Anyone know if the HAPZ1 will read my CDs burned on my Olive 06dh? Not familiar with Olive but after reading the user's manual, you can try. 1. Buy a 3 TB self powered USB drive for < $100 and backup your Olive. Basically export the music so you can download to HAPZ1. I think by default Olive rips to flac. It's always good idea to backup anyways. From Olive User's manual:
8.3 Backup
It is always a good idea to backup your music regularly.
To do so please format a USB hard drive in FAT32 and
go to SETTINGS > SYSTEM SERVICES and select
BACKUP. Follow the on-screen instruction and connect
the USB hard drive only when prompted. A pop-up window
will confirm when the backup process has started.
2. Attached USB drive to your computer and find the directory with all your cds. My guess it's under a parent directory broken up by artist. IE: Say drive is map to F: F:\Olive_Music\AC DC F:\Olive_Music\Aerosmith ... F:\Olive_Music\ZZ Top 3. In the Sony HAP Music Transfer software, add F:\Olive_Music folder and transfer. This is a one time transfer. The Sony internal HDD is 1 TB so you will need to buy another self powered USB drive and attach to Sony if you have more than 1 TB of music. 4. For new music, use current steps for Olive. For HAPZ1. use a ripping software such as iTune, dBpoweramp ... and rip to local or external USB drive. Add folder to Music Transfer software, set auto transfer and transfer. HAP installs as a service. It monitors folders for new music and will automatically download to HAPZ1. Once music is downloaded to HAPZ1, you don't need the computer. I only turn it on if I have new music to download. IE: you can configure the new music folder: c:My Music\Acoustic Records DSD c:My Music\HD Tracks ... c:My Music\iTune Music Then just add c:My Music in Music Transfer software. |
Not familiar with the Olive, but if the files are accessible on your PC or Mac just as they would be if they were stored on a standard hard drive and are in a standard music file format (i.e. FLAC, WAV, ALAC, etc.) then the Sony transfer software will allow you to transfer the files to its internal drive or connected USB external drive for playback. It will not playback any files directly that are not first transferred to its own drive(s). |
Anyone know if the HAPZ1 will read my CDs burned on my Olive 06dh? |
Knghifi, I'm not sure if you caught the discussion about the Audio Magic Illusion umbilical. If not, please read my review, and Wig's rave comments. No hyperbole. As an upgrade for the ModWright HAPZ1, it is a must have. Stunning improvement over the truth umbilical. The difference is on the same order of magnitude as the ModWright mods over the stock HAPZ1.
I've got a 1940's Westinghouse Canada U54 rectifier coming in from Brent Jesse. Got the last one. I'm also going to bring in a 5R4GYS for comparison. When you get a feel for your Siemens/Telefunken preference, please let me know.
I have an audio magic fuse in my PS 9.0, but I was thinking about trying an SR red. |
Same experience here. At around 150 hours of burn-in/music play on the Sony HAP-Z1, it really sounds nice. |
NP Brownsfan, I have 150+ hours on my MW Sony now and it's superb. Definitely reference quality to my ears.
I'm using a SR Red Quantum Fuse in PS 9.0. I have 60's Telefunkens and agree they are great tubes. Currently rolling 60's Siemens.
Rolling NOS TS 5U4GB rectifier and my favorite. Will order a Philips 5R4GYS from Upscale when I order my KT150's. Heard good things about them. |
Knghfi, sorry I missed your questions. I am still using the stock fuse. The vtuner issue has been resolved. I'm using early 60's Telefunkens. They are great tubes. |
Brownsfan,
I have a few questions for you.
1. Have you replaced stock fuse in HAPZ1 with after market? What's the correct fuse direction?
2. Has the Vtuner issue been resolved?
3. What 6922 and rectifier tube are you rolling?
Thanks! |
Brownsfan, study the Bose model. |
Sony is a big company that like most can no longer operate in a vacuum and be successful. It will be interesting to see how this works out. There is a risk with buying any vendor's proprietary hardware these days. The long term winners that will be around long term are not always clear. You would think Sony to be a good bet long term, though bumps along the way are clearly in teh cards.
