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New Sony HAP-Z1ES Firmware Out Today

I installed the newest firmware today and was pleasantly surprised that the player now supports an external DAC via the USB connection. It now does DSD over USB2 and there is a provision to turn it on/off. I played a couple of different artists and the player seems to work perfectly with the iPad remote.  Here is the skinny, direct from Sony:


This firmware upgrade (version 18033R) provides the following improvements over version 17384R:

  • Adds support for the Media Server function
  • Adds support for the USB digital output function (USB hub support for connecting each of one HDD drive, one CD drive, and one USB DAC)
  • Adds support for Seek operations
  • Adds support for the Fade In/Out function
  • Adds the Go to genre/artist/album/folder function to the Options menu
  • Adds the following operations:
    • Queuing the track next to the one currently playing, and queuing the track last
    • Deleting the track from the play queue
    • Creating a playlist with the play queue
    • Deleting the playlist
    • Deleting the track from the playlist
    • Deleting the information of a disconnected external hard disk drive

128x128stereo5
pro_info's avatar
pro_info
6 posts
 
Ok, the C-Media CM6631A work with last firmware version.
rlb61
789 posts
 
Just curious ... I’m thinking of migrating to digital music files, so why is it not preferable to have a computer in a stereo system? I have been thinking of using a laptop into an external DAC into my preamp because I am not network savvy and wish to keep things simple.
gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
....so why is it not preferable to have a computer in a stereo system?

IMO, the answer depends on the level of audio nirvana you're wishing to achieve. Meaning, while a computer USB output to an external DAC USB input is very doable, listenable, etc., it is often considered (by the DAC manufacturer) the least quality with respect to other inputs the same DAC would typically have.  Also IMO, I believe the same can be said of the USB cable with respect to S/PDIF,  AES/EBU, etc. cables. The aforementioned said, the difference could still amount to splitting hairs and you may never realize or care to realize there are better options than USB. IMO, if USB works for you and this is your way of keeping things simple, go for it.

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