The PonoPlayer
Neil Young's Pono brand is all about high-end audio -- on one side is the PonoMusic Web store, where you can purchase high-resolution versions of albums, and on the other is the PonoPlayerhardware.
Ready for mainstream
The PonoPlayer began life as a Kickstarter, but with all the original backers having had their players delivered, Pono is ready for mainstream retail -- you can pre-order from PonoMusic for $399 (AU$495/£265) for delivery in February.
Pyramid player
That iconic design -- described as a Toblerone -- isn't just a strange quirk. According to Pono, it allows the player to use a 2,950mAh cylindrical battery that offers better energy efficiency and lifespan than a flat one.
Memory matters
High-end music files can be massive so you'll need some space for those smooth-sounding tunes. The PonoPlayer has 64GB of onboard memory, but also ships with a 64GB microSD card. It can take up to 128GB of external memory however, so feel free to upgrade.
Analog sounds
According to Pono the player features "fully balanced, totally discrete, zero-feedback analog circuitry." It's also got two 3.5mm output jacks and has the ESS Sabre ES9018 D/A converter -- which is the same thing used in the Oppo BDP-105 Blu-ray player.
Simple controls
It's a very pared-back design overall, and while it's not small -- it's actually 5 inches tall -- at 4.6 ounces (130g) it's much lighter than you'd expect.
Pono music
While it'll play any music file you might need, the PonoMusic store is where you'll find the stuff that's been special mastered for the best quality. Pono says it has 16-bit 44.1kHz as the minimum and goes right up to 24-bit 192kHz. When you're shopping for albums, the site will helpfully let you know the exact quality of what you're buying.