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Sony UHP-1 experience?

Sony has a new Universal Player out and it's getting good reviews.  I have a lot of SACDs and also Blu Ray Audio and some DVD A as well, and I always want to make sure that there are players at reasonable prices.  The Sony also plays High Res pcm and DSD .  On the Video side it doesn't do 4 K and some reviewers think this is fatal flaw but My concern is audio.  The player goes for $350.00 at Best Buy.  Has anyone here heard it?  It seems like it might be a great replacement for the Oppo 105, now discontinued 
mahler123
samac's avatar
samac
499 posts
 
@jafant 

Ah, that's the one Sony announced back in September that looks like the UHP-H1 but will do 4K. I do hope they "hot rod" it more than just adding 4K. It would be great if they made the audio as outstanding as the video. The UHP-H1 video is already excellent.

Cheers,

Scott
ptss
1,964 posts
 
I'm with you Scott. I'm sure Sony could build one to outclass the OPPO 105 or 205D at lower cost; if they want.
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,643 posts
 
Right On! samac

it would be good of Sony to return to form on its "ES" line.
This is an excellent opportunity to deliver the goods (no pun).

The flipside of this coin would be for modders to "trick it out" like ES spinners of the past.
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
Didn't see much detail about the unit's internal DAC in terms of the supported rates, etc. Also as for audio, does it do any upsampling and would it qualify as a good option if used just for just 2-channel audio? I'm trying to decide to either upgrade my current CDP - older JVC, or get a DAC instead and use the CDP just as a transport. This unit is right within my budget of <$500.
samac's avatar
samac
499 posts
 
kalali,

The UHP-H1 has a feature Sony calls DSEE HX which Sony says "upscales" mp3s and CDs. I don't know if that's Sony's word for upsampling or not. I haven't engaged it. I'll try it in the next day or two and hear if it makes an appreciable difference.

I use the UHP-H1 primarily for watching movies and spins disc every once in awhile. I have a/b'd it a few times with the DAC in my streamer. In fact I just took about a fifteen minute break from composing this post to a/b a couple of songs. The Sony was on for about fifteen minutes and the streamer stays on all the time.

Whenever I do this I hear the same thing. The streamers DAC is a bit smoother/refined and quieter with a little better tonality and layering of the music. I can enjoy music from either the Sony or my Bluesound streamer but for long sessions the Bluesound is a bit more relaxed and easier to listen to. I will add that I think the Sony sounds great with dvd/Blurays.

The differences aren't huge and it could come down to the fact that I use a WireWorld Equinox IC on the Bluessound and a Luminous Audio IC on the Sony. I'll try the DSEE HX setting and give an update.

Bottom line is that for $350 the Sony sounds great and can be used in systems for an outstanding picture and good solid sound.

Cheers,

Scott
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