They have deleted all HI-res CSN (And for that matter most of the 44/16's too) & they are selling the CNY San Francisco grey area recording in 44/16.

It's a shame as the Pono Couch album destroys the hi-res master that everyone else has.

Because of the feud?

Isn't the feud between C&N & C&Y? They've got the bloody illegal in the USA C, N & Y on there; + several 44/16 CSNY's, 2 hr CSNY's & a couple 44/16 CSN's.

The only reason I've ever seen to buy anything from Pono is there 192/24 remaster of the Couch album was far superior to others 96/24 taken from a totally different source (We are NOT talking a small difference in quality, it was HUGE); now it's gone. Are we about to have collectable downloads? The WEA Princes & Jackson Browne's keep going in & out of print also.

i would love to know all of the little nuances in all of the various contracts between CSNY.

there has to be so many variables....

I think it's back now. Not sure why it disappeared, but guess I better go for it now while it's up! I've noticed on HD Tracks that some titles seem to temporarily be unavailable "due to region restrictions" and then they're available again. Maybe Pono has this issue too, but just takes 'em off temporarily?

If it's back, The 2015 192/24 master of CSN #1 (Couch album) on Pono totally destroys the 96/24 version that all other USA retailers are offering.

I don't have specific info on why specific titles go in & oop; but I suspect it's due to limited licensing periods. It's also happened with Prince.

Hi-res in two channels is like an expensive steak served with ketchup.

(Posted mainly to make Jimbo smile.)

The CSN's are back up, AND we've now got DEJA VU in 192/24!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, do i want this!

I just broke down & bought Deja Vu. No idea yet how it sounds, but I will say the Pono downloader is the worst software of it's kind on the internet. If you like I-tunes, you may tolerate it......

Last comment: While I feel it was a rip-off at $20 for 37 minutes, DV sounds excellent. It's apparently been sitting on the shelf for at least 2 years as It was included as a give away with the first batch of Pono players.

I finally figured it out: They're actually cheaper on some sale stuff; but the problem is the only way to find out is to get on there email list. I could NOT figure out any way to sign up without joining Facebook (which I will NOT do); so I finally emailed them & got on there list, where they send out new releases & sales. As an example, everyone has 96/24 Deep Purple Burn & Storm Bringer as new releases at 96/24 this week; Pono is a bit cheaper then HD Tracks @ $14.99 ea.

Pono's music buying service has been down awhile, with the site stating "under construction". You can still buy the players there, but apparently the relationship with the software provider for downloads somehow ended pretty suddenly (a buyout or some sort of thing). It's been a while now, so just wondering if others have more insight on what's going on... Heard a rumor Pono's in financial trouble & may have suspended manufacturing the players. Really just a rumor?

Did you get Pono's original email on this? It didn't mention the players. Afaik, that's the case, but then corporate transparency is an oxymoron...........

i find it very hard to believe that a whole lot of people got into pono in the first place.

I suspect you're right.

Here's what they had going for them vs the other stores imo (I have no comment on the player; I've read mixed reviews as compared to similar hi-rez portable players)

1. (the biggest): There free upgrade policy. If you buy a title from them & it is later remastered, they would give a free exchange

2. The best master of the CSN Couch album (by a mile) & an exclusive hi-res master of Deja Vu

3. Occasionally the best pricing.

HDT & AS are easier to navigate, have a larger hi-res selection (Pono had more cd quality downloads), & are usually cheaper.

The other of "the big 4", Pro Studio Masters continues to have too small an inventory to be a major player, as is the case with Bandcamp & Nugs.

In Europe, Quobuz, HiResAudio & 7Digital are also options. All sell a small portion of the inventory to the USA, but are largely restricted by territorial licenses.

Here's a supposed complete list: (at minimum it;'s missing Nugs & Blue Coast)

http://www.findhdmusic.com/high-definition/directory/

For the love of God Geff...it's "their", not "there". I'm sorry, but I just couldn't read it anymore. Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Tomato, Tomatoe...................

It used to bug me too until I saw your post mentioning all the health problems you had.

I don't think so, just read what they at first stated on the web site. The rumor about the players came from a friend's contact at a high-end audio store, so purely a word of mouth, unconfirmed rumor.

I've never bought a digital portable player from Pono or anyone else (although I likely will someday), but I agree with Geff's comments about some of the positives of their music download FLAC files. One difference though, as I understand it, is that the "Pono Promise" means you'll get a free upgrade to a higher resolution if one is released later after your purchase of a lower resolution file. I don't think it necessarily means a free upgrade to a newly "remastered" version.

You may be right, I'm unsure.

Pono's own statement is confusing, perhaps deliberately so. I found this Pono customer's comment from last year which appears to refer to the original phrasing of the "PonoPromise":


So what Steve said above was indeed the PonoPromise. They'll let you upgrade to a higher resolution for free, not a free upgrade for every new remastering.

This begs the question: Has Pono ever actually upgraded a title in their system and made good on the PonoPromise?