Sony HAP-Z1ES + MacBookPro

Has anyone updated to MacOS 11.5.1 yet?  I can't get the HAP music transfer app to work since this latest update.  I contacted Sony a couple of weeks ago & they weren't aware of the problem.  They just referred to the 11.3.1 fix but after being on the phone with a very helpful Sony ES support person, he said he'd alert the powers that be but nothing's happened so far.  

It's so frustrating.  I love the HAP-Z1ES but Sony is just so notorious for letting things die on the vine.  This piece is just a bit too pricey & enjoyable to let them off the hook.  Like I told the support guy, I can't keep my computer at an older OS just for the HAP.  This latest update was supposedly a necessary security update.  

I had to raise hell them them for weeks before they updated the APP for Catalina.  It looks like I'll have to do it again.   

First of all Thanks to HRODMAN for posting the SBM version fix.
It worked for me, just as I was doubting my ability to replace the HDD with a SSD.

A couple of more questions:

1. With a SSD installed, what should the write speed be? I only seem to get 8-12 MB/s.
My wi-fi set up is Gigabit network and the HAPZ1ES is wired while the laptop (sending the music files) has a 400 MB/s wireless connection.
2. How does drag and drop work? I tried in the conventional way but the files just bounce back.

3. Is there a unique formatting of the SDD for the Sony to read? Or is it possible to load an external SSD with music and simply plug into the Sony USB input at the back? Help on this would be appreciated as it would allow me to have 2 external 2TB SSD which I can plug and play music.

Many thanks for this thread and for sharing how to change the HDD.

Cheers.
Amrik

The Sony HAPZ1ES runs on the Lynix platform.  You can’t load a disk with music and install it in the Sony due to the Proprietary software. 

I have the same problem now that my Mac is running Big Sur 11.6. Tried all of the above with no luck.
The Sony HAP1ES uses a special formatting for the SSD so just plugging in a disk with another format will not work. A good work around though would be to find a way to copy files direct to s Sony formatted disk.

As others have noted the HAPZ1ES sounds superb. It seems crazy for Sony to give up on this unit not do at least software support.