Shanling CT90 Premium CD Transport - Black

Lift the Lid and Drop the Disc On

The CT90 loads from the top. A hinged aluminum lid opens, the disc goes onto the spindle, and a magnetic puck holds it down. There is no tray motor to wear out and no drawer to jam.

Underneath sits a Philips DA11 drive with a Sanyo SAA7824 servo. It reads CD, CD-R, CD-RW and MQA-CD, and it does nothing else, because the CT90 has no converter in it at all.

That is the point of a transport. The disc data leaves untouched, and the DAC you chose does the work. All of it runs on a linear supply built around a 35-watt toroidal transformer.

Ten I2S Modes and a Clock Input

Manufacturers wire their I2S sockets differently, which is why the connection so rarely works between brands. The CT90 answers that with ten FPGA-switched pinout modes, so you select the one your converter uses.

Alongside I2S over HDMI there are two AES/EBU outputs on XLR, a coaxial S/PDIF on RCA, and a USB audio output. A BNC input accepts an external 44.1kHz word clock or a 10MHz master clock.

A CT7302 chip upsamples to 768kHz PCM, or to native DSD512 over I2S. Two precision oscillators, at 45.1584MHz and 49.152MHz, cover both sample-rate families so neither one is derived from the other.

Who Is This CD Transport Best For?

• Your DAC has an I2S input — ten switchable pinout modes mean you can match almost any brand's wiring, instead of finding out after delivery that two HDMI sockets disagree.
• You run an external clock — a BNC input takes a 44.1kHz word clock or a 10MHz master clock, so the CT90 slots into a system built around one reference.
• You own a converter worth feeding — with no DAC inside, the money went into the drive, the clocking and the outputs, and your own converter decides the sound.
• You want files as well as discs — a front USB port plays from drives up to 2TB in FLAC, WAV, DSD and more, so one box covers the collection twice over.
• You want a top loader that lasts — a hinged lid and a magnetic puck remove the tray mechanism entirely. Browse our digital-to-analog converters for the other half.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Pick the output your converter does best. I2S over HDMI carries the most, then the two AES/EBU XLRs, then coaxial S/PDIF, with a USB audio output as well.

Your DAC then feeds the amplifier as before. A rear USB input lets the CT90 work as a digital interface for a computer, and Bluetooth 5.0 brings in a phone or tablet.

Pairs Well With

Building around the CT90? Here are some great companions:

• DAC: Ideally one with an I2S input — see our Digital to Analog Converters.
• Preamplifier: The next box in the chain — see our Preamplifiers.
• Digital Cables: AES/EBU or coaxial — see our Interconnect Cables.
• Equipment Rack: A steady home for a top loader — see our Audio Racks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a separate DAC?

Yes. The CT90 is a transport, so your converter handles the sound. That is what lets you pick the DAC rather than inherit one.

What outputs does it have?

I2S over HDMI, two AES/EBU on XLR, coaxial S/PDIF on RCA, and a USB audio output.

Which discs will it read?

CD, CD-R, CD-RW and MQA-CD, through the top-loading Philips DA11 drive.

Will I2S work with my converter?

Ten selectable pinout modes cover the common wiring schemes. Check which one your DAC uses before you order and we will confirm the match.

Can it play files from a USB drive?

Yes, from drives up to 2TB, covering FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, APE, AAC, MP3, DSD, DXD and unencrypted ISO.

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

Audio Shrink spends time with the CT90:

And compares it directly with the smaller ET3:

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Learn More

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