Sony HAP-Z1ES + MacBookPro

I followed the steps outlined above and am happy to report that my HapZ is now transferring files via the Hap Music Transfer app.  Should be listening to Sultans of Swing in Flac format shortly…

Does anyone know if there is a work around for streaming Qobuz to 

HAP Z1es?

Or HAP-Z1ES and MAcOS 12 (Monterey)?

I've been sticking with Big Sur 11.3.1 despite my machine urging me at all hours of the day or night to upgrade to 11.6.

Anyone other than audioli1, above, have any experience with HAP-Z1ES <—> MacOS 11.6?
Thanks in advance.

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.

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.

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. 

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

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.   

That'd be grand.  The current software does include Spotify, but (to these ears) at very low-res indeed.

Hrodman, thanks for the post and info. Maybe a new HAP software update will include more Music Services.

Hrodman ... you're the man!

Switching back to SMB 1.0 was the trick that brings the HAP-Z1ES back online with my MacBook Pro. 

For those wanting to add your HAP-Z1ES to Roon, here is the "Mother-May-I" ... secret rabbit code. 

SMB://HAP-Z1ES/HAP_Internal

Just type that line into the Storage/ +Add Folder ... Boom!

@sfseay
There is a web app for the Harmony Universal Remote?

Not according to Harmony - only an iOS app - if you know where one is please let me know? I would love to use that

Using macOS 10.15 & above (Catalina/Big Sur)?

32-bit software such as MyHarmony and Logitech Harmony Remote legacy software will no longer run on macOS 10.15 & above (Catalina/Big Sur).

If you’re using a hub-based remote, you will need to use the Harmony app on your iOS or Android device. You can also continue to use MyHarmony on a computer running Windows or macOS 10.14 or lower.

If you have a remote that doesn't use a hub, you may download the latest software using the links on this page.

If you're using an older Harmony remote model, such as Harmony One, 880, 900, 1000, or 1100, see: Logitech Remote Software v7.x

If you own Harmony 900, Harmony 1000, or Harmony 1100 and plan to upgrade to macOS 11 Big Sur, there will be a delay in having the legacy software support for those models. We recommend holding off on upgrading to macOS 11 Big Sur if you need to access your remote’s account.

See Harmony and macOS (Catalina/Big Sur) for the latest information.

Fantastic....thanks alot.  Works 100%.  I'm transferring via wifi which is not blazing fast anyway but i haven't noticed that its any slower than previously.  Cheers !!!!!

@babyseaotter99 - Logitech discontinued the Harmony Mac App and went to a web version only. Apple didn’t breaks the Harmony app. Also, Apple’s 64-bit kernel was introduced in 10.6, and the 32-bit kernel was removed in 10.8.

hrodman
Thanks for passing the tip along.  It works!  I mindlessly updated to Big Sur & I had Catalina flashbacks of a couple of years ago when I tried transferring files this afternoon.
Sony does what Sony does.  Produces a great product but let it die on the vine after a few years. 

Thanks again! 

I had this problem and found that if you got the IP/Mac address thingy of the Sony then you could do the "connect to server" from Finder in Mac and then I could drag and drop no problem. This was about a year ago, but I believe it was related to when Apple OS switched to 64 bit (and it killed my Harmony Universal Remote App on my Mac as well)

Anyway - you might be a different problem with a more recent OS update, but just wanted to share that.

From the Sony ES unit, here's a workaround:

#1, on your HAP-Z1ES unit, press the Power and Home buttons simultaneously.

#2, select change SMB address, dial to select SMB version 1.0.

#3, scroll down and select Restart.

#4, power unit on and then start the HAP Music Transfer app on your Mac computer.

#5, be aware that file transfers will now take longer.

#6, watch the Sony HAP-Z1ES support page for an update in the next few weeks.

Do note:

The transfer was a bit slower but not much slower than usual - 5+ minutes for ~700mb

*The unit should be off when you first start the steps outlined in JDAWG's post. And you should release the Power & Home button when you see the SONY come up. If you hold it too long it'll just power up and power down.

*The workaround seems to continue working after you power down, so, at least in my case, I didn't need to repeat these steps each time I wanted to transfer after turning the unit on.

