Pono Music

[Facelift]

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/20...gs-ponoplayer/

"Moreover, if the PonoMusic delivers its 24bit/192kHz content without DRM (which Chris Connaker at Computer Audiophile assures us will be the case – see below), why do we need a PonoPlayer at all? Won’t Astell&Kern, Calyx and FIIO owners take the Pono content straight to their preferred digital audio player? That’s exactly what I’ll be doing with my AK120 and Calyx M. I won’t be buying a PonoPlayer because (presumably) I won’t need it to enjoy the PonoStore content. Simples.

Let’s flip that idea around: if the PonoPlayer isn’t required to listen to content from PonoMusic, why do we need the PonoPlayer at all? Many will see it is as a portable hi-res DAP, just like the Fiio X5. It is next to this and Apple’s iPod that Ayre’s digital audio engineering must stand up.

Pono’s long term success won’t depend on its hardware player sonic merits or its (lack of) ability to slip into your jeans pocket, it rests instead on the quality and provenance of the masters currently hidden from public view inside the PonoMusic store.

Thus far, Young is leaning on theoretical arguments about how hi-res sounds superior to CD. Audiophiles already know that (sometimes) a 24/192 download can sound markedly better than its Redbook counterpart but if he’s aiming at the man in the street (which I’m sure he is), Young needs to show the consumer exactly why he needs a hi-res player. PonoMusic will presumably create the need, the player will make it come alive. It’s a shame that Pono has launched arse-first.

If we strip away Young’s name from the player we have what appears to be a competent DAP, designed by a team with formidable digital audio clout that’s selling for a reasonable price. A reasonable price in the context of audiophiles. The man in the street will likely see $400 as a HUGE investment. Put PonoPlayer in front of a non-audiophile in their twenties or thirties next to an iPod Touch – which would they go for? I’d wager that the Apple’s flexibility would win out over the Pono’s performance in 9 out 10 cases."

[Spiral]

I always have to knock off points for anyone who writes "simples," but that guy did a good job nailing a couple of the central issues.

Pono’s long term success won’t depend on its hardware player sonic merits or its (lack of) ability to slip into your jeans pocket, it rests instead on the quality and provenance of the masters currently hidden from public view inside the PonoMusic store. ...

If we strip away Young’s name from the player we have what appears to be a competent DAP, designed by a team with formidable digital audio clout that’s selling for a reasonable price. A reasonable price in the context of audiophiles. The man in the street will likely see $400 as a HUGE investment.

Not to mention that the music selection is still pretty tiny (though understandable if they're mastering everything fresh), and there are plenty of recordings where this format won't necessarily be an improvement. I found this somewhat interesting, and it explains how some sonics work better on CD scale.

http://www.theguardian.com/technolog...o-music-hi-res

[JKL2000]

Good for him, but that shape alone looks clunky enough to put me off. Next time I buy a digital player it'll more likely be one of these, unless something better's come up.

http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/inde...nuID=105026016

What is the built-in memory on this?

[Dave (in MA)]

Next time I buy a digital player it'll more likely be one of these, unless something better's come up.

http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/inde...nuID=105026016

I hope their product works better than their site.

[R_burke]

I don't know that the older generation wants to re-buy their music in another format all over again.

Agreed but the issue for me is that there is a lot of good music out there that is only available as a download and I'm not interested in trying to integrate a computer into my audio system. The Pono, Fiio X5, and others are a reasonable approach to a player with DAC that can be used in my home system, car and in my pocket.

[Plasmatopia]

http://productionadvice.co.uk/high-s...c-sound-worse/

Very interesting!

"It’s quite common for ultrasonic content to cause intermodulation distortion right down into the audible range. Or in simple English, the inaudible high-frequency content actually makes the audio you can hear sound worse."

So...how many times have I read various people poo-pooing the idea that content above the audible frequency range could have any bearing on what you can actually hear?

[Spiral]

What is the built-in memory on this?

It looks like there's nothing internal, just two micro SD slots.

[bob_32_116]

Gimme an F-ing break. I'm surprised it doesn't mention that the player is made with artisinal, sustainable, fair-trade silicon.

Sounds more and more like Monty Python.

