@rlxqc wrote:
Although the FM of the second unit I got is better that the first one, the sound is still not really clear (to my ear) and for some stations the level still varies markedly as I walk around. I have a strong feeling that the Clip+ is a different hardware design than the original Clip. (I compare with an older Clip I still use).
Hardware design has changed, Clip+ is cheaper. The original Clip had a full length shield plate over the circuit board. This was eliminated in the Clip+. This could very well be the reason for some FM reception and noise problems.
I too have noticed that the FM tuner in the Clip+ is rather poor with low sensitivity compared to other receivers, especially my iRiver player. I also have severe frequency drift which drifts so far out that it loses the signal. I have found that by tuning up one notch and then back down again to the original station will gain reception but only for about two more minutes when it drifts away again. It’s an obvious malfunction. When relating this to Sansa customer service for help they suggested that this was not a problem, that a new unit would make no difference and that this was standard operating specifications for all portable players. WHAT??? Are they serious?
The fact that you are not having any FM radio issues proves my point. Thank you. I shouldn’t be having the issues with my unit yet Sansa customer service refuses to replace the unit. We had a lengthy email exchange with me explaining the issues and they kept telling me that there is no problem, its normal and industry standard performance, that FM radio is not the main function of the device (so it doesn’t really matter) and that replacing my unit would not gain anything. I live in the Washington D.C. area where there are plenty of strong signals, my other units have no issues like this and I am a communications engineer with years of RF experience and I know what is good or poor performance. I only hope that the final response I received from customer service was just one person’s ignorant uninformed opinion and not the official opinion of the company. I did tell them, though, that if the points in their response were true then they need to be publisized and I would be glad to do that for them.
Regards
@miikerman wrote:
And, and by the way: telephoning SanDisk on its tollfree customer service line seems the easiest way to go.
Quickest and least frustrating too. 