(With large thanks to Shawn of Sony ES, and the various discussants in the Sony Community HAP-Z1ES thread, notably JDAWG and User1623339705956324586. 

The ES line was rumored to have hellaciously long hold times, but I got through in under two minutes.
I wonder if they're going to wait for MacOS Monterrey, which will be released this fall, in case Monterrey introduces further incompatibilities.
Will post whatever I hear.
Thanks, H.

nikonnick

Thank You for posting the ES point-of-contact phone number.

Happy Listening!

I "chatted" with Sony service in the US today and got this reply.

"I truly understand, I have been researching this information for you and yes Sony is currently working on a patch for it to isolate this issue that occurred due to the Apple Software Update
I cannot assure you a specific time and date, but what I can be able to do for you is provide you the ES Department phone contact information (877) 619-7669, operating hours: Mon – Fri, from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm ET"
I'm not in the US and was wondering if someone there wanted to try their luck and advise the result?
Cheers
Nick

With you on that, Nikonnick!
First one to hear of an update tells the rest of us, ok?
Thanks,
    Howard.

Thanks for the info, I've just spent the last hour or so trying to figure out why my unit wasn't showing up on the network after trying to transfer some music via the sony app on wifi which usually works fine.  Fingers crossed that a fix is not too far away !!   Cheers

I spoke with Sony's ES division this morning.  They said they were aware of the issue; that a security patch associated with an update to Big Sur is what broke the connectivity between the MacOS and the HAP-Z1ES; and that as soon as they can isolate the specific problem, they will work on and issue a firmware update to the HAP-Z1ES and/or a software update to the Mac HAP Music Transfer App.No sense of when that will be, other than they are on the case.

@cleeds,

Last year I spoke with Sony Tech and was told that the HAP is being phased out and that there would not be any more firmware updates.

stereo5

I am sure Sony won't update the HAP software. It has been discontinued for years ...

Are you sure? It's listed on the Sony website and I saw one on display at my local BB just last week.

I am sure Sony won't update the HAP software.  It has been discontinued for years and the amount of Mac users are probably a lot less than the Windows users.

I can't drag-and-drop either.  While the HAP-Z1ES shows up on my network, it won't connect in any meaningful way. 

My wife's laptop runs MacOS Catalina and both HAP Music Transfer and drag-and-drop work fine.

Unless there's something I'm not seeing, Sony has yet to update their software to take the Big Sur changes into account. 

It remains to be seen whether they will.

My issue is that while I can see the HAP-Z1ES on my network, it will no longer connect.  No more drag&drop for me either.  I fear that this is linked to the Mac OS update.  

Haven't tried drag-and-drop yet; will report back when I do.  Thanks, kent_monkey!

Wondering if you were able to drag and drop?  I just discovered that my Big Sur Mac won't connect to the HAP-Z1ES even though I can see it on the network.  The connection just fails when I try.  Likewise the Transfer software sees the Sony, but won't explore the drive or auto transfer.   
Very frustrating.  

Thanks!

With my Windows based computer, I never have any problems in getting the files onto my HAP hard drive.  I have moved  up to 300GB at one time with no problems. The Sony transfer software has nothing to do with Grace Notes, that is already on the HAP hard drive.  It really isn’t a Sony problem, it’s Apples. 

Thank you, all.  Have been corresponding with Sony support.  I might try drag-and-drop, though does that mean that Gracenote rather than yours truly supplies the artwork and metadata? 

For whatever reasons I'm seeing this as a Sony problem, not an Apple problem — perhaps because I've been struggling with an HP printer that always seems one or two versions behind the latest MacOS update ;)

Regardless: I've been listening to wonderful music on a good rig, and that's made all the difference during the pandemic.  Don't want to lose sight of that.
Continuing thanks,
   Howard.

Why does Apple make things so difficult in 2021?  You would think they would be more compatible with Windows operating computers.  BTW, the Sony runs on. Lynxes operating system. 

Ain’t Apple wonderful?  In addition to the suggestion from Stereo5, can you simply reload the previous version of the software?  I did that once, but it required a call to Apple support

I have 2 Sony HAPZ1ES players in 2 systems.  I never use the Sony software, I just drag and drop. Have you tried it this way?