The PonoPlayer got it right, whether they survive as a business or not.
There is a right way and a quick way to build a digital audio playback circuit.
The following information comes from Charlie Hansen, the designer of the … Read the rest
HD
Youkill Audio Youtube
Deets on Youtube’s audio handling:
Audio is streamed at either 128k or 320k mp3.
Everything defaults to 128k. You can only get the 320k audio stream by selecting the HD video quality. Some videos start in HD but most don’t. … Read the rest
Only Stream If You Also Buy Music
If you stream and don’t buy anything ever, you are hurting us all.
We all do it, or know those that do. Since about 1999 (the early Napster era) the idea of actually paying for your music collection has been … Read the rest
Guide To Hi-Res Audio
The momentum continues, as more publications pick up on this new push towards quality in consumer audio. MP3 won’t die without a fight, but it’s 15 year grip on the music industry appears to be loosening.
Check out … Read the rest
Free Upgrades For Life
Funny how reality got in the way of the Pono bashing and Neil Young hating that was all over the internet in 2013-2014.
The emperor has clothes. He usually wears yellow.
- They claimed Young was trying to
Quality Hiding In Plain Site
Why the hatred of quality music and sound right now? Is it really the machines taking over?
Consumer audio suffers this weird delusion. It seems to be a digital blindness.
It started in the 80’s but was … Read the rest
The Resolution Wars
MP3’s are dying, thank god. MP3 is a transitionary technology that has overstayed it’s welcome.
If you believe lossy MP3 is all you need for music, goodbye. Come back when you want to listen. Yes 320k is better than 192k … Read the rest
You Are Not Alone
Quality of sound is not a joke. It leads to quality of life and quality of mental state.… Read the rest
The Pono Promise Is Real
This crazy old rock star started another company. He named it the Hawaiian word for righteousness. He has long hair, wears jeans and a leather coat, it’s a for-profit small business, and he is hated by conservatives.
The … Read the rest
24bit or Bust: Bill Withers & Led Zeppelin
They trickle out slowly but at least they are finally coming: 24bit versions of classic albums by classic artists, ready for purchase for under $20. This is the full-quality studio master for your library so don’t pass up these opportunities.… Read the rest
It’s Bandwidth, Stupid
Everything digital boils down to bandwidth –
- how much you have
- how much can you use
- how fast the data can move through it
Bandwidth comes in several forms. The network connection is the obvious one because we already use … Read the rest
Progress Being Made Towards High Definition Audio
Finally! The recording and music industry is discussing standards and practices for proper high-resolution audio, which will hopefully lay the groundwork for mass acceptance by consumers.
This is 20 years past due. Better late than never.
The various entities are … Read the rest
Technically Tripping Over Feet
One of the most contentious nerd debates online is about audio quality, and those that believe there are no differences in quality always point to AB tests as their primary justification.
This guy explains why this is fatally flawed, and … Read the rest
Why Apple Music (or Spotify) Doesn’t Matter Much
1000k and Beyond
Control the terminology, control the message.
I am listening to Sam Cooke right now. It’s stunning. Through $24 computer speakers. You think I’m kidding? Try it yourself.
It’s a 3000k bitrate file. That’s sure helps.
It’s being played on the … Read the rest
Recording Quality Rule Of Thumb
Allow me to speak some truth about the recording arts — the overall quality of music production has been going down since before I started. I’ve done nothing to reverse the trend ;-).
This is due to multiple factors not … Read the rest
Triangle Love
More random reasons to love the PonoPlayer, the more I live with it:
- It has no EQ. Thank you. The mix is perfect, or at least final. You can buy different headphones/speakers, or run an external EQ if you insist,
FUNK @ 24/192: Oh My!
But of course, why did I ever doubt it?
I worry. More than my cool attitude allows.
I worry about incompetence and greed getting in the way of a good time.
I worried that the high resolution thing would pass … Read the rest