SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (4 GB) information from Consumer Reports

SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (4 GB)

Price range:

$34.66 - $60.99

Summary: A 4 GB flash-memory MP3 player that includes FM radio with FM recording, a built-in microphone, equalizer and volume limiter to protect hearing.

17 people have reviewed this model.

See all 17 user reviews

Write a review

Type: Music players

About - SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (4 GB)
The SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (4 GB) is part of the MP3 player test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, MP3 player models like the Sansa Clip+ (4 GB) are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below. Ease of use: Ease of use mainly covers player characteristics that aid in convenience, versatility, and portability. These primarily include navigation and scrolling features; the accessibility and readability of the controls; and the readability and breadth of the information in the display (such as music-track data and battery-life indicator); size and weight; and ease of use while walking or jogging. Some features and capabilities considered include the presence of an FM radio, built-in microphone, upgradeable firmware, equalizer, data storage, software assessment, and the player's ability to be recognized as a hard drive by the computer without the installation of additional drivers. Headphone quality: Headphone quality reflects judgments from a listening panel comparing the player and its supplied headphone to a test audio CD and a high-fidelity headphone. All uncompressed (audio CD or WAV) test music sources were ripped (encoded) to MP3 format (128, 192, and 256 kbps CBR rate) using a high-quality encoder. Audio playback time (hr.): Audio playback time (hours) reflects lab measurements of continuous playback time to the nearest hour, using a selection of music tracks encoded to MP3 format at a 128 kbps constant bit rate (CBR); fully charged rechargeable batteries; backlight at the minimum setting; with included headphone; and volume set at a reasonable level. For players that can use standard batteries such as alkaline, expect a bit longer playback time. Our measurements should not be compared with those stated by the manufacturer, which may use different testing methods and criteria.

About - SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (4 GB)

The SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (4 GB) is part of the MP3 player test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, MP3 player models like the Sansa Clip+ (4 GB) are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.

Ease of use:: Ease of use mainly covers player characteristics that aid in convenience, versatility, and portability. These primarily include navigation and scrolling features; the accessibility and readability of the controls; and the readability and breadth of the information in the display (such as music-track data and battery-life indicator); size and weight; and ease of use while walking or jogging. Some features and capabilities considered include the presence of an FM radio, built-in microphone, upgradeable firmware, equalizer, data storage, software assessment, and the player's ability to be recognized as a hard drive by the computer without the installation of additional drivers.
Headphone quality:: Headphone quality reflects judgments from a listening panel comparing the player and its supplied headphone to a test audio CD and a high-fidelity headphone. All uncompressed (audio CD or WAV) test music sources were ripped (encoded) to MP3 format (128, 192, and 256 kbps CBR rate) using a high-quality encoder.
Audio playback time (hr.):: Audio playback time (hours) reflects lab measurements of continuous playback time to the nearest hour, using a selection of music tracks encoded to MP3 format at a 128 kbps constant bit rate (CBR); fully charged rechargeable batteries; backlight at the minimum setting; with included headphone; and volume set at a reasonable level. For players that can use standard batteries such as alkaline, expect a bit longer playback time. Our measurements should not be compared with those stated by the manufacturer, which may use different testing methods and criteria.

Similar Models
The following models have the same ratings as SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (4 GB). Features and specs may vary
SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (2 GB)
	Approximate retail price: $35 The Ratings applied to untested model SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (2 GB) come from our tests of model SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (4 GB), which in our judgment is enough alike in its performance, features, and specs that our test results apply to both.
SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (8 GB)
	Price range: $57.49 - $79.99 The Ratings applied to untested model SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (8 GB) come from our tests of model SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (4 GB), which in our judgment is enough alike in its performance, features, and specs that our test results apply to both.

About This Brand
This flash-memory-card maker, which introduced its first MP3 player in 2004, is now the No. 2 MP3 player brand, behind Apple. Not surprising, most of its Sansa line of players have card slots for expanding storage capacity using SanDisk’s microSD cards. Some of its players can be purchased with microSD cards containing an album (or more) of songs.

About This Brand

This flash-memory-card maker, which introduced its first MP3 player in 2004, is now the No. 2 MP3 player brand, behind Apple. Not surprising, most of its Sansa line of players have card slots for expanding storage capacity using SanDisk’s microSD cards. Some of its players can be purchased with microSD cards containing an album (or more) of songs.

Features & Specs - SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (4 GB)
Audio playback formats The most common audio format(s) the player will recognize and be able to play. These include: Apple Lossless: Apple (Mac) format for an uncompressed sound file AAC: Advanced Audio Coding FLAC: Free Lossless Audio Codec MPEG: Moving Picture Experts Group OGG: Short for Ogg Vorbis, a free, open source music format WAV: Uncompressed Windows standard for waveform audio files WMA: Windows Media Audio Audio playback formats	MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, WAV, AUDIBLE
Mac compatible All players work with a Windows PC, but that's not always the case with a Macintosh computer. Check the ratings or the manufacturers' Web site to make sure the player you're considering will work with your computer. Mac compatible	Yes
Color display This is typically a backlit liquid crystal display (LCD). Some displays instead use organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). Virtually allAll players with a color display, except one- or two-color OLED models, can show pictures taken with your digital camera. Color display	No
Video playback Some players support MPEG-4-based video formats such as DIVX, XVID, and WMV. Some players may also handle copy-protected videos. Video playback	No
Slideshow capability Allows pictures to be displayed in slideshow fashion, complete with fade-outs and other transitions. Some allow you to adjust how long each picture is displayed. Slideshow capability	No
FM radio Adds FM-radio functionality. FM radio	Yes
Built-in microphone Useful for recording interviews, lectures, from a radio, etc. See also Voice Recording. Built-in microphone	Yes
Volume limiter A player control designed to protect hearing by preventing the volume from exceeding a safe level, either preset by the manufacturer or programmed by the user. Some players allow the setting to be pass-code protected, such as by a parent, to prevent users from bypassing the limiter. Volume limiter	Yes
More features and specs

User Reviews - SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (4 GB)

Consumer Reports User Reviews

Already own it? Write a review

The Biff

from

Vancouver, BC

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

This is my 3rd Sansa....

1/27/2012

Pros

Lots of Features

Reliable Performance

Simple Controls

Very small

Cons

Best Uses

Anywhere

Comment:

I have just watched my 3rd Sansa die. I owned the original plastic and metal version of it, then bought this version twice. I love the little thing because it's so small that I can fit it inside an Altoids tin for storage with the ear buds. This makes it great for travel as I am constantly looking for smaller and smaller stuff for my travelling kit. It records great and reproduces those recordings well. It'll record a radio station that it tunes into. It will separate podcasts into their own menu. Easy to set up playlists and will do a playlist on the fly. Regular needle jack for headsets. It's easy to work with in Windows and you can look inside it with Windows and the files are labelled properly, rather than the gobbledeegook from an IPod. It really is a great little player as long as you aren't looking for video, which I am not. It's incredibly light construction is to it's benefit. If you drop it, it's like dropping a feather. There's not enough weight for it to damage itself. I would ALMOST give it a glowing report...... .....But in two out of the three players I've had (The original was run over by a car..but still played, though the screen was smashed) it catastrophically, and inexplicably fails. It won't recharge, or the screen will fail, or do weird things for a couple of days. Then it's over. I believe this runs down to it's charging. It can only charge through the USB port of a computer. It needs a VERY slow trickle. I have a Dynex trickle charger that takes a USB port, and the Sansa hates it. So I stayed away from that. I have a 12 volt trickle charger that fits in the car lighter so I can play through the stereo. I guess it hates that too. This one died in seven months.

How long have you owned it:

More than six months

Bottom Line

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.

Barrelhouse Solly

from

Greater Tri-Valley Metro Area

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Excellent Tiny Player

1/19/2012

Pros

Easy To Setup

Plays FLAC and OGG

Simple Controls

Sleek/Compact

Cons

Small display

Best Uses

Anywhere

Comment:

I really like this player. I use it in the car (connected to the car audio system,) outdoors, and around the house. Because it takes micro SD cards it has monstrous memory capacity unless you want to carry all your music with you. It plays FLAC files, which is a sine qua non for me. I've never used the headphones that came with any mp3 player so the quality of the included headphones is unimportant to me. It's not tied to a proprietary system like the Apple products and is dirt cheap. You can replace the OS with the open source Rockbox OS easily and make it so capable that most users will never use all of the features. The only drawback for me is the size because the display is hard for me to read without glasses. If my vision were the way it was 20 years ago this wouldn't be a problem. If you're farsighted you'll need to keep this in mind. OTOH the small size means that it's very easy to carry. After about a year the belt clip broke. I can live with that. I was always ambivalent about the clip and find that I don't miss it.

How long have you owned it:

More than six months

Bottom Line

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.

Spiny Norman

from

Atlanta GA

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Recommended

11/5/2011

Pros

Easy To Setup

Great for jogging

Great Sound

Reliable Performance

Simple Controls

Sleek/Compact

Cons

Headphones

Short Battery Life

Best Uses

Anywhere

Gym / Working Out

Comment:

Headphones are so-so - suggest you buy a good set somewhere. With a good set of headphones the sound quality is exceptional. Along with the normal formats it can also handle FLAC tracks if you want uncompressed sound. Good basic controls - easy to work on touch alone if jogging, etc. I get around 13 hours off the battery before having to recharge it (via USB port off a PC).

How long have you owned it:

More than six months

Bottom Line

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.

Other User Reviews

There are 0 reviews from the web

See all 17 user reviews

Recommended Ratings

Nobody Tests Like We Do: Our testers put 100s of products through their paces at our National Testing and Research Center. Learn more about how we test for:; Performance; Safety; Reliability; Learn more

To find the model that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value. Here's one tip: Don't pay for more features than you'll use.

MP3 players

ConsumerReports.org

Consumer Reports Network