Pono Kickstarter has DMB option at $400

[Mr_Walkaway]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...iscovers-music

Thought this was cool. It's down in the $400 area of the buy-in options.

Pledge $400 or more ARTIST SIGNATURE SERIES: DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Limited Edition Artist PonoPlayer in Chrome. Laser engraved with artist's signature. Comes pre-loaded with artist's top two favorite albums. Handmade leather case with presentation box. Plus: Website Thanks.

[Jsweeney]

does anyone use these pono devices?

[chadizzy1]

Originally Posted by Mr_Walkaway

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...iscovers-music

Thought this was cool. It's down in the $400 area of the buy-in options.

Pledge $400 or more ARTIST SIGNATURE SERIES: DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – Limited Edition Artist PonoPlayer in Chrome. Laser engraved with artist's signature. Comes pre-loaded with artist's favorite album - Big Whiskey. Handmade leather case with presentation box. Plus: Website Thanks.

Fixed that for ya.

[moccasin]

A little more info:

The age of the iPod might be over, but music artist Neil Young doesn't believe portable media players are dead. On March 15th, he'll offer pre-orders on Kickstarter for the PonoPlayer, a $399 triangular digital music player designed to sound worlds better. The company describes the sound as "studio master-quality digital music at the highest audio fidelity possible," giving listeners the ability to "experience music the way the artists intended."

The player is designed to be paired with the upcoming PonoMusic.com service, which will offer "the finest quality, highest-resolution digital music from both major labels and prominent indpendent labels," according to the company. The device will ship with 128GB of storage, enough to store between 100 and 500 albums of such music, with expansion via memory card, and will feature an LCD touchscreen in addition to its three physical buttons.

Young first promised Pono would arrive in 2013, appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman to announce his foray into the world of consumer electronics and showing off a prototype that looks remarkably similar to the current design. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea called the audio quality "a drastic difference" at the time. The product later got pushed to 2014. Today's news comes courtesy of Computer Audiophile founder Chris Connaker, who got permission to publish an early press release. In addition to the release, Connaker has unearthed some more details about the device, including the specific ESS ES9018 digital to analog converter chip used in the player. Connaker also reports that PonoMusic will no longer feature any sort of DRM.

Update: PonoMusic appears to have had a serious typo in their original press release. While the original stated that the 128GB of storage would hold between 1,000 and 2,000 albums, it has since been changed to read that the player will hold 100 to 500 albums instead. We've changed this article to reflect that.

[uro55]

Thought this said porno.

Leaves disappointed.....

[Dannyyankou]

You can play lossless music on iPods anyway. Don't really see the point of this.

[DavidLightman]

Originally Posted by Dannyyankou

You can play lossless music on iPods anyway. Don't really see the point of this.

The audio is 192khz/24bit. Audio is converted to that format from masters again - so it's not just CD Quality (44.1khz/16bit)-->this new format format.

iPods can't play that and music isn't currently distributed at that high of resolution.

That said I think it's overkill especially for the price. Neil is just trying to make some more cash....

[Mr_Walkaway]

Yeah, I got slightly interested in it for awhile, then after reading up more on it, have already decided I don't need one. However, link's here if anyone feels like it, I'll listen to hi-def / lossless on my stereo, and otherwise deal with the fact that it's not like you can tell the difference when you're driving 60mph down the highway w/ windows down anyway...

[justinfischl]

I didn't know the age of iPods was over

[coolhotwaves]

The most annoying part of reading Neil's autobiography was the pono player's constant mentions.

[crb60]

Originally Posted by justinfischl

I didn't know the age of iPods was over

Same. I use mine daily. Can't think of never having it tbh

[coolhotwaves]

I like the idea a lot, but it will be a massive flop of a business. There just aren't enough people that care about higher quality audio to support a whole format. This might lead to a different manufacturer picking up the quality side of things and integrating it into a better form of MP3-like player. It will come eventually, but until we start seeing mp3 players with huge hard drives I doubt we'll see this type of thing catch on.

[ToySoldier#34]

I love kickstarting porno and DMB!!

[Hershey2004]

Originally Posted by justinfischl

I didn't know the age of iPods was over

Classic business approach:

Create a problem that isn't actually there, and then sell people a solution to it.

[lockman21]

Who the hell wants to carry around that triangle thing in their pocket?

This is idiotic, and insanely expensive.