That's the big reason I am trying to move away from proprietary hardware and to more open solutions. I am in process of expanding with PLEX on various platforms as a supplement to and possible eventual replacement for my current Squeezebox system. |
Your cable company can arbitrally decide to drop your favorite channel. Your software company can stop supporting the OS you use. Your smart phone doesn't have to support an app you like. Your favorite FM station can change formats. If you buy a internet enabled device you are at the mercy of the manufacturer to maintain their internet portal. I imagine Sony reserves the right to change service as they see fit, but at a minimum they should be transparent about their decision. |
I suspect part of the problem is Sony's size and I suspect having to deal with an external service provider is a relatively new thing for them. Hopefully just some bumps along the road that will get squared away soon. If I were Sony, I would acknowledge the problem and provide a clear roadmap for getting it fixed. |
Sony needs to wake up and smell the coffee. They have, in my opinion, a superb product with huge sales potential. They are failing miserably when it comes to facilitating commercial availability of their catalogue in DSD, now this issue with Vtuner.
What is not clear to me is if this has been a case of a corporate decision to deny culpability for the problem, or clueless employees at the help desk making up stuff as they go.
This is an important feature worked perfectly for a long time. What is the deal, Sony? |
A service outage of that duration is certainly not a normal thing. Do notmean to insinuate that is user error. |
I don't get why everybody keeps saying to help me out. Clear that nobody is reading my whole thread. As I stated, Sony HAS acknowledged there is a problem and they have their engineers on it. Has nothing to do with my end.
Read the forum complaints from the UK as well that have same issues that started on same day.
http://community.sony.co.uk/t5/hi-fi-systems/cmt-g2bnip-music-services-vtuner-not-working-since-last-3-days/td-p/1256300 |
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Mapman, we call working with Sony gear "Sony-Speak." They often use their own terminology unrelated to industry standards. |
Mapman
This has nothing to do with user error. I am extremely competent and should point out unit was working in the am on 5th fine and when I came home that night got nothing but a cannot connect message. Internet working fine on 1 MacBook Pro, 2 iPads, 2 iPhones, 2 Apple TV's a Marantz , a Sonos and a partridge in a pear tree.
Even bought a new router thinking maybe something weird going on with same result. Did you notice Brownsfan had the same issue????
If you go Google this you will see it is a world wide issue with page after page of frustrated users in UK as well.
Additionally, as I stated, Sony has acknowledged it is not working. Plain and simple |
Sad thing is this is a global issue and users have started Facebook pages over this problem with no resolution in sight.
Clear that Sony is not only not being truthful, but having many customers resetting their devices, questioning their internet providers, (I stupidly even upgraded my router) and other craziness.
Unfortunately, as much as I like my unit when it works, this leaves a bad taste in my mouth and will be returning it.
As an FYI, I also feel this is an injustice to many of the retail establishments who are apparently unaware of the issue as well and likely to incur losses with return shipping labels etc. as people demand refunds |
" I wouldn't know how to build a business plan around an assumption that 90% of my customers are idiots. How is that for a company brand."
I doubt the business plan is quite that extreme, but Apple is the perfect model for how to sell technology to those that are perhaps more challenged to understand it than some others.
1) Strive to stay in front of the pack yet keep things as simple and aesthetically pleasing as possible, which typically means fewer options for the customer.
2) Provide ample and effective customer tech support as needed
3) charge top dollar to help pay for all this and make a hefty profit to boot. |
Sounds like a pretty par for the course kind of experience for computer audio.
There is a learning curve up front no matter which device or technology still these days it seems. Good things come to those with some determination though. Once you get it, there are ample rewards to reap.
I've seen these Sonys and read about them and think they can be a nice option for many.
Myself, I do this stuff for a living, so its hard for me to gauge how hard it is for others, but I know it is not always easy. But when there is a will there is usually a way. |
Schubert, good thing I'm not running a business. I wouldn't know how to build a business plan around an assumption that 90% of my customers are idiots. How is that for a company brand.
"Successfully selling junk to complete idiots for generations. Bend over, we deliver!" |
Every big corporation doing business in USA knows 90% + are just that. |
Jcaudio, I don't use the Vtuner often, but I did notice the same thing the last time I tried to connect. I can certainly understand why you are upset. Seems like sony is making that fatal audio mistake here, the mistake of assuming its customers are all stupid.
