Sony HAP-Z1ES

[crwilli]

Glenn,

I don’t know about an updated HAP but it is easy enough to install a pricey SSD into the HAP. I have read of those who have done that and found no sonic benefit.

Install your SD cards into a PC or Laptop on your network and then copy your music to the Sony HD VIA your network - Ethernet recommended but your could do it wirelessly.

Easy to do but painfully slow.

You can also use the Sony transfer software but I found it clunky and no faster than using Windows functionality.

Either way - Ethernet is the only way to go...

The Sony will only play files that are installed on its internal HD or an external HD that has been Formatted by the Sony. You can’t load files using the USB connection.

[Formerly YB-2]

Looks like another visit to my local 'Sony guy' is in order. Will have him play back some FLAC files on the Sony and compare to the same file in native DSD (if possible).

[audio bill]

Glenn - I might be able to save you some time... Native DSD files played back on the Sony sound significantly better than FLAC (PCM) files being converted to DSD, assuming their mastering quality is comparable. This is generally true for most DACs that convert PCM to DSD like PS Audio's DirectStream DAC.

[Formerly YB-2]

Thanks. Just read Kal's 2014 review of the Sony. See that it will upsample pretty much everything to 128fs DSD (rather than 64fs DSD mentioned earlier) unless one goes into the menu and defeats the auto-upsample setting.

Realizing that the Sony's DAC is from 2014, am wondering what one might want to do that the Sony won't accommodate? It appears to cover most bases, within the confines of its rather idiocentric method downloading/reading files.

[nicoff]

The Sony is an excellent music player.
I used to own one. Its ability to convert everything to DSD works well.
The one thing that is sorely lacking (for my use) is the ability to connect to a CD quality music service like Tidal. (It can play MP3 music from Spotify and TuneIn though).
The Sony App has a nice GUI and it works well too, however it is not as versatile or at the same level as Roon.
If Sony were to integrate Tidal (or similar CD quality music service) it would be a hard to beat music player.

[Formerly YB-2]

Yes........... my thinking is starting to bump up against some of the Sony's limitations. I'm starting to think Aurender or similar. Am researching this in far greater depth than any other piece of stereo gear I've previously considered.

Keep coming back to the HAP-Z1ES. With a full-function preamp it does everything I want/need (at the moment) without having to resort to Roon or JRiver or Tidal or services I do not want to learn nor pay for. When my digital library of ~1500 titles & another ~1500 LPs is not enough, I'll simply have to buy more. Or resort to Roon, etc.

[Plzzz]

I think you could buy this device and upgrade easily to a 2tb ssd drive?
https://www.wavlink.com/en_us/product/WL-ST334U.html

[crwilli]

Originally Posted by Plzzz

I think you could buy this device and upgrade easily to a 2tb ssd drive?

https://www.wavlink.com/en_us/product/WL-ST334U.html

Yes, I have done that to three units for friends.

[Cohibaman]

It’s been a while since I’ve upgraded mine (and used it btw), but can’t you just pull the old spinner, put the new SSD in, and let the HAP-Z1ES format, then reload?

[Projectman]

Originally Posted by Cohibaman

It’s been a while since I’ve upgraded mine (and used it btw), but can’t you just pull the old spinner, put the new SSD in, and let the HAP-Z1ES format, then reload?

Yes, it is that easy. I have upgraded two I owned previously to 2TB SSD drives. 2TB is the size limit you can use.