14 out of 15 listeners can't tell the difference between PONO & iTunes Store downloads on an iPhone

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by thestereofan, Jan 30, 2015.

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  1. Mij Retrac

    Mij Retrac Forum Resident

    Fiio has a player now for $100 that can play 24/192 FLAC files that is better than the Sanza. None of the inexpensive players are going to have very powerful headphone amps. You would either have to buy an external amp or buy a more expensive player for that.
     
    rcsrich likes this.
  2. motionoftheocean

    motionoftheocean Senior Member

    Location:
    Circus Maximus
    thanks for quoting me information from Spotify. my ears tell me that Spotify's "desktop high quality" doesn't sound like my 256kbps AAC and 320kbps MP3s.
     
  3. Jack Flash

    Jack Flash Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    :)

    I'm a moderate audiophile.

    A great song is a great song, even if it's playing out of an AM transistor radio. Sometimes the quest for perfect sound quality gets in the way of enjoying the music. I play guitar, and sometimes us guitarists can be overly obsessed about guitar tone, instead of just playing.
     
    Muddy, Driver 8 and Mij Retrac like this.
  4. Jack Flash

    Jack Flash Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    I believe you hear what you hear. But, I'm going with what Spotify says over your ears. :)
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2015
  5. ubiknik

    ubiknik Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chicago, IL USA
    [​IMG]
    You have to wonder how this works with the muscle car engine like a Pontiac tri-power or the like. I keep picturing this somehow not skipping when trying to burn rubber in 3rd gear, with a souped up 428 Cobrajet GT 500...
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2015
  6. motionoftheocean

    motionoftheocean Senior Member

    Location:
    Circus Maximus
    you understand that not all 320 encoders are identical, right
     
  7. HotelYorba101

    HotelYorba101 Senior Member

    Location:
    California
    Sony-MDR 7506's I find fairly decent sounding and even with my iPod with Apple Lossless sound great. I have yet to try pono but my buddy has and he said that his V-6s with it were a little better than an iPod but not enough to suggest making the switch
     
  8. Jack Flash

    Jack Flash Forum Resident

    Location:
    California

    That's awesome. :D
     
  9. Jack Flash

    Jack Flash Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    Spotify uses Ogg Vorbis, which provides better quality than a 320 kbps MP3.

    http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/Ogg-Vorbis

    My ears say Spotify sounds great. If you don't like it, then I don't see why you've subscribed for 2 years.
     
  10. motionoftheocean

    motionoftheocean Senior Member

    Location:
    Circus Maximus
    I've been using OGG files since 2003 so I'm very familiar with the format. Regardless, I'm fairly certain you don't actually understand the nuts and bolts of what you're talking about and are instead just quoting marketing from a company.

    If you think Spotify sounds better than files played back on the desktop, and view Spotify as equivalent to a CD, I'm going to assume that you're just expecting far less from playback quality than many of us here.
     
  11. Jack Flash

    Jack Flash Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    LOL

    And I don't think you have a subscription to Spotify, but instead, have an issue with streaming services, and an axe to grind.

    Streaming is the future of music, whether you like it or not. There are already streaming sites that sound as good as CDs, to anyone's ears.
     
    ReggieTheVaper likes this.
  12. motionoftheocean

    motionoftheocean Senior Member

    Location:
    Circus Maximus
    and you'd be wrong.
     
  13. Jack Flash

    Jack Flash Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    As would you, regarding myself quoting marketing.

    Spotify sounds really good to me, and everyone I know who's subscribed to it.

    Maybe you should get better audio gear?
     
    ReggieTheVaper likes this.
  14. rcsrich

    rcsrich Forum Resident

    Location:
    Virginia
    Or, like me, you're not a "premium subscriber".
     
  15. motionoftheocean

    motionoftheocean Senior Member

    Location:
    Circus Maximus
    you're the guy who thinks AM radio sounds good, right
     
  16. Jack Flash

    Jack Flash Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    Yeah, if you don't subscribe the quality is a bit crap.
     
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  17. Jack Flash

    Jack Flash Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    :laugh:

    We're through here. :)
     
    Malina likes this.
  18. rcsrich

    rcsrich Forum Resident

    Location:
    Virginia
    There's the key- if you're not a subscriber, you're getting 160 kbps max.
     
  19. Dinstun

    Dinstun Forum Resident

    Location:
    Middle Tennessee
    Again, the article says NOTHING about how many of the 15 listeners could ACTUALLY tell a difference between a Pono and an iPhone. About 80% THOUGHT they could hear a difference, although most chose the iPhone as having the better sound.

    The title of this thread should be ignored. It was pulled straight from the OP's aspirations. Here is the quote he is basing the title on:
    Within the confines of the test, these seem like the 14 out of 15 reasonable people.
     
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  20. Jack Flash

    Jack Flash Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    Right. If you just use it as background while you're working, or whatnot, then it's not a big deal. But, if you want to actively listen to it, the subscription is well worth the $10. Spotify will eventually do away with the free tier, I believe, and perhaps just offer a free month, like Netflix does.
     
  21. Ghostworld

    Ghostworld Senior Member

    Location:
    US
    Or 14 out of 15 were non-audiophiles who've never heard a good system, which is the most likely. That's such a loaded question by Pogue. No one will ever say they'll spend a large amount of money on similar devices. Not that an iPhone is a cheap device. What's an iphone with 128gig of memory run these days?

    Hey, David, why not have them browse Google News with Chrome on an isolated monitor linked to a Mac and a PC and ask them "Would you pay two thousand dollars more the read the news on computer A?"
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2015
  22. rcsrich

    rcsrich Forum Resident

    Location:
    Virginia
    I don't know- they started out with a monthly (I think) limit for free listeners, then removed the limit. They also have been progressively opening up their mobile apps- used to be you couldn't play whole albums, only shuffle mode. Now on their tablet app, you can play whole albums in sequence & on phones, you can play an entire album, but only in shuffle mode (this all applies to non-paying listeners).
     
  23. rcsrich

    rcsrich Forum Resident

    Location:
    Virginia
    I just picked up on that bit of irony too- Pono player $399, new iPhone 6, $649 off-contract. The iPhone ought to kill the Pono! :D
     
    SBurke and Ghostworld like this.
  24. Mij Retrac

    Mij Retrac Forum Resident

    Except for the
    fact that the audio components inside the iPhone are probably only worth about $75.
     
  25. Vinyl Addict

    Vinyl Addict Forum Resident

    Location:
    MA

    I dont see how it wouldnt skip before even leaving the driveway
     
    ubiknik likes this.
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