Congratulations on purchasing the Executive Version of this record. You have chosen wisely, and we value your discerning taste in deciding to pay the few extra pence for a product of real quality... Everything on this record has been designed to meet the exacting standards which you have naturally come to expect. The record itself is made from the very finest Colombian extruded polyvinyl. The centerhole has been created to fit exactly onto your spindle with all the precision of finest Swiss craftsmanship. The audio content has been quality graded to give you the finest in listening pleasure. There is little or no offensive material, apart from four cunts, one clitoris, and a foreskin, and as they only occur in this opening introduction, you are past them now. You can relax and enjoy this quality product, secure in the knowledge that it has been specially created for the lover of fine things and the man of good taste." ~G.Chapman * FART *

[trurl]

Very interesting!

"It’s quite common for ultrasonic content to cause intermodulation distortion right down into the audible range. Or in simple English, the inaudible high-frequency content actually makes the audio you can hear sound worse."

So...how many times have I read various people poo-pooing the idea that content above the audible frequency range could have any bearing on what you can actually hear?

Huh, good catch. Now I need to re-read that really carefully because I don't know if his argument is concerning an acoustic phenomenon that might have a bearing on something that would happen in the analog world or a digital number-crunching re-sampling issue. Sounds like the former though.

[strawberrybrick]

I don't know that the older generation wants to re-buy their music in another format all over again.

Fantastic, spot on!

[Calabasas_Trafalgar]

It's extremely fitting that something promoted/endorsed by Neil Young looks like a big piece of cheese. Pass.

[JKL2000]

It's extremely fitting that something promoted/endorsed by Neil Young looks like a big piece of cheese. Pass.

You don't like any of his music?

[Calabasas_Trafalgar]

You don't like any of his music?

His high point was "Cinnamon Girl". After that - meh.

[JAMOOL]

for anyone considering buying one of these:

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/it-was-on...ags&soc_trk=tw

The results surprised even me. Whether wearing earbuds or expensive headphones, my test subjects usually thought that the iPhone playback sounded better than the Pono Player.

[Facelift]

for anyone considering buying one of these:

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/it-was-on...ags&soc_trk=tw

This guy's test is far from the first that proves that nobody can tell the difference between regular files and high-res. The problem with the pono is that the real business being created here was for the purchase of high-res files. A new business based on the purchase of recorded music probably doesn't have any legs in 2015.

[JAMOOL]

Right - PONO preys on (one of) the most nefarious of music industry practices, trying to convince people to buy their entire collection again, at an inflated price

[trurl]

I think it's entirely possible that a lot of people won't hear the difference, and I personally don't think the PONOs expense it worth it. But there's a factor he doesn't mention in the test- volume matching. You have to make sure your two samples are exactly volume matched or people will prefer the louder example, regardless of quality (within reason). It's just human psychology. If the MP3 files sounded louder, they were "better".

http://www.surfacedstudio.com/blog/l...-munson-curves

[Dave (in MA)]

for anyone considering buying one of these:

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/it-was-on...ags&soc_trk=tw

The Hoffmannites are jumping over this test because the guy used (gasp) a *Radio Shack* switch.

[trurl]

The Hoffmannites are jumping over this test because the guy used (gasp) a *Radio Shack* switch.

Oh jeez. Does Monster make a ludicrous $180 switch? Never mind; I'm sure they do. The best switch wold have been hand built from platinum.

[Esoteric]

Right - PONO preys on (one of) the most nefarious of music industry practices, trying to convince people to buy their entire collection again, at an inflated price

Whilst obviously I dont take this personally --LOl! can I just say it isnt something that happens just in the Music industry, Microsoft etc every few years bring out new operating systems etc, that people end up buying, when there isnt much wrong with the old ones and then stop supporting the older ones after a while. Electrical goods makers often dont make stuff to last these days or make sure they are damn hard to repair, because they need people to have to buy new ones.

[JAMOOL]

Agreed, but a new OS will have plenty of noticeable differences. Everyone should be able to tell the difference between Windows 7 and Windows 8. Whether or not you like those differences, however...

[Staun]

I've heard Soft Machine music used as "porno music"...

What? Oh, sorry.

That's what I thought. You could have the best of porno music. A compilation. This would certainly be prog.

[PeterG]

Some of Neils songs that will be preloaded :-)
Ponohontas
Saddle Up the Ponomino
Ponofinger
Southern Ponofic:-)

[trurl]

Down by the Pono
The Pono and the Damage Done
Keep On Ponoin in the Free World

and my personal favorite:

Old Man, Look At My Pono

[Dave]

I saw that Fiio was mentioned earlier, but the X1 for just under a $100 looks like a great alternative considering it is compatible with numerous formats and oh, did I mention the price?

http://www.cnet.com/news/fiio-x1-fin...-bank-account/