1. Hap Music Transfer Problems

Computers are amazing machines, but they aren’t optimized for audiophile sound quality. Compensating for their shortcomings means adding an external digital-to-analog converter, quality cables, and playback software capable of getting most from your music. But there’s another option – the. It removes the computer from the playback chain while offering stunning sound and lots of storage in a single, high-performance component.

It’s also compatible with, for sound quality that eclipses CDs. Enticed by the prospect of amazing sound and freeing my computer up for other tasks, I excitedly took it home to check it out. A full-color display, large jog dial and selection buttons make navigating your music library easy and intuitive.

There's also a free remote app for smartphones and tablets. File transfer between your computer and the HAP-Z1ES (and a connected external hard drive) is done over your home network – either using the player’s built-in Wi-Fi or the Ethernet connection. You can use the free HAP Music Transfer software to automatically copy files to the player’s hard drive – it can even automatically scan for new music in a particular folder on a networked computer. Or, you can simply drag and drop files into the player’s memory with your computer. File transfer is very slow. A wired connection speeds it up a bit. Once you’ve transferred your entire library, you won’t need to do it again except when you want to add new songs or albums.

Studio-quality sound with high-res playback If you’re after top-performance sound from a digital (or any) source, you need to check out high-resolution music. Sites like offer a huge selection of better-than-CD downloads. The HAP-Z1ES is compatible with high-res files up to 24-bit/192kHz. It also handles DSD files up to 5.6Mhz, so it’s good with just about any digital file you can throw at it.

The HAP-Z1ES offers balanced and unbalanced analog outputs – the RCA outs will work with any amp or receiver, while the XLR outputs allow a low-noise balanced connection to high-end amps like Sony’s companion integrated amplifier, the TA-A1ES. Built for serious sound quality The first thing I noticed when I went to pick up the HAP-Z1ES in the Crutchfield Labs was how heavy it is. This thing is built like a tank and has the fit and finish you’d expect from audiophile-grade equipment.

The gleaming silver finish of the streamlined chassis conceals the heavy-duty construction. Every component is designed and placed with an eye on minimizing distortion, from the separate large-capacity power transformers for digital and analog circuits to the dual-plated base and the rigid internal framing.

Test drive With so much attention to detail in the design of this machine, my expectations were pretty high. Once I got it up and running, the HAP-Z1ES consistently surpassed them. I compared it to my MacBook® which I paired with the Sony PHA-2 DAC – an excellent device in its own right. I sampled high-res and CD-quality tracks to see how much of an upgrade the HAP-Z1ES represents over a more than respectable digital front-end. Both sources were connected to my Onkyo stereo receiver via. The free Sony HDD Audio app lets you control the player and view album art and file type and resolution on your smartphone or tablet.

I started out with the title cut from Paul Simon’s Graceland, a song I’ve often used as a reference track. I cued the song up on both the HAP-Z1ES and my MacBook with the PHA-2 DAC, so I could jump between each source for comparison. Before I even got a chance to compare, I knew the HAP-Z1ES was the clear winner. Immediately, my PSB Image T5 tower speakers sounded better than they ever have.

Hap Music Transfer Problems

As good as the MacBook/PHA-2 combination is, every part of the performance was sharper with the HAP-Z1ES – vocals were clearer, the overall sound was cleaner, instrument separation was better, the soundstage was larger, and the background was dead quiet. More listening yielded the same results – the HAP-Z1ES is completely awesome.

The PHA-2 is a very good DAC, but the HAP-Z1ES resoundingly trumped it by offering up more smoothness, deeper bass, and better overall clarity. Excited by what I was hearing, I convinced my wife to humor me and listen to this fabulous machine. She’s not into all this audio business, but she could pinpoint the Z1ES’s ability to deliver exquisite vocal clarity. It wasn’t long before she wrested control of the player from me and was picking out music, getting caught up in this player’s outstanding sound. DSD files offer up smooth sound DSD is a format Sony originally developed for Super Audio CDs.

It’s enjoyed a comeback lately thanks to the availability of DSD downloads and compatible equipment from Sony and other manufacturers. I had never listened to DSD files before, so I was excited to hear what all the fuss was about. I played a DSD file of Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight,” a song I’m neither enamored with nor excited about after being bludgeoned by it continuously for years by classic rock radio stations. But listening to it in DSD with the HAP-Z1ES made me love that song like I never could before. Clapton’s classic guitar melody spread out across the width of the massive soundstage with lots of natural reverb ringing out. Every instrument was breathtakingly clear and meticulously placed in the massive soundstage.

The lead vocal image was positively huge. When the backing vocals come in, the voices blended together beautifully while each remained clearly distinguishable.

I felt like a producer in the studio listening to the master tapes. The DAC inside the HAP-Z1ES can upsample all signals to DSD. I decided to see how much of a difference, if any, this upsampling would make. I cued up Wilco’s “Forget the Flowers,” a country-style acoustic tune. With the DSD remastering engine engaged, the bass sounded fuller, the vocal image got larger, and the soundstage had more depth. You may be well served to leave this setting on all the time. App control with your smartphone or tablet This player’s network connectivity lets you control the player with your smartphone or tablet using Sony’s free HDD Audio remote app.

