Savage Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 As the saying goes: CONTENT IS KING. If Apple had launched the iTunes store without having deals with all the record labels then the masses would not have shown up.Look also to the turn-around of many cable/satellite TV channels: All the original and compelling shows they began producing a few years ago have completely reversed their fortunes. If PONO launches with compelling content then it stands a chance. Otherwise it will just become a curiosity and then the best we can hope for is it somehow spurring the larger services to offer higher-resolution downloads. Frankly, I'd be happier if I could buy 16/44.1 tracks and albums from iTunes. I am getting tired of oredering CDs from Amazon. A companion, lower-priced ADC could shake that up. With vinyl resurgence, you could carry your vinyl-rips in your pocket on SD. I am not sure what Sony is going to do with their catalog and hi-res files but they seemed to make noise about doing "something" when they released specs on their new players. With Pono & Sony sites it may allow Apple to negotiate with their existing labels to make higher bit-rates available. Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not." — Nelson Pass Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted March 10, 2014 Author Share Posted March 10, 2014 Hi Guys - I just received an updated press release and updated the original post with the new release. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
Jud Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Number of albums makes more sense now. Chris, what are you doing awake - baby daughter or travel? One never knows, do one? - Fats Waller The fairest thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. - Einstein Computer, Audirvana -> optical Ethernet to Fitlet3 -> Fibbr Alpha Optical USB -> iFi NEO iDSD DAC -> Apollon Audio 1ET400A Mini (Purifi based) -> Vandersteen 3A Signature. Link to comment
realhifi Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 As the saying goes: CONTENT IS KING. If Apple had launched the iTunes store without having deals with all the record labels then the masses would not have shown up.Look also to the turn-around of many cable/satellite TV channels: All the original and compelling shows they began producing a few years ago have completely reversed their fortunes. If PONO launches with compelling content then it stands a chance. Otherwise it will just become a curiosity and then the best we can hope for is it somehow spurring the larger services to offer higher-resolution downloads. Frankly, I'd be happier if I could buy 16/44.1 tracks and albums from iTunes. I am getting tired of oredering CDs from Amazon. Agree 100%. They will need to really make a splash if they are looking to be something other than a very small niche in today's super heated marketplace. As iTunes is currently showing, the digital music download market is actually going down not up what with the various streaming services available for both portable and home delivery. I too would be happy if I could buy 16/44.1 from Apple. Maybe this will turn out well if this helps Apple decide to make a push into higher res downloads. I really do hope that this turns out well for Pono and Neil but it is telling that no one in the investment community has put up the cash needed to get this off the ground and that they are carefully testing the waters with their Kickstarter campaign. I wonder if Neil and Crazy Horse are playing at SXSW? David Link to comment
REShaman Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Hi Guys - I just received an updated press release and updated the original post with the new release. Hello Chris, Thank you for the updated information. As I surmised in an earlier post, more Pono info re: specifications and details will be on-going. Not sure I need one, but I want one. Wonder (if) what the Pono ono will evolve in2. With appreciation, Richard Link to comment
Audio_ELF Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 I too would be happy if I could buy 16/44.1 from Apple. Maybe this will turn out well if this helps Apple decide to make a push into higher res downloads. I really do hope that this turns out well for Pono and Neil but it is telling that no one in the investment community has put up the cash needed to get this off the ground and that they are carefully testing the waters with their Kickstarter campaign. I wonder if Neil and Crazy Horse are playing at SXSW? I guess one outcome of this might be if Pono was big enough to cause Apple, Google, Amazon, etc (the digital marketplace) to look at their offerings and say "Hey if we sell lossless compression and high resolution we could be raking in these profits". Eloise Eloise --- ...in my opinion / experience... While I agree "Everything may matter" working out what actually affects the sound is a trickier thing. And I agree "Trust your ears" but equally don't allow them to fool you - trust them with a bit of skepticism. keep your mind open... But mind your brain doesn't fall out. Link to comment
enjoythemusic Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Thanks for posting this Chris! SXSW is a great place to reach many highly technical and savvy consumers. Of course many of us here desire broad exposure for high resolution audio since mp3 is..... Look forward to seeing the progress of their Kickstarter campaign. Enjoy the Music, Steven R. Rochlin www.EnjoyTheMusic.com Link to comment
sickicw Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Hi Guys - I just received an updated press release and updated the original post with the new release. I am still waiting on the following: 1) When are reviewers going to get to test out the PONO player? 2) Did anyone at SXSW get to hear it? What did they think about it? 3) When is the music store going to come online? 4) What songs will be in the music store at release? 5) When will these songs start showing up in the dynamic range database (Album list - Dynamic Range Database) 6) Will we get the same old songs that are released on SACD, or can we expect more 90s rock like Megadeth, Metallica, Nirvana, ect...? I would like contribute to the pono kickstart, but I will not be able to without more information! Link to comment
