Using an ouboard DAC with SONY HAPZ1ES

I have used tried an Auralic Vega DAC, Esoteric N-05 Streamer/DAC, a Bryston BDA-3 DAC, and am now using a Mytek Brooklyn DAC with the Sony HAP-Z1 in my home office.  I think all the DACs sounded better than the internal HAP-Z1 DAC.  Having said that, YMMV.

Interesting -thanks for the info.  I know that the Sony does some PCM to DSD conversion internally, and also will upsample lossy files (mp3, etc).  I think when used as a storage device only (external DAC) it outputs in native resolution.  That might account for some of the loss in body.

I've tried HAP-Z1ES USB into Oppo 205, Denafrips Terminator, & Marantz SA-10.  There were some problems with Terminator which uses Amanero USB interface, so it was returned.  I don't have any problems with both 205 and SA-10 which use XMOS USB interface. 

Eventually, I discovered the Z1ES limits the sound quality since I have 2 DACs which also have transport, so I can compare easily.  Not willing to spend too much money on player/renderer, I built my own using Intel NUC 7i5BNH with linear power supply and 2 internal SSDs, using Win 10 Pro with HYSOLID free player.  The sound from NUC into SA-10 DAC is much better compared to using Z1ES as player into SA-10, even after upgrading the Z1ES internal drive to SSD.

There was a discussion earlier about using outbound DACs for DSD/SACD playback and my understanding was you need some specific connectivity arrangements to make it work. Don't remember all the details but should be easy to dig out. 

I tried my HAPZ1ES with a Wyred4Sound Dac-2 DSD SE DAC and preferred the one in the Sony better.  Music seemed to flow better and with the Sony and there was more body to the music.  The Wyred dac seemed more in your face.

The Sony sounds great, I’ve tried an outboard DAC.  Was a little diffferent but not better.

now, I would like to see Sony offer quboz support.  It is a high res player after all.  

I’m trying to see if anyone with the Sony has seen improvement with an outboard DAC over the internal DAC.

Any USB based dac will work.  Just make sure you have the latest firmware update on the Sony.