geebo
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"Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are driving taxicabs and cutting hair"
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Post by geebo on May 7, 2014 10:03:15 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? What about Crosby, Stills, and Nash?
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Post by jmilton on May 7, 2014 10:08:16 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? "Well, I hope Neil Young will remember a southern man don't need him around anyhow" ...so that would be a NO.
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Post by drtrey3 on May 7, 2014 10:56:48 GMT -5
Actually, there is a cool photo of Neil wearing a Lynard Skynard t shirt just after they released Sweet Home Alabama. He took the jab like a man. And Lynard Skynard is releasing their stuff in HD, so this may be a yes someday!
Trey
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on May 7, 2014 11:39:40 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... The DAC is reportedly the ESS Sabre 9018, implemented by Ayre Acoustics.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2014 11:53:12 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... The DAC is reportedly the ESS Sabre 9018, implemented by Ayre Acoustics. This is correct, and actually there has been several articles about the collaboration between PONO and Ayre Acoustics. From Ayre's website: "Based on our work developing the QB-9, QA-9 and KX-R Twenty, we developed the digital/analog circuitry for the PonoPlayer to the highest possible level for this portable device.
PonoMusic and Ayre have collaborated to achieve a lofty goal -- to make the power and majesty of music available to everybody. We are absolutely thrilled to be a part of this project and will always be grateful to Neil Young for changing the landscape of recorded music." said Charlie Hansen, CEO of Ayre Acoustics." Of course this doesn't tell us anything about how it actually sounds, but it does seem step in the right direction.
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Post by gregd on May 7, 2014 12:03:16 GMT -5
There are already a few portable players that support FLAC. The FiiO X3 and X5 are not horribly expensive, and the Astell&Kern looks pretty sweet if money is no object. But then there are only a few options so more competition would probably improve the price/performance of the available options.
I have the X3, and in those situations where I want to listen to music but earbuds are the only practical option, it makes me happy.
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Post by monkumonku on May 7, 2014 12:26:06 GMT -5
The DAC is reportedly the ESS Sabre 9018, implemented by Ayre Acoustics. This is correct, and actually there has been several articles about the collaboration between PONO and Ayre Acoustics. From Ayre's website: "Based on our work developing the QB-9, QA-9 and KX-R Twenty, we developed the digital/analog circuitry for the PonoPlayer to the highest possible level for this portable device.
PonoMusic and Ayre have collaborated to achieve a lofty goal -- to make the power and majesty of music available to everybody. We are absolutely thrilled to be a part of this project and will always be grateful to Neil Young for changing the landscape of recorded music." said Charlie Hansen, CEO of Ayre Acoustics." Of course this doesn't tell us anything about how it actually sounds, but it does seem step in the right direction. Yes it does seem like a good quality DAC and step in the right direction. So how much difference will that make to the average user who is listening to it in a noisy city environment? I wonder how much listening will take place in surroundings that enable the listener to really focus on and appreciate the hi-res quality. Still, I bet they sell a ton of these because "hi-res" is the new buzzword. People will be asking, "do you have 96/24?" Or, "I don't listen to anything below 192 and am waiting for 384." "Hi-res" has replaced "cloud."
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cgolf
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Post by cgolf on May 7, 2014 12:29:07 GMT -5
This is correct, and actually there has been several articles about the collaboration between PONO and Ayre Acoustics. From Ayre's website: "Based on our work developing the QB-9, QA-9 and KX-R Twenty, we developed the digital/analog circuitry for the PonoPlayer to the highest possible level for this portable device.
PonoMusic and Ayre have collaborated to achieve a lofty goal -- to make the power and majesty of music available to everybody. We are absolutely thrilled to be a part of this project and will always be grateful to Neil Young for changing the landscape of recorded music." said Charlie Hansen, CEO of Ayre Acoustics." Of course this doesn't tell us anything about how it actually sounds, but it does seem step in the right direction. Yes it does seem like a good quality DAC and step in the right direction. So how much difference will that make to the average user who is listening to it in a noisy city environment? I wonder how much listening will take place in surroundings that enable the listener to really focus on and appreciate the hi-res quality. Still, I bet they sell a ton of these because "hi-res" is the new buzzword. People will be asking, "do you have 96/24?" Or, "I don't listen to anything below 192 and am waiting for 384." "Hi-res" has replaced "cloud." That's too bad. I was just getting used to floating on the cloud. Now I have to get off the cloud and become more hi-res'd!!
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Post by monkumonku on May 7, 2014 12:44:04 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... The DAC is reportedly the ESS Sabre 9018, implemented by Ayre Acoustics. It uses the same DAC as the new Oppo HA-1 headphone amp: www.oppodigital.com/headphone-amplifier-ha-1/(sorry, didn't mean to derail the thread but just wanted to point out that must be a highly respected DAC)
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Post by ÈlTwo on May 7, 2014 13:23:39 GMT -5
There are already a few portable players that support FLAC. The FiiO X3 and X5 are not horribly expensive, and the Astell&Kern looks pretty sweet if money is no object. But then there are only a few options so more competition would probably improve the price/performance of the available options. I have the X3, and in those situations where I want to listen to music but earbuds are the only practical option, it makes me happy. There are actually quite a number of portable players that support FLAC. If you flash RockBox to the following players, they all play FLAC files, and can be flashed to RockBox using an automated installer: Apple: iPod 1g through 5.5g, iPod Mini, iPod Nano 1g Archos: Jukebox 5000, 6000, Studio, Recorder, FM Recorder, Recorder V2 and Ondio Cowon: iAudio X5, X5V, X5L, M5, M5L, M3 and M3L iriver: iHP100 series, H100 series, H300 series and H10 series MPIO: HD300 Olympus: M:Robe 100 Packard Bell: Vibe 500 SanDisk: Sansa c200, e200 and e200R series, Fuze, Clip, Clip+ and Clip Zip Toshiba: Gigabeat X and F series In fact the Sansa Clip Sport, Clip Zip, Clip+, Clip (v1 &2), Fuze (v1&2) and Fuze+ all support FLAC using their native firmware.
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Post by drtrey3 on May 7, 2014 13:37:31 GMT -5
Hey! You! Get off of my cloud!
Trey
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2014 14:18:09 GMT -5
1) I think if PONO could be hooked up to a any hi-fi system (like in the Audio Stream review) without a loss in resolution it would definitely get my attention. 2) If there is an interface cable that can be purchased that could hook PONO up to my car's audio system that would even more get my attention as I travel a lot. I have had a couple of close calls switching albums on my laptop in the passenger seat beside me. I guess you could say I prefer to risk death rather than listen to FM programming. 3) If PONO screens its HD downloads better than HDTracks I'm definitely in. I get tired of the search for reviews for feedback on if a download is quality or not.
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HDSapper
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"Any problem on earth can be solved with the careful application of high explosives."
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Post by HDSapper on May 7, 2014 14:58:59 GMT -5
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2014 16:04:11 GMT -5
The Fiio X5 uses a TI PCM1792A DAC Chip vs the PONO using a Sabre ES9018 DAC Chip. Ayre does the DAC in the PONO. Not sure on the Fiio. The X5 appears to be only $40-50 less expensive than the PONO. Not sure how they are going to compare. I'm sure we'll see before too long.
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