Sony Really Getting Behind Hi-Rez

[Mr Peabody]

This article talks about Sony's hi-rez push and their new supporting product, links to download sites for hi-rez music files and basic hi-rez explanation. Beyond MP3: New push for high-resolution music so clear you can hear a pin drop | Fox News

 

[gooch]

Of course they are they want a big chunk of the pie

 

[BlueFox]

Yes, they did this a few months ago.

 

[socfan12]

I was looking at the HAP-Z1ES. My dealer had a Sony Hi Res day where Sony came in and demo'd these units. Unfortunately he found out though the unit has an Ethernet port, you cannot stream from a NAS like the Linn or the Lumin units. That is a big design faux pas IMO. And not sure if just a firmware upgrade could change that or not.

My dealer said he's happy to lend me a unit to audition at home, and I may still take him up on it. But lacking streaming makes it a lot less desirable in my book.

 

[Glareskin]

I was looking at the HAP-Z1ES. My dealer had a Sony Hi Res day where Sony came in and demo'd these units. Unfortunately he found out though the unit has an Ethernet port, you cannot stream from a NAS like the Linn or the Lumin units. That is a big design faux pas IMO. And not sure if just a firmware upgrade could change that or not.

My dealer said he's happy to lend me a unit to audition at home, and I may still take him up on it. But lacking streaming makes it a lot less desirable in my book.

I fully agree that this is a big no go! However a € 2000 player is probably not in our league anyhow, hi-res or not. And of course Sony is for a long time already not in the driver's seat any more. But apparently they want to come back to the ES level that they have left at the end of the last century. This month's edition of the German magazine Stereo is having it on the cover: Sony is back!

The HAP Z1-ES is getting a positive review and is classifies as a music server, not as streamer. Even though the review is positive there is a big gap in sound quality to the NAD M50/M51 and even more to the Burmester 111MC, the only two other music servers the magazine tested before.
So the take away for me is that it is good news that a big player like Sony is now focussing on high-res and DSD which might boost the market.
I am pretty sure that the device is not coming somewhere close to my Linn though....

 

[still-one]

I was looking at the HAP-Z1ES. My dealer had a Sony Hi Res day where Sony came in and demo'd these units. Unfortunately he found out though the unit has an Ethernet port, you cannot stream from a NAS like the Linn or the Lumin units. That is a big design faux pas IMO. And not sure if just a firmware upgrade could change that or not.

My dealer said he's happy to lend me a unit to audition at home, and I may still take him up on it. But lacking streaming makes it a lot less desirable in my book.

I have no issue with the lack of streaming capability. Until major labels start releasing new music on DSD the 1TB drive will provide plenty of space for storing the random DSD release that I might be interested in. I have no interest in repurchasing the CD's or Hi Rez versions that I already have loaded on my MDMS (Sooloos).

 

[MDP]

I was looking at the HAP-Z1ES. My dealer had a Sony Hi Res day where Sony came in and demo'd these units. Unfortunately he found out though the unit has an Ethernet port, you cannot stream from a NAS like the Linn or the Lumin units. That is a big design faux pas IMO. And not sure if just a firmware upgrade could change that or not.

My dealer said he's happy to lend me a unit to audition at home, and I may still take him up on it. But lacking streaming makes it a lot less desirable in my book.

I couldn't agree more Allen, once you live with a streamer, there is no going back.