Customer Reviews

SanDisk Sansa Clip 2 GB MP3 Player (Red)

5 star:		(100)
4 star:		(48)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

BACKGROUND: I was in the market for a small MP3 player with primary usage at the gym. I was looking for a rechargeable unit as my previous player ate AAA batteries about every week or so. I considered three options of which the Sansa Clip was one of them. I eliminated the iPod Shuffle due to its cost and lack of display. The other primary contender was the Creative Zen Stone Plus (I rejected the non-Plus model due it its lack of display). I will reference how the Sansa Clip won out throughout the rest of the review.

SET UP: The Sansa Clip is about as simple as it gets in this area. It requires no additional software installation. My home system runs XP SP2 with Windows Media Player 11. When I plugged the player in to charge, it was detected and recognized automatically. I told windows to "Take No Action" as the default behavior when the device connects. This allows me to maintain complete control over the syncing process. My unit charged in about an hour.

MUSIC TRANSFER: You have the option of using simple drag and drop of MP3 files to the device as you would a USB flash drive. However, using Windows Media Player allows you the more advanced feature of playlists. Since I primarily use my MP3 player at the gym, I created multiple playlists for warm up, workout, and cool down. The workout lists are about 90 minutes while the others about 20 minutes. I really liked that I was able to create multiples of each for variety. Right now I have three of each with about 1.5 Gb still remaining to use as I please. Using Windows Media Player, you can sync albums, songs, or playlists as you would with any other device. The Sansa Clip fully supports all of these options so it is a nice low effort, highly functional set up.

SOUND QUALITY: This is an area where the Sansa Clip is pretty impressive. I previously had the Sansa M230, and I can tell a significant difference in sound quality. I am able to hear a lot more detail in the higher ranges (such as high hat cymbals). I am using the headphones that came with the unit, but I would image that higher quality headphones would sound even better. The player also has a series of preset equalizer settings for different music styles as well as one that you can customize.

DISPLAY: This is a distinguisher between the Clip and the Zen Stone Plus. The display is larger and easier to read. The mix of blue and yellow against the black background is also pleasant.

NAVIGATION: The Clip has a normal four button dial that is common to most small MP3 players. With the crisp, clear display it is easy to move around and select music by artist, album, song, or playlist. The only thing that I have noticed that doesn't work quite the way I would like is that if you navigate away from the song that is playing there doesn't seem to be a way to get back to it to see the details of what's playing. This is pretty minor, though, because I do not regularly navigate away from the song that is playing.

FM RADIO: This is about what you would expect from a unit with no external antenna. Strong signals come in clearly, but it is not going to match what you can pick up on your car stereo. This is a nice to have feature for me so it is plenty adequate.

OPTIONS: As I mentioned previously, my primary usage comes at the gym. I had used the song timer to measure the time between reps while lifting weights on my M230. However, the Clip has a power saving feature that shuts off the display after 15 seconds by default. However, you can change this to 30, 45, 60, or 90 seconds which should cover your needs. After adjusting mine, I wake up the display after completing a set. When the display shuts off, it's time for the next set.

USE ON THE GO: This is the other area where the Clip separates itself from the Zen Stone Plus. You can clip the player to your clothes or an arm strap (I use the one that came with my M230). The Zen Stone Plus requires purchase of a separate armband accessory for an additional $15.

COST: At base price, the Zen Stone Plus and Sansa Clip are a push. However if you factor in another $15 for an armband you have a clear winner given the other advantages.

CONCLUSION: The Sansa Clip is now the leader in 2 Gb small MP3 players. Give it a spin and you won't be disappointed.

The Sandisk Sansa Clip 2GB is a great value MP3 player. It has twice the capacity as the iPod Shuffle for about $50-60. It also has a screen, FM Tuner, voice recording and more. You can get the 1GB version for $35.

