Thanks to its position as a memory chip manufacturer, SanDisk is a master at cost competing in the portable audio space, and although companies such as Creative Labs are now tagging at about the same level, SanDisk's initial aggressiveness earned it the number two spot in sales (behind Apple, natch) -- and a reputation for producing cheap
The company's latest device, an ultracompact model dubbed the Sansa Clip, is no exception. The 1GB model comes in at around a mere £25, while the 2GB is on offer for around a shockingly reasonable £35. But don't let the price fool you: the Clip offers a respectable 92dB signal-to-noise ratio. This player is out to prove that 'cheap' doesn't have to mean subpar sound quality.
Design
At 56 by 36 by 13mm (without the belt clip attached), the Sansa Clip isn't quite
However, the Clip's rectangular, 25mm (1-inch) screen makes for better navigation than the Stone's itty bitty circular display. Also, the Clip lets you navigate music by artist, album and so on, whereas the Stone offers very little track organisation.
Like the Stone, the Clip comes in a variety of colours: sleek black, candy apple red, hot pink and ice blue. The black version is available in both capacities, while the colours come in 2GB only. As the name suggests, the Clip also comes with a removable belt clip in a colour to match the player. This feature and its ultracompact size make it ideal for the gym.
The controls on the Sansa Clip are also similar to those of its competitor. Below the screen is a circular, four-way control pad surrounding a center select button. While you're within the menus, up/down cycles through options on the current screen, while right/left steps deeper into the highlighted option -- or backs out.
Once on the playback screen, pressing up plays or pauses the track, down pulls up a contextual menu and right/left shuttles through tracks. Beneath the four-line, dual-colour OLED screen, is one other key: a home button that cycles between the main menu and the playback screen. There's also a dedicated volume rocker on the right spine of the device, something that we are happy -- and surprised -- to see on such a small player.
A standard 3.5mm headphone jack sits above the rocker, while the left side of the Clip houses a power/hold switch and a standard mini USB port. All these ports and controls may seem like a lot for such a small device, but everything is well laid out and the main control pad is large enough for comfortable navigation, so it's really quite ergonomic and easy to use overall.
Features
Don't let the size of the Sansa Clip betray you: the player offers several desirable features. Of course, with the very tiny and simple screen, photo and video playback are notably absent -- but that's really to be expected in a device at this price point.
What you do get is support for MP3, WMA (unprotected/protected) and Audible files. The player has even integrated
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Art Dented 17 June 2011
Good: Just about everything.
Bad: How to boost the volume levels unclear.
Comment: I really like this dinky MP3 player, my portable music goes back to bright yellow plastic tinny radios so I have some experience. The Sanza replaced my Philips Go Gear HDD6320 30GB which died after 5 years hard use, I chose the Sanza 8Gb as it had the option to expand the memory and I added a 16Gb Micro SD card (I use a high bit rate for MP3s so the file size is larger but the quality is so much better. Sound quality using decent headphones is really good and both my headphones help the Sanza shine.
The volume was incredibly low until I found that it was due to Europe being set up in the settings. To fix the problem change the settings by Settings > System Settings > Reset Factory Settings > Yes.
Then when asked for region select North America.
Don't forget to change your Radio Settings option (if you use it) to Rest of the World of you may have problems picking up UK radio stations.
I like the earlier advice about USB mode but I haven't had a problem using drag and drop and I don't use slot radio. Hope this helps.
Highly recommended.
holly 2 December 2010
Good: The size, the clip, good sound quality when it works
Bad: Everything else
Comment: I am very tech literate, but my Sansa Clip is not user friendly at all! Can't figure out how to upload music and audio's in different folders, they all wind up in the same folder. Now, my volume does not work-I turn it up where I want it and it drops right back to the lowest point and therefore cannot hear anything. I have tried to get help from the company, they reply, but don't solve my problem and it takes a lot of time to deal with them. I received an email and replied to it as they said I could in there email to me and it came back undeliverable. So, I use there Chat, spent an hour and my problem is still unresolved. I may need to invest in a different mp3 player, and it won't be a Sansa.
Nyadach 31 March 2009
Good: Huge capacity, sound quality.
Bad: A little plasticy
Comment: The capacity is punching well above its size, with the 8GB version which is simply amazing. Add to that its 8GB and under £40 and its a very cheap solution. The sound quality was another huge surprise, even on the basic bundled headphones this thing is sounding better than an a full size iPod, buy some proper headphones and its pretty much the perfect MP3 player to cart around with you all the time. Add the fact that it has a screen for ease of use and full complete control, and also a radio and you will wonder what the hell anyone see's in a shuffle. The Clip has everything!
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