I did a lot of research and looked at a lot of reviews before purchasing the SanDisk Sansa Clip+. Please keep in mind while reading this review that I had a specific use in mind for this little guy - to keep me from wearing out the CD player in my car (again).
First I would like to point out that they really need to add a picture with something for a size reference. This MP3 player is small. VERY small. I have big hands and have a hard time holding on to it while trying to press the buttons. I'm pretty sure it was designed with Keebler Elves in mind. Having said that, it certainly has big-boy features that surprised me.
My two main reasons for picking the Sansa Clip+ were the lack of a battery draining, seizure inducing touch screen (I have my Android phone for that), and the ability to simply plug in a Micro SD card to expand or rotate my music selection. After loading up the internal 8GB and part of the 16GB SD card with my entire MP3 library, I still have about 4GB of free space. Apparently it's time to dig out all the old CD's and start ripping.
** One important side note about the 16GB SD cards - not all of them work with this device. Most of the compatibility related issues seemed to have been fixed with a firmware update (already included in the current selling version), but you should still stick with a name brand card like SanDisk. I purchased a TopRAM Class 4, as I've used many of them before without issues. It figures that the first time I had a problem with one is when trying to use it with the Clip+. I would load it up with music, only to have the SanDisk lock up while updating the library, and then eventually reading it but showing it as empty. What a fun waste of half of a weekend (not Sansa's fault). The replacement TopRAM card worked perfectly, as did the SanDisk 16GB card in my Android. (DON'T do this. The Clip+ scans the ENTIRE card looking for music. This took about 20 minutes on mine because of all the files the Android apps leave all over the card.)
Regarding the intimate features of this device, my review won't be as detailed as others on Amazon. I really only use it for playing different genres, depending on my mood, and it's always in shuffle mode. On that note, I'll just go right to the bulleted pros and cons list thus far:
PROS:
* Expandable memory via Micro SD cards.
Be sure to read my note above about buying a good one - A Class 4 by SanDisk or TopRAM is your friend.
* Excellent battery life.
Thanks to the lack of a battery draining touch screen, the battery life is great. I've been using it for at least an hour a day for the last week and the indicator has only gone down about 20%.
* Bright, legible LED with great color context and scrolling text.
Despite the small size, the screen is very easy to read, day or night. If the Clip+ wasn't so small, I could read the screen clearly from across the room. The colors used for context are great as well.
* Amazing sound - headphones.
Most of my MP3's are 192kbps or better, and the Clip+ reproduces the sound quality perfectly. I'm not sure what the other reviewers were talking about, but the included headphones had great quality and impressive bass. (That is, assuming you ACTUALLY USE the built-in equalizer, otherwise it is pretty flat sounding.)
* Amazing sound - line-in.
I have the headphone jack connected to the line-in on my car stereo, and there isn't even a hint of buzzing. I have it cranked to about 90% volume on the Clip+, and there isn't a hint of distortion either. Amazing for such an inexpensive device.
* Fast library refresh (see my ID3 note in CONS, though).
It only takes about 30 seconds to refresh about 20GB worth of music - 8GB internal, and 12GB on the Class 4 SD card. Keep in mind that it has to go look at every single file (over 1740), open it, read the ID3 tags, and then organize it all in memory. My desktop computer using MP3TAG wasn't much faster than the Clip+. Impressive.
* MTP/MSC selectable.
The Clip+ defaults to "auto" mode, but I immediately searched out the option and forced it to MSC mode. What you get is two drive letters - one for the internal memory, and another for the external. Just drop your MP3's and folders in the the MUSIC folder on each drive. (Side note - plug in the empty Micro SD card, let the Clip+ update & create folders, and then plug in the USB cable and transfer files to it.)
Unless you're an Apple fanboy, this is a MUST HAVE feature in an MP3 player. I bought the CD or digital track; It's MINE. Don't restrict me ala iTunes or other crappy DRM, not to mention equally useless "synchronizing" via Media Player. The drag-and-drop ability of the Clip+ is great!
* Normal USB mini-connector.
The Clip+ is so small, it's amazing they actually found room to wedge a standard mini-connector in with everything else. This might not be a big deal to some. Having 5 different electronic gadgets that all use 5 different plugs and power sources is really annoying and cumbersome. I have 2 - mini USB for the Clip+ and another gadget, and micro USB for Blackberry & Android. Sweet!
* BUTTONS!
You remember those, right? Little pieces of plastic that stick out slightly, allowing you to FEEL without looking? Granted, I use the Clip+ in my car, so this is probably a much bigger deal for me than someone sitting on a train on the way to work. For people that want an MP3 player for use during activities that require face-forward attention, having useful buttons is a huge deal.
It's hard to tell from the pictures, but there are volume up/down buttons on the left side, and the front has RW, FF, Pause/Play, menu, and a home button. The home button toggles between the song playing and the main menu. The menu button lets you do other things, like look at the track details (ID3 tags), which is pretty neat.
* Fast file transfer.