Pros -
+ good sound
+ nice capacity for a decent price
+ light-weight
+ FM tuner (20 Presets)
+ voice recording
+ nice design with more color options
+ Nice format compatibility (MP3, DRM WMA, WMA, Audible)
+ USB 1.1 and 2.0 connectivity
+ Can be used as a USB drive / mass storage
+ Can sync music with drag & drop or via software
+ 15 hours battery life is better than Creative Clip Plus
+ Integrated Clip means no add-on case / lanyard purchase needed!

Cons
- larger body than the 2nd and 3rd generation iPod shuffles

The new Sandisk Sansa Clip has the advantages of the iPod shuffle with some of the compatibility, feature, and price benefits of other MP3 players. Unlike the Sansa Express, which you can plug in directly into your USB port, the clip uses a standard USB B cable.

The Clip is definitely a little bigger than the iPod shuffle, but not by much. It has a great feel and a nicer clip. It is also priced VERY well for the holidays. It fills the market for a starter MP3, workout unit, or gift.

The rechargable battery seems better than the Creative Zen Stone Plus and gives you a respectable 15 hours. The sound is nice. The earbuds are passable for beginners but most people will replace them. As for durability, only time will tell; so far it's holding up nicely.

I definitely recommend the larger 2GB option. For those needing more space, you will have to explore the Creative Zen, Sandisk Sansa, Sansa View or new iPod Nano. All of those units have higher price tags.
SanDisk Sansa View 8 GB MP3 Player
SanDisk Sansa View 16 GB MP3 Player
Creative Zen 4 GB (Black)
Creative Zen 8 GB (Black)
Creative Zen 16 GB (Black)
Sandisk SDMX4-4096 Sansa e260 4 GB MP3 Player with SD Expansion Slot
SanDisk SDMX4-8192 Sansa e280 8 GB MP3 Player (Black)
Apple 4 GB iPod nano AAC/MP3 Player Silver (3rd Generation)
Apple 8 GB iPod nano AAC/MP3 Player Black (3rd Generation)

Overall, an awesome starter unit that deserves a try. Enjoy!!!

This is the first MP3 player I have owned. I own 1000+ CDs, and at age 37, consider myself a bit of an audiophile. I have listened to some songs from my phone, but never took the plunge to a dedicated MP3 player. Even after a few days, I don't know why I put this off.

First, moving music to the player was remarkably easy. I just plugged it in, and the player showed up in Windows Explorer. I copied MP3s from my computer, with no specific directory/file structure to follow, and they showed up, sorted correctly by artist/album/song, etc. No extra software to use! No iTunes or WMP or Rhapsody or LockYourMusicIntoOurStore stuff!

Second, this is a fine interface. Yes, it is text-only. But that is how I always listened on my phone anyway, I scrolled through the album titles and when I found the one I wanted, I hit "play". Naturally, if you REALLY NEED to see cover art, get a different player. But if you are buying music, and not cover art (and also not little plastic disks and boxes), then get this player.

Now I have already purchased eight albums from Amazon in MP3 format, with no problems putting them onto the player. Great playback quality, easy to use. I won't go back... I can't go back...

As I am, ahem, over 50 years old and have no kids to clue me in I researched low end MP3 players. Comparing apples to apples, so to speak, here's what I found:

FUNCTION: iPod Shuffle (similar price at time of review) vs. Sansa Clip MP3 player
a. Sansa Clip has 2GB capacity, the iPod Shuffle has only 1GB
b. Sansa Clip has FM radio iPod Shuffle does NOT
c. Clip has voice recording (great for documenting flashes of genius and things to remember when you can't write it down), the Shuffle does NOT
d. Both will play your music, books on tape, etc.
e. Both have good sound quality
f. iPod is "cooler" but you get much less for your dollar just to be cool

EASE OF USE: iPod Shuffle vs. Sansa Clip MP3 player
a. Clip has a view screen to find and play your selection - iPod Shuffle does NOT, making finding what you want to listen to a real pain
b. The Clip makes it easy to sync (transfer) music with drag & drop, the Shuffle does NOT have a drag and drop function

I use it when I take walks, go to the gym, and do stuff around the house. It's tiny so I got a red one to make it easier to find. As far as I'm concerned it is very "cool" for the price, function and ease of use!

