DACs That Improve The Sound of the Sony HAP-Z1ES

Sony HAP-Z1ES was my first non-PC based player. I like the user interface, color display, control app, and the spot on ripping with Gracenote database. At that time, I also have Ayon CD-07 which uses the same Burr Brown PCM1795 DAC. The CD-07 sounds better but can’t play hires music.

I tried using Z1ES as digital transport into external DAC (Terminator & Marantz SA-10). But Intel NUC with linear PS and internal SSD sound better than Z1ES as digital audio playback device. I tried many different playback software, both Windows and Linux, and discovered that Euphony is the best.

Now I’ve moved on to Innuos Zenith Mk.II which is the best ’streamer’ I’ve had so far. But I have not given up yet with optimizing PC-based playback.

If you plan to spend a lot of money on DAC, the HAP-Z1ES is not the right digital playback device.

Hi Anwar, thanks for the response and detailing of the various  iterations you have gone through.  Although I hope that your last sentence is not true, the lack of response here may be telling.  That Innuos Zenith gets a lot of good press, may be time for me to start looking at that and similar solutions, though I’m getting to be an old geezer whose patience wears thin pretty quickly these days so ‘simplicity’ is a priority. Good luck with your PC-based efforts.......

I have a Sony hap-z1es too. Placed a order for a innuos zenith  Mkiii.

looking forward to a big upgrade. Also just purchased a Weiss DAC501.  What a upgrade. I was amazed at what a outboard quality DAC could do for me.

Very nice Bike, wish I could afford one of those Weiss DAC's, bet it sounds awesome and then some!  Thanks for the input.....