thomasha Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 With the latest firmware update (Version 18033R) SONY HAP-Z1ES is supposed to be supporting Media Server functionality. The Helpguide says that "Some USB digital audio devices may not work for playback." (see http://helpguide.sony.net/ha/hapz1es/v1/en/contents/TP0001220509.html?search=dac ) I've tried to connect HAP-Z1ES via USB with the PowerDac Wadia 151 yet i'm getting "USB device not supported". Has anyone faced a similar issue and is there any way how to get it working? Seems I'll have to employ a USB to spdif converter ;( Thanks Link to comment
thomasha Posted December 21, 2016 Author Share Posted December 21, 2016 With the latest firmware update (Version 18033R) SONY HAP-Z1ES is supposed to be supporting Media Server functionality. The Helpguide says that "Some USB digital audio devices may not work for playback." (see http://helpguide.sony.net/ha/hapz1es/v1/en/contents/TP0001220509.html?search=dac ) I've tried to connect HAP-Z1ES via USB with the PowerDac Wadia 151 yet i'm getting "USB device not supported". Has anyone faced a similar issue and is there any way how to get it working? Seems I'll have to employ a USB to spdif converter ;( Thanks Isn't there anyone who'd have experienced a non-supported USB audio device? Is there a cure? Link to comment
Apesbrain Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 I don't see anything in the operating manual for that Sony unit that confirms it will support an external DAC. The USB on the back panel is for connecting an external hard drive or CD drive. You should connect the Sony to the Wadia via analog. Link to comment
audio.bill Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 I don't see anything in the operating manual for that Sony unit that confirms it will support an external DAC. The USB on the back panel is for connecting an external hard drive or CD drive. You should connect the Sony to the Wadia via analog. As stated in the OP the ability to connect an external DAC via USB was added to the Sony's functionality via a recent firmware update. While I have read about several users able to now successfully drive an external DAC using the Sony as a music server, it seems that there are some DACs which have compatibility issues. These may be resolved in subsequent updates, but that has not been determined at this point. Ability to support connection of a USB hub was also added, so that you can simultaneously connect an external drive, a CDROM drive for direct ripping, and a (compatible) external USB DAC. Link to comment
thomasha Posted December 22, 2016 Author Share Posted December 22, 2016 As stated in the OP the ability to connect an external DAC via USB was added to the Sony's functionality via a recent firmware update. While I have read about several users able to now successfully drive an external DAC using the Sony as a music server, it seems that there are some DACs which have compatibility issues. These may be resolved in subsequent updates, but that has not been determined at this point. Ability to support connection of a USB hub was also added, so that you can simultaneously connect an external drive, a CDROM drive for direct ripping, and a (compatible) external USB DAC. Hi audio.bill, thanks for a sensible reply which gives me hope if Sony addresses the incompatibility issue. Link to comment
Apesbrain Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 Sorry for the "nonsensible" reply. I can also see now that the Wadia is digital only: You could try a USB>SPDIF converter or even a powered USB hub. Link to comment
thomasha Posted December 22, 2016 Author Share Posted December 22, 2016 Sorry for the "nonsensible" reply. I can also see now that the Wadia is digital only: [ATTACH=CONFIG]31721[/ATTACH] You could try a USB>SPDIF converter or even a powered USB hub. That's a sensible reply ...and so far the only option to get together HAP-Z1ES and Wadia. Yet, my point was to inquire whether there's a way to get it working without a converter... Link to comment
thomasha Posted December 22, 2016 Author Share Posted December 22, 2016 hi Apesbrain, do you thing USB powered hub would suffice? So if Sony does not support the USB device (in this case the USB input of Wadia 151) as a DAC USB, would it make sense to place a USB hub in between and that would make it? I have no experience with this shi* Link to comment
Apesbrain Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 ^ Unfortunately, it's impossible to predict. I've seen both of these solutions work for other people with a similar problem. They are cheap enough to try and the part usually can be returned if it does not work. For either, I'd go with a model that has its own power supply. Link to comment
