Just further evidence of how Obama is in TracFone's pocket...

Has anyone (here) actually listened to / compared the Sony A17 to Pono, et al.? I sifted through the HF thread for a bit, but quickly got a headache. I also read what Stephen Rochlin has to say, but that made HF feel like reasonable, straightforward dialog...

I know MF enjoyed the ZX1, and the F887 was supposed to be similar SQ with fewer options. I know Sony generally asserts the same about A17, but the proof is in the pudding.

If the the A17 SQ were up to snuff, it would be a desirable option. A17 has generally favorable response from what I have read, and ticks a lot of non-SQ boxes: microSD expandable, decent UI, small, line out and digital out options, less than a thousand dollars, etc.

Tell you what: I have an Ayre Player (I no longer refer to it as a Pono player, because in my head I have completely separated it from all of Neil Young's empire-building and hippie nostalgia).   Buy a A17 and fly out to SoCal, and we'll have a shootout.

Wow. I attempted to skim that one. Epically bad review. Exchange rates, robot dogs, stock price, and rootkits in a "head-to-head shootout"?  I guess I've been fortunate enough to avoid Rochlin up to this point. 

This guy says Pono is better than A17
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1214/Sony_NWZ_ZX1_NWZ_A17_Pono_Music_Player.htm

I couldn't care less and like my cheap X3 with 3.3FW anyway.

Wow. I attempted to skim that one. Epically bad review. Exchange rates, robot dogs, stock price, and rootkits in a "head-to-head shootout"?  I guess I've been fortunate enough to avoid Rochlin up to this point. 

Yeah, that was the embedded link in my earlier post. That guy is ... manic. His priorities and criteria for comparison were distracting to the point of making me question whether his opinion carried any reliance. He says "the a17 is an overachiever" and generally sounds very good, with great battery life, and great ui, but it can't drive Audeze planars, and compared to the pono [insert car analogy].

A17 alone isn't the best sound in the portable space but darn if it isn't portable. It also has a phenomenal UI and great battery life. If I'm hankering for better, I strap the Leck onto it and it is a big step up.

For on the go listening with my UERMs, I'm a fan. I've been on the upgrade wagon too much to really want to move to anything else until the Geek Waves start shipping.

Thanks zero, this is exactly what I am contemplating. I have UERM on the way, and I am done with being incrementally irritated with the apple experience.

My first DAP ever was a Cowon J3 which I really enjoyed, so I'm interested in the Plenue 1. Detailed impressions would be awesome. 

Yeah, definitely want to hear more on the plenue 1. The AK120ii was nice enough but underpowered and overpriced. I decided to go for a geek wave 128xd, but if that bombs (and I think the UI will make or break it--nothing like a rushed job on that *cough*A&K*cough*), it'd be nice to know there's an alternative.