CNET Editor's rating: 7.5 out of 10
Reviewed by
Jasmine France
Review date: 10/08/07
Release date: 10/09/07
The good: The SanDisk Sansa Clip offers impressive sound quality; an ultracompact, gym-friendly design with a removable belt clip; and useful features such as an FM radio and Rhapsody DNA integration. All of this comes at an incredible value, since the player is very inexpensive and easy to use.
The bad: FM radio reception isn't great and connection of the Clip with Rhapsody was problematic.
The bottom line: The SanDisk Sansa Clip is an incredible value that's set to edge out the competition with a user-friendly interface, gym-worthy design, and great sound quality.
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 No. 2 spot in sales (behind Apple, natch)--and a reputation for producing cheap MP3 players. The company's latest device, an ultracompact model dubbed the Sansa Clip, is no exception: The 1GB model comes in at a mere $40, while the 2GB is on offer for a no less reasonable $70. 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.
Simple and small
At 2.2 inches by 1.4 inches by 0.5 inch (without the belt clip attached), the Sansa Clip isn't quite "smaller than a matchbox," but it is about the same size as one. It's one of the most compact players we've come across in recent times, though it is slightly larger than its closest competitor, the Creative Zen Stone Plus. However, the Clip's rectangular, 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 organization. Like the Stone, the Clip comes in a variety of colors: sleek black, candy apple red, hot pink, and ice blue. The black version is available in both capacities, while the colors come in 2GB only. As the name suggests, the Clip also comes with a removable belt clip in a color 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-color 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.
Not small on 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 Rhapsody DNA, meaning you can transfer Rhapsody Channels (dynamically updating radio stations/playlists). Sadly, our review unit had an error that prevented it from becoming licensed within the Rhapsody interface, so we haven't yet had a chance to fully test the integration. (Bear with us until we get a replacement player and update this review.)
The Sansa Clip also comes with a built-in mic for making voice recordings (WAV output only) and an FM tuner, from which you can record, as well. The radio offers up to 40 presets; the autoscan function is somewhat buried in the "view all presets" menu, but it's a handy feature and worth using. As with any decent MP3 player, you get shuffle and repeat playback modes and an equalizer--we like that there's an adjustable five-band setting. More plusses: You can add songs to an on-the-go playlist, rate and delete songs on the device, and mark subscription tracks for purchase at next sync. Finally, there's the autoresume function, which picks up where you left off in a track, even if you paused before shutdown. This is particularly handy for those who listen to long, spoken-word tracks, such as podcasts and audiobooks.
Sounds like a performer
Although most SanDisk devices sound passable, we've never been blown away by the sound quality of Sansa players. The Clip is actually a bit of an exception: This player sounds great. It's not quite as stellar as the Sony NWZ-A810, but it can certainly compete with the Zen Stone Plus. In our tests (using the Shure SE530s), music sounded rich and clear, with a present bass brought out more by tinkering with the custom EQ. Fiona Apple's soft pop track "The First Taste" was encompassing, with buttery mids, sparkly highs, and subtle bass. Mellow electronic music (e.g. Hot Chip's "The Warning") was similarly pleasing, but even the Deftones' "Bored"--a heavy and riffy rock track--offered impressive clarity. All in all, we could find very little to complain about in the audio quality department--unless, of course, you decide to use the included headphones, which are not so hot.
In other performance areas, the Clip was passable. Voice recordings were a little muffled sounding, and FM reception was about average. A couple of our regular stations wouldn't come through completely. The battery life of 14.1 hours is nothing to write home about, but it's plenty decent for a player of this size.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Lots of features. Good design
There is a lot I like about this player. Being small and light is a huge plus. I wish the ...
There is a lot I like about this player. Being small and light is a huge plus. I wish the font were a bit bigger in the play window, but it is nice and bright. I think it is very cute. Main gripe is I can't add songs ahead to the current playlist. If I try to add a song, it interrupts the currently-playing one. Radio feature is very nice. Voice recordings sound good, though I haven't tried recording a group discussion yet. This player is really well laid-out. I like it a lot. The clip is handy for clipping the player to a collar or the outside of a coat. You could do much worse than this Sandisk offering. Stay away from Samsung, on the other hand. Their support is awful!
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by stridergak (see profile) -
November 9, 2007
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Amazing MPs Player! Love It!
This is a great, super compact player with excellent sound quality, FM radio, and voice recorder. The review said it'...
