[andwhatnot]

OK to open this? Kickstarter tomorrow.
http://time.com/18027/neil-youngs-high-fidelity-pono-music-player-is-still-coming-and-itll-cost-399/

 

[acebreathe]

I have no interest in his Pono player but I'm interested in what he has as a catalogue and at what price.

 

[WillyJ]

Odd name to choose............ too easy to mistake for PORNO. Seems like someone would have realized this but what do I know.

 

[William]

...but it is 2 channel only and no multichannel support.

 

[liteon163]

My smartphone (an LG G2) can play all sorts of lossless files. I don't need another device.


I think this device is going to fail miserably.


Sent from my Verizon LG G2 using Tapatalk

 

[eljr]

Will Pono play the Flac files we already own?

 

[RMK!]



Quote:
Originally Posted by eljr  /t/1522051/pono/0_100#post_24599198


Will Pono play the Flac files we already own?

Yes

 

[eljr]

So Pono is nothing but a Flac player... a MP3 player that plays Flac as it were?


Are there not other Flac players available in the market now?


Sony????

 

[AJCxZ0]



Quote:
Originally Posted by liteon163  /t/1522051/pono/0_100#post_24516978


My smartphone (an LG G2) can play all sorts of lossless files. I don't need another device.

The modern mobile communication and media computer which also happens to include voice communication as one of its features really does obviate most other formerly common mobile electronics. Really only "high end" functionality is left to dedicated devices, e.g. advanced DACs and/or amps for audio (or in my case a FiiO E6 headpone amp ).



My (comparatively) old Motorola DROID 4 with PowerAMP plays just about everything and has a nice interface, too.

Quote:
Originally Posted by eljr  /t/1522051/pono/0_100#post_24599284


Are there not other Flac players available in the market now?

My seven year old COWON iAUDIO7 purchased for $103.31 plays FLAC, OGG, MP3 and other formats. COWON has plenty of other players still available and is not the only vendor in the market.



The FiiO X3 and X5 are supposed to be very nice yet affordable "audiophile" quality players.

 

[SeeMoreDigital]



Quote:
Originally Posted by eljr  /t/1522051/pono/0_50#post_24599284


So Pono is nothing but a Flac player... a MP3 player that plays Flac as it were?


Are there not other Flac players available in the market now?


Sony????

Who needs to spend $400.00 on a dedicated audio player that supports FLAC when you've probably got a mobile/cell phone that supports it (along with many other audio formats) already... Indeed, I would rather upgrade my existing phone to offer better audio output options and an SD card slot, than buy a Pono!


Sorry Mr Young but "I'm out"...

 

[AJCxZ0]

Maybe we're focusing on the wrong thing, i.e. an overpriced media player into which people will still plug crappy headphones and claim they can hear the 192 kHz 24 bit difference.


If this helps persuade the global corporate behemoths who own the masters to get them in the right series of hands to make them available to us in a format which isn't limited in any way which compromises the potential sound, and in doing so puts an end to the scammers who peddle upsampled recordings, lackluster mixes, mastering with all the dynamic range of a commercial radio DJ, etc., then we should support the effort.


Even more so if the mixing step includes surround as well as stereo, since up to eight channels are supported by FLAC .


Since we're not buying the player, what we need is a good purchase and download service free of of DRM and unnecessary software. I don't see one on www.ponomusic.com . I don't even see a mention of one beyond reference to a " PonoMusic.com Store "... Found it, despite the poor web design. If you click the arrow and scroll through a few slides on the " About " page and manage to read it before the slide flips, it says

Quote:
When the Kickstarter campaign is complete, this website will transform into the PonoMusic Store. You will be able to purchase PonoPlayers and PonoMusic to your heart’s, and ears’, content.

So we have


Y FLAC

Y High sample and bit rate

? Surround mixes

? No DRM (None in the file format)

? No software

N Reasonable prices ( $14.99 -$24.99 per album )*


*[Compared to DVD-A and SACD which include effectively all of the above]

 

[William]



Quote:
Originally Posted by AJCxZ0  /t/1522051/pono/0_60#post_24605293


...If this helps persuade the global corporate behemoths who own the masters to get them in the right series of hands to make them available to us in a format which isn't limited in any way which compromises the potential sound, and in doing so puts an end to the scammers who peddle upsampled recordings, lackluster mixes, mastering with all the dynamic range of a commercial radio DJ, etc., then we should support the effort.


