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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Topic started by: raymonda on May 02, 2017, 11:52:47 PM

Title: Pono is officially obsolete.
Post by: raymonda on May 02, 2017, 11:52:47 PM
Pono is no longer. After 1.5 years it dies an uneventful death.
Title: Re: Pono is officially obsolete.
Post by: capnhook on May 03, 2017, 07:32:39 AM
We love ya Neil. but don't try to sell us snake oil again, m'kay??

 :bigsmile:
Title: Re: Pono is officially obsolete.
Post by: nickgregory on May 03, 2017, 11:27:19 AM
I am one who doesn't think his efforts were unsuccessful.  The fact that there is more hi Res music out there now than before is a testament to what he has been able to help contribute to.  Now to be honest, I still think vinyl sounds better on my system...but 24/44-192 through my DAC sounds pretty damn close to vinyl.

Nice to have that option...
Title: Re: Pono is officially obsolete.
Post by: Fried Chicken Boy on May 03, 2017, 02:24:50 PM
Pono is no longer. After 1.5 years it dies an uneventful death.

I think Pono was done as of last July.  From what I've read, they made an announcement of a "temporary" shutdown of their music store last summer > https://www.ponomusic.com/ccrz__CCPage?oId=a201500000GOZTJAA5&pageKey=product&type=Update (https://www.ponomusic.com/ccrz__CCPage?oId=a201500000GOZTJAA5&pageKey=product&type=Update) < and, as of today, the store is still shuttered. > https://www.ponomusic.com/ (https://www.ponomusic.com/)
You can still buy a T-shirt or a player though. :yahoo:
Title: Re: Pono is officially obsolete.
Post by: Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B) on May 03, 2017, 03:11:58 PM
I'm not sure if Pono was responsible for some downloads I get with a vinyl purchase being 24bit, but if it was, I thank them.

I buy a lot of records from Merge Records and they usually include a 24bit FLAC option with new records (and new re-issues). Because of this I'm more likely to spend my "record budget" with them.

Hopefully more labels realize that some people (especially people that buy from indie labels) want the best quality they can get for their money. On top of that, most real music fans know how to get these files from other sources.

When a record I buy doesn't come with a FLAC option (MP3 only), I'm forced to take action and "aquire" the FLAC files from "alternative sources."

Title: Re: Pono is officially obsolete.
Post by: H₂O on May 03, 2017, 10:02:50 PM
I'm not sure if Pono was responsible for some downloads I get with a vinyl purchase being 24bit, but if it was, I thank them.

I buy a lot of records from Merge Records and they usually include a 24bit FLAC option with new records (and new re-issues). Because of this I'm more likely to spend my "record budget" with them.

Hopefully more labels realize that some people (especially people that buy from indie labels) want the best quality they can get for their money. On top of that, most real music fans know how to get these files from other sources.

When a record I buy doesn't come with a FLAC option (MP3 only), I'm forced to take action and "aquire" the FLAC files from "alternative sources."


I have alot of Merge vinyl as well - can I retroactively grab the 24bit versions of the downloads?  I grabbed (only once) the 16bit FLAC versions over the years but haven't seen the 24bit versions. 


When did they start seeding 24bit versions?
Title: Re: Pono is officially obsolete.
Post by: H₂O on May 03, 2017, 10:08:04 PM
In regards to Pono - this doesn't surprise me the player was ok but there is ALOT of competition in this area and I just don't see how they can compete (i.e. Fiio, DSD/HiFi players for andriod or IOS via external DAC, etc).


It is great that they helped add to the competition of 24bit audio music publishers.


For Audiophile I buy MoFi, AP or AF and at least AP sells DSD files via there website - nice growing trend

Pono should have only been a Audiophile label and shouldn't have tried to sell the player IMO!

Title: Re: Pono is officially obsolete.
Post by: Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B) on May 03, 2017, 11:00:17 PM
I'm not sure if Pono was responsible for some downloads I get with a vinyl purchase being 24bit, but if it was, I thank them.

I buy a lot of records from Merge Records and they usually include a 24bit FLAC option with new records (and new re-issues). Because of this I'm more likely to spend my "record budget" with them.

Hopefully more labels realize that some people (especially people that buy from indie labels) want the best quality they can get for their money. On top of that, most real music fans know how to get these files from other sources.

When a record I buy doesn't come with a FLAC option (MP3 only), I'm forced to take action and "aquire" the FLAC files from "alternative sources."


I have alot of Merge vinyl as well - can I retroactively grab the 24bit versions of the downloads?  I grabbed (only once) the 16bit FLAC versions over the years but haven't seen the 24bit versions. 


When did they start seeding 24bit versions?

For the past year or so. I'm pretty sure if you've used your download code you're out of luck.

Can't hurt to email though. They've been really cool when I've had trouble with downloads.
Title: Re: Pono is officially obsolete.
Post by: OOK on May 08, 2017, 07:33:42 PM
Wait a second what??  No Tragedy averted.... I thought the title said porno was obsolete!!! dam dyslexia...
Title: Re: Pono is officially obsolete.
Post by: powermonkey on May 11, 2017, 05:17:16 PM
I love my Pono player, it sounds great. Sad to see it go, but at least now there is a slightly broader choice of hi-res players for the inevitable day my Pono shuffles off this mortal coil.

The Pono store never even made it to the UK, as far as I'm aware, but again, at least there are a few sources of legit hi-res music (HD Tracks, Qobuz, etc).
Title: Re: Pono is officially obsolete.
Post by: Wiggler on May 14, 2017, 10:16:01 AM
I recently spent a lot of time looking into high rez player options for my home system. It looked like Astell and Kern was one of the best for portable players because some of their models could pass DSD over USB. I ultimately went with a MacBook pro and Audirvana Plus software. Good to see 24 bit finally making some gains in the market. Too bad the pono thing didn't succeed.