HDD System – Sony HAP-S1 Review In-depth (Part 3)

HDD System – Sony HAP-S1 Review In-depth (Part 3)

Sound quality

Auditioning starts via its analogue and digital line inputs, to gauge the amplifier section. This proves to have a smooth, detailed sound that is nicely animated. There is also some splashiness to the treble and some lack of air and space, although it is pleasant enough. The digital input is better, with a cleaner and more open sound, one that is very enjoyable in its way. It proves to be fun with a big-hearted, animated sort of character, and gets on with the job in a satisfying manner. The HAP-S1 also features a built-in internet radio tuner, using vTuner, and this works well, despite the depressingly low bit-rates used by the broadcasters. Still, it’s fi ne for background music and handy extra functionality.

Sony HAP-S1

Moving to the delights of the unit’s internal hard drive, it serves up the best sound I’ve heard so far from some of my hi-res PCM fi les; Wings’ Band on Run is very detailed and clean, with lots of atmosphere and a natural rhythmic flow. Dynamics are good, and when fed with beautifully rich source material such as Kate Bush’s Snowflake in 24/96, it gives a fi ne account of Kate’s piano work. REM’s Texarkana at 24/192 is great fun, with oodles of power and impressive dynamics. With hi-res fi les it makes a very nice noise then, but you are always aware of a slightly opaque midband, and a sense of the music being processed.

Sony UDA-1 USB DAC

Dropping the bit-rate down provides a chance to try the unit’s DSEE facility; a 256kbps MP3 of Jon and Vangelis’ I Hear You Now is nice enough. With the Sony system switched off, the HAP-S1 catches the track’s warm and fluffy sound, and makes a decent enough job of the rhythms too. Switched on, it really does improve things, adding some air and space to the hi-hat cymbal work; the bass sequencing is more distinct and tuneful, and the lead synthesiser line carrying the melody has better resolved leading edges. Jon Anderson’s voice is a little less muffled, but fractionally brighter and more sibilant, however. Overall, I feel this to be a worthwhile facility, especially on lower bit-rate MP3s, although contrary to what Sony might claim, it’s not able to make a sonic silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

Sony HAP-S1 Speakers

The best I hear the HAP-S1 sounding is via DSD. Miles Davis’ So What, from Kind of Blue, is a joy. There is a great sense of space, a nice natural swing to the rhythms and a lovely lustre to the trumpets. The Sony also manages to summon up a decent sense of the depth of the recorded acoustic – which I know to be a very capacious thing. Instruments are fairly well placed in the soundstage, although there’s never really a sense of them being nailed to the furniture in your listening room. This is fair enough though, considering the relatively low price of the unit, and all in all it is a solid performer.

Conclusion

Five years or so ago, the brave new world of computer audio grew up into hi-fi separates with hard-disk drives inside. Products from companies like Brennan, Cambridge Audio and Yamaha offered instant playback of computer fi les from standalone boxes. Then streamers appeared, and the whole industry began to rally around this model. Sony’s HAP-S1 (and its bigger HAP-Z1ES brother) are the first to elegantly combine the two technologies, giving the best of both worlds. It works rather like a 21st century CD jukebox, offering instant music, and plenty of it – but it seamlessly integrates with your computer and its music library via your home network. In my view, this is a brilliant solution.

The Sony HAP-S1 is a special product then, offering an impressively easy and pleasant user experience, allied to excellent build and finish, flexibility and decent sonics. At $1340 it’s not going to be the greatest sounding system around, but is good at the price, and its rivals can’t offer anywhere near the same functionality. Indeed, it’s quite an audacious little product, showing a Sony Corporation back on the front foot. Life has just got a little bit more interesting