Watch Out Apple, Neil Young Kickstarting PonoMusic

For years, Neil Young has been laying the foundation for the emergence of a high-resolution audio service and player, and now it appears that the wheels have met the road.

It has been announced that PonoMusic – which includes an online music store (like iTunes) and The PonoPlayer portable playback device – will launch its Kickstarter campaign on March 11.

“The PonoPlayer offers a digital-music listening experience that transcends the limitations of a multi-function smartphone,” reads a statement issued by the company. “The PonoPlayer will bring this experience to you in your home, car, or through your headphones. PonoMusic.com will offer the finest quality, highest-resolution digital music from both major labels and prominent independent labels, curated and archived for discriminating PonoMusic customers. The Pono desktop media management application allows customers to download, manage and sync their music to theirPonoPlayer and other high-resolution digital music devices.”

Described as “purpose-built,” The PonoPlayer is designed to provide music fans with a playback device capable of handling “studio master-quality digital music at the highest fidelity possible.” It also has an intuitive LCD touch screen interface, and comes in a unique triangular shape. As the image indicates, the player will be available in multiple colours.

The PonoPlayer has 128GB memory, which in simpler terms, means that listeners would be able to store 100-500 high-resolution digital-music albums, “depending on the resolution and length of the original recording.” It’s also explained that the device will be able to support memory cards packed with audio.

Interested in getting your hands on one of these bad boys? Well, once available to the masses, The PonoPlayer will be sold for $399 at PonoMusic.com. However, those who pre-order one on Kickstarter will get it at a discounted price.

Young is expected to speak about PonoMusic this week at SXSW.

Is this something you’d be interested in plugging into? Please tell us why, or why not.

-Adam Grant