SanDisk Sansa Express 2GB MP3 Player - SDMX6R-2048K-A18 - The fusion of music, FM radio and voice recorder into one compact player!
SanDisk 2GB Sansa Express MP3 Player

As far as MP3 and WMA players go, this one delivers top notch sound. But like everyone else has said the headphones that come with it are lacking in the upper high end and sound a bit dull and bassy. The slot for 2G expansion gives you the storage for tons of music or your data files. It can be left in since it does not stick out giving you 4GB of storage. The only draw back to using it as a thumbdrive is that it does not show up as a removable drive with a drive letter but instead it appears as an Other device. The biggest shortcoming to this is that you will not be able to run applications like ThunderbirdPortable directly from the device. The FM radio is surprisingly clear and distortion FREE! The menus are easy to navigate and allow you to easily find and play a specific song, artist, album or genre and play all in order or shuffled. It has a graphic EQ with presets and also records sounds into a wav file. A handy feature for lectures or making notes to yourself. So don't let its low price and small size fool you. This thing rocks!
 
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This MP3 Player has been great! I purchased it as a Christmas gift for my boyfriend at an Awesome Price, and have been using it more than him! It holds a large amount of songs and files, and the voice recorder is really cool. I have downloaded about 35 songs so far, and I plan on using it tons more. It also has great sound, the information scrolling across the screen is clear and large enough to read, and the best features are the easy-to-use USB port and lithium battery that charges whenever you plug it into the computer for downloads! Overall, I'm so happy I purchased this product.
 
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THis MP3 player is great, once you figure out the fantastic but initially confusing controls. The FM radio is better then that of my Creative Zen Vision and it plays back the Recorded FM in series, so you don't have to look thru your music collection for your recordings. If you install Microsofts MTP protocol (or have WMP 11 Installed) you can view the device like a Multi-Card Reader. It shows up as a #GB Internal Memory and a #GB Memory (the MicroSD Card). You can place any file you want to the device (such as your homework in word format) and the device will store it (but warn you that it won't be playable, which is very nice). This allows me to use a single device as a MP3 Player, MicroSD Card Reader (My Phone/camera/camcorder all use SD) and 1GB Flash Drive. Please note that MP3 Player will not get a drive letter assigned to it, so you can't save files directly to it, you have to save them to your hard drive, then move them to the MP3 player, which is a small inconvience.
 
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I wanted a very small, easy to use, high quality player and this one fits the bill. I'm using it with Rhapsody "to go" account so I can drag playlist to it easily. The microSD cards are cheap, so I carry a few of those as well, giving me an enormous amount of music to travel with. I'm not sure I'm getting the battery life I should, but it charges quickly in a USB port. And sometimes navigation through the menus gets confusing, but other than that it's a great little player.
 
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This is the first MP3 player I've owned. I was very pleased with the features and performance. The inlcuded ear buds were pretty comfortable and had decent sound. The Sansa has an equalizer function so you can adjust the output response to your liking. I bought a pair of Sennheiser PX100 headphones and this combination sounds amazing. Volume is very adequate. It can play a variety of file types so it is very easy to rip tracks off my CD collection using Windows Media Player and put them on the Sansa. I really like the Micro SD slot which allows you to expand the memory as needed. I have not timed the battery life but I would guess it is close to the 15 hours specified. The FM tuner works pretty well but often stops at in-between frequencies and thus takes some fiddling to get the stations you want. The only other deficiency with the Sansa is the cheap quality level of the controls. The four-way main control frequently "misses" or "double-hits" when you use it. This causes navigation errors when trying to get through the various menus or scrolling through the list of artists etc. They should have used better quality buttons or put in some debounce software in the thing. Other than that I am very happy with the unit. For $40 I can't complain too much. Too bad it is "obsolete" from what I can tell at Sandisk.com but there are still a few left. I was impressed enough to buy a second unit for my son.
 
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I never write reviews for anything I buy but I'll make an exception for this one! Two weeks ago I thought I lost this mp3 player. But I found it zipped up in a jacket pocket of mine AFTER I had put it through the washer and dryer! Unbelievably, I charged it and it works just fine!!! Nevermind the sound quality or being able to view the LCD screen in the sun, I am all for spending my money on a darn-near indestructible mp3 player!!!
 
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The Sansa Express has exactly the right features to make it the MP3 player of choice: inexpensive, lightweight for sports use, lithium battery rechargeable from USB port. However, the hardware and firmware fail at an alarming rate. You will become adept at resetting the hardware and reloading the firmware. Make sure that you retain purchase receipts because you will most certainly be sending the player back to Sansa for replacement within weeks.
 
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The good: The product works well and the display is easy to read. The controls are intuitive unlike some others I have tried. The not so good: At first I had some minor issues, but I updated the firmware from the manufacturer's website and all were solved. I am not having issues others have reported with inconsistant controls, maybe it's just me. As with most of these less-expensive players, I suggest upgrading to a better set of ear buds.
 
