xieqiao

Online instruction manuals for both HAP-S1 and UDA-1 are available. Help Guide | Top HAP-S1 Help Guide | Top UDA-1 I assume that as the UDA-1's Hi-Res DAC Amplifier incorporates an asynchronous USB connector, we should be able to play APE files as well that are not directly supported by UDA-1 via MacBook's Cog audio player or Foobar2000 player on Windows 7. Under that scenario, our computer will first convert an APE file to PCM before sending it via USB to UDA-1 for processing. But there is a warning: When a signal of a format not supported is input, the USB REAR lamp flashes. Inputting such a signal may produce noise or even damage the speakers or headphones if played at a high volume.

I have downloaded Sony’s HDD Audio Remote app for HAP-S1, and read its online help, which indicates that transferring music files stored on the PC/Mac to the HDD Audio player can only be done via WiFi or your home router’s LAN ports, and the USB port on the HAP-S1 is for connecting to an external USB hard disk drive only. As my speakers are far away from the router, I can only transfer files through WiFi, which would be too slow for transferring large music files. In addition, I don’t think HAP-S1 supports the embedded CUE sheets for FLAC and APE files, which each consists usually of multiple songs, as cue sheets apparently cannot be transferred.

I like SACDs remastered from LP albums like RCA Living Stereo series. They sound as well or even better than CDs. I'm also quite excited about the launch of HDD audio player HAP-Z1ES; integrated stereo amplifier TA-A1ES; compact HDD audio system HAP-S1; USB DAC amplifier UDA-1. It’s a milestone event marking the beginning of the end of CD/SACD players. All those debates about Vinyl vs. CD Vs. SACD are no longer relevant, since a hard disk drive player can now handle all music file formats seamlessly. This is despite the fact that by 2008, some industry experts considered the Super Audio CD format to be a failure. I’m eagerly awaiting hands-on reviews of HAP-S1 and UDA-1. I hope Sony won’t regret their decision or stop upgrading this product series as it has the potential to threaten the sale of their Blu-Ray Audio discs, or what they're calling High Fidelity Pure Audio.

I wonder how it can be possible that for HAP-S1 compact HDD audio player system, DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) faithfully restores those subtle high frequency details that get sacrificed with heavily-compressed digital music files. Sony claims that even ‘lossy’ MP3 files tracks sound clearer and more satisfying. Is this just media hype?