Keep in mind that my experience was with DRM-free MP3's in MSC mode, using a high speed USB port and a Class 4 SD card. It averaged around 3 to 4MB/second writes, which is one song (@192kbps) every couple of seconds.
CONS:
* Worthless battery indicator.
I see that someone else has mentioned this, but the battery indicator is useless. It appears to slowly decrease during the first few hours of use, like you would expect. Then something goes wrong and it suddenly drops to 50%, and then finally jumps to 0 within 10-20 minutes. In one short car ride I went from happily playing tunes and supposedly 60%+ battery life left to it powering off because the battery was dead. If my gas gauge worked like this, I would constantly be running out of gas 10 minutes after it showed 3/4 of a tank.
Something else I noticed is that I can't charge it with a normal USB charger and listen to the music at the same time. The Clip+ goes into the computer transfer mode, and all you get is noise from the headphone jack and you can't resume a track. This just serves to reinforce my hatred for non-replaceable batteries.
* Does not like "funky" ID3 Tags.
Funky means missing, corrupted, old version, etc. Use something like MP3TAG (free), update the tags, save only in ID3v2.3, and then remove all the ID3v1 tags before putting it on the Clip+. You will be much happier with the results.
I apparently had a couple that were corrupted, causing several problems with the Clip+ but not other devices - horrible library refresh times, "ghost" genres (just "t" instead of Techno-Industrial, when the TAG looked perfect in other players and in MP3TAG), and other issues. Once I loaded the entire library in MP3TAG, updated them (including w/higher resolution covers), and then deleted the IDv1 tags, all the problems in the Clip+ disappeared.
* Very small.
Even if I didn't have gorilla hands, they really should have made it a little bigger. To quote one of my favorite movies, "I feel like I'm gonna break this damn thing". Seriously. The FOB for my car is bigger than the Clip+.
* Non-removable clip.
Annoying mostly, but not a deal breaker. You could easily break it off and sand it down, if you were so inclined. It wouldn't be so bad if I could actually clip it to something useful. It's so small that the only thing you really could clip it to would be a piece of clothing or a very thin belt.
* Silent fast scanning.
I'm disappointed that they changed this behavior. I have an old 512MB Sansa player that did not mute when you used FF/RW, and it was really easy to find a spot in a song. The Clip+ is completely silent, so you have to look at the display to see where it is in the song. Like I know the difference between 0:30 and 1:33 without hearing it!
* Difficult playlists.
Google this one. It is a lot harder than it should be to create a simple playlist for the Clip+. A "normal" playlist doesn't work like you would expect, so you have to jump through a couple of hoops using something like Winamp to make it work properly.
My answer to this was to change all the genre ID3 tags to "moods" instead of actual genres. Now I just select a genre depending on the mood I'm in, and then let the player shuffle me some songs. "Pissed Off" plays stuff like Static-X, and "Girlie" plays stuff like Coldplay.
* Built-in battery.
This is my main gripe with most modern electronics. I want a battery I can replace when (not IF) it goes bad, when it runs out of juice, and something I can take out when I'm not using it for long periods of time. The only saving grace is that the Clip+ battery lasts quite a long time, so I don't expect to be putting it through a large number of charge/discharge cycles like my cell phone.
I'm sure the reason they decided on an internal battery for the Clip+ was because of how tiny this thing is. I would buy a larger version with rechargeable AAA batteries in a second, if they offered it.
That's all I can think of right now. I don't use the Clip+ for podcasts or eBooks, so I can't comment on those features. As an MP3 player, the Clip+ is the best I've owned to date.
** Updated CONS with worthless battery indicator.
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Mp3 player thats built well, and runs on Android, yes!!
