have i mentioned that this thing sounds sweet? i want all 24bit right now, i'll even take the 16bit FLAC's if i didn't have to rebuy or re-rip them all again. i wish they were just magically on my ponoplayer where they belong. it tickles my ears and bumrushes my emotions.
It does sound really neat. The PonoPlayer has a set-back soundstage. It sets you back several rows from the stage. It projects the soundstage in front of your forehead instead of between your ears. The headstage extends like a horseshoe around the front of your head. The sound is very open. In a way that allows the headphone ear cups to disappear. There is room in the headstage/soundstage for depth. It has the sense of having some crossfeed without the aid of actual crossfeed. The sound goes spacial and just flows over you. With an appropriate recording the sound just sounds natural in space and presentation. Nothing is forced. Very audiophile. Very relaxed and easy listening.
I also have a Cavalli Liquid Fire. The Liquid Fire also has a set-back soundstage and headstage. It puts you several rows back from the stage, much like the PonoPlayer does. It has a similar horseshoe around the front of your head style of headstage. Right now I'm listening to my PonoPlayer connected to a Schiit Lyr and using Audeze LCD-2 rev 2 headphones. The combination has me thinking I'm listening to a baby Liquid Fire. Similar headstage experience. Detail isn't the same (the Lyr can't do that). Bass isn't the same (PonoPlayer doesn't do that). But the headstage experience is similar. Pretty awesome.
Try the PonoPlayer with various headphones. The set-back soundstage works better with good headphones that are able to fill in the center of the image. If the headphones aren't able to fill in the center of the image the overall sound in the center and in the midrange will sound thin. If things sound too thin, or if the center is missing, look for headphones that are better able to fill in the center.
Try the PonoPlayer with a variety of genres and recording styles. Some recording/mixing styles don't mesh well with the set-back and spatial headstage presentation. Some recording styles or mixing styles rely on having the sound presented forward. Playing those recording on a PonoPlayer or on a an amp like the Liquid Fire will sound limp dick. Bass and drive will be lacking because both the bass and drive rely on having the sound presented forward rather than set-back and spatial. Some recordings will sound like a magical experience on the PonoPlayer. Some will sound all limp dick. Enjoy the PonoPlayer for the recordings it makes magical. Classical music recordings, movie soundtrack orchestral recordings, choral recordings, acoustic recordings, recordings that try to have some acoustic style space done naturally, and similar recordings are likely to have magic with the PonoPlayer. Recordings done close mic'ed in the studio and then processed on the mixing board to create a fake exaggerated sense of space may not sound so good on the PonoPlayer. Try a variety of recordings that you have and you'll find what suits the PonoPlayer and what doesn't. You may also find yourself listening louder on the PonoPlayer than with other players. It's easy to listen louder because the sound is smooth and spacial rather than forced and pumpy. It's similar with the Liquid Fire. I listen to the Liquid Fire louder than I do with other amps. I think some of that has to do with the set-back headstage presentation. Louder makes it a little more forward and a little more energy. The smooth and spatial and unforced sound also makes it easier on the ears when listening loud.
The set-back soundstage means some recordings aren't going to sound right. And it's not the sort of sound that is going to get you pumped up while you're exercising or getting prepared to go play football. The set-back soundstage is about letting the music surround you and wash over you. It's the difference between audiophile two channel listening and home theater listening. Home theater is about impact and force. Audiophile two channel is about space and depth and soundstage and layers and having the speakers disappear and having the music just flow. Use the PonoPlayer for the audiophile style experience. Use a different player if you want to put a home theater or dance club on your head.
All my listening so far has been unbalanced. Haven't tried the balanced output modes yet.
I'm listening to Beck "Sea Change" right now. 192 kHz stereo ripped from the BluRay Audio. PonoPlayer -> Lyr -> LCD-2 rev 2 == awesome. The combo is a baby Liquid Fire.