I was looking for an MP3 player that would support e-audiobook free downloads from the library. Ipods won't work. The Sansa Clip is perfect - but you have to update the firmware from Sansa to have audiobooks (or long audio files) work properly. Google "sansa updater" to find the updater software, install it on your PC and it will automatically check for firmware upgrades every time you connect your clip.

What a great little device - good sound, holds a battery charge as promised (even after sitting in my purse in cold weather for two weeks), and I love listening to books from NetLibrary for free! Makes time fly on the treadmill. The radio is perfect for tuning in to the TV frequency at the gym, or listening in a metro area.

I did get one for my dad, who lives in a rural area, and the FM tuner is useless there.

Overall, I highly recommend this MP3 player without reservation.

I bought this b/c it was great value compared to the Ipod Clip and also had a display.

PRO's
So far everything that I expected is great. Holds alot of songs, good reception, small and light weight, clips works wells.

CON's
- Ugly white headset and wire too short
- Doesn't hold a charge for the 15 hours as speced out. For some reason even when it's off it is still using power.
- Trickly stop button. I accidentally press this and then my radio stopped. It took me a awhile to figure out why the radio wouldn't work. The stop button should only work for mp's and not for the radio which should be only off or on.

I purchased this 1 month ago, mostly to listen to audio books during car commute and while doing chores. I listen to both Audible files that I buy, as well as Overdrive media files, which I digitally borrow from the local library.

I've always transferred Audible files (proprietary .aa format) to MP3 players using Audible Manager. When I first took the Sansa Clip for a test drive, my older version of Audible Manager failed to recognize it, despite using the automatic update feature of Audible's software. However, after uninstalling the older version, then installing the latest Audible Mgr, the Sansa Clip was recognized and file transfer went smoothly. Audible files are automatically transferred into the "Audiobooks" folder on the Clip. For transferring Overdrive Media files (.odm) from the library, I use Overdrive software, and have not had any problems. However, the .odm files are automatically transferred into the general "Music" folder on the player.

For audiobook junkies bookmarking is important, especially if you listen to a few books at a time. It's important to be able to bookmark and be able to switch between books without losing your place on any of them. However, the Sansa Clip does not offer a bookmarking feature on its own, so the ability to bookmark is dependent on the file format itself. Playback for Audible's .aa files is convenient because this proprietary format bookmarks itself at the place a file was paused, and will remember that place whether you switch between files or turn the player off. On the other hand, Overdrive's .odm files will only remember the last place paused if you do NOT switch to a new file. If you pause and then switch to any other file, you WILL lose your place. (This was also the case on my older MP3 player, a Sansa M250). You can, however, pause a .odm book and then turn off the device without losing your place. When you restart the Sansa Clip, it always begins on the last file played, at the last place played.

A problem I encountered on the first test drive on the Sansa Clip was with fast forwarding: it wouldn't fast forward within a file. The player would fast forward about 20 seconds into a file, then jump to the next file altogether. This happened to all file formats, both music or book. This problem was quickly fixed via a firmware update from Sandisk's website (had to install the Sandisk Sansa updater software). No more fast forward problems since.

As far as sound, it sounds great, way better than the M250 (which I used to think was pretty decent). The included earbuds are OK for books, but for music I think a nicer quality set of earbuds would definitely let you take advantage of the great sound from this player.

Although the face has the appearance of a scroll wheel, the buttons are actually hard-click buttons. For me this is a plus, but it may be too low-tech for some. The screen graphics also have a low-tech appearance, very pixel-y. Not quite Atari-looking, but definitely NOT hi-def. Unimportant to me, but if you need cool-looking graphics, look elsewhere. What IS cool-looking on this player is the red color, which is much darker than the picture shows; it 's almost metallic. I put a silicone skin on my player, so the color's obscured, but again, appearance may matter to some.

The small size is so convenient! It is 2x the length of an Ipod Shuffle, and thicker as well, BUT...it's still so small! The shuffle wasn't even an option for me because I need a screen on my player.

