In this sense, the Shanling CT90 demonstrates that physical media can still play a central role in contemporary high fidelity if reinterpreted with intelligent design, advanced technology, and musical sensitivity. It is a product designed for those who seek not just a source, but an object capable of exciting, engaging, and becoming an integral part of the daily listening experience.

The history of Shanling audio:

Founded in 1988, Shanling specializes in the production of hi-fi solutions. Its headquarters is in Shenzhen, and its manufacturing plant is located in Dongguang. Shanling boasts a cutting-edge research and development department and the ability to use numerous patented technologies, including SONY LDAC, Bluetooth BQB, Japanese Audio Association Hi-Res, Microsoft HDCD, Dolby Digital, DTS, DVD, SACD, and CD. For over 30 years, the Shanling team has been creating high-quality products that combine innovation and team spirit. Each solution is carefully designed and thoroughly tested to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction. The company collaborates with numerous partners worldwide, ensuring easy access to its products. Shanling was initially known for creating high-end SACD/CD players, Hi-Fi amplifiers, and network conditioners, but currently, its most popular products are portable audio players (DAP). The team is also dynamically developing its lines of portable DAC/AMPs, in-ear headphones, and Bluetooth products, which are gaining increasing success among users.

Technical Specifications:

Reading system: DA11 + SA7826
Supported disc formats CD, CD-R, CD-RW
Inputs CD 1x USB-B 1x USB-A (HOST) Bluetooth Outputs 1x I2S LVDS via HDMI 1x USB-A 1x Coaxial 2x AES/EBU
Other outputs: BNC for external master clock
Supported frequencies up to PCM 32bit 768 kHz, DSD up to DSD512
Supported Bluetooth AAC, SBC, AptX, AptX HD, and LDAC
File support via USB DSD (.iso*, .dsf, .dff) ISO • DXD • APE • FLAC • WAV • AIFF • AIF • DTS • MP3 • WMA • AAC • OGG • ALAC • MP2 • M4A • AC3 • M3U • M3U8 • OPUS
Power supply 100-240V AC
Dimensions 28 x 23 x 9.1cm (including top panel and feet)
Weight 3.5kg
Finish Black or Silver
Included 1x Shanling CT901x AC power cable