This is a great, super compact player with excellent sound quality, FM radio, and voice recorder. The review said it's the best sounding Sansa MP3 product I completely agree (Had an e200 & tried 2 other models). Sound clarity is high, bass is responsive, etc. Wouldn't expect it from a product at this price point ($58 for 2GB at Best Buy).
Navigation has a low learning curve and the screen is clear and easy to use. Had a shuffle before, but it's more expensive and does not have: file sorting capability, (e.g., playlists, genre, artists), FM radio, voice recorder, or customizable EQ settings.
Did have minor issues with the EQ. When I used the customized EQ, it randomly affected the volume by about 30%. Very odd. When I put the EQ back to Normal or other default setting, the volume would go back to full sound. This was resolved with a call to Sansa and a firmware update for the unit.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Great Little Player
There are masses of MP3 players and even a lot in the tiny, on-the-go, rolling-stone (wouldn't that be a ...
There are masses of MP3 players and even a lot in the tiny, on-the-go, rolling-stone (wouldn't that be a great name for a little one), workout, gym-friendly niche. It would be silly to compare this to the latest Archos, for example. So I'll use the undisputed standard in MP3 players, the Apple iPod-series (in this case the iShuffle, which I initially considered and demoed, BTW), as point of reference.
Sound quality - much better Sansa Clip just sounds better than the iShuffle and most others in this niche.
Features and controls - much better The iShuffle shuffles and thats about it. You can play Sansa Clip in about any mode that you might expect from a MP3 player using its small and very functional screen. Plus it has voice recorder and FM Radio. Its quick and easy to download tracks from PC, though Rhapsody could be better (but that's another story).
Capacity - much greater This version of the Sansa Clip has 2Gb compared to 1Gb of iShuffle. I originally wanted the 1Gb version of the Sansa Clip and ordered it, but it was on backorder. I walked into a big box store, saw this one and immediately got it.
Size, clip, battery - about same Light as a feather, about the size of a stick-match box, has clip, and the controls are easy to use while you're in motion. Battery life is rated at 15hrs, which seems about right as I used mine for about 12hrs before recharging last time and it had a little left.
Price - less This version of Sansa Clip was $60 (1Gb version - $40 online); iShuffle was $80, none of these will break the bank.
The Sansa Clip really is a great little MP3 player. I got this one for workout sessions, but it makes me want to upgrade my old DJ to an iPod or Zune (somebody needs to get on the ball and develop a 'Sling' function between AudioVideo Player and 'Media Center').
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by KonradBerry (see profile) -
October 26, 2007
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Best workout mp3 player out there
Bottom line, this player rocks. Better than the Nano, and barely any bigger.
As for me, I wanted this for ...
Bottom line, this player rocks. Better than the Nano, and barely any bigger.
As for me, I wanted this for working out and running. The fact that it has 2G on-board is awesome, and helps me overlook the fact that it has not SD slot for memory upgrade.
I love the small screen, and the functionality of the player itself. You can do play lists, play by album, artist, genre, etc... You can even delete songs from the player on the fly. (good for paring down your workout songs)
I also really like that it has a standard USB (usb 2.0) connection. This means that youcan use it anywhere, and not have to worry about a proprietary cable for charging and transfers, like you do with the Nano.
the sound is awesome and I have not had any problems with the volume level.
10 out of 10 - Perfect killer player!
My friend showed me this player and i loved it. I considered buying it, but i need more mem. However, ...
My friend showed me this player and i loved it. I considered buying it, but i need more mem. However, everyone should definetely buy this if they don't need that much memory. i feel completely comfortable giving this player a 10/10.
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by incredible flash.. player (see profile) -
June 18, 2008
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Excellent MP3 Player
As a Mac user and owner of both a 30GB video IPOD and 2nd generation Nano, I was looking for ...
As a Mac user and owner of both a 30GB video IPOD and 2nd generation Nano, I was looking for something really tiny to use only for working out at the gym.
I tried my brothers latest generation Shuffle and liked it tremendously. The only thing that I wanted to add was an FM tuner so that on those days where something worth watching was showing on the TV screens at the gym, I could hear that instead.
After doing a little research, I decided that a Sansa Clip would be a good choice. While I was thinking of that, lo and behold Costco had the silver 4GB Clip for $69.99 so I bought it.
First the good. This unit is VERY small and weighs almost nothing. The display is excellent and easy to use as is the menu system. The headphone jack has a very positive connection so it will not come out accidently. Also, it has a clip like the Shuffle so it is very easy to attach to yourself.
