geebo
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Post by geebo on May 6, 2014 6:59:33 GMT -5
Does this system require me to have a computer on and tethered to my system to listen to music?
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on May 6, 2014 8:47:18 GMT -5
Does this system require me to have a computer on and tethered to my system to listen to music? Pono is a stand-alone digital audio player, like an iPod.
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geebo
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Post by geebo on May 6, 2014 8:50:20 GMT -5
Does this system require me to have a computer on and tethered to my system to listen to music? Pono is a stand-alone digital audio player, like an iPod. So you must use their player and it has to be connected to the system? How is it controlled? Manually?
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on May 6, 2014 9:43:21 GMT -5
There seems to be some confusion about Pono.... The PONO PLAYER is a stand-alone player; like an iPod. Unlike a stock iPod, however, it will be able to play industry standard FLAC files, including high-definition ones. These files are generally available (it is the format used by most places selling high-def audio - like HDTracks and Acoustic Sounds). Since it is a stand-alone player, you will have to load the music on to it that you want to play, then plug it into your stereo if you want to (or you can just use the headphone output). The PONO GROUP (or whatever they like to call themselves) is ALSO planning to be selling HD music CONTENT - which will be available in FLAC format - in their version of an "App Store". Right now, if you chip in, what you will be buying is the player. Their player should be able to play any FLAC files, regardless of where you get them, and the FLAC files you buy in their store (if it comes to pass) should play on any player that can play FLAC files. I believe the Pono player also supports other popular formats. Since FLAC is the most commonly used format for LOSSLESS high-definition audio files, that means that virtually all PC-based audio applications, and many hardware player devices, will be able to play files you buy from Pono - and most converters will convert them to and from other formats. Since Apple doesn't support anything but their own formats, you will generally need an extra plug-in to play FLAC files on iTunes, and most iPods won't play them (at least not without modification). It seems unlikely that the FLAC files sold by Pono can or will be copy protected (no DRM). Right now, Pono seems to be doing their best to kind of "blur together" the player they're offering on Kickstarter and "the ecosystem" (think iPods and iTunes) which they hope to establish... Just like APple with their iPod, Pono is hoping that everyone who buys the player will "stay on" as a customer of their music store. They are also promising some sort of little "indicator light" on the player which will light for "approved content" - although they give no details of what that actually means. (My guess is that either it will light for all lossless and high-def content, or it will light only when it recognizes a tag identifying content bought from Pono. Neither of those options seems especially useful to me, but the latter would presumably serve to convince "Pono fans" to buy content that lights the light, and both would serve to inform people that what they're hearing should sound good.) Pono is a stand-alone digital audio player, like an iPod. So you must use their player and it has to be connected to the system? How is it controlled? Manually?
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on May 6, 2014 10:01:10 GMT -5
Pono is a stand-alone digital audio player, like an iPod. So you must use their player and it has to be connected to the system? How is it controlled? Manually? You connect it to a system to load music files onto it, and then it plays them via headphones. It's controlled using the stop/play buttons on the device. Like an iPod. Here's what it looks like:
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geebo
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Post by geebo on May 6, 2014 10:03:13 GMT -5
There seems to be some confusion about Pono.... The PONO PLAYER is a stand-alone player; like an iPod. Unlike a stock iPod, however, it will be able to play industry standard FLAC files, including high-definition ones. These files are generally available (it is the format used by most places selling high-def audio - like HDTracks and Acoustic Sounds). Since it is a stand-alone player, you will have to load the music on to it that you want to play, then plug it into your stereo if you want to (or you can just use the headphone output). The PONO GROUP (or whatever they like to call themselves) is ALSO planning to be selling HD music CONTENT - which will be available in FLAC format - in their version of an "App Store". Right now, if you chip in, what you will be buying is the player. Their player should be able to play any FLAC files, regardless of where you get them, and the FLAC files you buy in their store (if it comes to pass) should play on any player that can play FLAC files. I believe the Pono player also supports other popular formats. Since FLAC is the most commonly used format for LOSSLESS high-definition audio files, that means that virtually all PC-based audio applications, and many hardware player devices, will be able to play files you buy from Pono - and most converters will convert them to and from other formats. Since Apple doesn't support anything but their own formats, you will generally need an extra plug-in to play FLAC files on iTunes, and most iPods won't play them (at least not without modification). It seems unlikely that the FLAC files sold by Pono can or will be copy protected (no DRM). Right now, Pono seems to be doing their best to kind of "blur together" the player they're offering on Kickstarter and "the ecosystem" (think iPods and iTunes) which they hope to establish... Just like APple with their iPod, Pono is hoping that everyone who buys the player will "stay on" as a customer of their music store. They are also promising some sort of little "indicator light" on the player which will light for "approved content" - although they give no details of what that actually means. (My guess is that either it will light for all lossless and high-def content, or it will light only when it recognizes a tag identifying content bought from Pono. Neither of those options seems especially useful to me, but the latter would presumably serve to convince "Pono fans" to buy content that lights the light, and both would serve to inform people that what they're hearing should sound good.) So you must use their player and it has to be connected to the system? How is it controlled? Manually? Thanks, Keith. So if the music they sell is somehow "special" I will be able to purchase it from their site and put it on my hard drive just like any other FLAC and their player is not needed?
