sound on Sansa e200

[breez]

Equipment: EMU 0404 sound card (loopback test)

I doubt there's anything wrong with the way I'm testing. I get decent results simply from booting to original firmware and running the tests. Also, the test confirms my first listening impressions with music.

[breez]

Llorean: Do you have US version of Sansa? Maybe there is some minor difference in hardware between EU and US which causes the odd behavior.

Any other users, please chime in, does Rockbox with audio patches sound thin or bass deficient when compared to original firmware? Turn off equalizer and other audio processing for the comparison. Also define whether you have US or EU player hardware (or other region).

[DukeLuke]

Any other users, please chime in, does Rockbox with audio patches sound thin or bass deficient when compared to original firmware? Turn off equalizer and other audio processing for the comparison. Also define whether you have US or EU player hardware (or other region).

If by "Rockbox with audio patches" you mean the latest daily build then yes, it does sound bass deficient. I own the EU hardware - e270 if that matters.

Here's a comparison that I've posted earlier: http://www.sendspace.com/file/xpp717

The file contains both samples

0:00 - 1:05 = RB
1:05 - 2:10 = Original Firmware

@Llorean
I've noticed that something has changed since the improvements that you were talking about. But it was only an increase of volume. Apart from the lack of bass the problem with the jumping stereo image still persists.

[saratoga]

It would be helpful if you'd post RMAA results.  I think most people tend to ignore compliants about quality otherwise.

[vinnie97]

On a daily build from last week, I definitely noticed the shifting stereo image as well.  Don't have a sample to support that yet, just trying to give credence to the belief that the incident isn't isolated.

The device also seems very prone to clipping when turning up the volume by much and I'm also using Koss Portapro headphones, which have a traditionally heavy bass response.  It's rather weak on the Sansa, even when compared to the sound I can procure from the original firmware.

[Toni]

You still have to apply patch #6908 to avoid the channel swapping comletely.
I also get the same 'thin' sound as reported by breez on April 15. This is definitely a problem with the DAC settings (incomplete initialization?), because the data fed to the audio fifo are completely ok (flat line frequency response with RMAA).

[breez]

There exists Sansas with different board revisisons, 1.0 and 1.1. I checked mine and it is a 1.0.

[uin9112037]

what's the status with this problem?  

i just installed and was dismayed to hear:

  - clicks
  - jumping stereo
  - low max volume
  - "tinny" sound

also, forgive my noobery, but are the listed patches still current?  do they seem to work?  how do i install them?

[Vortex]

Hi,

for the time being (until these bugs are fixed in the official svn) you can try the custom builds linked in this thread:
http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=10436.0
especially this one:
http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=10436.0

It fixes at least the clicks and jumping stereo. The low max volume problem persists though. I don't know what you mean by "tinny sound" (sorry).

EDIT: The "tinny sound" was fixed today, along with the low max volume.

[major_works]

So my question is:

Does the fix that was committed to SVN last night obviate the need for http://www.rockbox.org/tracker/task/6908?

Any help on this point is appreciated, and thanks in advance.

[Vortex]

Does the fix that was committed to SVN last night obviate the need for http://www.rockbox.org/tracker/task/6908?

No, unfortunately not. You still need this patch to get acceptable audio playback.

[major_works]

OK, thanks... that helps a lot.

I won't be able to try the fix until later... does it really help? More bass?

[daniel2023]

OK, thanks... that helps a lot.

I won't be able to try the fix until later... does it really help? More bass?

I just got the newest svn, and sound quality is incredibly better.  Very full sound -- I think the max volume is much louder too.  The distortion is a lot less, though there is still some at the highest levels.  On earbuds, I can't max out the volume anymore, because it blows out my ear -- that means it should work well for my car hookup, which is usually too soft to hear.

Only issue at first glance is slight popping/clicks (usually when changing volume -- faster equals more clicks)

Congrats on the improvement.  Great job guys and keep up the good work!

[Llorean]

You should always expect distortion above 0dB. At and below 0dB, with a flat equalizer there shouldn't be any. Is there?

[cpchan]

also, forgive my noobery, but are the listed patches still current?

Yes.

do they seem to work?  

Yes.

how do i install them?

You need to patch the source and recompile. Here is a patched and compiled version:

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12583

Charles