Pono NY001 Digital Audio Player (DAP)

1 month ago 130

Region/State

(TAS) Tasmania/Australia

Suburb or Town

Lauderdale

Condition/Warranty

Condition: Excellent
Warranty: None or Limited Warranty (in compliance with Consumer Law)

Payment Method

Cash on pickup, Paypal

Original Receipt Available

Shipping & Pickup Options

Shipping: Available
Pickup: Available

Reason for Selling

I don't use portable players anymore

Pono Player 24/192 Hi-Res Media Player - a Neil Young inspired portable audio device. This is the 2014 Herbie Hancock Limited Edition, #13 of 398 issued. Laser engraved with Herbie's signature.

Complete With Albums & Songs Loaded & 64 Gb Micro SD Card

2.5” colour touch screen

Lossless playback formats including FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, plus Mp3 and AAC lossy

Balanced option

Headphone out

Line out

Sabre ES9018K2M DAC chip

Internal memory 57Gb

MicroSD slot for expandable memory (currently 64Gb card)

Cardboard storage/postal box (apparently the US style bamboo boxes were not allowed into Australia due to quarantine restrictions)

USB charging cable

Start guide

Soft carry case

US plug in box but will charge nicely with AUS plug @5.0 V - 2.1A output range or via a travel adapter

Firmware 1.06 is installed and is the last that Pono issued.

Also included are a pair of SurfCables 3ft balanced XLR to 3.5mm stereo plugs to enable full balanced mode listening

This silver metal Pono Player model offers a device storage capacity of 58GB, plus a currently installed 64 Gb MicroSD card in place, both storage options are supplied with albums and songs already installed.

Sounds great via the headphone out jack but using the balanced cable option to either headphones with a balanced cable input or to an amp/hi-fi system with XLR inputs will bring it to another level.

These players were discontinued in 2017, and I think few actually got to hear what they are capable of via the balanced option.

Currently fully charged and working perfectly, with slight scuffing on two sides while the front panel and screen are perfect.

I have just loaded a couple of new albums via USB from a WIN 10 PC (drag and drop) and they copied easily and played well.

With good, slim phones, Apple Carplay/Android Auto available I don't use portable players anymore, plus my NAD M33 does all I need at home

WARRANTY INFORMATION (Private Seller)

The item being advertised is sold "as is", and no warranty should be assumed unless otherwise indicated and agreed between the Buyer and the Seller. Photos representing the item being advertised form part of the description unless otherwise specified.

This content has been generated using AI analysis. While we strive to ensure accuracy and quality, AI-generated material may occasionally contain errors or omissions. All information should be independently verified, and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers or editors.

User reviews and community discussions on the Pono NY001 (PonoPlayer) reveal a polarized reputation: audiophiles and some enthusiasts praise its high-res audio potential and engaging sound, while technical measurements and critics highlight poor objective performance.

### Sound Quality
Opinions split sharply. Positive reviews emphasize superior detail, dynamic range, and clarity for high-resolution files compared to MP3s or phones, with natural midrange, open treble, and good bass definition when used as a DAC/headphone amp for in-ear monitors. Leo Laporte noted it reveals "more definition" and higher dynamics in symphonies or complex tracks, sounding "great" overall. Stereophile found voices and instruments reproduced "in all its awesomeness," outperforming expectations in casual listening. However, measurements show below-average performance even for 16-bit/CD audio: max headphone output of 1V (poor vs. dongles), high distortion (one channel worse, SINAD ~80-90dB), and barely adequate dynamic range, failing high-res claims.

### Build Quality
Attractive wooden triangular design in a nice box with pouch and accessories receives compliments for premium feel. LCD display criticized as grainy; UI timeouts to a bland screen, requiring button presses to access controls. No remote; ends-of-album hum reported.

### Reliability
Limited direct complaints, but operational quirks like auto-timeout, lack of remote, and "wonky" desktop software noted as early product issues. Channel imbalance in measurements suggests potential hardware inconsistencies.

### Strengths
- Engaging, "hi-fi" sound for high-res files and headphones (adequate amp for IEMs/Sennheisers).
- Supports Pono's high-quality ecosystem; positioned as "iPod Pro" for demanding portable use.
- Clean treble, natural mids, good LF definition in line-out to speakers.

### Weaknesses
- Expensive at $400; redundant if owning a capable phone/DAC/stereo.
- Technically poor: low output, distortion, no high-res advantage per measurements.
- UI/software clunky; needs separate amp for high-impedance cans.
- Lacks deep soundstage/bass authority vs. pricier DACs.

### Overall Reputation
Mixed but leaning negative in technical communities (e.g., Audio Science Review deems it "poor" and overhyped). Enthusiast sites like Head-Fi and Stereophile more favorable for subjective listening, supporting Neil Young's high-res vision despite flaws. Seen as a noble but flawed 2014-2015 effort, now outdated.

I cannot provide a reliable fair market price estimate for the Pono NY001 Digital Audio Player based on the available search results. The single result provided only indicates that used Pono Players are listed across secondary market platforms but does not include specific pricing data, condition breakdowns, or recent sales information necessary for an accurate valuation.

To estimate a fair AUD market price for this device, I would need access to:

- Current listing prices from major resale platforms (e.g., eBay, HifiShark, local classifieds) showing asking prices across different conditions
- Completed sales data indicating what buyers actually paid
- Condition-specific pricing distinguishing between new, like-new, used, and refurbished units
- Regional pricing variations specific to the Australian market
- Recent price trends showing whether values are appreciating or depreciating

Given that the Pono player was discontinued years ago and operates in a niche high-fidelity audio market, pricing is likely highly variable and dependent on factors such as cosmetic condition, functionality of the storage, battery health, and rarity. Without current market data, any price estimate would be speculative rather than evidence-based.

I recommend checking active listings on HifiShark, eBay Australia, and local audio enthusiast forums to gather recent AUD pricing information directly.