Logan Reviews it All
Review with AUDIO BOOK listening interest in particular / solution to technical issues within
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2011
I use Sansa Clip MP3 player for listening to audio books, lectures and pod casts. A couple of months ago I purchased a Visual Land V-Clip Pro 4 GB MP3 Player with Speaker (Black)player that would not remember where the listening stopped when you turned on the player the next time. This meant I manually had to spin from the tracks trying to find where to continue, that was a show stopper for me.After that experience I was doing research before buying the Sansa Clip I had trouble finding the information that is specific to audio book listening audience. I was grateful to the reviewers who answered my comment questions regarding remembering the previous location while listening to audio books.I LIKED:1) Sansa clip has the most important feature for audio book listening audience. It remembers where you left when you last listened to the MP3 player. But there is more! Sansa clip a mode specifically designed for audio books. In this mode the display shows the chapter and specific tracks you are on, so it is easy to navigate or repeat portions as needed. It also has a special mode "Chapter on" which allows you to skip from chapter to chapter (rather than track to track) when you press the forward/back navigation control. Chapter mode is off by default.2) Sansa is sized 1 1/4"W x 2"H x 5/8"D. The screen is 1"W x 1/4"H. Despite the small screen the font is boldand crisp (see attached photo of the screen display) and I can read it even with my presbyopic eyes without the glasses. This was a nice surprise since I could not do it with the previous two MP3 players I owned.3) The navigation controls are extremely well designed, they are intuitive and easy to use. In combination with the easy to read screen this MP3 player is a pleasure to use. Much better than the iIriver and Visual Land, the two previous MP3 players I have had.4) The volume control is on the side, and it is very easy to control the volume without looking at the MP3 while you walk. I like the control on the side better than the control integrated into the joystick as was the case with my other units.5) Quick start Guide that comes in the package is of very limited use, however the full manual available on the Sandisk web site very good. I recommend saving a copy of the manual on your local hard disk. This is based on experience with my first MP3 player, which I had for years and when I needed a manual years down the road to sole a problem I could no longer find it on the manufacturer's web site.I DID NOT LIKE:1) USB cable that came with the unit is 7 inches long (including plugs on both ends). It did not work conveniently on my work space, and I had to use a regular length USB cable purchased separately.2) Sansa stops after each chapter. I have to manually jump to the next chapter to continue. This happens both with chapter mode on and off. Screen navigation is easy, but I would have preferred no stops. Not a show stopper... but if someone knows how to change this options, please post a comment with a solution. I would appreciate it!3) The blister pack was very hard to open, I had to make 4 cuts to get all the pieces out. I don't recall anything that has been that hard to open in several years. Be careful, it is easy to cut yourself!4) This MP3 player has built-in rechargeable battery and it is not replaceable. To battery is recharged by plugging in MP3 player into the USB port. This means you have to plan ahead and recharge the player when not in use. I prefer the players that have removable batteries for convenience and longevity.I also want to share one, somewhat embarrassing, tip based on my experience. When I got the player, I could not figure out how to get past the first screen - an animation showing the earphones and the word Music. Turns out it has a very tightly affixed plastic cover over the screen, and the animation was really the changing screen lightening portions of the sticker from below.Overall, a terrific MP3 player and I am very pleased with it.Updated:As I was considering this Clip+ MP3 player, the next version of this MP3 player Sansa Clip Zip just became available. After reading its manual on-line I was concerned about the lack of references to audio books and decided to purchase the older version of the product. At the time I made the purchase Clip Zip had no reviews, and now there are reviews that mentions a problem with audio book support.ORDERINGSansa Clip+ plays the MP3 files in the order of the MP3 tags. If the tags are not in the right order it will play audiobooks out of sequence. If the order of the tags is not correct for some reason ordering tags is pretty easy. There are a number of free utilities that allow you to rename tracks automatically so you don't need to do it manually. I used utilities on both for Windows and Linux. My favorite is Linux "Easy tag" it does ordering for you with a single click for all selected files. I find Windows utilities by Googling for them, and I found Linux utilities by searching the Linux distribution. Search for "ordering MP3 tags".Updated 10/22/2011I ran into several technical issues. Forums are full of users experiencing similar issues so I wanted to post my solutions here.1) There are a number of known issues with the firmware shipping with Clip, most notably freezing of the unit on one of the screens. I was able to unfreeze it by doing a reset (holding down the down button for 20 seconds).The recommended solution to the freezing problem is to upgrade firmware. However, the firmware upgrade application reported that it could not detect a Clip device attached to my system (it was). Turned out what it was missing is Windows Media Player version 10 or higher.2) I lost 1.6 gigs out of 4 gig Clip in the fist month of use. I was able to reclaim lost space by reformatting the Clip. This can be accomplished by doing format from the device MENU / SETTINGS / FORMAT. I read the forums and noted that some people tried formatting using Windows and ran into issues. When you format you will loose all content stored on the Clip. To preserve the content you can copy it back to the PC, format, and then copy it back to the Clip. I copy files my just dragging them to/from folders.3) Several times my Clip turn off in the middle of playing and became unresponsive. I could not turn it on by pressing the on button or by recharging it. I thought it was completely dead. However, this was a crash not a death of the unit. I found that the solution to this problem is to "reboot" the unit, which is accomplished by pushing on the button on side (normally it controls volume) and power button at the same time and holding them down for about a minute. When you release the button, Sansa will reboot and start again.Finding all the solutions to all problems took many hours. I have not received response from support yet. Some people in forums reported waiting for many weeks. Forums, FAQs and perseverance were helpful in finding the solutions. I am down grading the rating to 4 stars.Ali Julia reviewUpdated 6/3/2013 to answer a question I received regarding warranty period:You can find warranty periods for all Sansa products on their web site. Under Support, then Warranty, and then Warranty Period link.Audio Visual Players Warranty Period (Years)Sansa® Clip MP3 Player..........1(Except EMEA) ; 2(EMEA)Sansa® Clip+ MP3 Player.........1(Except EMEA) ; 2(EMEA)Sansa® Clip Zip(tm) MP3 Player.....1(Except EMEA) ; 2(EMEA)Sansa® View MP3 Player..........1(Except EMEA) ; 2(EMEA)Sansa® Fuze(tm) MP3 Player.........1(Except EMEA) ; 2(EMEA)Sansa® Fuze(tm)+ MP3 Player........1(Except EMEA) ; 2(EMEA)slotRadio(tm) Player...............90 days(U.S. & Canada only) ; 2(EMEA)
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2011
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