Neil Young will save our ears

[The Sleeping Giant]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1003614822/ponomusic-where-your-soul-rediscovers-music

This is awesome news, and I will be buying one when available. I'm not sure how anyone can listen to mp3, cd or whatever apple use as a file. Have been listening to high res FLAC audio or vinyl for a couple of years now, and I can't go back .

[Interceptor]

This isn't exactly a new idea or technology, it's just getting a lot of hype because it has Neil Young's name attached to it.
He's been whining about audio quality for years and previously put content out on DVD-Audio and Blu-ray audio discs.
Now he's decided to move onto digital files instead and put out a new player with a crappy name.

You can already get similar units like this

The biggest quality issue in recent years has been over compression/lack of dynamic range.
Having said that, I'll be interested to see what's available in the catalog.

[The Sleeping Giant]

I'm aware there are products available out there that can already do what the Pono can sort of do. You can play FLAC files on your smartphone if you want, but with the shitty DACs in them and other portable players, what is the point. How many people are actually going to rip their CDs into FLAC files, and even if they do rip to FLAC, they still aren't as high a quality as from the master tracks.

I don't think people realize what they are missing out on when listening to mp3s and apple files. People still think CD versions of music are the best copies they can get, when vinyl and high res FLAC files are so much superior. People make a huge fuss over HD TV and movies, yet don't realize that listening to mp3s is like watching a HD movie with vasoline smeared over the screen.

Anyway, rant over.

I'm really looking forward to what Pono has to offer also. Looks like they have all the major record labels on board already plus independents. I'm only guessing, but I would think Neil Young would also cut an excellent deal with the artists who get involved. This could be a game changer judging by the amount the kickstarter has already raised.

P.S. Good luck finding Ultra High Res files for download legally. What I do currently is buy the artists cd, then rip (depending on quality) or download the highest res files I can find. Also use a Meridian Explorer DAC with AKG 701 headphones. If you are going to listen to music, why listen to compressed crap.

[Kahuna]

People still think CD versions of music are the best copies they can get, when vinyl and high res FLAC files are so much superior.

I just don't get the resurgent love for vinyl. CD was a huge step forward. What is the attraction of vinyl for those on here that use it.
Genuinley interested to know, not trolling for a slanging match.

[Interceptor]

People still think CD versions of music are the best copies they can get, when vinyl and high res FLAC files are so much superior.

I just don't get the resurgent love for vinyl. CD was a huge step forward. What is the attraction of vinyl for those on here that use it.
Genuinley interested to know, not trolling for a slanging match.

I don't get it either, vinyl isn't "so much superior" over CD, at least not on specs.
The reason CD got a bad reputation from audiophiles was that early CD players had inferior DACs (12 bit or maybe 14 bit) to what is commonly seen today.
Add to that many early releases on CD were issued from vinyl masters that were unsuited to the CD format (vinyl tails off in the treble range, so masters get boosted there, play a CD from that master and you get the "harsh" sound people complained about).

Quality playback equipment is important of course, but a lot of quality is highly dependent on the original recordings and the mastering process.
A number of producers and artists have hijacked the latter resulting in the Loudness War and a new harshness.

The thing is though that most of the general public don't care about hi-res audio, it's more about convenience of having thousands of portable tracks.
So it's great that there will be more hi-res available for people who care, but I think it will remain a niche market.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Was hoping not to start a slanging match, but unfortunately it's safooty. ;-)

Cd=equals a flat digital compressed sound that requires filters and dynamic range enhancers to sound passable.

Vinyl is uncompressed and is one of the closest formats available to how the music sounded in the studio.

Vinyl isn't everyone's cup of tea, as it requires maintenance and care. Cds you can throw around and they still sound the same.

To me, vinyl and high resolution audio files are how the music was supposed to sound. Music that fills the room and envelopes the body.

[The Sleeping Giant]

There are alternatives. Buy one of these. These will make your mp3s sound a hell of a lot better.

http://www.arcam.co.uk/products,rseries,usb-dacs,irDAC.htm
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/products/dacmagic-100-digital-to-analogue-converter
https://www.meridian-audio.com/en/collections/products/explorer-1000/4/

[mal]

I'm with Sleepy on this one
Get the right record player, amps speakers etc , the sound is better than CDs
On a built in speaker el cheapo record player the sound is not as good
I've reconstructed an old JVC player , the sound is a gas man

Mainly use CDs in the car
Always use the record player at home

[The Sleeping Giant]

I miss going into Porthole Records on a Saturday.

[The Sleeping Giant]

I'm with Sleepy on this one
Get the right record player, amps speakers etc , the sound is better than CDs
On a built in speaker el cheapo record player the sound is not as good
I've reconstructed an old JVC player , the sound is a gas man

Mainly use CDs in the car
Always use the record player at home

I use these components. All up I think it cost around $1200. I want the Pono for the car and travelling.

Turntable

Amp

Speakers

[mal]

I miss going into Porthole Records on a Saturday.

The owner Rick looks like a long haired 1960's groover
Best place in Adelaide for vinyl

Just for the 'record'
The Neil Young song that I like most is Cinnamon Girl

[The Sleeping Giant]

Cortez the killer for me.

[Failed Creation]

Like A Hurricane for me.

[Pseudo]

Old Man is the dog's bollocks.