[AndySlash]

Originally Posted by coolhotwaves

I like the idea a lot, but it will be a massive flop of a business. There just aren't enough people that care about higher quality audio to support a whole format. This might lead to a different manufacturer picking up the quality side of things and integrating it into a better form of MP3-like player. It will come eventually, but until we start seeing mp3 players with huge hard drives I doubt we'll see this type of thing catch on.

will it be a success like the ipod? i doubt it. but with the resurgence of vinyl and the fact that they raised twice the amount they had requested in under 24 hours suggests to me there is a growing market for products that go beyond the mp3 model. niche, sure. but high end audio equipment has been around forever and at the least the people buying that type of equipment will probably be interested in this.

as someone who somehow has never had an ipod/smartphone/digital music player of any kind, this product got me to fork over the money. i'm excited for it. if it becomes another betamax, minidisc or hd-dvd footnote, so be it, but it's a product i want and am looking forward to using.

[AndySlash]

Originally Posted by lockman21

Who the hell wants to carry around that triangle thing in their pocket?

*waves* hi!

[lockman21]

Originally Posted by AndySlash

*waves* hi!

That sucks.

[dobyblue]

If it has said artists first two albums I'd be all over that $400 option! Can't believe the amount raised already, very cool.

I haven't done a tonne of research on this because I love physical media, but I have no issues with digital files. If the Pono service gives us a different approach than other HD download sites like HD Tracks by ONLY offering fully dynamic recordings and is always transparent about the source material then I believe this will quickly become the audiophile communities go to option outside of specialty vinyl and SACD releases from Analogue Productions, Audio Fidelity (Steve Hoffman, Kevin Gray) and Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs. The community is big, just take a look at the membership of the Steve Hoffman forums.

[BJisBA41]

For a true audiophile, sure. For the average joe...probably not paying 17.99-24.99 for an album to hear "subtle nuances"

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by BJisBA41

For a true audiophile, sure. For the average joe...probably not paying 17.99-24.99 for an album to hear "subtle nuances"

But they're referring to subtle nuances of high resolution, if they're using completely different masters then it could appeal to a wider group. Of course I do believe audiophiles are the primary market as they will decide whether it gets adopted enough to be sustainable.

[AndySlash]

Originally Posted by lockman21

That sucks.

not for me, sir.

[mja271]

This is a niche product. Cool for the people who are into it, most will be indifferent

[LeftyDv]

Since you guys seem to know what you're talking about... here's my burning question. I have God knows how many gigs of data right now from my CD collection and vinyl downloads (I'm a physical media guy too). Will those have an upgraded sound on Pono? The FAQ says it may make them sound better. How would they go about doing that? Will it be like DVDs on a Blu-Ray player? I might just spend the money if it makes those even a little bit better. Thanks for the input in advance.

[lockman21]

Originally Posted by BJisBA41

For a true audiophile, sure. For the average joe...probably not paying 17.99-24.99 for an album to hear "subtle nuances"

Or to spend $400 to walk around with a train whistle in their pocket.

[RSSR]

Bob Lefsetz's thoughts on Pono:

Selling files in a streaming world is like asking me to give up my Tesla for a bicycle. A bigger bicycle that doesn't exist that you want me to pay for on spec.

Can everybody stop begging? Crowdfunding is so two years ago. Know anybody with a Pebble watch? What a disappointment. Oh, they keep on improving the product, but the early adopters, the ones who pledged on Kickstarter, they got screwed, and Samsung's product is superior, and also recently upgraded, so if you want me to lay my money down so you can get the support no VC will give you, I'll pass.

There are no unsigned bands who got screwed by the major label system. That was the fallacy that was supposed to be eradicated by the Internet. You know, a plethora of badasses who the major labels just couldn't understand were gonna rise like a phoenix and revolutionize not only the business, but our ears. But it turns out Lorde was signed before adolescence and Jason Flom flew to New Zealand for American rights and if you don't think the majors are scouring the world for anything good, and signing it up if it has commercial potential, you don't have an Internet connection and believe everybody deserves a chance.

So here we've got alta-kacher Neil Young wanting us to believe he's a tech king. I'm not sure WME and CAA can figure out tech investment, but artist Young has got it mainlined. Why does everybody think they can do everything? What next, is Neil Young gonna join the NBA? Are sixty year olds gonna dominate at Wimbledon? Face it, you're lucky if you can be world-class at one thing.

And now I've got a single device that lets me play music, surf the web, talk, text, stream music and files...and Neil says I've got it all wrong, I've got to go back ten years and get a single player, that looks chunky in the pics, so I can get higher quality audio. Why don't you just lobby for a faster Internet connection, so I can get hi-res streams? Isn't Google Fiber gonna wipe you out? Do you really want me to go back in time fifteen years when MP3s were cool? What next, a return to BlackBerry, because it had a keyboard and it was such a good e-mail device?

