I guess people really want a replacement for the muddied sound on their iPods, etc. Neil Young’s Kickstarter plan for his Pono Music Player has raised $1,775,593 in one day. Young was only trying to raise $800K. Pono, he promises, will offer a dynamic sound for digital music that will blow away iTunes, iPods, and any MP3 device. He immediately sold out a discounted $200 player. Also sold out are $400 players autographed by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Young himself, and Pearl Jam.
He also sold 35 $5000 slots for a VIP dinner and listening party. Pono is odd looking. But it’s at least a fresh idea in audio. Neil Young wants to start a revolution against the MP3, against the CD, poorly made vinyl and poor audio quality in general. He wants people to hear the music the way it was made. So at SXSW yesterday, Young introduced Pono. In Hawaiian, the word means righteous or goodness. For the world of sound it’s an audio player that Young says he’s been working on for two-and-a-half years, one that’s capable of playing music at the same quality at which it was recorded.