Even more so if the mixing step includes surround as well as stereo, since up to eight channels are supported by FLAC .


Since we're not buying the player, what we need is a good purchase and download service free of of DRM and unnecessary software. I don't see one on www.ponomusic.com . I don't even see a mention of one beyond reference to a " PonoMusic.com Store "... Found it, despite the poor web design. If you click the arrow and scroll through a few slides on the " About " page and manage to read it before the slide flips, it says

So we have


Y FLAC

Y High sample and bit rate

? Surround mixes

? No DRM (None in the file format)

? No software

N Reasonable prices ( $14.99 -$24.99 per album )*


*[Compared to DVD-A and SACD which include effectively all of the above]

There are STRONG rumors that Apple will start offering 96/24 ALAC music this summer. However it will (likely) be 2-channel only (and like this entire thread NA to this forum) and at a premium price point.

 

[eljr]



Quote:
Originally Posted by William  /t/1522051/pono#post_24608292


There are STRONG rumors that Apple will start offering 96/24 ALAC music .

I have read this several places.

 

[William]



Quote:
Originally Posted by eljr  /t/1522051/pono/0_60#post_24608313


I have read this several places.

I hope Apple will get progressive (not very Apple like though) and offer at least some 5.1 96/24 music. It could be a selling point for the next ATV and could be combined with 5.1 96/24 music videos, concerts and even main stream movies.

 

[eljr]



Quote:
Originally Posted by William  /t/1522051/pono#post_24608328


I hope Apple will get progressive (not very Apple like though) and offer at least some 5.1 96/24 music. It could be a selling point for the next ATV and could be combined with 5.1 96/24 music videos, concerts and even main stream movies.

I can't see much demand for 5.1 for Apple.

 

[Milt99]

One thing is for certain, if iTunes offers hi-res 24/88 and 24/96 content, HDTracks will be gone in a month and Pono will be Dead Before Arrival

 

[acebreathe]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Milt99  /t/1522051/pono#post_24650752


One thing is for certain, if iTunes offers hi-res 24/88 and 24/96 content, HDTracks will be gone in a month and Pono will be Dead Before Arrival

Agree for the most part but if it does happen it will be interesting to see what their price point will be and what happens to the mastered for itunes catalogue. Right now Acoustic Sounds Super Hi Rez site has 192,176,96, and 88/ 24 bit FLAC downloads at different price points in addition to their DSD downloads. Most of the 96/24 go for around 18 bucks. Of course Apple won't offer FLAC it would be ALAC. The rumors all hint at early June right about the same time the Led Zep remasters hit the market. If Neil Young's kickstarter Pono campaign forces Apple to upgrade their content than he has accomplished something.

 

[William]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Milt99  /t/1522051/pono/0_60#post_24650752


One thing is for certain, if iTunes offers hi-res 24/88 and 24/96 content, HDTracks will be gone in a month and Pono will be Dead Before Arrival

Actually it would help Pono. This would give the one thing it will be missing. A great selection of HD CONTENT. People who want the highest end hardware will buy Pono and be happy to have a large selection of HD music on iTunes to choose from.

 

[eljr]



Quote:
Originally Posted by William  /t/1522051/pono#post_24651432


Actually it would help Pono. This would give the one thing it will be missing. A great selection of HD CONTENT. People who want the highest end hardware will buy Pono and be happy to have a large selection of HD music on iTunes to choose from.

I have never leased a song from Itunes and never will.


I have no intentions of changing .


I don't care if they start selling pink elephants and no one else has one and my daughter wants one.

 

[William]



Quote:
Originally Posted by eljr  /t/1522051/pono/0_60#post_24651475


I have never leased a song from Itunes and never will.


I have no intentions of changing .


I don't care if they start selling pink elephants and no one else has one and my daughter wants one.

iTunes doesn't lease music. However I'm talking about people who are buying the Pono.