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Works great, I'm getting up in years and thought I'd never be able to read the screen, but magically it's easy to read; amazing. I use it while mowing our grass, the FM radio locks on to a station and stays there as it should, the MP3 works super and songs are easy to load on. Very pleased with it.
 
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The Sansa Express was my first mp3 player. The good: the small form factor and the built-in USB plug eliminates the need for a separate cable. The shape and location of the controls makes it easy to operate the basic play, pause, back, forward, & lock functions with either hand in your pocket. The quality of the FM receiver was better than various full sized radios in my collection. The display makes it relatively easy to navigate between files and functions. Good sound quality however I didn't use the included earbuds). The microSD card slot lets you upgrade the total memory. Includes a voice recorder. You do need to create playlists on your Windows PC or tracks will play in unexpected order. The way to create playlists (.pla files) was not documented in the Sansa instructions. Basically, after you copy a set of mp3 files to the Sansa Express, display them in Windows Explorer, highlight (select) the group, right click on the selection and click on create playlist from the pop-up dialog. Rename the .pla file as you like and open it. For some reason, some of the individual files will are always displaced to the end of the list. Select them and using the arrow keys at the bottom of the dialog box, move them to their correct location. The bad: microSD card can be accidentally ejected and (lost if outdoors). I recommend a dab of hot-melt glue. The control pad is unreliable often enough to be aggravating; you click "pause" but the effect is a short click "rewind" which results in play resetting to the beginning of the current file. If you use the player primarily for music, this is no big deal. But if you use the player primarily for audiobooks or other very long tracks as I do, it's a time consuming process to get back to your place. Neither is there any "bookmark" function that would make it easier to locate your place in a long track. When you turn off the player, it will usually remember the track you were on, but will restart at the beginning. There is a track time display, so if you make a note of the time before you shut down, you will at least have a fast-forward target (track time is displayed while you fast forward). Sometimes, particularly after being charged, the Sansa Express will even forget the track it was playing along with various other setting. The firmware generally is plagued with inconsistent behavior and some irritating design decisions. My first microSD card died after a couple of months. The Sansa Express itself died after about 7 months, probably from ESD (electro-static discharge) during the static season. I replaced the Sansa with a $200 Sony flash type player that has so far been ESD proof and has better firmware and reliable controls. However, I miss the ergonomic design of the Sansa; the Sony player is harder to operate one handed in a pocket.The Sansa Express was my first mp3 player. The good: the small form factor and the built-in USB plug eliminate the need for a separate cable. The shape and location of the controls makes it easy to operate the basic play, pause, back, forward, & lock functions with either hand in your pocket. The quality of the FM receiver was better than various full sized radios in my collection. The display makes it relatively easy to navigate between files and functions. Good sound quality - however I didn't use the included earbuds. The microSD card slot lets you upgrade the total memory. The device includes a voice recorder which I tested but did not use enough to know if it would be useful. You do need to create playlists on your Windows PC or tracks will play in unexpected order. The way to create playlists (.pla files) was not documented in the Sansa instructions. Basically, after you copy a set of mp3 files to the Sansa Express, display them in Windows Explorer, highlight (select) the group, right click on the selection and click on create playlist from the pop-up dialog. Rename the .pla file as you like and open it. For some reason, some of the individual files will are always displaced to the end of the list. Select them and using the arrow keys at the bottom of the dialog box, move them to their correct location. The bad: microSD card can be accidentally ejected and (lost if outdoors). I recommend a dab of hot-melt glue. The control pad is unreliable often enough to be aggravating; you click "pause" but the effect is a short click "rewind" which results in play resetting to the beginning of the current file. If you use the player primarily for music, this is no big deal. But if you use the player primarily for audiobooks or other very long tracks as I do, it's a time consuming process to get back to your place. Neither is there any "bookmark" function that would make it easier to locate your place in a long track. When you turn off the player, it will usually remember the track you were on, but will restart at the beginning. There is a track time display, so if you make a note of the time before you shut down, you will at least have a fast-forward target (track time is displayed while you fast forward). Sometimes, particularly after being charged, the Sansa Express will even forget the track it was playing along with various other setting. The firmware generally is plagued with inconsistent behavior and some irritating design decisions. My first microSD card died after a couple of months. The Sansa Express itself died after about 7 months, probably from ESD (electro-static discharge) during the static season. I replaced the Sansa with a $200 Sony flash type player that has so far been ESD proof and has better firmware and reliable controls. However, I miss the ergonomic design of the Sansa; the Sony player is harder to operate one- handed in a pocket.
 
