SanDisk Docking Station for Sansa c200 and e200 Series Players
by SanDisk
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List Price: Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of SanDisk Docking Station for Sansa c200 and e200 Series Players
Customer Review: Simple: it does what it says
Summary: 5 Stars
First off, don't let some of the poor reviews here concern you too much. Anyone looking for a cure-all device to deliver a plethora of features for under fifty bucks is looking in the wrong place (and will probably be disappointed no matter where they look).
This Sandisk base station is a strong unit and serves its purpose competently. I can't find fault with anything on it so far; it's simple, convenient, and sounds great. Set-up took less than a minute, and the included instructions were unnecessary. Operation of the no-frills remote is intuitive, and navigation of the Sansa player (not included, of course) via the dock was already second nature from having used the player previously.
Specifially, here's what I like about this dock/station:
-It sounds fantastic. The built-in amplification alone is worth the purchase. As anyone who's jacked an MP3 player into a stereo, powered speakers, etc probably knows, you need to crank up the volume on one or both of the devices to get decent sound. This dock solves that problem easily.
-It takes care of the charging dilemma some users complain about with the Sansa players (that is, how to charge the player without tying into a computer in the process). Charging now can be done anywhere, and the stand allows the player to sleep with dignity--standing up in it's base; not laying on the floor with a cord coming out of its rear.
-The remote is a useful bonus that, along with an attached pair of powered speakers (see below) or stereo system, turns your Sansa into its own system.
-The weighted base, slip-resistant undersurface, and rear-ported jacks allow for easy and attractive placement pretty much anywhere. I read in a previous review the complaint that this base isn't heavy enough. Short of gluing a cinder block to the bottom of this, I'm not sure what else Sandisk is supposed to do. The weight is fine, and in fact even adds some perceived value in its heft.
-It comes with two custom-fitted adaptors for either of the mentioned Sansa series, giving you the option to retrofit the dock to one or the other series.
Now, if you feel like investing a little extra, and really want to get the most from this device, try what I did. Buy a pair of quality powered speakers (I'm using the Bose Companion 2 multi-media speakers), and plug them into the docking station. This gives you a sturdy, clean-sounding stereo system complete with easy playback, excellent sound, customized EQ (maybe the best reason to buy Sansas), basic remote, FM tuner (via Sansa), and an attractive, minimalist appearance. All in all, it's a worthy sound system that can be easily moved from room to room, and can be broken down for use as individual components.
Absolutely worth the few bucks it costs.
Customer Review: Great
Summary: 5 Stars
This will work with any Sansa. I use mine with the Sansa Fuze. All you have to do is ommit the use of the inserts included. Well worth the money.
Customer Review: Skip it - Stupid Remote cripples product
Summary: 1 Stars
This is not worth the cash.
Just received the Sansa Base Station today via Dell. I don't think its worth more than $30 US.
Yes, audio sounds good and it appears to have a built in amp.
Worst problem:
NO MENU/CURSOR controls on the remote! There's no way to change albums or artist from the remote. You have to go to the player and set up each playlist at the player. The remote allows you to power on/off, volume up and down, and fastforward/rewind (also functions as the next/previous track) buttons.
Here's the scenario - you are listening to a podcast. When it ends, the player goes back to the music screen. What do you want to listen to? Doesn't matter. None of the remote buttons will allow you to play a new song because you are stuck on the menu screen with command over nada! There is no way to browse your tracks. Any song or album that finishes will bump you back to a menu that you cannot control with the remote.
Its possible the engineers thought the screen on the player is too small to see. But across a normal living room, I can see the menu fine and I would have no problem choosing a new album to play from the couch (yes - its healthier to get up but if Sandisk is asking $69 US for the base station - don't you want the choice?). This is idiotic design.
Lesser but annoying problems - No video out. Its possible the Sansa E series has no video out capability. Its not clear from the base station ad. If the remote had any navigation functions, it would be great to see the Sansa menu on the TV. Many people would not want to watch heavily compressed video with the base station but it would again be nice to have the choice.
Guide on the base station will not accept the player with a skin/case on it - including the one that Sandisk sells as part of its travel kit.
But the lack of functions on the REMOTE is stupid, stupid, stupid...
You basically can get the same functionality by getting a 1/8th (headphone) to RCA audio adapter from Radioshack. It will set you back about $4 US. Save yourself nearly $70.
Customer Review: Sansa base station- excellent with home stereo.
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading some negative reviews, I still took a chance on ordering this to connect my Sansa e260 to my high quality office stereo.
I would like to comment on some of the negative things people wrote about this dock.
1) Some mentioned the weight as being too light- I feel this is a very well built unit and solid for its size. I have never had a problem with it moving around on its shelf due to vibration, even at very loud/peak volumes, with a 350+ watt stereo and subwoofer just a few feet away. Other things vibrate and fall off the shelves, but so far this base hasn't moved.
2) Lack of controls on the remote- For about $47 including shipping, the fact this unit even has a remote is great. Sure you might have to get up once in a while and scroll to a certain folder or song, but you can still power the unit on or off, lower/raise the volume, skip/rewind/ff thru songs. If the unit were triple the price, I might expect a little more from the remote... but it really is a great bang for your buck.
3) At first it DID make that "buzz" noise and had unacceptably low volume music, BUT, check the connection into the back of the Sansa base itself. I didnt put it all the way in when first installing it, was just a fraction of an inch out. When I pushed it all the way in, WOW! Sounds great, no buzzing what-so-ever and the built in amp actually makes a big difference. Everything I've listened to so far is crystal clear and very high quality. Plus with the Sansa e260 there is a great equalizer that makes the sound quality coming from my already excellent stereo, even better.
Overall a highly recommended piece for connecting it to a stereo system. I havent used it attached to a computer yet but it came with the usb cord and expect it to perform just as well. Great value, high quality product, free shipping, couldnt ask for anything more, especially near this price.
Customer Review: Sandisk docking station
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this docking station as a way to still play my music from my CD collection when my CD Jukebox started to have problems with playing the CDs. It is not easy to find a multi CD player on the market any longer.
I like the design and simplicity of the docking station. It looks good and works well once you figure out what is needed to be done to hook it up. Like most items of this sort, documentation is less than good.
However, after getting it hooked up and running, I am overall pleased with it. The only negative is that you cannot have it hooked up to both the PC and Stereo at the same time. If you want to play it thru the stereo, you have to disconnect the USB jack from the computer. If you want to transfer files, you have to disconnect the power cord since the power comes thru the USB connection from the PC (I think).
As I have it tucked into a tight space, this plugging and unplugging is very inconvenient. I would recommend that they have a small button on the front for the next generation release that will allow you to switch from stereo to PC mode without having to disconnect cables.
The remote control is small and has basic functions only but is nice in that it does not have to have the door open to work.
Overall, I am happy with it.