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Sony Hapz1es or blue sound.......

I have a question about the Sony Hapz 1es. I recently took a listen to it and noticed that it sound a little lifeless and dull, not at all bright and musical From what I read in the reviews. I than listened to blue sound and was surprised how well that sounded compared to the Sony. In all fairness I did listen to it a Best Buy and the Sony it was not set up properly. I wanted to know it anyone else noticed the same or opposite as I did?
matt00
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
2,766 posts
 

The Sony HAP-Z1ES has both Spotify and TuneIn music services with the latest firmware. Internet VTuner was discontinued in October 2015.

Like I said earlier, I like it much better than my previous Aurender N100H and Wyred4Sound DAC-2 DSD and Femto Clock. I own 2 Sony players, one in each system. The iPad app is excellent and very easy to use. You can edit the Metadata as well, but I have found that with over 15,000 songs on the player, it hasn’t missed yet in finding all the Metadata. You have the ability to change the dac conversion from normal to precise and are able to use the dsee or not. I use the precision setting and dsee engaged in my main system, but use normal setting and dsee in my other system. You get a lot of choices and can add another hard drive and a separate dac if something better and greater comes along. If one of the smaller High End companies made this player, it would probably sell for 5K. The player weighs 32 pounds and only a large company like Sony could build and sell the player for 2K.

It really is a bargain. Oh, in case this matters, it sounds absolutely wonderful. This is definitely a no regrets piece of equipment.

goheelz's avatar
goheelz
229 posts
 
OK, finally took delivery of my Sony HAP-Z1ES.  Great product so far, although I'm still learning the ins and outs of how to use it.  

Spotify: works great with my Spotify Premium account.  Simple to switch between hard-drive and streaming.  Tidal or other high-res streaming in the next firmware? One can only hope.

Still waiting to hear from those who've tried a stand-alone DAC for improvement over the Sony DAC.

Critical listening: this will wait for break-in over the weeks ahead.  Sounds good out of the box, although does not yet approach my (much more costly) vinyl rig.
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
2,267 posts
 
Heard Blue Sound Vault 2 today feeding a Krell Vanguard driving TotemForest Signatures.  Blown away...warm dynamic organic!!  I am getting one and selling my spinner
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
2,267 posts
 
FYI, owned the Sony...well, let's just say I returned it and tried to forget that experience ever happened.  

stereo5's avatar
stereo5
2,766 posts
 

"Still waiting to hear from those who've tried a stand-alone DAC for improvement over the Sony DAC"

I tried my Wyred4Sound DAC2 DSD Femto Clock dac with the Sony.  I liked the sound of the Sony much better.  The external dac sounded like second row where the Sony sounds like your 15 rows or so back.  The Wyred dac uses the ESS 9018 dac chip and I have found that chip to be a little forward sounding.   I sold the external dac and am very happy.

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