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Sansa clip zip sound lacking?

post #1 of 16
11/25/12 at 12:03pm
Thread Starter 
Hey guys, I have a question about the sound quality on the sansa clip zip. I purchased one e months ago for use instead of my Galaxy Nexus as a music player. From various research on this website I've found that the clip zip should sound exactly the same as the clip+. Since the clip+ is so renowned for sound quality, I was surprised and disappointed when I plugged my headphones in and heard a thin, harsh sound signature that was very unpleasant. I have it rock boxed, which shouldn't make the sound worse right? For now I am using my Galaxy nexus with power amp rather than my zip because it just sounds sooo much better. Is something wrong with my clip zip or am I just setting my standards too high? Will adding a fiio e11 change the sound for the better at all?
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post #2 of 16
11/25/12 at 12:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by InRainbows View Post

Hey guys, I have a question about the sound quality on the sansa clip zip. I purchased one e months ago for use instead of my Galaxy Nexus as a music player. From various research on this website I've found that the clip zip should sound exactly the same as the clip+. Since the clip+ is so renowned for sound quality, I was surprised and disappointed when I plugged my headphones in and heard a thin, harsh sound signature that was very unpleasant. I have it rock boxed, which shouldn't make the sound worse right? For now I am using my Galaxy nexus with power amp rather than my zip because it just sounds sooo much better. Is something wrong with my clip zip or am I just setting my standards too high? Will adding a fiio e11 change the sound for the better at all?

If you're not tinkering with the EQ, then it should sound no different from the original firmware. Are you using the EQ on Poweramp with your phone? And what earphones/headphones are you using?

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post #3 of 16
11/25/12 at 12:12pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the quick reply! Yes I eq it on my phone with a very slight U shape but even with all the eq settings disabled in poweramp it sounds better. I am using the ATH-M50.
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post #4 of 16
11/25/12 at 12:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by InRainbows View Post

Hey guys, I have a question about the sound quality on the sansa clip zip. I purchased one e months ago for use instead of my Galaxy Nexus as a music player. From various research on this website I've found that the clip zip should sound exactly the same as the clip+. Since the clip+ is so renowned for sound quality, I was surprised and disappointed when I plugged my headphones in and heard a thin, harsh sound signature that was very unpleasant. I have it rock boxed, which shouldn't make the sound worse right? For now I am using my Galaxy nexus with power amp rather than my zip because it just sounds sooo much better. Is something wrong with my clip zip or am I just setting my standards too high? Will adding a fiio e11 change the sound for the better at all?


I've heard that Rockbox can actually be of worse sound quality unless you are going to be using the EQ options available.

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post #5 of 16
11/25/12 at 12:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by musical-kage View Post


I've heard that Rockbox can actually be of worse sound quality unless you are going to be using the EQ options available.

Not necessarily true. On the Zip it changes nothing.....on the Clip+, it corrects the slight playback speed error, which discerning ears can hear.

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post #6 of 16
11/25/12 at 12:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by musical-kage View Post


I've heard that Rockbox can actually be of worse sound quality unless you are going to be using the EQ options available.
really? Because I've tried almost every audio player on the market (even audiophile players such as neutron and jet audio) and power amp sounds better than them all. smily_headphones1.gif
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post #7 of 16
11/25/12 at 12:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by InRainbows View Post

Thanks for the quick reply! Yes I eq it on my phone with a very slight U shape but even with all the eq settings disabled in poweramp it sounds better. I am using the ATH-M50.

I have never used the M50, but the Clip Zip powers my ATH-WS55's easily enough and isn't thin sounding at all. I wonder if you have a defective unit? 

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post #8 of 16
11/25/12 at 12:25pm
Thread Starter 
Oops, you said rockbox, not poweramp, ignore that haha.
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post #9 of 16
11/25/12 at 12:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Achmedisdead View Post

I have never used the M50, but the Clip Zip powers my ATH-WS55's easily enough and isn't thin sounding at all. I wonder if you have a defective unit? 
It just sounds so in my face and brash, like mono almost. Defective would make it sound grainy wouldn't it?
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post #10 of 16
11/25/12 at 12:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by InRainbows View Post

It just sounds so in my face and brash, like mono almost. Defective would make it sound grainy wouldn't it?

Grainy, I don't know. Hopefully somebody else with M50's and a Clip+/Zip  reads this thread and can compare notes with you on the sound...

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post #11 of 16
11/25/12 at 12:45pm
Thread Starter 
Hopefully, thanks for your help! smily_headphones1.gif
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post #12 of 16
11/25/12 at 12:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by InRainbows View Post

Hopefully, thanks for your help! smily_headphones1.gif

If you don't want to dig all the way into the parametric Rockbox EQ, there are simple Bass and Treble settings in the Sound settings menu....have you tried them out?

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post #13 of 16
11/25/12 at 2:15pm
Thread Starter 
Yes, but I found they just make it sound worse :/
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post #14 of 16
11/25/12 at 3:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by InRainbows View Post

Yes, but I found they just make it sound worse :/

Try post this problem on the anythingbutipod website.

 

How did the Clip Zip sound with the original Sandisk Sansa firmware?

 

Is there a "reset" setting in Rockbox?

Have you tried reseting the firmware?

 

Could you have a bad install of Rockbox?

So maybe try a fresh install of Rockbox?

Reinstall the Sandisk Sansa firmware?

 

Are you fully charging the Clip Zip's battery?

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post #15 of 16
11/26/12 at 9:09am

I have a clip zip (original firmware) and ATH M50. Sounds fine to me.

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