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geebo
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Post by geebo on May 6, 2014 10:05:29 GMT -5
So you must use their player and it has to be connected to the system? How is it controlled? Manually? You connect it to a system to load music files onto it, and then it plays them via headphones. It's controlled using the stop/play buttons on the device. Like an iPod. Here's what it looks like: Thanks, I would hope for something more convenient ie remote controlled, but it looks like their player is not necessary to use their music files.
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on May 6, 2014 10:08:15 GMT -5
Thanks, Keith. So if the music they sell is somehow "special" I will be able to purchase it from their site and put it on my hard drive just like any other FLAC and their player is not needed? If you have a player that supports the sample rates they end up using (which, depending on what they end up using could be quite high.) According to early speculation the Pono can support rates up to the ridiculously high 24/192.
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on May 6, 2014 10:09:48 GMT -5
The player is designed to be a portable system that you stick in your pocket and listen using headphones. It is not designed to be connected to a system in that the early prototype has no line-out, only a headphone amplifier output. Remote control makes no sense for something designed to be held in your hand.
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geebo
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Post by geebo on May 6, 2014 10:15:50 GMT -5
The player is designed to be a portable system that you stick in your pocket and listen using headphones. It is not designed to be connected to a system in that the early prototype has no line-out, only a headphone amplifier output. Remote control makes no sense for something designed to be held in your hand. Okay, got it. I thought it was to be a way to enjoy Hirez music on our main systems. So if my Oppo can handle the sample rates it should work as a way to play their music.
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on May 6, 2014 10:21:00 GMT -5
The player is designed to be a portable system that you stick in your pocket and listen using headphones. It is not designed to be connected to a system in that the early prototype has no line-out, only a headphone amplifier output. Remote control makes no sense for something designed to be held in your hand. Okay, got it. I thought it was to be a way to enjoy Hirez music on our main systems. So if my Oppo can handle the sample rates it should work as a way to play their music. You bet, if your player can handle the files then it will play them. The Pono is a high-end portable music player. Some people think it's too expensive at $400 expected price, but compare that to the $900 being gotten for the new 24/192 player from Sony, the Walkman NWZ-ZX1. It remains to be seen if Pono is any good, or if their eventual music store offers useful content. But as an enthusiast I am looking forward to playing with one.
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geebo
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Post by geebo on May 6, 2014 10:41:38 GMT -5
Okay, got it. I thought it was to be a way to enjoy Hirez music on our main systems. So if my Oppo can handle the sample rates it should work as a way to play their music. You bet, if your player can handle the files then it will play them. The Pono is a high-end portable music player. Some people think it's too expensive at $400 expected price, but compare that to the $900 being gotten for the new 24/192 player from Sony, the Walkman NWZ-ZX1. It remains to be seen if Pono is any good, or if their eventual music store offers useful content. But as an enthusiast I am looking forward to playing with one. Thanks again. Sound like it may be a good way for us to get high quality music files then. I will be watching with great interest to see how it pans out.
