Before buying: songs playing at a slower speed?

@fuze_owner_gb wrote:

Ha, Ha… I’m sorry but I find this thread quite amusing.  There are many playback devices that inherently play fast or slow, and at multiple times the cost of the fuze.

I agree, and I’m a musician.  Even live music isn’t always the exact same speed or pitch for every session.

@arranger wrote:

My advice:

Don’t accept substitutions for the sound you expect.  Demand accurate reproduction.

From a pocket-sized device that cost less than $100?  Dream on.

People like mp3Geek and Arranger have done serious testing and discovered a consistent defect. Other cheap mp3 players don’t have that defect. It is really now up to SanDisk to remedy it. mp3’s may never be “accurate” in reproducing all the nuances of timbre, but pitch and timing should be precise.

No one from SanDisk has yet responded to this serious problem. Now’s the time. Hello? 

@black_rectangle wrote:

People like mp3Geek and Arranger have done serious testing and discovered a consistent defect. Other cheap mp3 players don’t have that defect. It is really now up to SanDisk to remedy it. mp3’s may never be “accurate” in reproducing all the nuances of timbre, but pitch and timing should be precise.

 

No one from SanDisk has yet responded to this serious problem. Now’s the time. Hello? 

You find me a pocket size player for less than $100 american and I will take them to the Recording studios were I work and have the owner (Trust me he is the best in the business) test them to see how accurate they are. Unfortunalty accuracy like Arranger wants is not possible in a player like this. Now if you wanna drop $1000 for a player yeah it better be on the ball, but for $60(What I paid for my Fuze) some speed or pitch difference is acceptable. And Also BTW how many thousands of people listen to the player and are happy and will never ever notice this “ISSUE” 90-95% if not more? If only 4 people think it is a really big problem is it a problem at all?

@arranger wrote:

Playing mp3 files from numerous sources including downloads from Amazon, rips from .wav files and CDs, swapped grey market files, home studio generated files ALL play fine on the following:

WinAmp or WMP on XP PC

CDeX

n-Track

Tascam DAW

CDR mp3CD

DVR mp3DVD

Sony NWZ-e438f

 

The same files ALL play slow and off pitch on the following:

Sansa Fuze

Sansa Clip

 

It shouldn’t take a $12000 turntable to get reliable playback (and at that price, by the way, I wouldn’t take 1%, either.)  When you spend your life loving and pursuing ‘the sound,’ you don’t accept sub-standard reproduction.  If everyone accepts this type of fault, another nail in the coffin of art appreciation will be set.  Think of it as selecting a color of paint or fabric for your living environment and finding that the manufacturer has decided that they can alter it to simplify their offerings to you.

 

My advice:

Don’t accept substitutions for the sound you expect.  Demand accurate reproduction.

You completely missed my point.  My $12,000 turntable (which is still considered one of the finest ever made) still isn’t completely accurate and it’s many, many times the cost of the fuze.  Also, the fuze isn’t meant to be a perfectly accurate, portable playback studio.  It’s a portable media player, and never intended to be the perfect playback medium.

Like CB, I also paid $60 (American) for both of my 8GB fuzes, and still am amazed at how much functionality it has for the money.  In any manufactured product there is a cost/benefit ratio that has to be calculated.  I’m sure perfect sound reproduction is possible from the Fuze or the Clip, but is it worth the time and expense when only a fraction of all owners have an issue with it?

You can demand anything you desire, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to get it.

@fuze_owner_gb wrote:

My $12,000 turntable (which is still considered one of the finest ever made) still isn’t completely accurate and it’s many, many times the cost of the fuze.  Also, the fuze isn’t meant to be a perfectly accurate, portable playback studio.  It’s a portable media player, and never intended to be the perfect playback medium.

My $100 CD-player is not completely accurate (for sure), but still much more accurate than the clip, so neither do I get your point about a $12,000 turntable.

I don’t think anybody complaining here expects a perfect timing portable playback studio. But IMHO 2% is a noticable margin and thus annoying (at least for some). 

Sansa players are not the state of the art when it comes to timing in their price segment as some of you try to paint them.

But anyway, I don’t believe it’s a feature but just a defect of some of the units and I hope a replaced one will be more accurate (again - not perfect, just more accurate).

Message Edited by bungl on 02-01-2009 04:40 AM

@bungl wrote:


@fuze_owner_gb wrote:

My $12,000 turntable (which is still considered one of the finest ever made) still isn’t completely accurate and it’s many, many times the cost of the fuze.  Also, the fuze isn’t meant to be a perfectly accurate, portable playback studio.  It’s a portable media player, and never intended to be the perfect playback medium.


 

My $100 CD-player is not completely accurate (for sure), but still much more accurate than the clip, so neither do I get your point about a $12,000 turntable.

I don’t think anybody complaining here expects a perfect timing portable playback studio. But IMHO 2% is a noticable margin and thus annoying (at least for some). 

Sansa players are not the state of the art when it comes to timing in their price segment as some of you try to paint them.

 

But anyway, I don’t believe it’s a feature but just a defect of some of the units and I hope a replaced one will be more accurate (again - not perfect, just more accurate).

Message Edited by bungl on 02-01-2009 04:40 AM

Yeah, I agree…2% is getting pretty off speed; even for a portable device.  Just like any manufactered device, not all units are up to spec.  The solution in your case would be to exchange the problem unit with another, as you noted…

@black_rectangle wrote:

People like mp3Geek and Arranger have done serious testing and discovered a consistent defect. Other cheap mp3 players don’t have that defect. It is really now up to SanDisk to remedy it. mp3’s may never be “accurate” in reproducing all the nuances of timbre, but pitch and timing should be precise.

 

No one from SanDisk has yet responded to this serious problem. Now’s the time. Hello? 

The level of precision they are demanding doesn’t exist in consumer electronics.  The average consumers don’t notice or care if their song is 1 or 2 seconds longer, or 20 cents below pitch.  20 cents to them is two dimes.

As for it being “serious testing”, they’ve only tested their own players, and only Sandisk ones, so they can’t say every Sandisk player is “defective”.  Since a lot of other brands of players are based on the same or similar chips, it stands to reason they would all have the same “level of precision”.

They need to get over this, and themselves, and move on.

I have worked in recording studios since i was 13 years old. I am an excelnt judge of quality (From what I have been told). I hear the 20 cents difference on my fuze on 3 songs. 2 of which are songs I wrote, the third is a song called Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show. Thats it, From multilayer mixes on top of the line equiptment, to sings I took off of an old mix tape, everything else is fine. And The thing is no one I have asked can hear any variance in the 3 songs I hear it in. This is my challange. You give me the information about players that you think are better and I will test them. My boss is perfect pitch and “golden ear” (he can tell you if when a band on the radio recorded a song the lead singer drank booze or water just based on sound) and I will have him compare, and we will see what happens.

All I can go by is my 2 Fuzes; that were purchased months apart from different vendors.  Both of mine are off less than 1%.  I routinely have to check all my equipment for speed deviations, and since I deal with a lot of old mechanical devices, I try my best to restore or reproduce a given a piece of music as accurately as I can.

I’m kind of like CB’s boss.  I have a good ear and it pains me if things are way off.  To my ears the less than 1% speed issue with my fuzes isn’t noticeable.  But, that’s me.

If it bothers a person that much, you could run your files through a speed/pitch correction utility to compensate for the speed difference.  In my business, it is a must because I am often called to restore a recording that was produced at an incorrect voltage or maladjusted machine.

I know this in’t a cure for the original issue, but I see it highly unlikely that anything drastic will be done to the Fuze or Clip in regards to speed playback.

 

The level of precision they are demanding doesn’t exist in consumer electronics.  The average consumers don’t notice or care if their song is 1 or 2 seconds longer, or 20 cents below pitch.  20 cents to them is two dimes.

 

As for it being “serious testing”, they’ve only tested their own players, and only Sandisk ones, so they can’t say every Sandisk player is “defective”.  Since a lot of other brands of players are based on the same or similar chips, it stands to reason they would all have the same “level of precision”.

 

They need to get over this, and themselves, and move on.

 

 

So what level of precision does “consumer electronics” have?

 I made 1000 Hz  and 1002 Hz wave files in cool edit, converted to flac and ogg/vorbis for the players, and burned to 2 CD’s.  Playing 2 sources at the sime time will give a beat frequency equal to the difference in the tones’ frequencies (as anyone who’s tuned 2 instruments against each other knows).  The 1002 hz file was a sanity check to make sure I could hear the beat when 2 sources are known to be off… worked in all cases.

 Playing Cool edit against foobar on the same PC, flac, wav, or ogg, no beat (everything consistantly in tune) 

CD player vs DVD player (both fairly cheap consumer models, different brands and about 20 years apart in age) - roughly 30 seconds per beat  (1/30 hz), for an difference of 1 part in 30,000 or 0.003% 

CD player or Cool Edit vs  Sansa E200 (rockbox playing flac)- beat of ~1/3 Hz, error 1 part in 3000, or 0.03%.

Cool Edit vs Neuros player (playing ogg file) - Also about 1/3 Hz, so 0.03%

 Cool Edit vs Clip (playing flac) - beat of 7 Hz, error about 1 part in 140 or 0.7%   I checked this one by generating a new wave of 1007 Hz, which was in tune with the Clip playing the “1000 Hz” file.

So the Clip’s pitch error (and presumably play speed error) is over 20x worse than my other portables, and 200x worse than the difference between my CD player and DVD player.

So the typical standard for consumer electronics (including an older Sansa model) really is a lot better than the current lot.

 Another poster mentioned his multi thousand dollar turntable being off in speed.  The one I got used for $150 has adjustable pitch and the strobe pattern on the platter just stands still after adjustment.

 

Message Edited by donp on 02-01-2009 03:21 PM

@donp wrote:


 

The level of precision they are demanding doesn’t exist in consumer electronics.  The average consumers don’t notice or care if their song is 1 or 2 seconds longer, or 20 cents below pitch.  20 cents to them is two dimes.

 

As for it being “serious testing”, they’ve only tested their own players, and only Sandisk ones, so they can’t say every Sandisk player is “defective”.  Since a lot of other brands of players are based on the same or similar chips, it stands to reason they would all have the same “level of precision”.

 

They need to get over this, and themselves, and move on.

 


 

So what level of precision does “consumer electronics” have?

 I made 1000 Hz  and 1002 Hz wave files in cool edit, converted to flac and ogg/vorbis for the players, and burned to 2 CD’s.  Playing 2 sources at the sime time will give a beat frequency equal to the difference in the tones’ frequencies (as anyone who’s tuned 2 instruments against each other knows).  The 1002 hz file was a sanity check to make sure I could hear the beat when 2 sources are known to be off… worked in all cases.

 Playing Cool edit against foobar on the same PC, flac, wav, or ogg, no beat (everything consistantly in tune) 

CD player vs DVD player (both fairly cheap consumer models, different brands and about 20 years apart in age) - roughly 30 seconds per beat  (1/30 hz), for an difference of 1 part in 30,000 or 0.003% 

CD player or Cool Edit vs  Sansa E200 (rockbox playing flac)- beat of ~1/3 Hz, error 1 part in 3000, or 0.03%.

Cool Edit vs Neuros player (playing ogg file) - Also about 1/3 Hz, so 0.03%

 Cool Edit vs Clip (playing flac) - beat of 7 Hz, error about 1 part in 140 or 0.7%   I checked this one by generating a new wave of 1007 Hz, which was in tune with the Clip playing the “1000 Hz” file.

So the Clip’s pitch error (and presumably play speed error) is over 20x worse than my other portables, and 200x worse than the difference between my CD player and DVD player.

So the typical standard for consumer electronics (including an older Sansa model) really is a lot better than the current lot.

 Another poster mentioned his multi thousand dollar turntable being more than 1% off in speed.  The one I got used for $150 has adjustable pitch and the strobe pattern on the platter just stands still after adjustment.

 

 

I don’t want to get too far off topic… but I feel the need to set the record straight.  I did NOT say my $12,000 was MORE than 1% off-speed; it is just about 1%.  Oh, sure those adjustable pitch turntables sure look pretty, but aren’t any more accurate.  Turntables, by their inherent design and nature are not going to get much more accurate than 1/2-1%…slow or fast.

These forums just slay me… People hear (or read) exactly what they want, no matter what is written…

Believe or hear want you want, but I am very satisfied with the sound reproduction with my fuzes…:smiley:

@donp wrote:

 

[snipped for space]

My turntable has the same setup, and the fact that you have to adjust the turntable should tell you something.  As far as that goes, if the strobe is based on the frequency of the 60 Hz AC line, which is probably is a little orange neon, you’re off as well.  It has variance, too.  If it varies, so does your speed.

IMHO, as with the others, your samples are to small to be of any significance.  One unit out of millions is negligible.  Your tests supposedly “proved” Sandisk players play fast , whereas someone else “proved” they play slow.  Good job.  Get together and do your experiments on 100 CD players, 100 DVD players, 100 PCs running Cool Edit, and 100 of the same model Sansa players, make sure all the batteries are the same level and that the players are all the same temperature, then you might have something.

@fuze_owner_gb wrote:


I don’t want to get too far off topic… but I feel the need to set the record straight.  I did NOT say my $12,000 was MORE than 1% off-speed; it is just about 1%.  Oh, sure those adjustable pitch turntables sure look pretty, but aren’t any more accurate.  Turntables, by their inherent design and nature are not going to get much more accurate than 1/2-1%…slow or fast.

 

These forums just slay me… People hear (or read) exactly what they want, no matter what is written…

 

If the strobe pattern is standing still, how could the speed accuracy be different than the accuracy of the strobe?  That would be the 60 hz line frequency in my case (assuredly better than 1/2 % for grid power).  AFAIK with a good turntable the greatest inaccuracy will come from the hole in the record being slightly off center, and there’s  even at least one TT that can correct for that.

 

@jkj1962 wrote:


@donp wrote:

 

[snipped for space]


My turntable has the same setup, and the fact that you have to adjust the turntable should tell you something.  As far as that goes, if the strobe is based on the frequency of the 60 Hz AC line, which is probably is a little orange neon, you’re off as well.  It has variance, too.  If it varies, so does your speed.

 

 

 

Grid power is really pretty consistent. Here’s a sample recording and analysis from a web site for time geeks (I don’t know where this guy lives): 60 Hz AC Mains Frequency Accuracy Measurement In his measurements the worst case over a couple of months (and not often) looks like 0.05 Hz

IMHO, as with the others, your samples are to small to be of any significance.  One unit out of millions is negligible.  Your tests supposedly “proved” Sandisk players play fast , whereas someone else “proved” they play slow.  Good job. 

The post I was addressing was yours that said “The level of precision they are demanding doesn’t exist in consumer electronics,”

which seems to indicate that the reported speed error in Fuzes (Clip in my case) are inescapably the norm for consumer electronics.  My measurement of hte Clip was in the same error range (though fast instead of slow) as the others that you said should be expected.  

My point was that the 5 other players I tested were all at least 20x tighter tolerance on pitch which SEEMS to indicate that it is the norm in consumer electronics.  

For myself, I wouldn’t notice a 1% pitch difference unless I was trying to play along with an insrument that isn’t readily retuned (ie piano)

Message Edited by donp on 02-01-2009 05:46 PM

Message Edited by donp on 02-01-2009 06:09 PM

Message Edited by donp on 02-01-2009 06:09 PM

@fuze_owner_gb wrote:

…I have a $12,000 turntable at home that plays 1% fast, and that is the way the device was designed.  

 

If I have to have perfect speed or perfect pitch…

  1. I have two $9 MP3 players that are smaller than my USB memory stick that play at the correct speed.  

  2. I am curious what turntable you have… most $100 belt drive turntables have a strobe light mechanism that allows you to adjust the speed. Direct drive turntables are usually “quartz locked” and also play at the correct speed without adjustment.

  3. This begs a question, do you have perfect pitch or perfect speed?

@jkj1962 wrote:


@donp wrote:

 

[snipped for space]


 …if the strobe is based on the frequency of the 60 Hz AC line, which is probably is a little orange neon, you’re off as well.  It has variance, too.  If it varies, so does your speed.

 

JFYI power companies are VERY careful with the frequency of the power they produce… to the point that at the end of the day if they are even one cycle off they will make a little adjustment to put it back in… otherwise all those obsolete clocks with sychronous motors would not keep the right time.

Guys…all due respect here, most of you have a lot more technical knowledge than me, but this is getting a wee bit an*l-compulsive.

I am interested in the topic and what, if any, SanDisk’s response is, but c’mon, this is a throw-away consumer product to be had for under $100.  It’s amazing what they packed into this little ■■■■■■, the sound quality is pretty durn good and the features are more than are found in iPods costing 2 to 3x as much.

PLUS, they offer some level of support and ongoing firmware upgrades!  How much do you want?  Maybe they could pack an entire digital recording studio in here, give it a terabyte of storage on-board, liquid nitrogen cooled, with a 2000-hour battery, add shortwave radio and satelite uplink and downlink…plus 78 rpm shellac disc record support (only for REAL audiophiles)in a tintanium-berrilium zircon-encrusted case and provide lifetime support with a VIP Lear Jet available 24/7…for under $25…still, there would be grousing.

I’m not saying there’s no room for improvement; that seems to be actually ongoing…but let’s be real.

Alright, just my two cents (pun intended)

Over and out.

Message Edited by blackdog-sansa on 02-01-2009 04:58 PM

I have not have had any problems with this, its how the ablum, or the order of music you listen to.

Its called mix. In fact, sometimes, my music plays REALLY fast.

Variation of frequency in the UK and Europe is  

Your Electricity Board is obliged by law to deliver 230 volts +10% - 6% (ie. between 216.2 volts and 253 volts), and to maintain the frequency at 50Hz ± 1% (ie. between 49Hz and 51Hz) over a 24 hour period.

In the United States and Canada, national standards specify that the nominal voltage at the source should be 120 V and allow a range of 114 to 126 V (-5% to +5%). Historically 110, 115 and 117 volts have been used at different times and places in North America. Main power is sometimes spoken of as “one-ten”; however, 120 is the nominal voltage.Not sure of the American frequency tolerances but they will probably be similar.

(The strange UK/European voltage limits were a fudge to account for the UK’s original 240V and most of Europes 220V after a vague attempt to standardise on the same figures).

As far as I recall it was the cheaper turntables that ran directly off the mains, most decent stuff ran through controller circuits usually with an independantly timed strobe for speed checking/setting.