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I'm not a big fan of portable music players... not much use for them. I've purchased a few small mp3 players and have always been disappointed, either by feature or usability (size/shape). But this one beats my expecatations. Comes with 2 gig internal storage, which is plenty for me. If you so choose, slam another 2 gigs of MicroSD in it. You get all these gigs for a fraction of the cost of other major mp3 players. Menu system is very easy to use. FM radio works great. Voice recording works well. This tiny little thing will read its internal memory as well as the external MicroSD card for songs and build its library, categorizing all songs into Artists, Albums, Genres, etc. However if you have music files in "folders" on your MicroSD card (ie like if you want to play a folder as a playlist) it will not recognize the folders but it will pick up the songs and build them into the library. You'll have to use its menu system to find and play your songs. I believe you can use Windows Media, Real Player, or other stuff to create playlists, though I haven't tested that feature. It's small enough that it never gets in the way, perfect for the gym when you want to hear the TV stations broadcasted over FM radio. The only gripe I have with it is that it doesn't have some kind of file sorting mechanism. For example, I have 80 files from an audio book named 01_xxx, 02_xxx, .... 80_xxx, and it plays these files backwards from the highest filename.
 
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I bought the Sansa Express for my wife who is technologically challenged, but really enjoys listening to podcast of Irish radio. So I needed something simple and durable,and the Express more than meets her needs. with 2 gigs she can download a week's worth of podcasts and still have tons of space for her favorite CDs - I doubt that she will ever need the expansion slot, but hey, it is available to her if needed. It is easy enough for her to navigate through the files to find the program she wants to hear. So she is good to go - Next, getting her a simplified cell phone she can use...
 
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I bought this MP3 player for my son for Christmas and it works great. He can also use it as a jump drive at school for writing papers, etc... I recommend it to anyone who can afford it.
 
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Very happy with product. The cost is a little high compared to the market for 2GB mp3 players, but not too bad.
 
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Purchased MP3 player for the new car. Works great. Store the music files in folders and transfer to the MP3 via the usb connection. Only problem is how to not misplace it.
 
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Bought this for my 18 year old son for Christmas along with a Kingston 2 gig card. He loves it. Light weight, great sound, radio has good reception. He was very pleased. Very little delay even when loading from card.
 
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If you need a flash drive, you might as well get one that is small and lite. This is both. Plus it has the ability to play your MP3's, record short messages, and has an FM tuner. The sound is pretty decent and comparable to an iPod. You need to have pretty good headphones though. The ones that come with it are not very good. It uses Windows Media Player to organize your music. It's not as easy as iTunes. The player does occassionally "freeze." I don't know if it's because it's processing or if it's really frozen. In either case, I've had to reset it once or twice. I think it's very sensitive to virus or corrupted files so there were times, I had to format the player and recopy the songs. Otherwise, for the most part, it satisfies my desire for a lite MP3 player for my workouts. I can jog with it in my pocket and never notice it. Oh yeah the screen is not too big. You can still read it without squinting. But the screen does not do well in sunlight. It's hard to see when sun is shining on it.
 
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Great player. It's nice and small. I use it primarily for recording stuff at work, but I've used it for music as well, and I got one for my wife, who loves it. Like I said, this player is very small and compact. If that's what you want, it's absolutely fantastic. It's very basic though, so don't expect album art or anything. It does the WMP thing, or you can use it as a MSC if you want. One of the best things about it is it plugs straight into USB, no cable needed. It does come with a short extension, in case your USB ports are crowded. It also charges via USB, so there's no charger included. You can't change the battery, which could be a negative for some people. Battery life is really good, IMO. As for me, the only real negative is that once in a great while, it'll not recognize new music I've put on it. No idea why. Removing the new music, unplugging the player so it rebuilds the database, then adding it again has always done the trick so far though. But something to think about. Other that that, I can't really think of any negatives.
 
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It's easy to use, flexible enough (definitely doesn't require you to use any specific software to manage the content on it), and it's very convenient having the USB connector built-in. It doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, but as a very usable mp3 player, less is better in my book. Excellent value for the price.
 
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I've had this player for about 1 1/2 months now and in that time I've gotten a lot of use out of this player. I use it to work about 3-4 times a week and I use it at work for hours at a time. The sound quality is great. I didn't bother with the earphones included, but my $20 sony earbuds sound excellent. It's full at about 400 songs (most of which were ripped at 168 Kbps.) The menu system takes a little getting used to, but it's not so hard to navigate that it gets in the way of use. The expansion slot is a nice addition and my 512 mb card functions seamlessly with the rest of the memory. It also functions as a thumb drive for any type of data and does not require any special software to load music or files. I have not tried loading the software that came with it under recommendation from another review I read. It works great with WMP and winamp (from what I've read.) It has locked up on me 3-4 times in approximately 25 hrs of use. Each time, I just perform a hard reset (by pressing two specific buttons at the same time) and it's fine. No loss of data or anything, just frozen up. Other than that, I have no complaints. It offers as much functionality as the 1st gen Nanos at half the price and I have yet to see any reason to spend the extra money.
 
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This device does everything it's supposed to at a good price. It had allowed me to dabble with subscription music. The screen is hard to read in direct sunlight. The controls are a bit unwieldy, but you end up with an excellent package.
 
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