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Sony HAP-ZIES HDD player is it only 16bit 320kbps native playback ?

Hello Friends

I need your help / advice.. My Sony HapZies HDD player when connected to external DACS (MYTEK Brooklyn Dac or Chord Dave) with usb cables WireWorld Platinum Silver or Audioquest Diamounds keep showing 16bit 320kbps on display.

Regardless of the source recording being encoded at 32 bit 384khz / 24 bit 192 the Dacs display always shows 16 bit 320kbps. When I play the same formats from PC to these DACS via the same cable it shows the true resolution of these formats.

So it leads me to believe that the Sony is playing out the digital material in its standard format 16bit 320kbps via usb into DACS.

This is a bummer to me really If it is down sampling all hi rez formats to a lower 16bit 320kbps and outputting the same via usb to DACS.

I also noticed when I switch on DSD encoding, the DACs still display 16bit 320kbps only. It makes no sense calling this unit a hi rez hdd player.

However I love the sound of the Sony hdd into these Dacs in contrast to my other esoteric players and even PC streaming. The Sony is very musical, not edgy or harsh with a full top to bottom 3D soundstage even at only 16bit 320kbps  streaming via USB to DACs.

Has anyone noticed the same. And is there anything I can do on the Sony itself  to stream native encoded formats via usb to connected DACs ? 
royston_david
mahler123
3,312 posts
 
Oops, I just noticed you said it happens with the Chord as well.  
royston_david OP
7 posts
 
Hello Mahler123... I tried the Sony’s analog rca / xlr  outs using Audioquest Fire / DhLabs Reference interconnects into premium SS. / Tube  preamps. It sounded glassy, sterile, cold.  
When streaming from PC the MYTEK Brooklyn/ CHORD DAVE displays the max value of my data stream 32bit 384khz spot on. The soundstage is thick, rounded and warm with highs  sparkling, mids tightly focused dead center and bass full with depth. I go all out with the volume. With no ear bleed or fatigue. With the Sony’s Dac output I have to press the brakes .

I guess I am just keen on catching the Sony foxing me on the formats ! 
royston_david OP
7 posts
 
Hello Guys / Gals.. I guess my gripe with the SONY HAPZIES is not that it’s recognizing and playing most HI-REZ formats !! But rather  not outputting that true format at its rca / xlr / usb terminals. I suspect we’re hearing a compressed down sampled 16bit 320kbs CD quality extracted & processed by internal DAC  from original Hi-Rez  formats stored on its HDD or streams pulled from network. 
big_greg
6,623 posts
 
I looked up the specs on your device and it doesn't say much about what formats it supports. 

I have a Sony TA-ZH1ES headphone amp, and it seems likely it might share the same DAC your device has (I dont know if it does or not). Here are the specs for the DAC:

SAMPLING FREQUENCY/BIT DEPTH

DSD native (up to 22.4 MHz) DSD DoP (up to 11.2 MHz) PCM (up to 768 kHz/32 bit)

USB TYPE-B PORTPCM 2ch;

44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192/352.8/384/705.6/768 kHz (16/24/32 bit) DSD 2ch Native; 2.8/5.6/11.2/22.4 MHz (1 bit) DSD 2ch DoP; 2.8/5.6/11.2 MHz (1 bit)

I send unbalanced (RCA) out to my preamp when not listening to headphones and I think the display always stays the same. I'm not home to look. The DAC in the Sony sounds better to me than my Mytek Liberty DAC. 

Have you tried searching reviews for your unit? They sometimes include technical info the reviewer got from the manufacturer that isn't listed.

At the end of the day, if you don't like the way it sounds, maybe it's time to try something different. 


djones51
4,947 posts
 
According to stereophile it plays DSD at 64 or 128 and PCM up to 192khz so my guess is either you have a setting wrong or your player is broken. 

https://www.stereophile.com/content/sony-hap-z1es-high-resolution-file-player-measurements
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