Get your act together Sony. |
While I like the unit overall, I am concerned with Sony and Vtuner. Vtuner happens to be one of the main reasons I bought the unit as I get tired of my collection and love the variety of music I can explore.
Since Sept. 06, all you get on the unit is "cannot connect". I have called Sony numerous times about the problem and was first told it was a Vtuner problem. When I informed him it works fine on my Marantz he admitted that their server was having issues with Vtuners server and should be up an running any minute.
That was September 6th and as I write this it is end of day September 15th
Every time I call to get an update I get the run around. Shame as it could be a really good unit if only Sony would get their act together on this vital function.
I realize for some of you the Vtuner may not matter but it does to me |
Mitch, my updates on burn in were "complicated" by purchase of new amplifiers. This rendered any continuation of the burn in progress impossible, since there was a quantum jump in performance of the system with the new amps. The amps are new so they are also burning in. I wanted to trade in my old equipment on the new amps, so I had to do this before moving out of the Coincident dealers sales territory. I do wish I could have gotten another 100 hours on the HAPZ1 to complete the comparison before buying the new amps, but because of the impending move I needed to act.
What I will be able to do, as soon as time permits, is do another careful A/b of the HAPZ1 vs the Modwright Sony 5400 player. Since that was the time zero reference point, this will provide a very good end point analysis of the fully burned in Modwright HAPZ1.
I am in the midst of purchase of the new house and won't close until late October. Our house is not yet on the market, and essentially all of my time is consumed with keeping things moving with the 2 houses. I will certainly be glad when this move is over. It is never painless to move, but this is more than I anticipated.
I can say this on the HAPZ1. I hardly ever listen to the MW 5400 anymore. It is a very good source. |
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Brownsfan, any news to report on the further break-in?
Have you moved yet?
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Mitch, Macs using iTunes don't rip to flac, although they can if one uses other software. Downloads in flac are no problem. I have a few albums transferred in wav, but the vast majority are in aiff, which is similar to wav in that it is not compressed. If you go back and look at the earlier posts, you will be reminded that I found with a sampling of albums, wav sounded subtly better than ALAC. Based on this finding, coupled with a few trials in which I could not distinguish between aiff and wav, I decided to commit to aiff, which usually transfers without corruption as opposed to wav, which was a nightmare of corruption. I did work out a laborious protocol for using wav and maintaining it in uncorrupted form once it is transferred, but since I can't discern between wav and aiff, I'm not motivated to use it at this point.
With almost 800 albums transferred, I still have slightly more than one half of the internal hard drive space free. Clearly, I could transfer the remainder of my library without using an external drive. An additional comment that I would make is that with most albums, I could not discern a difference between wav, ALAC, and aiff. However, since HD space is not limiting, I just went with transferring uncompressed files rather than sorting out which ones would benefit.
Once the bulk of the library is transferred, I want to identify my first and second choices for classical works, then either transfer the 3rd, 4th, and sometimes 5th choices of a particular work to an external drive as well as some works that very rarely get a listen (Sorry Elliot Carter, but you have had your chance-time to show you the way to the external drive.) That way, I should always have room for additional acquisitions to the library on the internal drive.
Another thing I am noticing is that using the album view for selecting music is becoming somewhat cumbersome. Between, Bach, Bartok, Barber, Beethoven, Bernstein, Brahms, and Britten, it takes a while just to swipe through the B's, and I have nowhere near all of my Bach and Beethoven loaded yet. However, this is nowhere near the problem of trying to find or even remember that I have certain albums in hard media (still can't find that Abaddo Mahler 1). I am going to go through the titles and be more specific on genre, which will help me get to a given work more quickly. For instance, there is no reason why I can't define genre more narrowly, for instance, using Lieder, rather than classical, as the genre for my beloved Schubert Lieder, which will allow me to quickly access the music without swiping all the way to the S's in the album view. I am avoiding use of the favorites flag. Too tempting to have my library effectively reduced to 100 titles! Also, I am finding that some recordings I avoided because of bad sound demand a reassessment. But these are subtleties that can wait for an opportune time. |
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Brownsfan, I checked the Modwright homepage and there is no mention of a new DAC. Where can I get info regarding the release of their DAC that you mentioned?