But you can't even show me a finished product. And even though you're a rich rock star (aren't they all?) you can't pay for it, I have to. And that means very few people will, and I'll end up with a paperweight.

No thanks.

But every media outlet in the world is covering this story, as if it has meaning. But it doesn't.

Oh, they'll review Neil Young's new record too, but no one will buy that either. Oh, a few might stream it, but then move on, because he hasn't made memorable music since "Greendale," and that's cutting him a break.

Do I want high quality music on the run?

Of course!

But portable turntables never broke through.

And neither will Pono.

[FeelingGood]

Watch iTunes license it. You'll see Pono's being used as tire-chocks.

Tapatalk from my phone

[Mr Mojo Risin]

Originally Posted by RSSR

Bob Lefsetz's thoughts on Pono:

Selling files in a streaming world is like asking me to give up my Tesla for a bicycle. A bigger bicycle that doesn't exist that you want me to pay for on spec.

Can everybody stop begging? Crowdfunding is so two years ago. Know anybody with a Pebble watch? What a disappointment. Oh, they keep on improving the product, but the early adopters, the ones who pledged on Kickstarter, they got screwed, and Samsung's product is superior, and also recently upgraded, so if you want me to lay my money down so you can get the support no VC will give you, I'll pass.

There are no unsigned bands who got screwed by the major label system. That was the fallacy that was supposed to be eradicated by the Internet. You know, a plethora of badasses who the major labels just couldn't understand were gonna rise like a phoenix and revolutionize not only the business, but our ears. But it turns out Lorde was signed before adolescence and Jason Flom flew to New Zealand for American rights and if you don't think the majors are scouring the world for anything good, and signing it up if it has commercial potential, you don't have an Internet connection and believe everybody deserves a chance.

So here we've got alta-kacher Neil Young wanting us to believe he's a tech king. I'm not sure WME and CAA can figure out tech investment, but artist Young has got it mainlined. Why does everybody think they can do everything? What next, is Neil Young gonna join the NBA? Are sixty year olds gonna dominate at Wimbledon? Face it, you're lucky if you can be world-class at one thing.

And now I've got a single device that lets me play music, surf the web, talk, text, stream music and files...and Neil says I've got it all wrong, I've got to go back ten years and get a single player, that looks chunky in the pics, so I can get higher quality audio. Why don't you just lobby for a faster Internet connection, so I can get hi-res streams? Isn't Google Fiber gonna wipe you out? Do you really want me to go back in time fifteen years when MP3s were cool? What next, a return to BlackBerry, because it had a keyboard and it was such a good e-mail device?

But you can't even show me a finished product. And even though you're a rich rock star (aren't they all?) you can't pay for it, I have to. And that means very few people will, and I'll end up with a paperweight.

No thanks.

But every media outlet in the world is covering this story, as if it has meaning. But it doesn't.

Oh, they'll review Neil Young's new record too, but no one will buy that either. Oh, a few might stream it, but then move on, because he hasn't made memorable music since "Greendale," and that's cutting him a break.

Do I want high quality music on the run?

Of course!

But portable turntables never broke through.

And neither will Pono.

That is a great piece. I started to drink the kool aid reading all the recent hype. I wouldn't consider myself an audiophile but I'm definitely a music fanatic and the premise is very interesting. Only time will tell if this will be a bust or not. I'm sure if this does explode the 1st generation Pono's will be outdated before you can blink an eye. I'm just gonna sit back & watch how this thing unfolds before I jump in. As far as the limited "signed" editions I'll pass. Just a marketing ploy.

[lockman21]

Originally Posted by Mr Mojo Risin

That is a great piece. I started to drink the kool aid reading all the recent hype. I wouldn't consider myself an audiophile but I'm definitely a music fanatic and the premise is very interesting. Only time will tell if this will be a bust or not. I'm sure if this does explode the 1st generation Pono's will be outdated before you can blink an eye. I'm just gonna sit back & watch how this thing unfolds before I jump in. As far as the limited "signed" editions I'll pass. Just a marketing ploy.

http://images.appleinsider.com/ipod-...-edition-2.jpg Remember that?!

[Mr Mojo Risin]

Originally Posted by lockman21

http://images.appleinsider.com/ipod-...-edition-2.jpg Remember that?!

I got me 2 of those.....LOL