MP3 Insider

Donald and Jasmine discuss potential issues with the Android-based Archos 5...namely, why does the sucker keep crashing on everyone? Also, a look at the freshly posted reviews for the Monster Turbine Pro and JayBird Tiger Eyes earphones, as well as the old-school appealing Altec Lansing inMotion Classic. Finally, big ups to SanDisk for its straightforward approach to an audio issue with the Clip.

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Sansa Clip+ is awesome regardless

I've gotta hand it to SanDisk. The company doesn't shy away from honesty. Recently, a handful of Sansa Clip users reactivated a forum topic having to do with apparent pitch issues on the device whereby music plays back ever-so-slightly slower than normal. The concern was that the problem may have carried over to the new Clip+. (Incidentally, based on my testing, it hasn't. If anything, it plays tracks a fraction faster when stacked up against my sound card and Sony Walkman.)

The interesting part, however, is not the existence of some exceptionally discerning listeners--neither CNET testers nor our Audio Precision ATS-2 Audio Analyzer noted anything particularly egregious--but SanDisk's response, which was essentially that in the battle between value and sound quality, value wins. And if you are unsatisfied by the audio offered by a Sansa player, you are more than welcome to look elsewhere for your MP3 player needs. Or, the company's own words:

"Over the last few days there have been several meetings with Engineering, Marketing, and Product Management regarding the pitch issue some users have seen. Please see below a statement regarding the decision that was reached as a result of these meetings. At SanDisk, our goal with our Sansa MP3 product line is to provide products which deliver a quality consumer experience at price points which are accessible to the majority of the population. Our 'value' positioning has served us well historically, although we acknowledge that occasionally our products do not live up to some users' expectations.

The issues raised on this Forum regarding sound fidelity are important to us however due to trade-off decisions that were made in engineering these products to deliver superior consumer value at what we believe are extremely attractive price points, our sound fidelity isn't perfect. We have re-evaluated the possibility of reducing the pitch variation and due to the engineering trade-offs the decision was made to stay with the current design. Very few listeners, however, have noticed or complained about it as an issue in actual practice. For those who can detect sound differences with their naked ears during actual use and not via frequency analysis, our products may not be the best choice for them," per slotmonsta, SanDisk Forums Admin

Maybe this comes off a slight to some, but rarely have I seen a company lay it on the line so directly. SanDisk could have just as easily danced around the topic with circular language or brushed it off entirely, and I have to applaud it for taking the direct approach instead. Maybe I'm giving the company too much credit? Feel free to add your own thoughts below.

Once again, Donald and Jasmine promise a "short one" and fail to deliver. How is it that just us talking about two devices manage to stretch on for the standard 30 minutes? We'll tell you: one of them inspires a lovefest that's saccharine enough to make your teeth throb, while the other throws Jasmine into a tizzy dripping with disappointment. This discussion on two new players--the Sansa Clip+ and the S-Series Walkman--is not to be missed. Also, the MP3 Insiders touch once again on the possibility of subscription music on the iPhone and iPod Touch.

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Flash memory and device manufacturer SanDisk clearly has a thorough understanding of the saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." And we sure are pleased about that, because when the company decided to update its extremely popular Sansa Clip, it could have mangled a perfectly peachy player. Luckily, SanDisk knew a good thing when it saw one and created the Sansa Clip+, a fantastic follow-up that builds upon the great foundation of its predecessor. The player continues to offer an ultracompact design complemented by useful features and solid sound quality--and all at an unbeatable price. The Clip+ is available in 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB options for $39.99, $49.99, and $69.99, respectively.

Read the Sansa Clip+ review.

SanDisk Sansa Clip+ photos

Using an iPod on a Mac is so simple--it's a little scary. With iTunes already installed on every Mac, a newly-connected iPod will just automatically soak up your music collection like a sponge.

But what if you want to use a non-Apple brand of MP3 player with your Mac? iPods are great and all, but they're not for everyone. Even die-hard iPod owners sometimes want a cheap little iPod alternative to take to the gym or hand over to a destructive toddler.