It makes it easy to search through a large music library stored on the player’s internal hard drive. The app is great, but I also loved using the front-panel jog dial and color display to scroll through music. I never had a reason to take the included remote out of the box. The remote app lets you browse your entire music library, choose from hundreds of Internet radio stations, and select a player-generated playlist based on your mood (SenseMe channels). A network connection also lets you listen to free Internet radio stations. Honestly, I was so busy flying through music stored on the player’s hard drive, I didn’t even sample any online radio streams.

But it’s a great feature to have if you just want to discover new music or simply let someone else play DJ for a while. Free your stereo from your computer Having ripped my entire CD collection to an external hard drive, my computer is my main source for music playback at home. While I love having my entire library at my fingertips, the HAP-Z1ES makes it even more convenient. It takes just a few seconds to boot up – my computer is slow to boot, and I have to open software to start playback. Plus, the computer’s fan can disrupt quiet musical passages with its noisy whirring. It’s also nice to have all your files backed up on the ‘Z1ES’s internal server, just in case your other storage device fails.

Most people (like me) use their computer for much more than just music. The HAP-Z1ES frees it up for homework, bill-paying, video-watching, and web surfing.

A lower-cost alternative If you’re looking for a less expensive option, is a scaled-down version of the ‘Z1ES. It features a 500GB internal hard drive and also has a built-in amplifier for driving a pair of bookshelf speakers.

The bottom line The best audio gear makes you want to run through your entire music collection to hear it be reborn. That’s exactly what I did with the – I couldn’t get enough of it. Every track I sampled brought a new thrill. And it took my high-resolution music to soaring new heights. Plus, I loved how it freed up my computer for other uses besides music listening.

This superb all-in-one digital server/player has shot right to the top of my wish list. David Brown from Crutchfield Posted on Joe, I'd say the biggest difference is build quality. The HAP-Z1ES was designed for pristine sound.

It has separate digital and analog circuits with independent power supplies for each. This reduces digital noise for clearer, more accurate sound. The HAP-S1 was designed to be a bit more versatile, with an built-in amplifier so you can connect it directly to speakers.

I haven't heard these two side by side, but I've listened extensively to the HAP-Z1ES. In fact, I ended up buying one! I think if you want truly outstanding sound from digital files, the Z1ES is going to deliver. The Doctor from New York Posted on 7/6/2016 What would be the point of this for most modern recordings or music which is sub-par, at best? It's really no wonder, since people have decided that the artists trying to make a living through their art are the greedy ones, and not the listeners, who have devalued music to the point of making most artists live like they work the register at McDonald's. They only see the few who've made fortunes, and don't consider that most artists make a poor living.

Anyway, Kanye and Justin Beiber are just as dreadful at studio quality as they are at 96k MP3.

. High resolution music playback Practically every Hi-Res file format has met its match. Whatever the acronym – from PCM to DSD and beyond – the Sony HAP-Z1ES is prepared to play it flawlessly. 1TB Hard Drive for music playback The 1 terabyte hard drive can be expanded via USB for additional storage. No compromise Analog FIR Filters Error-free, coherent sound reproduction is made possible with Analog FIR Filters that eliminate differences in phase response, reducing listening fatigue while improving transparency.

DSD re-mastering engine Sony's experience in direct 8-times oversampling and Extended SBM (Super Bit Mapping) technology for professional recorders employed in a selectable D/A conversion system for inherently better analog signal integrity. Natural sound DSEE The Sony Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) lets you listen to music the way it was meant to be.

The high frequency range and tail shape of the waveform that are often eliminated through the compression process are restored for natural, spacious sound that’s as close to the original source as possible. Hi-Res music playback The HAP-Z1ES can decode the following file formats: DSD (DSF, DSDIFF), PCM (44.1k/48k/88.2k/96k/176.4k/192kHz・16/24/32bit) DSD (2.8/5.6MHz), WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, ATRAC Advanced Lossless, ATRAC, MP3, AAC, WMA music file playback. 1TB Hard Drive for music playback Store personal music of all formats for local music playback on the 1 terabyte hard drive. Hard Drive is expandable via USB external hard drives. Analog FIR Filters This digital-to-analog converter effectively reduces high-frequency noise in DSD signals. It features independent right and left channels, with four analog FIR (Finite Impulse Response) filters per channel producing a combined one-clock delay.

FIR filters are ideal for D/A conversion of DSD signals. DSD re-mastering engine This ideal D/A conversion system combines a high-performance DSP and FPGA (field programmable gate array) to convert all signals to 128 FS DSD signals, designed based on know-how garnered from Sony’s direct 8-times oversampling and Extended SBM (Super Bit Mapping) technology for professional recorders. Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) When turned on, the DSEE offers natural sound with a spacious feel by restoring high frequency sound and the tail shape of the waveform that likely disappears during the audio compression process. Wi-Fi Built-in Newly designed built-in Wi-Fi increases whole-house coverage and signal strength. HAP-Z1ES is rigorously tested to ensure its Wi-Fi signal strength. This real world testing is to certify it will work under the most extreme conditions.

