OK, so I’ve had my Sansa Fuze for almost a year now, and recently downloaded Rockbox. It’s been running just fine until about a week ago. I fired it up and played a song and it sounded…strange. It was quieter, and some notes wouldn’t play (low notes, like bass and such). I tried a different song - same issue. I eventually reset the sound settings, but the problem persisted. I fiddled around with the Balance,which made it sound BETTER, but it was still messed up. I thought it was my headphones, so I plugged my speaker in. I had it turned up all the way, but I had to hold up right up to my ear to just barely hear it, and the sound was STILL distorted. I finally tried my new headphones, which work fine, but I still couldn’t fix it. I noticed that if I wiggled around the wire a bit, it would change the volume and what ear it played in, depending on what position the wire was in. It’s obviously a problem with my Fuze, but I can’t determine the cause. Any help would be apprecied. Thanks!
@_alex wrote:
OK, so I’ve had my Sansa Fuze for almost a year now, and recently downloaded Rockbox. It’s been running just fine until about a week ago. I fired it up and played a song and it sounded…strange. It was quieter, and some notes wouldn’t play (low notes, like bass and such). I tried a different song - same issue. I eventually reset the sound settings, but the problem persisted. I fiddled around with the Balance,which made it sound BETTER, but it was still messed up. I thought it was my headphones, so I plugged my speaker in. I had it turned up all the way, but I had to hold up right up to my ear to just barely hear it, and the sound was STILL distorted. I finally tried my new headphones, which work fine, but I still couldn’t fix it. I noticed that if I wiggled around the wire a bit, it would change the volume and what ear it played in, depending on what position the wire was in. It’s obviously a problem with my Fuze, but I can’t determine the cause. Any help would be apprecied. Thanks!
The cause sounds hardware-related meaning the unit is defective. Too bad you put Rockbox on it, or SanDisk would have given you a new one under their 1-year warrranty.
@_alex wrote:
OK, so I’ve had my Sansa Fuze for almost a year now, and recently downloaded Rockbox. It’s been running just fine until about a week ago. I fired it up and played a song and it sounded…strange. It was quieter, and some notes wouldn’t play (low notes, like bass and such). I tried a different song - same issue. I eventually reset the sound settings, but the problem persisted. I fiddled around with the Balance,which made it sound BETTER, but it was still messed up. I thought it was my headphones, so I plugged my speaker in. I had it turned up all the way, but I had to hold up right up to my ear to just barely hear it, and the sound was STILL distorted. I finally tried my new headphones, which work fine, but I still couldn’t fix it. I noticed that if I wiggled around the wire a bit, it would change the volume and what ear it played in, depending on what position the wire was in. It’s obviously a problem with my Fuze, but I can’t determine the cause. Any help would be apprecied. Thanks!
The cause sounds hardware-related meaning the unit is defective. Too bad you put Rockbox on it, as SanDisk would have given you a new one under their 1-year warrranty. Rockbox voids that however.
If you format the player from the original firmware (removing all traces of Rockbox) and re-install the original firmware, I strongly doubt SanDisk can see it has ever had Rockbox on it.
Seeing it is clearly broken, I would try that anyway. You have nothing to lose.
Rockbox currently removes DRM file use permanently on the Fuze and Clip (regardless if it is formatted or not). Sandisk will know quite easily that Rockbox was installed, which will void the warranty.
@14124all wrote:
Rockbox currently removes DRM file use permanently on the Fuze and Clip (regardless if it is formatted or not). Sandisk will know quite easily that Rockbox was installed, which will void the warranty.
Actually it looks like that doesn’t happen anymore, DRM still works in the OF.
Uninstall Rockbox and send it for repair. At the worst they won’t fix it, but I don’t see the problem in trying. Manufacturers have turned a blind eye before.
Thanks for the help guys, I’ll try to have it fixed. 
@summerlove wrote:
@14124all wrote:
Rockbox currently removes DRM file use permanently on the Fuze and Clip (regardless if it is formatted or not). Sandisk will know quite easily that Rockbox was installed, which will void the warranty.
Actually it looks like that doesn’t happen anymore, DRM still works in the OF.
Uninstall Rockbox and send it for repair. At the worst they won’t fix it , but I don’t see the problem in trying. Manufacturers have turned a blind eye before.
Some people have noticed that, but others are still DRM-screwed. Looks like a definte “maybe”.
And even at the best, SanDisk won’t ‘fix’ it. They don’t do repairs, period. They exchange only; the returned ones get sold off to refurbishers, who glean through them & re-sell what they can on eBay, Tiger Direct, Woot.com, etc.
You might get by with not answering questions unless they are asked, but supposedly (and if they’re smart) they take a look at the returned unit and verify defect vs. abuse, etc. before approving the RMA and shipping out the replacement. So they might find traces of RB or they might not.
@summerlove wrote:
@14124all wrote:
Rockbox currently removes DRM file use permanently on the Fuze and Clip (regardless if it is formatted or not). Sandisk will know quite easily that Rockbox was installed, which will void the warranty.
Actually it looks like that doesn’t happen anymore, DRM still works in the OF.
Uninstall Rockbox and send it for repair. At the worst they won’t fix it , but I don’t see the problem in trying. Manufacturers have turned a blind eye before.
Some people have noticed that, but others are still DRM-screwed. Looks like a definte “maybe”.
And even at the best, SanDisk won’t ‘fix’ it. They don’t do repairs, period. They exchange only; the returned ones get sold off to refurbishers, who glean through them & re-sell what they can on eBay, Tiger Direct, Woot.com, etc.
You might get by with not answering questions unless they are asked, but supposedly (and if they’re smart) they take a look at the returned unit and verify defect vs. abuse, etc. before approving the RMA and shipping out the replacement. So they might find traces of RB or they might not.
But doing anything to circumvent the warranty amounts to deception and certainly cannot be advised or condoned here. Besides, as this forum is monitored by SanDisk employees (some pretty high up), you’ve more or less let the proverbial cat out of the proverbial bag by admitting you voided the warranty, but might try getting it replaced anyway.
Naughty, naughty!
Manufacturers have been known to turn a blind eye to rockbox, and by that I mean they know it’s been rockboxed but they are still happy to help you. Manufacturers have even been known to supply devices to the team to help with development. I don’t know sandisk’s position (and neither do you) so asking for an RMA would do no harm. As for the repair/replace issue - I’ve never had to do an RMA.
Try pushing your headphone plug fully into the jack of the Fuze.
Message Edited by qualityaudio on 09-26-2009 05:33 PM
As far as I know, Rockbox shouldn’t void the warranty if it’s a hardware-related problem.
