Sony HAP-Z1ES Streamer

[HiWire]

No professional reviews of this $2,000 box yet. 2 slavering 5-star fanboy "reviews" on the Sony site.

 

Now in stock at Amazon. Who will be first in line for Sony's other new digital box thingy?

http://www.theonion.com/video/sony-releases-new-stupid-piece-of-shit-that-doesnt,14309/

 

I am enjoying my Azurite Blue PS3, though. It works OK... I guess.

Edited January 6, 2014 by HiWire

[postjack]

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/sony-hap-z1es-hdd-audio-player/

 

review up on the absolute sound. i think this is a very interesting player. 

[jp11801]

Interested!

[postjack]

-I like how it takes the computer out of the equation. I know other players do this, but the Sony's implementation looks pretty slick and easy, even if the software is proprietary

-I think it looks great

-I'm sure it has that Sony ES sound, so you probably already know if you like it or not

-For the price I think its a contender. $2,000 seems to be the sweet spot for hi-rez/DSD capable DACs

 

If I was starting over I would put this on my consideration list.

[jp11801]

1TB for high Rez is a little smallish, I've got about 3.3 TB of music so I'd have to decide what to load onto it

[postjack]

1TB for high Rez is a little smallish, I've got about 3.3 TB of music so I'd have to decide what to load onto it

 

you can hook up an external hard drive to it as well.

[jp11801]

Fuuuuuuuucccccckkkk, just when I get out they pull me back in

[postjack]

[Wmcmanus]

I just noticed this player, and came to this forum to start a thread about it.  Interested as well.

[Voltron]

I read the Stereophile review and I'm pretty interested if it can be operated by my lovely wife.  It seems pretty slick and easy but I want to see one in action first.

[skullguise]

I have this, it's very good for an all-in-one, Sony put a lot of good work into it....

 

What I like:

• Built well, like most/all the higher end ES line
• No DAC required, handles lossy and lossless (FLAC to 24./192, plus DSD)
• Has the capability to resample PCM to DSD (switchable)
• Tablet app with decent interface and functionality
• Expandable storage via USB port
• Fairly easy to set up and load, though I found I had to do some manual tagging for a bunch of files (this can be done from the app, and I also did it on the PC before transferring it in some cases)
• Simple to use once set up & loaded
• It apparently can do internet radio (haven't tried this, though)
• It supposedly can make lossy sound a bit more palatable (haven't tried this out either)
• Wireless capability - really for internet radio, not recommended to use for transferring files
• Basic operation via front panel or remote is OK; I have this right next to my couch, so can navigate easily enough; app makes it even easier

 

What could be better:

• Sound - it's VERY good, perhaps great; but could even get better I think (already mods popping up for it, Ric Shultz @ EVS, and Vinnie @ RWA; may be others by now)
• Loading files is a bit slow, even over wired connection
• No backup capability - though I guess the source of the files you copy is the backup.....
• Uses opamps in the output stage I believe (part of the reason for mods I'd guess)

 

What I just don't like:

• No digital out
• Can't read files from NAS, needs to be loaded locally

 

Neither negative is THAT important for me.  And I enjoy using this a lot, it's been my go to system more often now than the NAD/KGSS/O2 Mk I (more for convenience, but with an Auralic Taurus and Senn 800's, sounds mighty nice).

 

I was lucky to get mine off Audiogon nearly new for more than 25% off list, but I'd still probably recommend it at $2k.

 

Once loaded, I think it's a great unit, with very good sound and major convenience.  I have a lot of DSD files, so it was worth it to me to get this unit.  If you have PCM only, maybe something like a Pioneer N-30 is good: digital out along with analog, does FLAC to 24/192, reads from NAS, also does internet radio, and is much cheaper.  Only bad thing is a fairly clunky app interface....

 

My extended two cents.

[Voltron]

thanks for all of those cents!  I thought the app was supposed to be decent and easy to use, but you say clunky so can you add a few pennies?  I want my wife/kids to be able to fire this thing up easily and not get frustrated, etc.

[skullguise]

The Sony app is easy....the Pioneer one is the clunky one.....sorry if that wasn't clear.....

[Voltron]

Perfect, thanks.

[Dusty Chalk]

Yeah, thanks for all the input.

 

Now if you could only tell me how to get 25% off...

 

(Nah, I'm kidding, still going the Oppo route, myself.)