Jud Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 I am still waiting on the following: 2) Did anyone at SXSW get to hear it? What did they think about it? I believe Neil Young is supposed to be appearing at SXSW tomorrow (March 11th), at which time he's widely expected to at least talk about Pono. Whether there will be a demo, I dunno. One never knows, do one? - Fats Waller The fairest thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. - Einstein Computer, Audirvana -> optical Ethernet to Fitlet3 -> Fibbr Alpha Optical USB -> iFi NEO iDSD DAC -> Apollon Audio 1ET400A Mini (Purifi based) -> Vandersteen 3A Signature. Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted March 10, 2014 Author Share Posted March 10, 2014 I believe Neil Young is supposed to be appearing at SXSW tomorrow (March 11th), at which time he's widely expected to at least talk about Pono. Whether there will be a demo, I dunno. I will be demo'ing the unit on Wednesday in Austin, TX. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
mav52 Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 I will be demo'ing the unit on Wednesday in Austin, TX. That's good to hear Chris. Test test and more testing The Truth Is Out There Link to comment
sickicw Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 I will be demo'ing the unit on Wednesday in Austin, TX. Great, Is there any way you can compare pono songs to both the CD and vinyl versions with a particular focus on dynamic range? Link to comment
Audio_ELF Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 You've been quoted ... Neil Young touts MP3 player that's no Piece of Crap Eloise --- ...in my opinion / experience... While I agree "Everything may matter" working out what actually affects the sound is a trickier thing. And I agree "Trust your ears" but equally don't allow them to fool you - trust them with a bit of skepticism. keep your mind open... But mind your brain doesn't fall out. Link to comment
VandyMan Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 CA is quoted or sourced from quite a few of the articles on Pono. Most directly or indirectly mention the questions and concerns raised here, so the authors have read this topic. I guess we now know who the initial audience for Pono is supposed to be. Link to comment
labjr Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 I heard Kickstarter Pono backers will receive Neil Young approved 24/192 versions of both Beatles and Led Zep complete catalogs for free. Anyone know if that's a rumor? Link to comment
Daudio Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 I would suggest perhaps he needs to work on educating mastering engineers as much as producing high res file formats... Eloise, Agreed. Through, perhaps, if some of them were fired by well known artists, that would be even more educational ! Link to comment
Superdad Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 Anyone know if that's a rumor? It is now that you have started it! Very funny. Wishful thinking. Oh wait, you said "Neil Young approved versions." If he does not like the Beatles or Zep, then he might give us blank files. UpTone Audio LLC Link to comment
new_media Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 New article posted on Time confirms 24/192. Neil Young’s Pono Music Player to Cost $399 via Kickstarter Campaign - TIME Link to comment
Savage Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 New article posted on Time confirms 24/192. Neil Young’s Pono Music Player to Cost $399 via Kickstarter Campaign - TIME Anyone want to take a wild guess at the total funding received for the 30 day kickstarter campign? I will be demo'ing the unit on Wednesday in Austin, TX. Any info on power or output impedance for the headphone section? Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not." — Nelson Pass Link to comment
sm31 Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 MSRP is $399; not clear what Kickstarter pricing will be. Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted March 10, 2014 Author Share Posted March 10, 2014 New article posted on Time confirms 24/192. Neil Young’s Pono Music Player to Cost $399 via Kickstarter Campaign - TIME Nice to see Time linking back to us here at CA. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
labjr Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 It's nice to see high resolution music getting broader exposure outside of audiophile web sites. If it's because of who Neil Young is, then it's great to have him as an advocate. Better for everyone who loves music. Link to comment
Hiro Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 I'm wondering if the Pono player is going to support non-PONO-encoded audio formats such as FLAC, ALAC, WAV, DSD64 and DSD128... Link to comment
beetlemania Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 New article posted on Time confirms 24/192. Neil Young’s Pono Music Player to Cost $399 via Kickstarter Campaign - TIME This caught my attention: "Pono confirms the service will support “other high-resolution digital music devices,” but doesn’t specify which ones." Roon ROCK (Roon 1.7; NUC7i3) > Ayre QB-9 Twenty > Ayre AX-5 Twenty > Thiel CS2.4SE (crossovers rebuilt with Clarity CSA and Multicap RTX caps, Mills MRA-12 resistors; ERSE and Jantzen coils; Cardas binding posts and hookup wire); Cardas and OEM power cables, interconnects, and speaker cables Link to comment
labjr Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 I'm wondering if the Pono player is going to support non-PONO-encoded audio formats such as FLAC, ALAC, WAV, DSD64 and DSD128... It uses the ESS 9018 Sabre DAC so it's capable of DSD. However, Charlie Hansen isn't exactly a DSD proponent. Neither is Neil. So I wouldn't count on it. Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now