I bought a new sansa clip that has the latest firmware installed (2.01.16A), it is on the normal instead of loud setting (it only has those two options), yet it still plays too loud to use with in-ear earphones. I also have an older model sansa (m230) that plays well with the same earphones, meaning that the volume can be set plenty low enough. Is it current sansa policy to no longer provide low volume settings?
No matter which volume setting you choose (Settings - Volume : normal/high) you must also regulate the output (I mean the sound volume) with the right knob on the Clip (it says ‘‘volume’’ on the knob). We don’t want no hearing loss because of too high music volume. 
Of course I used the volume button on the side. That is an insulting question. The last volume level before it is muted is simply too loud to be used with in-ear earphones.
I am so disappointed that sandisk no longer supports people who still have their hearing.
Maybe sandisk wants to expand it’s business into making hearing aids in the near future and that’s why they don’t support low sound levels anymore?
The clip will be going back to the store before the return period is up.
The Clip doesn’t have mute button. I don’t know what you mean by muting. If you set the volume with the ‘‘volume’’ knob and turn off the Clip and then turn it on, the volume should be at the same level as it was when you turrned it off. So you are trying to say that every time you turn the Clip on, the volume is at max ?
Too much volume is a much easier problem to remedy than too little volume. There are short headphone extension cords that have a built in volume control. This will solve the problem. I agree that the firmware should have an option so that the player can be set at low volume, so the whole volume scale for the player is reduced.
Headphones and earphones vary greatly in their efficiency. Some in the ear models are very inefficient, while others are quite efficient. The player has no way of knowing how efficient the headphone that is being used is. That is why the player should have enough of a volume range to provide a decent volume for both very efficient and very inefficient headphones.
Message Edited by JK98 on 12-24-2008 10:03 AM
I simply don’t get it. How can it be too much volume? The volume knob (potentiometer) adjusts volume from 0 to 100%. If you set the volume to 0, then you should hear no sound. If you set the volume just one click up - is this too loud? I don’t belive.
@giltic wrote:
I simply don’t get it. How can it be too much volume? The volume knob (potentiometer) adjusts volume from 0 to 100%. If you set the volume to 0, then you should hear no sound. If you set the volume just one click up - is this too loud? I don’t belive.
It’s not a potentiometer, it’s an attenuation circuit controlled by two switches. Her player may be defective. I would suggest she return to the store and seek assistance in determining this.
I know this is not a potentiometer like the volume knob on old receivers; in fact it has the same function - it’s a digital step attenuator.Check DS1669 or DS1802 from Dallas Semconductors or some other models from TI.
If you set the volume one click over 0% and the volume is too loud then there is something wrong with the Clip and it should be updated with the latest firmware or replaced. The same issue has my girlfriend with Philips SA2820 MP3 player; a few clicks above 0% are not loud enough; one click more and the volume is way too high.
Clipmomma - I don’t think that the volume issue you have has nothing to do with Sandisk policy and if you headphones played OK with older sansa player then there is only one rational explanation - your Clip is defective and should be replaced; or at least try to update the firmware.
