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In Reply to: RE: Q: Pono vs HDTracks vs SuperHiRez vs NativeDSD vs Highresaudio, etc ?? posted by AbeCollins on January 28, 2015 at 11:07:28
Altho' John Darko indicated that Talking Heads "Remain in Light" from Pono is a new remaster whereas that album from HDT is an older remix of a multi-channel recording. The pricing is also essentially the same. The main difference, I think, is that the Pono catalog is far larger (already) albeit most of the titles are 16/44. I've typed in some pretty obscure artists in Pono's search engine and only stumped it twice, so far. I've also found a 24 bit album (Kasey Chambers) not available at HDT.
So, it's nothing too earth-shattering (altho' is there any other source of downloads at CD or better resolution with even one-half the catalog?). But, I think (hope?) NY's efforts will result in most new titles being recorded and released as 24 bit files, as well as older analog recordings remastered, digitized and released as 24 bit .
Follow Ups:
I visited the Pono Music store, which BTW is a PITA to navigate IMHO, and I saw plenty of 16/44 downloads.
Which raises the next obvious question: Do those 16/44 downloads differ in any way compared to buying the same CD and ripping it yourself?
Thanks.
If you want to know why Pono is GOOD...
HDT just put out a 20% coupon...something they have done maybe a handful of times in 5 years or so.
COMPETITION is GOOD bubbie.
Off to HDT for some purchases:
Code: HDBlizzard20 btw.....
Not true. I get the HDTracks 'coupons' in my email all the time and they send them several times a year, not a 'handful' of times in 5 years.
Of course competition is good but I've never seen this much hype around a music download site and player before. It must be the Neil Young effect. I thought there was going to be something genuinely earth shattering about it.
No....I was referring to TWENTY PERCENT off coupons.
MOST of their coupons are for 10% off, with a few 15% off as well.
What's a couple percent +/-? IMHO, they're all over priced. Yes, competition is good. Not arguing that point.
Moronic response.
Answers:
You are CORRECT. And Pono has addressed to no end.
Search function will be overhauled, and the store will be made to be a much better experience.
They already offer btw, user reviews and comments, something that their competitors, have chosen not to do, after repeated requests.
CD vs Pono Downloads:
The Pono downloads are NOT ripped from optical discs, they are the CD master files, unless there is no other option. They have this in writing.
FYI, they have thousands of out of print CDs.
The Pono downloads are NOT ripped from optical discs, they are the CD master files, unless there is no other option. They have this in writing.
What is the benefit of downloading the CD master files vs ripping them yourself off CD media? Plus you retain the CD media as a backup. The resolution (16/44) will be the same and the sonic quality should be the same.... unless there is a huge sonic degradation in ripping it yourself.
BTW, I don't think anyone here is arguing AGAINST better audio quality (as one inmate suggested). Some are just raising the question, "why PONO"?
Mostly 'cuz Pono has Neil-freaking-Young telling everyone who will listen that mp3s suck and that hi-rez > CD-rez (he's also hinted that compression bites).
Davis Chesky and the rest of the high-end community have been saying this for years but the media hasn't been especially interested in sticking a mic in their faces.
Whether you like NY/Pono or not doesn't change the fact that it took a rock star to get the attention of the labels (and other artists). I fully expect many more 24 bit titles to be released going forward, for both new and old albums. Moreover, we may see the compression needle swing back in the direction of quality over loudness.
THANK YOU, NEIL YOUNG!
Yes, exactly what I summarized in an earlier Pono thread. It is about Neil Young creating buzz and awareness. I do not (yet) see the benefit of the Pono Music store (we have many other download stores) and certainly not the Pono Player (we have many other worthy players).
It's not like there was a reservoir of 24 bit albums waiting for a retailer. The dividends will be paid going forward. (Like I wrote above, their catalog is already massive for 16/44 altho you might as well just get the CD from Amazon for less $).
As far as the player, it seems that the SQ is competitive with much more expensive units yet is priced similar to an iPod (see reviews from Darko, Lavorgna, Hull). Pono is probably not keen to sell 24/192 files to novices and have them use an iPhone and earbuds for playback. Thus, a high-quality player priced competitively. Moreover, the Pono player can be used as a transport/DAC in a home system (see LaVorgna's review).
True. It will be interesting to see how Pono Music pans out.
I'm not real keen on the player though since I have a capable music server in my listening room, don't want to carry a 2nd device while walking around, and I can already play 'hi-res' in my car.
I passed on the initial kick starter phase. Like you I was waiting to see how it would pan out.
Recently I finally took a look at the website, & searched a couple of old CD's that I couldn't find anywhere else. Surprisingly they had them & I DL'ed them. It seems to be a pretty nice store. You also get a free (for now ?) version of J River V20. I stopped paying for J River at V18. Use it every day though.
I'm always burning discs & than scratching them in my car, & than burning another...I got too many discs around my house. My car stereo sounds lousy playing CD's but fine playing FLAC files through a Sansa portable unit. Recently the CD player jammed. Now I have the choice of replacing the unit or getting a PONO. My wife thinks I jammed it intentionally.
Yes, I bought 3 jack bruce albums LONG out of print and available only on Amazon as very expensive imports. THANK YOU NEIL YOUNG!
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