We learned at SXSW about the Ayre connection, and that PonoPlayer will not be locked into PonoMusic content, but can play high-res material from other sources. More information springs up almost hourly. We guessed as much when Neil Young went to visit Meridian Audio last year, but it was fellow apodizing filter-supporting Ayre Acoustics that was involved in the design of the player proper. Specs confirmed at this time are that PonoPlayer will support files up to 24bit, 192kHz in FLAC format, it has a line and headphone output, the analogue stages are zero-feedback designs, it comes with 64GB of on-board memory and a further 64GB of microSD storage, uses an ESS 9018 ‘Sabre’ DAC and minimium-phase apodizing filter. PonoPlayer is a portable audio player, designed to bring high-resolution audio to a new audience (it’s intended to be $399 at launch). Pono is a system, comprising the device itself (PonoPlayer) and a music store (PonoMusic). In late 2012, Young appeared on Letterman clutching a five-inch long, bright yellow triangular device with a screen and a few keys last year. So, when less than 18 months ago, Young announced he was going to make a high-resolution audio system called Pono, perhaps we shouldn’t have been surprised.ĭetails were, at first, sketchy. All of which makes him in hindsight an obvious proponent of high-resolution audio. He has matured nicely into the music business’ finest curmudgeon, and he has become one of the most visible and outspoken champions of good sound quality at a time of poor sounding recordings.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |