SanDisk Sansa Express MP3 Player Review
Cheap, but Quality
The first thing that you’ll notice about the SanDisk Sansa Express media player is the body. It is square like most MP3 players, but the click scroll is located on the right side. And, you are meant to hold the player on its side while you usually hold other players straight up and down.
This makes the player interesting to look at, but is it more than just a pretty face? Well, one major selling point is that it’s extremely cheap. It originally sold for about $50, but now (2011) you can get the player for about $10.
Features and Accessories (4 out of 5)
It is a budget MP3 player, but it also has some features that set it apart from the competition. To continue with the features of the body, it has a microSD card slot, which is not normally found on cheaper players. This cord allows you to add up to a 2GB memory card to the player, allowing you to store extra media. You can also use this slot for storing items like videos, which can clog up the memory on your player. The internal memory is 1GB.
The player comes with your standard package, including headphones and a USB cord. The battery is decent, but not wonderful. You get about 15 hours of play time before you need to recharge it.
Body (3 out of 5)
The major downside to this player is the size of the OLED screen. It’s an extremely small SanDisk MP3 player. More than that, however, is that it can only display up to two colors. The font is an annoying blue and orange set against a black background. This can be quite hard to read at times. Worse than that, however, is that you can’t see album art or even look at photos.
The click scroll is quite similar to ones found on other players, except that it’s square. This scroll includes the Play/Pause button, track shuffle selector, menu button and the center key. The scroll is fairly easy to use, especially if you have used other types of MP3 players.
Sound and Menus (4 out of 5)
The sound quality of the Sansa player is quite good. The headphones that come with the player are more than decent. In fact, audio sounded quite normal. You won’t get the same dynamic sound as you do in higher-end players, but the sound is better than most in the Sansa’s budget class. It has different EQ settings that allow you to change the settings based on the type of music that you are listening to. These settings include the following:
- Jazz
- Normal
- Rock
- Classical
- Rock
- Custom
The player comes with a built-in FM radio, which has the ability to pick up nearly all local stations. It also has a voice recording feature. You can record your favorite audio or simply tape-record reminders or a class lecture.
One of the best aspects of this player is the plug and play interface. You simply plug the player into your Windows computer, and then drag and drop your music into the player. You don’t have to use Windows Media Player, but you can if you prefer that route. While the player is mainly meant for Windows, you can easily transfer data from your Mac player to your MP3.
The menus are easy to navigate. Your media is organized by the Creative step-down interface, which even beginners will find easy to use. The control button is located at the base of the player. The main power key and the hold switch are located. The other features are located on the left side of the player, including the headphone jack, microSD card slot and the built-in microphone. It has a built-in USB slot on the base.
Bang for Your Buck (4 out of 5)
Overall, the SanDisk Sansa Express media player is good for someone who has never used a MP3 player or just wants a cheap backup. The microSD slot is a wonderful feature, and the battery life isn’t completely awful. The major drawback, however, is the screen. It’s size and the limited ability to show colors is disappointing.
This media player, however, does play audio very well, and the included headphones are quite good So, if you just need something inexpensive, this player will adequately play all the music on your library.
References
France, Jasmine. “SanDisk Sansa Express (1GB)”.
