- NOTE: In order for headphones to work properly, insert jack into device port until it "snaps" so that no metal of the jack is visible
- Tiny, ultra-portable 4 GB MP3 player
- Plays MP3, WMA, secure WMA, and Audible audio file formats; features an FM tuner with 40 preset channels
- Up to 15 hours of play time with internal rechargeable battery
- Voice recording with built-in microphone
I really did not have very high expectations, considering I have four mini FM radios with more different ways to attach to one's body it would make a bondage expert blush. I was also very weary about the built in FM player, since most small FM receivers I had tried were not worth spit. So to my amazement when I downloaded 3.5 GB of songs from my Windows Media player,(which was brainless by the way) and had a listen, I nearly fell out of my chair, this thing sounds unbelievable!!! And to top it off the FM player actually worked and worked well!
I figured maybe it was due to the fact that I was listening through a set of full ear Sennheiser studio quality headphones, so I started to niggle around and listen through my litany of other headphones and earbuds I have gathered over the past couple of years. Results, the sound was good with some, poor with the buds that came with the player, and UN-FRICKEN REAL with a pair of Skullcandy INK'D $20.00, ($14.99 Amazon) buds I purchased the same day as a back up to my Shure EC3'S I use with my First Gen IPod.
I found it hard to believe the clarity and detail of the Clip when paired with the Skullcandy INK'D buds, this combination exceeded all the other headphones and buds in my collection, which includes (stupid money) Grados. I asked myself why would a $20.00 set of cheap buds sound better than a $500 dollar pair of some of the finest headphones ever made?? Answer, sensitivity, plug the Grado or Sennheiser's into a DAC headphone amp (CityPulse overclocked) played through a OPPO DV980H upscaled to 192k, and yes the difference is more than obvious, so is the $1200 ticket price to the show. What is truly mind boggling for $1140 dollars less you can get in the game with the Sansa Clip/Skullcandy INK'D combo, which sounds better than most home systems costing $100's more. Yes that's right folks for $60-70 bucks you can get some amazing detail, clarity and bass response in the perfect "bang for the buck micro system". Top that off it comes in a package that is transparent, has all the features of the "Big Boy Players" and an FM player that is more than acceptable!
This one is a no brainer, open your wallet just a crack, part with what you would spend on a cheap date and pick up this combo, you will be happy you did, and best of all you can take the player home after dinner.
PS: to the guy who stated this is a 3.4 GB player and gave it 3 stars, you don't need to download the software that comes with the player which takes up most of the missing space, I have 3.8 GB of music on mine! The player works like a SD card it does not need software to work...
Buy Sandisk Sansa Clip 4 GB MP3 Player (Black) Now
(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM) The SanDisk 4GB Sansa Clip MP3 Player is still one of my favorite MP3 designs. More color and size options are now available, and I continue to buy them to give as gifts and to upgrade capacity for myself. Some I use for music and some primarily for the voice recording feature. In addition to the silver SanDisk Sansa Clip 4 GB MP3 Player, they now offer this black version. While the product picture makes this black version look the same as the 1 GB black players, it is actually shinier akin to the silver version.The Sansa Clip hasn't come down in price as much as I would like, but it's still a great value at any capacity. The 4GB model has four times the capacity as the iPod Shuffle for about 50% less. It also has a screen, FM Tuner, voice recording and more. You can also get the Sansa Clip 1 GB or SanDisk Sansa Clip 2 GB which are still sold. But with sizes for MP3 players growing, buying the largest size you can is probably the best option.
Pros -
+ Good combination of features, design and value
+ Decent sound quality for a small MP3 player
+ Nice capacity for a decent price
+ Very light-weight
+ FM tuner with 40 presets!!!
+ Voice recording
+ Nice design and 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 Zen Stone Plus or iPod Shuffle
Cons
Larger body than the 2nd and 3rd generation iPod shuffles
Some durability questions linger, though these black units have definitely been updated
Some reports of defective units, so check yours within the return period
More low cost options and competing feature rich players make it less of a slam dunk
The new Sandisk Sansa Clip may not be as durable as the iPod shuffle, but it still has the advantages of the iPod shuffle with some of the features and benefits of other MP3 player brands. 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 right. 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 my units are holding up nicely.
I definitely recommend the larger sizes, whether 2GB or 4GB. For those needing more space, you will have to explore the CreativeZen, 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 8 GB (Black)
Creative Zen 16 GB (Black)
SanDisk SDMX4-8192 Sansa e280 8 GB MP3 Player (Black)
Apple 8 GB iPod nano AAC/MP3 Player Black (3rd Generation)
Overall, this is still a great starter unit for yourself or to give as a gift. Hopefully the new batches have improved durability. The same great features are all here that will keep this design around for a while.
Enjoy.
Read Best Reviews of Sandisk Sansa Clip 4 GB MP3 Player (Black) Here
UPDATE 10/29/09: Still going strong, and I still use it everyday as much as I did when I first bought it! Like most males, no matter how much I'm initially enamored with some gadget, it's only a matter of time before the "cool" factor wears off, and it falls by the wayside. The Clip has been an exception to this rule, and seeing as how I'm so antisocial, I can't imagine being without this thing where ever I go. Even if you don't hate people, and just really like music, the Clip is worth looking into, particularly if you're in the market for a Shuffle.-------------------------------
UPDATE 4/21/09: Let me clarify first that this review is based on the 8GB model, which can be bought (if you can find it) at Walmart for a measly 50 bucks. Anyway, just wanted to update and add that since purchase, I carry this little beauty everywhere and use it several hours per day, everyday. This is probably the most use-per-dollar I've ever gotten out of anything, which I'd think is the highest compliment a product can receive. BTW my sansa e260 and nano have since fallen into complete and utter disuse.
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I'm not an audiophile, so all I'm really qualified to say is that the Clip sounds as good as my Sansa e260 and iPod Nano. That's about as much as I can dwell on that subject.
The main metric for me was portability and storage size. The Clip's form factor is tiny: the face is roughly 1.5 to 2 times the size of the iPod Shuffle's and it's no thicker. Essentially, the Clip is what you'd get if you added 4x's more storage and a low-res (emphasis on low-res) screen to the Shuffle, and you were able to do it without raising the price. The 8GB model can be purchased at the mega-chain that Sam Walton built for the same price as a 2GB iPod Shuffle. Sweet deal.
Ironically, the only gripe I have with the Clip is with its clipping mechanism; functionally, it's awkward. If you plan to attach this to a strap (on a bag), keep in mind that in its rest position, the clip on the Clip has less than 1/8" x 3/4" clearance. This means that for secure attachment, the strap in question needs to be less than 1/8" thick and 3/4" wide, otherwise the clipping mechanism won't be able to "lock" in place due to its very weak clamp strength, which means that your Clip will be prone to flying off quite easily.
It's not a deal breaker by any stretch, but it's something potential buyers probably should be aware of. I actually bought the Clip with the intention of clipping it to my laptop bag (which I carry everywhere), but I found that the strap on my bag is too large. I've since resorted to clipping it to my front pants pocket, clip-side out, which is still very convenient. And yes, I'm a big nerd. Also, when working out, as long as you're not sprinting (i.e., flailing about), the Clip should stay put on whatever clothing you attach it to.
Want Sandisk Sansa Clip 4 GB MP3 Player (Black) Discount?
The Sansa Clip is a great mp3 player in theory. It's small, lightweight to the point of being unnoticed, and has a clip. In fact, I quite enjoyed using mine while it lasted.Only a few things:
1) It won't sort by filename. I have a lot of music from way before tag info was big in the mp3 world. I do not have time to organize my tag data so that it shows up in proper order.
2) It organizes your music 'automatically' by the tag data and won't let you organize it into folders yourself. The workaround they give you is to make m3u playlists on your computer and save them to the device. Forget that noise!
3)Now THIS is the killer. They did not include any kind of protection for the USB port, and now mine is broken, and I can't ever change the music on it again. I'm not sure what happened to it, it doesn't seem to have anything in it.In any case, it's useless to me now.
Next time I shop mp3 players (if ever, since I guess my phone can do this now), I'll be looking for something with a cover over the USB. If they fix that, and the file management issues, this would be a 5 star device.
I used to own a Creative Zen V and I find the Sansa Clip a much better product. The Clip is smaller and easier to use. The Clip's battery life is better. The Zen's FM radio had such poor reception, it was unusable; the Clip's FM reception is very good. I often had to reset the Zen and had serious quality / reliability issues with the Zen. No such issues with the Clip so far.
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