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Sony HAP-Z1ES file transfer BROKEN!!!

Hello all:

I just has an enlightening/depressing discussion with a senior level Sony ES Tech.  I had not used my HAP-Z1ES recently (or more correctly I had not uploaded any music to the unit for several months).  I have done some listening, tho.

Last evening I tried to transfer some FLAC files, and the HAP did not even appear as a network device on either my Mac Pro, or Windows 10 PC.   I futzed around with it for several hours with no success.  Then I did a Google search, and found that others had gotten it to work AFTER going into the HAP hidden SMB setup screen, and selecting SMB 1.0 as the protocol.

I finally got it to work on the Windows side, but then noticed the transfer speed was half of what it used to be- and that previous speed was glacially slow. They will have to come up with a new word to describe how slow it is now.

Sony tech told me that Apple, in their infinite wisdom, rendered the SMB protocol inoperative in High Sierra onward, due to "security concerns"  Sony Japan asked Apple to come up with a workaround to allow their HAP customers to be able to continue to use their players, but was told "Not only NO, but Hell, NO. We're not the slightest bit interested"  Thanks SO much, Apple!!!!

Windows users have also been affected because Microsoft recently downgraded to SMB protocol from Ver.2 back to ver.1.  Hence, the transfer speed was cut exactly in half, and that's precisely what I observed.

The Tech told me that to continue to use a Mac to work with my HAP-Z1ES, I'd have to find an older MAC that was running an earlier version of OS-X where the SMB was not hobbled.

I'm thinking about getting a laptop and installing LINUX to see if the file transfer to the HAP would speed up- since Sony natively uses the Linux EXT4 filesystem.

Has anyone else done this?

And thanks again, Apple and Microsoft!!!

P.S.  Sony has not put any of this information on their HAP-Z1ES website- tech said their legal beagles won't let them- so the customers have to do the digging to get to the truth of what is transpiring.

 

kind regards,

Greg Davis

dumpster
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,384 posts
 

Well, that really sucks for us HAP users.  Thats what I hate about Sony, they come out with a good player and then hardly ever update the software and pretty much abandon their customers.  They did the same with SACD!  I have been asking them to add Roon or Tidal but they stick with Spotify which is MP3 quality at best.  I'm annoyed as I have 2 of these Sony players, one in each system.  There will be no more Sony purchases for me.

onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,217 posts
 

Unfortunately, this is what happens when you try to integrate audio systems with computers.  You're at the mercy of several large corporation who are constantly "upgrading" operating systems.  Both large and small companies have a hard time keeping up with compatibility issues.  Fortunately, an older iMac with an older OS X can be had for less than $100.

jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 

Ah, the joys of computer audio!

dumpster OP
5 posts
 

To be fair, it's not Sony's fault. Not that they could not have added a Firewire/USB3/HDMI/USB-C/Thunderbolt port to move files outside the network framework. Would have been worlds faster, and left the network side out of it.

There are many things Sony could do better.  Their tech support is atrocious, and they create new (and innovative) formats, then let them die on the vine. I own several ES components, and like them quite a bit. I have a top-end ES Minidisc deck (~$1500) that recently died after no more than 100 hours of play time. Parts no longer available to fix it. I also have an el cheapo Sony minidisc deck that was bottom of the line, but still chugging happily along like gangbusters. So go figure.

I agree about the Roon and Tidal. Should be a piece of cake to implement either. I'll have to say, though, that Sony has made quite a few functional upgrades to the Z1ES. That has probably been their most supported model as in the last few years.

Fortunately, I have an older Mac Mini laying around so hopefully I can kluge it together to move some music onto the Z1ES.

 

gregor

corelli
976 posts
 

Not trying to be a smart aleck, but this is just one example of why I never jumped on board the computer audio train.  I like simple solutions that I can trust.

Thanks for sharing and sorry to hear about your situation.

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