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Did you use WAV or FLAC for those 793 albums?
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I will bring in a good pair of NOS 6922s to compare with the 6GC7s. I'm open to suggestions. In my current system, 60's Siemens e88cc is my favorite and then Telefunken e88cc. Siemens is probably tough to find but checkout Upscale Audio for NOS Tele. Vinnie from RedWine Audio is rolling them in his HAPZ1 mod. These tubes are very linear and neutral. |
Thanks Mitch, will do. The cd drive on my iMac stopped working yesterday, so I won't be doing any new transfers until I get it fixed. I guess I can struggle along with the 793 albums transferred so far until I can get if fixed.
I've listened to the Ligeti "Ten pieces for Wind Quintet" 3 times over the last 3 days. We are not quite there yet. Still need more burn in. Once I get another couple hundred hours in, I will bring in a good pair of NOS 6922s to compare with the 6GC7s. I'm open to suggestions. |
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Brownsfan, I'm also lurking in the shadows and making note of your experiences. Keep it going.
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Knghifi, good to hear you find my ramblings useful. I don't know enough about ee to second guess Dan's designs. I only know what my ears tell me. The MW HAPZ1 is a very good digital source. Sure wish we had more to choose from on DSD downloads.
I see that the MW DAC has been released. I have no doubt that it is everything Dan says it is. The price, plus the price of a transport or computer system, would put that approach at a substantial premium to the HAPZ1. |
Brownsfan, excellent USEFUL info.
It's interesting Dan is gravitating to Lundahl transformer coupled and I guess in this case, no caps are better than best caps?
There's a new DAC flavor of the month so don't chase but I'm strongly considering a MW HAPZ1. |
Another week, I'm now up to about 750 albums on the hard drive. There have been a couple more very pleasant surprises this week. As I indicated in the last update, time to begin to work through Haydn and Mozart. Working through the Haydn string quartets, I was pretty much amazed by the transfers of the old Op. 76, 77, and 103 Takacs Quartet recordings on Decca. In particular, the improvement of the Op. 76 playback vs CD player was stunning. These are old recordings that I have had for a long time. Through my ModWright Sony 5400, the stock 5400, the Cambridge 840, and my old Denon 1640, these quartets were just about unlistenable. They sounded as if they had been recorded in an enormous cave, using a single microphone set back 100 meters from the players. Simply awful. Through the Modwright HAPZ1, these wonderful performances sounded lovely. Perhaps just a wee bit more hall ambience than I might like, but for the first time, these wonderful performances will get some serious playing time in my house. I can't explain what sounds like a complete change in venue and microphone set up. But the difference is profound.
The Op 64 quartets, this time by Quartor Mosaiques, in like fashion I found to be problematic in sound quality with cd playback. This time, there was something in the playback inducing listener fatigue, so that I just didn't enjoy these recordings. Much better through the HAPZ1. Not sure the performances are my cup of tea, but at least now I will give them enough time to draw a yea or nay conclusion.
Since I am spending so much time trying to get ready to move, I'm not getting the burn in hours or serious listening time I'd like to get. It is a slow process under these conditions. Can't be helped. |
140 hours of burn in. Last night, I listened to Das Reingold and the new Venzago Bruckner 8. French horns were particularly lovely in both of these recordings, and I would say this is the first time I began to hear horns as I would like them to be with the HAPZ1. Also, this week I listened to the early 60's Herbert von Karajan/Berlin recordings of LvB symphonies 3, 4, 5, and 7. Surprisingly, the recording quality of 5 and 7 was on a par with 3 and 4. I know these performances and recordings well. I cut my teeth on the vinyl versions back in the early 70's, and snatched up a set of the remastered SACDs earlier this year. Through the Modwright 5400, all but the 3rd and 4th are pretty rough and grainy. Through the HAPZ1, all those I have heard so far are, with the exception of dynamic range, almost on a par with recent recordings in my library.
