Item Condition: Excellent
Shipping Options: Shipping is included in price.
Suburb or Town: The Dandenongs
State: VIC
Payment Method: Cash, Bank, Paypal (as friend or plus fees)
Reason for selling: NLR
I was sold on the Pono when I read John Atkinson’s review in Stereophile, which concluded that when operating as a DAC via its line out into his main rig, it was “almost as good as Ayre Acoustics' QB-9 (US$3250), with a hi-rez media player thrown in for free.”
His review, and follow-up review, and measurements, and responses from Charles Ayre and Neil Young (those two developed the Pono) can be found here. Interesting reading:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/pono-ponoplayer-portable-music-player
When Oppo brought out their planar magnetic headphones, I wanted a pair, especially when they were said to give maybe the best price/performance ratio on the market:
Oppo details here (geez, these things sold for US$400)
https://www.oppodigital.com/headphones-pm-3/
They sounded great together.
But I knew I just had to get a balanced cable to hear them all in their full glory, so I got one from Surf Cables. And yes, they sounded even better.
However, circumstances changed, and I hardly ever used them. So...
The Oppo headphones are like new.
The Pono is in fine fettle too. Battery life is excellent: it will play at 50 per cent volume, which is where I like to listen, for six hours plus, in balanced or single ended mode.
To get music onto the Pono, it’s simply click and drag from your desktop. There is no software necessary – nothing will ever make it obsolete.
And yes, it plays DSD files, which sound great.
Everything comes with all accessories: the Oppo has the two original single-ended cables (one short, one long) and 6.5mm adapter and manual and box and carry case. Plus, of course, the extra balanced cable, which sounds better.
The Pono comes with its charger, charger cable, manual, and box. Apparently the Australian edition did not come in the bamboo box, it being a prohibited import, which perhaps explains why mine, bought second hand, has a US power plug. I simply use an adapter, pictured, which is included.
Price includes postage.
With all that nice packaging, I think these lux objects would make a very nice Chrissy prezzy.
English (US)