If you're a Mac user whose MP3 expertise begins and ends with iTunes, you might feel a little out of your element when it comes to syncing a non-iPod MP3 player with your Mac. To help you out, I've put together a handy video with some tips and tricks for getting most MP3 players to work on a Mac (sorry Zunesters, still no hope for you).

This week's winner will receive a red 2GB Clip.

(Credit: CBS Interactive/Corinne Schulze)

On deck for this week's Crave blog giveaway is the fantastically fitness-friendly SanDisk Sansa Clip. Sure, it may not be as luxurious as last week's prize, but this little MP3 player can hold its own against media players three times its size (and price). It features a plethora of handy extras, such as a built-in, removable belt-clip; an FM radio; support for multiple audio formats, including FLAC, Audible, and subscription WMA; and great sound quality. What's not to love?

So, how do you try to win yourself a free Sansa Clip? Let me reiterate the basic rules. Please pay close attention to all the legal mumbo-jumbo; there will be a test.

• Register as a CNET user. Go to the top of this page and hit the "Join CNET" link to start the registration process. If you're already registered, no need to register again.
• Leave a comment below. You can leave whatever comment you want. If it's funny or insightful it won't help you win, but we're trying to have fun here, so anything entertaining is appreciated.
• Leave only one comment. You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter more than one comment, you will be automatically disqualified.
• Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) SanDisk Sansa Clip (2GB, red). Approximate retail value is $50.
• If you are chosen, you will be notified via e-mail. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
• Entries can be submitted until Monday, June 1, at 12 p.m. EDT.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE 50 UNITED STATES OR D.C., 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AT DATE OF ENTRY INTO SWEEPSTAKES. VOID IN PUERTO RICO, ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Sweepstakes ends at 12 p.m EDT on June 1, 2009. See official rules for details.

Note: A bug in our comments system is preventing all of the comments from showing, but those entries remain viewable to CNET administrators and still count as valid entries.

Good luck!

The third-gen Apple iPod Shuffle and the SanDisk Sansa Clip are two of the smallest, least expensive, and most-talked-about MP3 players on CNET. Both devices share a clip-on design, but otherwise, Apple and SanDisk take very different approaches to their MP3 players, demonstrating a tug of war between form and function.

You may already know which MP3 player you'd choose, but when push comes to shove, which of these minuscule MP3 players is preferred by our CNET editors? Find out in our iPod Shuffle vs. Sansa Clip CNET Prizefight.

The ultimate ultracompact MP3 player.

(Credit: SanDisk)

Awhile back, SanDisk released some fairly major firmware for both the Sansa Clip and the Sansa Fuze. Well, technically, the update for each is a different piece of software, but most of the fixes and enhancements are similar, so I'm treating the two as one here.

I finally got around to installing the new firmware on the Clip and I have to say that it's definitely a worthwhile install (most firmware is). If you haven't done it already, make sure you do--I've included some basic steps for updating Sansa players below.

Perhaps the most exciting thing for audio format nerds is the addition of support for both Ogg Vorbis and FLAC file types. This added feature certainly gives the Sansas a leg up on the competition, as only a handful of other MP3 players offer such playback. (Cowon is a notable example.) In addition, the players now support the most advanced Audible AAX format (type 4), and they include enhanced control over audiobooks and podcasts.

For more information on features and bug fixes offered by the firmware, head to SanDisk's Web site to read all about Sansa Fuze Version 1.01.15 and Sansa Clip Version 1.01.29.

Now with more features and a brighter screen.

(Credit: SanDisk)

Read the SanDisk Sansa Fuze review.

Read the SanDisk Sansa Clip review.

Updating the SanDisk Sansa player's firmware

• Download and install the Sansa Firmware Updater.
• Attach your player to the computer and open the app.
• Check the Firmware box and click Download Now.
• Unplug the player when prompted to finalize the upgrade.

The entire process should take under 10 minutes. Be aware that at least 6MB of free space is required for the Clip's firmware.

This week, Donald and Jasmine make a valiant-yet-stumbling attempt to explain LaLa's new music service.

Also on tap: SanDisk's cheap new music player made especially for slotMusic albums, super sweet earphones from Klipsch, and a grab bag of MP3 players with ultralong-lasting batteries.

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