HDD Audio Remote for iOS and Android phones and Tablets A dedicated app to control your listening experience with the HAP-Z1ES. Create playlists, search stored music and full track control. Music Transfer Software Compatible with both Windows and Mac computers, this simple music transfer software allows you to select your music folder and sync it with the HAPZ1ES. Low-phase noise liquid crystal oscillator The master clock acting as the performance standard for D/A conversion is vital to achieving high sound quality. In particular, sound quality is strongly impacted by phase noise.

This unit employs a liquid crystal oscillator with extremely low phase noise to achieve an ultra-clear sound field. Two large-capacity separate twin transformers For Analog and Digital circuits, big and powerful transformers are used individually. The transformers are treated with impregnation in a vacuum.

In a power block, analog circuit and digital circuit are separated strictly. It can remove some adverse effect from digital noise. The ES Frame and Beam chassis The FB chassis, composed of a frame and beams, has a long and cherished tradition in the Sony ES Series. It offers both high-precision mounting of parts and high rigidity, achieving a high-fidelity sound field carrying large amounts of information. Notably, the base is composed of two plates of differing thickness that provide sturdy support for the chassis. There are two additional base plates beneath the transformers as well, offering robust reinforcement that anchors the transformers firmly in place.

Rack Mount Optional rack mount available, product number WSHAPRE1. Footnotes 1 4K upscaling requires a 4K projector or 4K TV. 2 Requires devices connected to the same wireless home network. 3 Broadband speed of at least 2.5 Mbps recommended (10 Mbps for HD). Content subject to change and may require fees.

4 iPod® and iPhone® support is limited to the following players: iPod touch®, iPod classic®, iPod nano® 1st, 2nd & 3rd generation, iPod® 4th & 5th generation & iPod mini and iPhone 3G, 3Gs and 4G models. 5 Requires HDMI® cable sold separately. 6 Requires HDTV with equivalent display and HDMI® cable sold separately.

7 Requires HDMI® cable and LPCM capable receiver. 8 Requires HDTV and HDMI® cable sold separately.

9 Syncs with BRAVIA® Sync or Theatre Sync™ products. 10 May require additional accessories. Check with your authorized Control4® dealer for details. 11 Requires capable HDTV / video source and HDMI® cable sold separately. 12 Requires 3D content, 3D glasses, and HDMI® cable (at least 10.2 Gbps). 13 Simulated 3D image will vary based on source content.

14 Requires an optional license purchase from an authorized Control4® dealer. 15 Requires home network and one device on network to be set up as a DLNA server. Streaming content, copy-protected content and certain formats are not supported. 16 Requires active internet connection and devices connected to the same WiFi® network. 17 Compared to normal viewing. Based on a 55-inch LED TV with Picture Setting Standard.

18 As of January 1, 2012. 19 Streaming content, copy-protected content and certain formats are not supported. 20 Largest, highest resolution consumer television, as of August 2012. 21 65 Watts total power (20+20+12.5+12.5). 22 '4K' is a resolution standard commonly used in the digital cinema industry that refers to images with a horizontal resolution of approximately 4,000 pixels. The actual panel resolution of 84' XBR-X900 is 3,840 x 2,160 pixels (in 16:9 aspect ratio).

This corresponds to the so‐called 'QFHD' (Quad Full High Definition) display standard. In practice, this is equivalent to the widely-accepted definition of '4K' resolution. 23 1.5m is recommended viewing distance for 4K (3840 x 2160) content with XBR-84X9000 to enjoy the most immersive experience. 24 Ethernet connection required. Fees may apply for 4K networked video service.

25 PS3 system and SimulView™ glasses sold separately. 26 Actual panel resolution of XBR‐X900A 4K Ultra HD TV is 3,840 x 2,160 pixels (in 16:9 aspect ratio). HDTVs have a panel resolution of 1,920 x 1080 pixels. 27 Simulated 4K image will vary based on source content. 28 Ethernet connection required. Fees may apply for 4K networked video service. 29 Broadband speed of at least 2.5 Mbps recommended (10 Mbps for HD).

Content subject to change and may require fees. Wireless connectivity requires 802.11 home network (802.11n recommended). Skype requires CMU-BR100 or CMU-BR200 camera sold sep. Subject to Skype’s terms and conditions. 30 Requires PS3 system, PlayMemories Studio™ software and HDMI® cable (at least 10.2 Gbps) sold separately. 31 Requires compatible Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled Xperia™ smartphone. Certain formats are not supported.

The video quality may be degraded due to environmental interference. 32 Requires smartphone with Wi-Fi® certified Miracast™ technology. Certain formats are not supported.

The video quality may be degraded due to environmental interference 33 Actual panel resolution of XBR‐X850A 4K Ultra HD TV is 3,840 x 2,160 pixels (in 16:9 aspect ratio). HDTVs have a panel resolution of 1,920 x 1080 pixels. 34 Requires compatible Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled Xperia™ smartphone. Certain formats are not supported.

The video quality may be degraded due to environmental interference. 35 40 Watts total power (10+10+10+10).