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on May 6, 2014 11:41:09 GMT -5
According to the current information - yes. (What remains to be seen is whether they have any special content or not. I am hopeful, but not especially optimistic there.) There seems to be some confusion about Pono.... The PONO PLAYER is a stand-alone player; like an iPod. Unlike a stock iPod, however, it will be able to play industry standard FLAC files, including high-definition ones. These files are generally available (it is the format used by most places selling high-def audio - like HDTracks and Acoustic Sounds). Since it is a stand-alone player, you will have to load the music on to it that you want to play, then plug it into your stereo if you want to (or you can just use the headphone output). The PONO GROUP (or whatever they like to call themselves) is ALSO planning to be selling HD music CONTENT - which will be available in FLAC format - in their version of an "App Store". Right now, if you chip in, what you will be buying is the player. Their player should be able to play any FLAC files, regardless of where you get them, and the FLAC files you buy in their store (if it comes to pass) should play on any player that can play FLAC files. I believe the Pono player also supports other popular formats. Since FLAC is the most commonly used format for LOSSLESS high-definition audio files, that means that virtually all PC-based audio applications, and many hardware player devices, will be able to play files you buy from Pono - and most converters will convert them to and from other formats. Since Apple doesn't support anything but their own formats, you will generally need an extra plug-in to play FLAC files on iTunes, and most iPods won't play them (at least not without modification). It seems unlikely that the FLAC files sold by Pono can or will be copy protected (no DRM). Right now, Pono seems to be doing their best to kind of "blur together" the player they're offering on Kickstarter and "the ecosystem" (think iPods and iTunes) which they hope to establish... Just like APple with their iPod, Pono is hoping that everyone who buys the player will "stay on" as a customer of their music store. They are also promising some sort of little "indicator light" on the player which will light for "approved content" - although they give no details of what that actually means. (My guess is that either it will light for all lossless and high-def content, or it will light only when it recognizes a tag identifying content bought from Pono. Neither of those options seems especially useful to me, but the latter would presumably serve to convince "Pono fans" to buy content that lights the light, and both would serve to inform people that what they're hearing should sound good.) Thanks, Keith. So if the music they sell is somehow "special" I will be able to purchase it from their site and put it on my hard drive just like any other FLAC and their player is not needed?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2014 23:00:36 GMT -5
The player is designed to be a portable system that you stick in your pocket and listen using headphones. It is not designed to be connected to a system in that the early prototype has no line-out, only a headphone amplifier output. Remote control makes no sense for something designed to be held in your hand. Pono is connected to a hi-fi system here: www.audiostream.com/content/sound-ponoIs there a line out on the PONO now?
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hemster
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Post by hemster on May 6, 2014 23:04:22 GMT -5
The player is designed to be a portable system that you stick in your pocket and listen using headphones. It is not designed to be connected to a system in that the early prototype has no line-out, only a headphone amplifier output. Remote control makes no sense for something designed to be held in your hand. Pono is connected to a hi-fi system here: www.audiostream.com/content/sound-ponoIs there a line out on the PONO now? IIRC, I didn't think it had a line output. They may have used the headphone output with RCA plugs on the other end of the cable.
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geebo
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Post by geebo on May 7, 2014 7:02:31 GMT -5
The player is designed to be a portable system that you stick in your pocket and listen using headphones. It is not designed to be connected to a system in that the early prototype has no line-out, only a headphone amplifier output. Remote control makes no sense for something designed to be held in your hand. Pono is connected to a hi-fi system here: www.audiostream.com/content/sound-ponoIs there a line out on the PONO now? That wouldn't be very convenient.
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on May 7, 2014 8:40:09 GMT -5
The specs are still evolving so maybe. I did read somewhere that the designers were considering making one of the two headphone outputs switchable to line level. We'll have to wait and see.
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Post by monkumonku on May 7, 2014 9:19:43 GMT -5
What I find odd about the Pono craze is that this is a small device whose claim to fame is playing hi-res files, yet no one has said anything about the quality of the DAC that it uses. Now, I'm one who thinks that differences between DAC's are overrated but, with as big a deal as audiophiles make about them, and also the big discussions that take place over how audible the differences are between different resolutions and how hi-res should hi-res be, I am wondering why no one is taking a critical look at the DAC used in the Pono.
Another thing I find odd is the majority of these devices will probably be used by people walking around wearing earbuds so just how big a deal is it to have hi-res 192/24 music coming out of those buds?
Just asking...
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Post by jmilton on May 7, 2014 9:45:14 GMT -5
It comes in different colors, too... The DAC is called "audiophile quality". What more do you need to know, Monk?
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Post by monkumonku on May 7, 2014 9:52:58 GMT -5
It comes in different colors, too... The DAC is called "audiophile quality". What more do you need to know, Monk? Is that Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze level Audiophile quality, though? Also, since Neil Young is associated with this venture, will Lynard Skynard allow their music to be played on the device?
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