I have about 620 albums loaded so far. I stay busy with this, dedicating about 30 minutes twice a day to the process. I have almost no Haydn or Mozart loaded yet. I am guessing another month and I will be in pretty good shape with having my library on the hard drive. Still no dsd downloads. Might be time to dip my toe into those waters soon. |
I just backed up the HAP external drive via the network. The NAS files are no longer current as the HAP makes changes and I have used the app to work with the metadata. It takes a while but not as bad as initially installing the music on the HAP. I have 1.2 TB of AIFF and 500 GB of DSF.
Really happy with this player! |
Bill K, if the transfer program worked properly, what you say is correct. Unfortunately, what I have found repeatedly, is that files left in the iTunes folder on my iMac, are sometimes redownloaded in corrupted form to the HAPZ1. The only way I have found to prevent this is to clear the "transferred files" list in the HAPZ1 transfer program and delete the albums from iTunes. Thus, there is no backup. I considered moving the files out of iTunes into a separate folder that is not designated for transfer to the HAPZ1, but it appears this looses the album integrity, so that one just has individual tracks, not albums.
Sony recently updated the HAPZ1 transfer program without releasing any details on what they changed. I hope they fixed this, and I do intend to try leaving the files in iTunes to see if they fixed the glitch. |
Mitch4t, I don't think making a backup of the HAP's internal drive is needed based upon its intended application. Sony's transfer software automatically copies music files over your network from the directories you select to the HAP. So your "backup" of the music files is already on your PC or NAS drives. As you add new music files to your PC or NAS they are then automatically copied to the HAP. If you desire additional backups of your music files you can easily create them on your PC to an external drive. |
Mitch4t, I haven't figured this out yet. I have my iMac automatically backed up by my apple time machine. The time machine sees the HAPZ1 on the network, but I haven't figured out how to get it to back up the HAPZ1 yet.
Once I get all this work done on the house, I will have more time to figure out the nuances like back up. As I said earlier, computers are a tool for me. I learn exactly as much as I need to learn to do what I want to do, and no more. |
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Brownsfan, once you transferred all of your recordings to the HAP, is it pretty easy to make a backup copy of the HAP's internal drive to an external hard drive?
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ERM, Thanks for the info. I've planned to get all my favorites on the internal hard drive, reserving an external drive for infrequents. Some say usb transfers are generally inferior to other approaches, but it may be that is not relevant to the HAPZ1.
I hear you on the domestic chores. I've spent the last 2 days cleaning carpets, including the listening room. I should start getting the rig back together tomorrow afternoon. I will be very glad when I get all the work done on the house and it goes on the market. I hardly feel retired. Putting in way too many 14 hour days painting, cleaning, landscaping, boxing stuff up, hauling boxes to storage, it just seems like it never will end. But, I have to say, the house is starting to look pretty good. |
I for one will never buy Sony again. Years back I bought an xm radio that developed a terrible noisy cooling fan. It was very audible even when I buried it in sound proofing. I sent it back for repair, under warranty. Sony said there was nothing wrong with it. They "bench tested" it by comparing it to a couple other units on the bench. I guess the noisy fan is normal. As far as I'm concerned Sony has no service department. |
Agear, thanks.
The HAPZ1 is not the perfect machine in term s of functionality. It is what it is, and if that works for you, it is a great piece. I would have loved to have been able to use it with a transport, but having made the decision to go with the HAPZ1, I really think this will be a minor issue for me, especially now that I have about 500 of my most frequently listened to CDs uploaded. |
Bmoura, thanks. I will take a look at those websites. |
Billstevenson, Thanks for letting me know that you have found some of my experiences and tips helpful. This is exactly what I hoped to accomplish with this thread. |
Joecasey, I am waiting for the modded HAPZ1to fully burn in before doing a serious A/B with the MW5400. As it stands now, with probably 150 hours on it, the modded HAPZ1 is clearly superior in most respects to the modded 5400. I will do a very serious A/B in about 3-4 weeks, since there doesn't seem to be much point in doing this when the HAPZ1 is still changing due to burn in. |
Brownsfan, how does MW Sony HAPZ1 compares to MW Sony 5400? |
You'll definitely want to do that! Suggest trying some of the DSD recorded material from the Downloads Now, DSD File and NativeDSD web sites. And some of the DSD and Analog Master tape sourced material on Super HiRez.
With the Sony HAP-Z1, the sound is excellent! |
