Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Source Gear › Why did SanDisk degrade the sound quality of the Fuze+?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Why did SanDisk degrade the sound quality of the Fuze+?

post #1 of 10
8/30/12 at 9:35pm
Thread Starter 

So the Fuze+ has a different audio chip from the Fuze and the Clip+. I've also read that the sound quality is noticably worse on the Fuze+.

 

I'm just trying to figure out why SanDisk would do this.

 

I mean the main selling point they had with their players (IMO) is providing excellent sound quality for a very reasonable price. Why would they intentionally mess the Fuze+ up so bad when the Fuze was so loved?

 

I mean lets forget the touchscreen issues people complain about, why would you make the sound worse? I mean that's what people bought the Fuze for! (atleast in my case)

Reply

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

post #2 of 10
8/30/12 at 10:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Siva108 View Post

So the Fuze+ has a different audio chip from the Fuze and the Clip+. I've also read that the sound quality is noticably worse on the Fuze+.

 

I'm just trying to figure out why SanDisk would do this.

 

I mean the main selling point they had with their players (IMO) is providing excellent sound quality for a very reasonable price. Why would they intentionally mess the Fuze+ up so bad when the Fuze was so loved?

 

I mean lets forget the touchscreen issues people complain about, why would you make the sound worse? I mean that's what people bought the Fuze for! (atleast in my case)

The sound quality is not noticeably worse. It;s just the stupid touch controls and shoddy firmware that can't handle a large library that make it a fail.

Reply
post #3 of 10
8/30/12 at 11:31pm
Thread Starter 

I guess I'm just trying to figure out why SanDisk did this. Such a poor business decision. Don't fix what isn't broken...

 

Hell they could've atleast left it like it is without making it worse.

Reply
post #4 of 10
8/31/12 at 12:11am

Sound quality isn't worse, it may be even better than clip+.

Reply
post #5 of 10
8/31/12 at 12:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Siva108 View Post

I guess I'm just trying to figure out why SanDisk did this. Such a poor business decision. Don't fix what isn't broken...

 

Hell they could've atleast left it like it is without making it worse.

Speaking of poor business decisions....they released the Fuze+ two years ago and gave up on trying to update the firmware to fix things. The Clip Zip was released one year ago, so by their previous pattern, this would have been the year to update the Fuze line....but so far there has been no news, asides from the announcement of a couple of new colors for the Clip+.rolleyes.gif

Reply
post #6 of 10
8/31/12 at 12:19am

I have also read that SQ is the same on the Fuze+ as on the Clip+, ClipZip and original Fuze. The dealbreaker is the touch controls and apparently the firmware. My old Sansa View might sound "slightly less good" than the newer Sansa player, but at least it's not the biggest black sheep of the Sansa family any more. The Fuze+ has taken that title.

Reply
post #7 of 10
8/31/12 at 12:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Danneq View Post

I have also read that SQ is the same on the Fuze+ as on the Clip+, ClipZip and original Fuze. The dealbreaker is the touch controls and apparently the firmware. My old Sansa View might sound "slightly less good" than the newer Sansa player, but at least it's not the biggest black sheep of the Sansa family any more. The Fuze+ has taken that title.

If it's not exactly the same sound, it is pretty close. I just can't make myself do a back-to-back comparison, because within moments of trying to do anything with the Fuze+ I am tempted to throw it against a wall...lol. Even Rockbox can't fix the touch controls.triportsad.gif Fortunately, I got mine for next to nothing, so it's no big deal....and at least having had one, I feel qualified to advise people about it.smile_phones.gif

Reply
post #8 of 10
8/31/12 at 12:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Siva108 View Post

So the Fuze+ has a different audio chip from the Fuze and the Clip+. I've also read that the sound quality is noticably worse on the Fuze+.

I'm just trying to figure out why SanDisk would do this.

I mean the main selling point they had with their players (IMO) is providing excellent sound quality for a very reasonable price. Why would they intentionally mess the Fuze+ up so bad when the Fuze was so loved?

I mean lets forget the touchscreen issues people complain about, why would you make the sound worse? I mean that's what people bought the Fuze for! (atleast in my case)

True.

Owning both at one time I can confirm the Fuze+ does sound worse. Fuze+ equalizer is far less responsive aswell.
Edited by H20Fidelity - 8/31/12 at 12:33am
Reply
post #9 of 10
8/31/12 at 12:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by nipit View Post

Sound quality isn't worse, it may be even better than clip+.

No, it's certainly not better. 

Quote:
Originally Posted by H20Fidelity View Post


True.
Owning both at one time I can confirm the Fuze+ does sound worse. Fuze+ equalizer is far less responsive aswell.

I'd call it a slight step down from Clip+/Clip Zip, a difference that the casual listener would not even notice. As far as the equalizer, I wouldn't know...I don't use the original firmware on my Sansas, only Rockbox.

Reply
post #10 of 10
8/31/12 at 1:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Achmedisdead View Post

No, it's certainly not better. 
I'd call it a slight step down from Clip+/Clip Zip, a difference that the casual listener would not even notice. As far as the equalizer, I wouldn't know...I don't use the original firmware on my Sansas, only Rockbox
.

If I had to sum up it was about.....10% - 15% worse. by all means it wasn't terrible and to some possibly unnoticeable. so going as far to say they sound similar still stands. I never installed rockbox on my Fuze+ and was dual booting Clip+ at the time on OF. I can't say I did side by side tests, but knowing the Clip+ so well being my full-time player then, Fuze+ was a slight step down IMO. Just so people know by the percentages I mean in my above post.

This has nothing to do with the UI or touch panel. Only from a SQ view.

Would it be worth upgrading from a Fuze+ to a Clip+?

Yes, but only for those who's ears are tuned enough to hear changes. Listening environment will also play a part.
Edited by H20Fidelity - 8/31/12 at 1:24am
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Portable Source Gear

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Source Gear › Why did SanDisk degrade the sound quality of the Fuze+?