I have one on the way
The new Shanling CT90
This CD transport has just hit the market, and it has piqued my interest a bit. I already own their ET-3 transport, which I'm reasonably happy with, though I do have a few misgivings about it, mainly that its remote doesn't work and never has, and the design of the detachable lid is a bit fragile. I had to have the little plastic disc inside it replaced because it lost its hold on the metal disc that keeps it in place. Fortunately, it was a simple operation that I could perform myself. Have to give full credit to the folks at Shanling for sending it at no cost. The CT90 appears to have a completely different design with regard to the loading mechanism, so probably an improvement.
The ET3 was a definite upgrade over my previous player, a Cambridge Audio CXU (no longer made) which I have always played through an external DAC (Denafrips Pontus 15th, currently, and very happy with it!). As a dedicated transport, the Shanling offers quite a bit of flexibility for choice of data density, ranging from 16/44.1 all the way up to DSD 512 through its I2s HDMI port, which is the connection I'm using. The sound is matter-of-fact, but not exactly magic. Maybe a bit more midrange heft would be helpful, but really, there's not that much to criticize.
I know it's a bit early in the game, but if anybody has heard this new transport, I'd be very interested to know what you thought of it, especially if you already have, or have heard, the ET3. Is the CT90 a true upgrade sonically, or is it essentially the same thing in different clothes?
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- 4 posts total
- 4 posts total