I have not tried the included headphones, just used the V-Moda in-ear ones I normally use. The sound quality is of the Clip is excellent.
As far as getting music onto the Clip, it shows up on the desktop as a drive, like a flash drive, and I just drag the music over form my iTunes's folders. The one problem you have to be aware of is that music you purchased from iTunes is in the protected m4p format. You have to burn those protected tracks to a CD and then rip them back as mp3's in order to get them into your Clip.
Most of my music is ripped from my own CD's or I purchased in mp3 format from other sources. I only have about 45 tracks that I purchased directly from iTunes so this is not a big issue from me. If you have tons of tracks that you have purchased directly from iTunes, you may need to research a better way to get the music out of iTunes.
The only drawback for me was that the FM tuner is useless. As I stated, I bought this specifically over the Shuffle for this one feature. Regardless of where I am at the club, I cannot get the tuner to tune in any of the screens that are being shown. Oh well.....
Overall, I think this is an excellent unit and really shows that there are some great alternatives to iPods out there. Having said that, for me personally, and ipod shuffle would have been a better choice. Easier integration with iTunes and the FM tuner not being there wouldn't have mattered since the FM tuner in the clip can't pull anything in anyway. When I'm working out, I simple start the device and have it randomly play the songs. I usually don't touch it again till I'm done working out so again the shulffle would have been fine. Of course for the price of the 2GB Shuffle I have a 4GB Clip, so in that regard, it is a great value. But again, I have about 50-60 tracks on the clip at any one time, and have barely reached 3% capacity, so again even 2GB would have been fine for this application.
If you don't use iTunes to purchase music, or like to have a display to play around with, I definitely recommend the Clip. Great sound, great features, very inexpensive.
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by TonyRz (see profile) -
June 16, 2008
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Its the clip stupid!
I use this in the gym, on airplanes, while relaxing...Oh, did I mention that I have a Gen 2 ...
I use this in the gym, on airplanes, while relaxing...Oh, did I mention that I have a Gen 2 Nano? The Clip is great! Literally. It has this little clip on the back and it really does come in handy. No need to buy a $20 cover it comes built in! Are you listening Apple?
Sound quality is very good. Its super small and light. Coupled with my Shure SE 530's, this thing rocks! The menus and buttons are a little different than the Nano but its not a big deal. It works great.
Do yourself a favor. Spend $60 on the Clip and spend the rest on an awesome set of headphone. You won't regret it.
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by ryork272 (see profile) -
June 6, 2008
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Perfect little player
I have the 1GB player and LOVE it. The small size makes it perfect for running and working out, and ...
I have the 1GB player and LOVE it. The small size makes it perfect for running and working out, and the sound quality is great--and truly amazing considering the $40 price (for 1GB). The user interface made the Clip an easy choice over a Shuffle: with the Clip, I can play music by album, artist, genre, or shuffle and actually see what's playing at any given moment; the Shuffle's one-mode play (shuffle) and lack of visual data were always a turn-off for me. My radio reception is a little spotty, but not so much to detract from this otherwise perfect flash player.
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by dtfillmore (see profile) -
May 25, 2008
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Amazing little IPod Killer
I have had this item since it was first released around the Holidays. My girlfriend has the Creative Labs Zen ...
I have had this item since it was first released around the Holidays. My girlfriend has the Creative Labs Zen Stone, which is a comparable player with one big fault...no screen! This player is amazing weather I am at the gym, or just out and about. I bring it every where. Plus the real great thing about it is how easy it is to load music on and take it off. A true Ipod shuffle killer.
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by kevinb77 (see profile) -
May 23, 2008
9 out of 10 - Spectacular a must buy
An excellent mp3 player from sandisk that has put them into the big league of quality sound. In fact, I ...
An excellent mp3 player from sandisk that has put them into the big league of quality sound. In fact, I like my clip's sound better than my ipod classic. The battery life is also worthy of noting and they've just upgraded the firmware again ( they do it quite often ) to include ogg vorbis compatibility. If there is any downside I'd say it's the fact that they maximum is 4GB's of space for the clip. Frankly, I'd like this sound as well as these features on another of their players with at least 32GB's of space, because Sansa is learning about what customer's want and someone working there has obviously threw away the book and started fresh to produce a damn good sounding, good featured, easy to bring with you mp3 player ( I didn't like any of their lineup before the clip ).....and no I don't work for the company.
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by logos (see profile) -
May 19, 2008
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