thomasha Posted December 22, 2016 Author Share Posted December 22, 2016 @Apesbrain - any recommendation for a good and not-that-pricey USB hub? Sorry, but this is a completely new groundz to me. Thanks Link to comment
Apesbrain Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 ^ Sorry, I don't. Amazon has many of them. If you want something today that's easy to return if necessary, you should be able to find one at Staples, Target, Walmart, Best Buy. Again, be sure to get one that has its own power supply; not all do. Link to comment
thomasha Posted December 22, 2016 Author Share Posted December 22, 2016 ^ Sorry, I don't. Amazon has many of them. If you want something today that's easy to return if necessary, you should be able to find one at Staples, Target, Walmart, Best Buy. Again, be sure to get one that has its own power supply; not all do. I'll see tomorrow as I'm going to try both a USB hub and a USB to SPDIF converter (m2tech hiface). Link to comment
WOH Posted January 29, 2017 Share Posted January 29, 2017 Hello all. As I understand it, McIntosh and Wadia are under the same umbrella. My McIntosh D150 is not recognized by my HAP-Z1ES, either. My guess is that the DACs require a software driver and are not natively recognized under Class 1 USB Audio Mode; Class 2 USB Audio Mode requires drivers. I am planning to use a NUC device to stream music to my D150 via USB and JRiver. I will control headlessly through an iPad. I am sure you know using the USB out on the Sony bypasses the excellent processing contained in the Z1ES. Will DSD transmitted in the form DoP maintain the sample rate and quality of native DSD over USB? Link to comment
audio.bill Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Will DSD transmitted in the form DoP maintain the sample rate and quality of native DSD over USB? DSD transmitted via the DoP protocol simply encodes the exact DSD data in PCM frames for transmission. Once the DoP signal is recognized by the receiver it is then unpacked from the PCM format and the result is the exact same DSD data which existed before it was encoded. There is still some debate over whether DoP transmission sounds identical to native DSD, and even though the data is bit for bit identical there could be a difference due to the additional processing required to unpack the DoP data back into DSD. That additional processing results in additional loads on the power supply which can affect the resultant sound quality. YMMV applies. Link to comment
thomasha Posted March 6, 2017 Author Share Posted March 6, 2017 DSD transmitted via the DoP protocol simply encodes the exact DSD data in PCM frames for transmission. Once the DoP signal is recognized by the receiver it is then unpacked from the PCM format and the result is the exact same DSD data which existed before it was encoded. There is still some debate over whether DoP transmission sounds identical to native DSD, and even though the data is bit for bit identical there could be a difference due to the additional processing required to unpack the DoP data back into DSD. That additional processing results in additional loads on the power supply which can affect the resultant sound quality. YMMV applies. Thanks for the info regarding DSD processing. I've been using HAP-Z1ES with the M2Tech HiFace 2 and it sounds great. HOWEVER - a new issue arose just a couple of days back with the new firmware version 18120R. It seems that they added support for USB 1.0 as my Wadia 151 finally plays via USB even without conversion from USB>SPDIF, but it plays extremely silent !!! Has anyone experienced it? To get nearly normal level loudness i need to max wadia out. Unbelievable, they managed to fix USB downwards compatibility but completely broke the volume level. It stays the same low level even after conversion from USB>SPDIF so it's definitely the output level of Sony's USB output. The firmware is supposed to Improves playback quality for the USB digital output function. Is there any way how to downgrade the firmware? Link to comment
thomasha Posted March 6, 2017 Author Share Posted March 6, 2017 DSD transmitted via the DoP protocol simply encodes the exact DSD data in PCM frames for transmission. Once the DoP signal is recognized by the receiver it is then unpacked from the PCM format and the result is the exact same DSD data which existed before it was encoded. There is still some debate over whether DoP transmission sounds identical to native DSD, and even though the data is bit for bit identical there could be a difference due to the additional processing required to unpack the DoP data back into DSD. That additional processing results in additional loads on the power supply which can affect the resultant sound quality. YMMV applies. Thanks for the info regarding DSD processing. I've