Pitch bug on Clip+?

Thought you’d like that.  The Lil’ Monsta never sleeps…

µsansa

  Are you trying to say that all other mp3 players on the market would have a longer battery life if they’ve chosen to play MP3s at wrong pitch ? :slight_smile: Or it is about wrong choice of components used (no native support for 44,1KHz), which is closer to my assumption.

Message Edited by m9zf3n5w on 10-13-2009 05:38 AM

Actually, you should market it as an audiophile feature. Wow-and-flutter is inherent to analog audio reproduction :) 

@m9zf3n5w wrote:

Actually, you should market it as an audiophile feature. Wow-and-flutter is inherent to analog audio reproduction :) 

 

*Ding* *Ding* *Ding* *Ding*

We have a winner!  Authentic analog reproduction of digital files exclusively from Sansa! Like having vinyl on a turntable in the palm of your hand!

■■■■ on that Apple and Sony…

@marvin_martian wrote:
http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48208

Thanks for the link. Saratoga’s comment here makes sense and helps explain why Sandisk chose not to implement a pitch fix. The question is, who should be held responsible? Sandisk for choosing the chip, or AMS for creating a chip that requires a high clock speed for proper playback?

  If I got it right it’s all about sacrificing only 3% or less of advertised battery stamina in order to fix problem (by using values recommended by AMS). That’s hard to believe - battery stamina is such an inexact science (different volume usage patterns, different batches and constant deterioration of cells,  etc. etc.) that these 3% fall well into the tolerance inherent to battery technology, something which no one can complain about. However pitch error is very exact and very reproducible. On the top of all Sandisk need months to figure out how to find a compromise, again only because of the battery (I’d I understand if we are talking about hours, not minutes). Come on, either Sandisk can’t put together few good programmers, or it must be something more involved there (like bad design decisions).

Message Edited by m9zf3n5w on 10-13-2009 06:38 PM

@m9zf3n5w wrote:

Cute.

An interesting take on the issue by Cnet, and the comments to the article.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12519\_7-10370212-49.html#comments

So basically SanDisk is trying to say that the problem is a consequence of trade-offs involving a budget product. Well, everyone knows that engineering is about compromises, but what every technically inclined person knows is that this particular issue is so basic, that it doesn’t need to be part of it. If SanDisk is really honest about it, why don’t they just release concrete technical explanation (and shut our mouths up :) 

As I understand what microsansa posted above, currently the issue is the trade-off with the battery.  I don’t see it as a “budget product” issue at present (unless that includes actually having someone do the work)–I’m taking SanDisk’s public statement as to the budget issue being that to keep the price down originally, certain engineering decisions were made (as to a part, perhaps?). 

As I’m understanding it, there seems to be a real concern from SanDisk that the battery toll of a pitch fix, even if minimal, would be less desireable than keeping matters where they are.   As I understood earlier postings, there could be a 3% battery hit–about 1/2 an hour off the battery.  That would bring the publicized 15 hour life (presumably a marketing point?) down to 14-1/2 hours (less a marketing point?).  Personally, I don’t see that as a big a deal for greater integrity, but SanDisk apparently feels otherwise (and that the majority of consumers would see it as otherwise). 

(Just a thought, but note that the manufacturer’s estimated battery life for the Clip and Clip+ is the same, even though the Clip+ doesn’t have the Clip’s light effects bling.  Seemingly, then, that bling was dropped, at least in part, to provide the power for certain of the Clip+'s enhancements, such as the microSD slot, the increased display scroll speed, and the improved pitch factor, but still leaving the battery at 15 hours of life, which SanDisk perhaps sees as important not to drop, for marketing and consumer “requirement” reasons?) 

Though, for example, presumably the firmware/settings could offer a switch: [Extended Battery Life] / [Enhanced Fidelity] – best of both worlds, no?

It’s very clear that people want this pitch bug FIXED and Sansa has got to release the fix which they already have produced.   We know they produced it because they’ve been able to measure a decrease in battery performance.

Couldn’t that be calculated on paper? 

Regardless, there still is the trade-off:  adjust the pitch tighter with a small battery hit; or keep the pitch as is with the longer battery life.  Note that the pitch target was improved with the Clip+ from the Clip.

Personally, I think that an estimated 14-1/2 hour battery life for something this small is pretty bloody amazing and allows for, essentially, a full day of play.  And the loss of 1/2 an hour is not major.  But it could be a marketing issue, perhaps, and I don’t know what the majority of users would feel.

Find two people that would measure exactly 15h 00’ 00" battery life. Among various other factors, even ambient temperature and humidity can influence its performance. I am pretty much sure that battery issue is just an excuse for some other problem which they are not willing to share.

@miikerman wrote:

Couldn’t that be calculated on paper? 

 

Regardless, there still is the trade-off:  adjust the pitch tighter with a small battery hit; or keep the pitch as is with the longer battery life.  Note that the pitch target was improved with the Clip+ from the Clip.

 

Personally, I think that an estimated 14-1/2 hour battery life for something this small is pretty bloody amazing and allows for, essentially, a full day of play.  And the loss of 1/2 an hour is not major.  But it could be a marketing issue, perhaps, and I don’t know what the majority of users would feel.

I came back to say this.  There should be no trade-off.  I presently have a player that is tiny, plays on-pitch and has a battery life of 60 hrs.  In a way, I’m glad that Sandisk had this issue or I wouldn’t have found my new perfect player.

If another manufacturer can figure a way to have superb battery life and play on pitch in a very small form factor, there really isn’t any excuse for Sandisk not to do the same.

You could have mentioned the name, you know?:wink:

@yelped wrote:
You could have mentioned the name, you know?:wink:

Shame on you for not knowing! :stuck_out_tongue:

Vague hint: they’re known for their players having great sound and battery life.

Sony S545 ? Are you kidding, that thing is at least 2-3 times bigger then Sansa Clip+, not to mention the price. Buy a player the size of a refrigerator and batteries will last your whole life :slight_smile: Anyway I would never buy anything from such a bloodsucking company like Sony. 

@m9zf3n5w wrote:

Sony S545 ? Are you kidding, that thing is at least 2-3 times bigger then Sansa Clip+, not to mention the price. Buy a player the size of a refrigerator and batteries will last your whole life :slight_smile: Anyway I would never buy anything from such a bloodsucking company like Sony. 

Sony S545 is what I have, not what fuze_owner-GB has that yelped was asking about. :stuck_out_tongue: