How does your Pono sound?

lolobugg · November 2014

PP193448 said:

lolobugg said:

PP193448 said:
I haven't got my Pono yet, but I just ordered like new Sennheiser HD700 headphones from their outlet site. Shelled out little over $500 for these puppies but hoping they sound better than my Bose ones. Retail was like $750-800 I think. Better priced than the top shelf HD800's at about $1500. Crazy I'm sure. Wife doesn't know this so I'm good so far. Going to have to accidentally drop my Bose ones or let the kids play with them.
Man, those are nice.
Would you mind giving a review when you get them?
I love Sennheisers and I am thinking about trying out an open-back headphone.
As soon as my pono gets here, I will compare the Pono to my iPhone 5 with my IPhone ear buds, Bose NC headphones, and soon to be delivered Sennheiser HD700 and give review. Don't know when that would be cause I haven't even got shipping email from Pono. Will also try to plug the Pono into my home theater system and stop by my neighbors house to compare his turntable albums vs Pono. He's got nice system and I don't have a table yet.

looking forward to the reviews

MedozK · November 2014

I need to start thinking about somewhere cool and dry to store my FLAC collection.

)

I still honestly think that ALL vinyl purchases should come with a 24 bit download.

AndySlash · November 2014

despite having the two pj albums and the neil young track, my first listen on my pono was the recent 24/96 wav files from the pink floyd division bell reissue earlier this year.

i listened to the division bell on headphones (and otherwise) countless times since 1994. i know this album front-to-back. listening to the album on the pono was a new experience. sounds i'd never heard before. a clarity i'd never heard before. separation i'd never heard before.

now that's not saying those things never existed. but i personally had never heard the album like this in all my years of listening to it. in that regard, pono was the difference.

i listened to w.m.a. after my division bell run and there, too, i heard things i'd never heard before.

so, so far my impressions of pono are pretty positive.

davidos · November 2014

Does it matter if i buy FLAC HD or ALAC HD if my universe is Mac? Was going to buy ALAC HD but everyone talks about FLAC.... Does the Pono play ALAC HD?

MedozK · November 2014

davidos said:
Does it matter if i buy FLAC HD or ALAC HD if my universe is Mac? Was going to buy ALAC HD but everyone talks about FLAC.... Does the Pono play ALAC HD?

Apple's equivalent to FLAC is Apple Lossless (ALAC). They are both the same - lossless, and compressed.

buck502000 · November 2014

iTunes does not do 24 bit music

MedozK · November 2014

buck502000 said:
iTunes does not do 24 bit music

It will play it, but it down samples it to 16 bit.

buck502000 · November 2014

right, but you can use a newer mac with a different player. I use an app called VOX to play flac and 24 bit music.

aurynsdad · November 2014

AndySlash, that's a compelling review. I hope you are able to listen to an HD version of Floyd's "The Endless River." It should be mindblowing.

lolobugg · November 2014

so anyway, if people still care these are the headphones I use with it: Sennheiser HD380 PRO.
excellent sounding closed-back cans.
http://en-us.sennheiser.com/monitoring-headphone-studio-professional-audio-hd-380-pro

MedozK · November 2014

Once more people get these in their hands and can report back about the sound. The more I look at HD audio the more questions I have. For instance, a buyer of hi-res music needs to know the lineage of music. If an album was recorded using 44.1kHz specs, and if they buy it at 96 it has just been upsampled and from what I understand this adds nothing to the music except storage space. So really you could be paying more, just to use up more storage space.

It is a VERY interesting topic and I cant wait to have a dedicated player to judge these sounds for myself.

lolobugg · November 2014

MedozK said:
Once more people get these in their hands and can report back about the sound. The more I look at HD audio the more questions I have. For instance, a buyer of hi-res music needs to know the lineage of music. If an album was recorded using 44.1kHz specs, and if they buy it at 96 it has just been upsampled and from what I understand adds nothing to the music except storage space. So really you could be paying more, just to use up more storage space.

It is a VERY interesting topic and I cant wait to have a dedicated player to judge these sounds for myself.

Exactly.
I think that they should have to disclose that it has been upsampled.
There are a lot of people claiming that this happens a lot on HDTracks.
wish they would be transparent and disclose the native recording resolution/mastering, etc. when available.

2-feign-reluctance · November 2014

Damn you PONO! Why do you have to look so good?!

MedozK said:
Once more people get these in their hands and can report back about the sound. The more I look at HD audio the more questions I have. For instance, a buyer of hi-res music needs to know the lineage of music. If an album was recorded using 44.1kHz specs, and if they buy it at 96 it has just been upsampled and from what I understand this adds nothing to the music except storage space. So really you could be paying more, just to use up more storage space.

It is a VERY interesting topic and I cant wait to have a dedicated player to judge these sounds for myself.

A point I not so eloquently was trying to make in several other threads....

AndySlash · November 2014

aurynsdad said:
AndySlash, that's a compelling review. I hope you are able to listen to an HD version of Floyd's "The Endless River." It should be mindblowing.

i really hope so, and sooner than later.

Big Bank Hank · November 2014

pretty impressed with the few reviews I have read so far, does it work like an MP3? are you able to upload to the player through a website or do you have to have it hooked up to your PC to get the albums uploaded to your player

davidos · November 2014

Sounds pretty dang good to me..... Listening to W.M.A. right now while a/b'ing with my iPad.... Both sound good but the Pono is clearer, has more presence and is crisper.... Heard what sounded like a few bong hits at the beginning of the song :-).... Very cool.... "Human devices set me free..."

Can't wait to buy a few HD boots... Wish they would hurry up and release moline, etc. maybe try Cincinnati. Best so far?

PJfanwillneverleave1 · November 2014

davidos said:
Listening to W.M.A. right now with my iPad the Pono is clearer, has more presence and is crisper Heard what sounded like a few bong hits at the beginning of the song "Human devices set me free..."

"Human devices set me free" was incredible to hear on the Sony Walkman on tape.

KV4053 · November 2014

Sounds great. Three songs in and noticeably crisper and clearer than my Cowon J3. More listening tomorrow.

buck502000 · November 2014

too bad the pono world app and store are not available outside the US

EdsonNascimento · November 2014

Why is everyone who reviews comparing to iTunes and such? It better beat mp3s and the like or the whole thing is stupid. I'd like to hear a review vs the Sony and other superior hd quality digital players. To me that's the true competition. These things exist and appear to be not only cheaper but have a longer track record.

As a portable device, until somebody solves the file size issue, this is a non starter. Changing out the handful of albums you can carry around with you is an issue. Especially when there's no wifi connection.

If it's in your home, no problem. I assume you could create a dedicated hard drive to store and connect to your library. But interestingly enough, pono is not competing in that space? Why? Because that market already exists and they can't im guessing.

So could someone let us know how these compare to other hd digital players? Also, if I've misinterpreted the storage capacity even with a card, I'd like to be corrected.

How does your Pono sound?

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