been using HAP-Z1ES with the M2Tech HiFace 2 and it sounds great. HOWEVER - a new issue arose just a couple of days back with the new firmware version 18120R. It seems that they added support for USB 1.0 as my Wadia 151 finally plays via USB even without conversion from USB>SPDIF, but it plays extremely silent !!! Has anyone experienced it? To get nearly normal level loudness i need to max wadia out. Unbelievable, they managed to fix USB downwards compatibility but completely broke the volume level. It stays the same low level even after conversion from USB>SPDIF so it's definitely the output level of Sony's USB output. The firmware 18120R is supposed to Improves playback quality for the USB digital output function. Is there any way how to downgrade the firmware? Link to comment
thomasha Posted March 14, 2017 Author Share Posted March 14, 2017 No idea how to downgrade the firmware on SONY HAP-Z1ES? Any idea appreciated Link to comment
sfseay Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 Thanks for the info regarding DSD processing. I've been using HAP-Z1ES with the M2Tech HiFace 2 and it sounds great. HOWEVER - a new issue arose just a couple of days back with the new firmware version 18120R. It seems that they added support for USB 1.0 as my Wadia 151 finally plays via USB even without conversion from USB>SPDIF, but it plays extremely silent !!! Has anyone experienced it? To get nearly normal level loudness i need to max wadia out. Unbelievable, they managed to fix USB downwards compatibility but completely broke the volume level. It stays the same low level even after conversion from USB>SPDIF so it's definitely the output level of Sony's USB output. The firmware 18120R is supposed to Improves playback quality for the USB digital output function. Is there any way how to downgrade the firmware? I use an Auralic Vega external DAC from my HAP via USB and max out the Auralic digital volume by default because that is what Auralic recommends. Perhaps the HAP is working properly? Maybe I'm way off here too. Sent from my iPad using Computer Audiophile MAIN SYSTEM - SST Ambrosia 2000 Second Edition Preamp and Son of Ampzilla II Amp, dCS Debussy DAC, Bricasti M5 Streamer, PS Audio P3 Power Plant, Aurender ACS10 Server/Streamer, Focal Sopra No. 1 Speakers, JL Audio F112 Subwoofer, Elac SUB3070 Subwoofer, 20TB Synology NAS, Small Green Computer i5/1TB SSD running Roon HOME OFFICE SYSTEM - NAD M10 Integrated Amp/Streamer/DAC, Auralic Altair Streamer/DAC, Oppo BDP-103 SACD, KEF LS50 Speakers Link to comment
thomasha Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 I use an Auralic Vega external DAC from my HAP via USB and max out the Auralic digital volume by default because that is what Auralic recommends. Perhaps the HAP is working properly? Maybe I'm way off here too. Sent from my iPad using Computer Audiophile 1. So when you max out the Auralic digital volume and play the source as HAP-Z1ES, how deafening is it? Since you cannot control the volume on HAP-Z1ES (works only with some Sony devices, predominantly with TA-Z1ES), then you must be, by now, deaf 2. I am basing my question on my experience with the previous firmware where the USB>SPDIF conversion and its volume level were perfect. In Wadia, the volume level was on 40 (out of 79) - spot on for listening. Now with the new firmware i max it out to 79 and it is still barely standard level... so something must have changed. There must have been a new change applied which affects only some devices and that's what i'm trying to investigate... Originally, Wadia 151 was not recognized by HAP-Z1ES as a supported device. Therefore i decided to do conversion from HAP's usb output via SPDIF convertor and it worked. The latest firmware, however, introduced a very interesting change - now Wadia IS SUPPORTED (as a usb device!) so i don't need conversion to SPDIF from HAP's output. But BOTH WAYS PLAY LOW VOLUME Link to comment
sfseay Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 My Auralic Vega is connected to a preamp and I control the volume from there. MAIN SYSTEM - SST Ambrosia 2000 Second Edition Preamp and Son of Ampzilla II Amp, dCS Debussy DAC, Bricasti M5 Streamer, PS Audio P3 Power Plant, Aurender ACS10 Server/Streamer, Focal Sopra No. 1 Speakers, JL Audio F112 Subwoofer, Elac SUB3070 Subwoofer, 20TB Synology NAS, Small Green Computer i5/1TB SSD running Roon HOME OFFICE SYSTEM - NAD M10 Integrated Amp/Streamer/DAC, Auralic Altair Streamer/DAC, Oppo BDP-103 SACD, KEF LS50 Speakers Link to comment
thomasha Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 My Auralic Vega is connected to a preamp and I control the volume from there. Then it's a completely different story Link to comment
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