Some ponoplayer updates:
-- Just got another firmware update, the 2nd one since purchase. Good stuff. The update was seamless and I can tell they are improving the player software as quickly as possible. So far it's smoother, the anti-aliasing on the text looks better, and it has smarter sleep behavior, seemingly solving the phantom button pushing problem.
See, is used to be that the pono buttons get pushed in your bag and it wakes from sleep and starts playing, draining your battery. Now when it's asleep and the buttons are pushed, the screen wakes but requires a swipe to activate, so at least it won't play and the screen shuts back off in about 5 seconds.
-- I lost the USB cable and found out that the PS4 uses the same cables for the controller charging. It's a Mini-USB type B 5-pin, and monoprice has them for 70 cents so I picked up 2 more.
-- Standby time has been better than expected. It can sit for a couple of days without losing much charge. It also passes airport security w/o incident.
-- I just bought Let It Bleed and Who's Next at 24bit and I'm glad I did. Used ProStudioMasters.com.
I played each for about 10 minutes just on my laptop and wow, yes, that's what I'm talking about! I went right to iTunes store and checked the same albums at 256k mp3 and even after giving them 3 volume clicks up still BLECH flat, boxy, compression artifacts everywhere.... honestly, how does apple get away with selling that stuff?
I haven't found the 16bit CD I have of Let It Bleed to test against, but I will when I can. I can tell you that 24bit Baba O'Reilly is better than vinyl. I am going to enjoy those records on the ponoplayer, give me a few days on that.
I still say use the 16bit if you have it, buy the 24bit if you want to treat yourself. Things have consistently sounded 20-40% better to me at 24bit, just bigger, wider, more natural, more air, better layering. It's not insulting 16bit, which can sound damn good, but I consistently hear classic albums improved at 24bit.
treat yo-self day = 24bit or bust