The Sansa Clip must be charged through a USB port using the included mini-USB cable, which can be inconvenient, and for which I took off 1 star. After all, if you're going to offer a rechargeable product, you should offer the most convenient way to do this -- through a wall outlet. It's a lot easier to take a charger on vacation than lug a laptop you have no intention of using except to recharge your MP3 player! I purchased a kit that included the silicone skin, an AC charger and a DC/car charger, to give myself more options. I haven't tested the battery all the way to empty, so I don't know the actual battery life.

I haven't had any problems with the plastic clip so far. It seems neither particularly weak nor sturdy, but I do try to be careful anyway.

Considering the price of this player -- 2GB of memory for much less $$ than a 1GB no-screen Shuffle -- it's a great deal. In fact I'm sorely tempted to pick up the 4GB Clip. Hmmm....

UPDATE Oct 2010
Alas! My beloved Clip died this past summer, after constant use and abuse over the last 2 yrs...so now I know an expected life of about 2 yrs. I've already bought a replacement, a silver 4GB Clip, with absolutely no hesitation. I still haven't found a better or more convenient MP3 player for the price!

I bought a red 2G Sansa Clip for my mom and the same in black for my Dad. Both were thrilled to have such a small, stylish, easy to read (i.e. great display contrast), easy to use mp3 player with FM radio. Initially they had requested IPods but after receiving the Sansa clip they got over the hype pretty quickly. This one is a winner, and frankly, if I didn't already have my 30G Video Ipod, I'd be a Sansa clip owner as well.

This little player was a big surprise to me. Have you ever seen a super tiny electronic device that seems to do more than is possible for it's tiny size? Well, this certainly fits into that category. To illustrate how tiny this thing is, the size of the circular dial on the front of it (the blue glowing circle) is slightly smaller than a quarter. The player itself is super thin too. So here are a few more reasons why this player is amazing:

Pros:
-Super Tiny and Thin
-Sound quality is great
-Built in Radio
-Built in Microphone
-Built in Clip (hence the name) and perfect for jogging
-Super bright 2 color Led Screen (it's probably organic LED)
-Plug & Play (at least it was for me)... just like a USB drive
-Long lasting internal battery (my guess is at least 8 hours play time)
-Charges through standard Mini-usb to USB cable.
-Amazing price for all the features it includes.

Cons:
I honestly don't have anything bad to say about this player, and I swear that I don't work for Sandisk. I kind of collect MP3 players and also own the Creative Zen Vision and Zen Muvo^2.

Conclusion: If you are thinking about buying an Ipxd shuffle or replacing your shuffle, this player is perfect for your needs and is so much better than a shuffle. It is easier to use, has more features, and sounds better! Not to mention it also has a LED screen. Plus, you don't have to deal with Itunes. Just plug this baby in, drag some songs from your computer and you're done. And yes, it does have a "Shuffle" play mode which includes "Repeat tracks" or "Play once" options. This little player really is a marvel of modern tech... I hope someday they will sell one with 60GB of memory. Now that... would Rock! For now, they only come in 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB... I think.

This is a great little player. Good sound (don't use the included headphones though), FM radio, and with a firmware upgrade, it is even better! Works well with Ubuntu Linux, and again, even better with the firmware upgrade!

I highly suggest you upgrade the firmware. You either need to do this in Windows or do a search for the download to do it in Linux. Just download the zip file, extract, and put the .bin file in the player root directory. With the upgrade Linux will recognize the player as a music player instead of just a flash, and will open up on a music player. Additionally it will add added audiobook and podcast support and folders. It will also allow the player to recognize .ogg files, which is a great addition for even better quality music files!

Radio is a great feature but reception is a little weak. That is common among MP3 players, as you really don't have room for an antenna. Great buy for the money. Don't waste money on that product from the fruit company. You will get better options and quality from this player, which is less expensive!

Oh, and transfer speeds (drag and drop files in Linux) are VERY fast. Nice that the transfer speeds are good, so you don't have to waste time when swapping out your files.