Are you sure your Squeezebox does not do high rez? I play 24/96 files using a 24/96 capable DAC all the time. |
I use iTunes. Thought that did not support hi rez either. |
Ok PONO in simple terms is a DSD audio streaming device that lets you download lossless audio (full bitrate). You have to subscribe to a high bitrate streaming service like Tidal! Its really all about the bits of data coming in online, most music is chopped up pretty bad by the time it gets from Pandora or Spotify to your device. The higher bit rate services say you get CD quality to digital master quality! WOW. The PONO sounds amazing with headphones, much more engaging than music from a phone or I-pad. If you invest in the proper cable for stereo out to a preamp, I am almost sure this could suffice as a mini music streamer/server/player for a home system, haven't tried it..YET. |
I have had my Pono for a few months now, and its AWESOME. I use a serf cable so that I can run it "balanced" into my Sennheiser 650s and it is super sweet. I do not hook it up to my stereo. I only use it on the go. (my big rig has access to the same music the pono stores so no need for me to do that) but with the balanced cable it sure can be a great source. |
I think there are better engineered devices out there at or near the Pono's price that outperform it. And I have a hard time getting over the Pono's form factor, what were they thinking - make it triangular just to be different?
I'd sooner purchase one of the iBasso or Fiio units before a Pono, the same or better sound quality and a much more user friendly shape... |
I've been using a Pono player for a couple of months now and the sound quality is excellent. I purchased the silver balanced cable from Moon Audio for Shure SE846 earbuds I use 90% of the time and the upgrade bumped the sound quality up another notch. I use Grado PS1000 headphones the other 10% of the time and the Pono has no problem driving the larger phones. The sound quality is excellent with the Grados also. I no longer use my Apple iPod classic.
The Pono is not a streaming device btw. |
I agree 100% with Rlwainwright. I'm also not a fan of ayre, so anything ayre is involved in I stay clear of as I have no respect for that company. This just my opinion and I mean no disrespect to anyone who likes ayre. |
I'm a Fioo X3 user because it sounds good and has a digital out. Yes it does DSD, can serve as a USB DAC uses SC's up to 128gig, is pocket size and, did I mention that it sounds good. Oh, and it cost around $140.00.
The pono does not have a digital in or out. |
Rlwainwright,Have you heard the Pono ,iBasso or Fiio units,or are you going by what you have read ? I have to agree about the shape! |
No respect is a LOT different than not having a preference. No respect implies a lack of honesty and integrity, neither of which Ayre possess. I'd be more careful of my word choice in the future. |
You do not know what happened between me and that screwed up company called ayre, so who are you to tell me to be more careful of my word choice? ayre is a company that I would never ever do business with as they gave me nothing but trouble, called me a liar and would not believe anything I told them. Yes ayre is a company in my opinion, most definitely lacks honesty and integrity to the point that I make sure my friends stay clear of them. ayre to me is just a bunch of fancy mostly empty boxes with the gain turned up deliberately to try to get people to think it sounds better, but it's just junk.
I have already covered myself by writing that "This just my opinion and I mean no disrespect to anyone who likes ayre, but don't you tell me how to choose my words because you don't know the story, and you don't know the hell I went through with the dealer and ayre with a piece of their equipment that arrived to me not working and almost caused one of my other pieces equipment to get damage because of a defective ayre component.
YES, I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR THE COMPANY CALLED AYRE. THIS IS MY OPINION. |
"Yes ayre is a company in my opinion, most definitely lacks honesty and integrity to the point that I make sure my friends stay clear of them. ayre to me is just a bunch of fancy mostly empty boxes with the gain turned up deliberately to try to get people to think it sounds better, but it's just junk."
Owing multiple Ayre products over many years, and having had direct dealings with the company, I have the exact opposite opinion! Great design, quality and service. I highly recommend their equipment and the company. |
Well, I have bought a brand new ayre product and it arrived not working. When I called the dealer about it and told him the component would not even come on after being plugged in the wall and turned on with the power button. The dealer would not even believe me. In his mind ayre could do no wrong and that was the way it was when I called the company, they didn't believe it either. He told me that there must be no power in the wall outlet, unbelievable, and it gets worse, but I just don't feel like writing about this incident all over again. Other ayre units I bought used in the past always kept breaking down, terrible customer service when the company was called. I opened every ayre unit I've owned and there was three, looked inside, hardly anything in the box, unit was almost empty, low grade parts inside, and every unit seemed to play louder than similar other brands. For crying out loud has anybody ever actually looked inside a ayre unit ??? There's nothing much inside, the box is practically empty and low grade parts. Expensive prices, very little circuitry in the box, a good setting inside to make the unit play louder than most ( most people take louder sounding units to sound better but most audiophiles know this is not true ) this all will equal high profits for the company. I'm glad all your ayre products worked great for you and you had good support from the dealer and company, but please remember, just because you had good luck doesn't mean everybody will, and just because you think ayre is great doesn't mean everybody will. You can't seriously think ayre is perfect and everything they make doesn't or never breaks. I've had back luck with the company, the dealer, and the products, so I'm just stating my opinion. You've had good luck, well good for you. Me, I still think, no I know ayre makes JUNK and I would not waste my time looking at any of their stuff as there is so much better out there.
You have to understand that anyone who had bad luck with any company, the companies dealer, and the companies products is not going to brag about them. |
There are always two sides to every story. |
Owing multiple Ayre products over many years, and having had direct dealings with the company, I have the exact opposite opinion! Poor design, poor quality and terrible service. I highly do not recommend their equipment and the company. |
The shape is actually great as you can put it on your desk and read the read out while you are loading music. |
Exron, thanks. It is refreshing to see a post which gives an honest opinion and doesn't hide the ball on what the poster is really talking about. |
