The black PonoPlayer from PonoMusic is a high-definition audio player designed to deliver master-quality audio in a portable format. The player features a playback resolution up to 192 kHz/24-bit and is compatible with a variety of formats including FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, DSD, AAC (unprotected), and MP3. Charles Hansen, the founder of Ayre Acoustics, designed the PonoPlayer with a high-quality DAC to improve the listening experience of any playback system including headphones, earbuds, in-ear monitors, and speakers. The two 1/8" outputs can be used in a variety of ways, such as using one for headphones and the other as a line-out for sound systems, powered speakers, or a car stereo. These jacks can also be used simultaneously for shared music, such as listening with two sets of headphones. You can also use the outputs together in balanced mode, designed for high definition headphones from Audeze, Sennheiser, and others. The 64GB of on-board memory can be expanded via a microSDXC card slot. The PonoPlayer ships with a universal charger, USB cable, battery, software, and a case.
- The PonoPlayer is a purpose built device, designed by audio engineer Charles Hansen, founder of Ayre Acoustics, with a “no compromises” approach to sound quality. It meaningfully improves the listening experience with any quality of headphones, speakers or playback system
- The output buffer used to drive the headphones is fully discrete so that all individual parameters, circuit values, and parts quality can be fully optimized for the absolute finest sound quality
- The PonoPlayer will play FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, DSD, AAC (unprotected), and MP3 files
- The audio circuitry in the PonoPlayer is fully balanced, from the D/A converter chip to the output jacks. This is the first portable audio player in the world to be made this way. The balanced output mode separates the left and right channel outputs across the two jacks for specially equipped headphones that have two balanced connectors for connection to equipment with balanced XLR input connectors
- The PonoPlayer has two line-out jacks. One is for headphone use and the other can be used as a line-out for sound systems, powered speakers, or a car stereo. These jacks can also be used simultaneously for shared music, such as listening with two sets of headphones. But most uniquely is that the two jacks can be used in balanced mode that works with headphones from Audeze, Sennheiser, and others. Balanced mode provides even greater accuracy and increases the output to each channel
- The PonoPlayer has a blue light that illuminates to indicate that the PonoMusic track is certified as the highest available quality and guaranteed to be the resolution indicated
- Pono offers the highest resolution available for all tracks that it sells. They range from CD quality up to 192 kHz/24-bit. This is up to twenty times the amount of data per music track found on conventional digital music players
- Songs in the Pono music store are sold and downloaded in the FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) audio format. There is no copy protection or DRM
- PonoMusic will have a quality spectrum depending on the quality of the available master recordings. This includes:
- CD lossless quality recordings: 1411 kbps (44.1 kHz/16-bit)
- High-resolution recordings: 2304 kbps (48 kHz/24-bit)
- Higher-resolution recordings: 4608 kbps (96 kHz/24-bit)
- Ultra-high resolution recordings: 9216 kbps (192 kHz/24-bit)
- The PonoPlayer currently ships with a total of 64GB of memory built into the player. The expansion slot can accept microSDXC cards for expanded storage
- The amount of songs and albums that the PonoPlayer can hold depends on the resolution of the music files:
- 44.1 kHz/16-bit (approximately 5000 tracks)
- 48 kHz/24-bit (approximately 3200 tracks)
- 96 kHz/24-bit (approximately 1600 tracks)
- 192 kHz/24-bit (approximately 800 tracks)