Sony ICF-CD3iP

Price: $109.95
Manufacturer:




Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #49764 in Single Detail Page Misc

Product Reviews

Naxa NX-160 Digital Alarm Clock with Am/fm Radio & Snooze

Price: $18.88
Manufacturer: Naxa


Product Features AM/FM Radio Tuner Digital Clock with 0.9 Red Display Wake to Radio or Alarm Snooze Function PM LED Indicator Battery Back up with 9V Battery (Battery not Included) UL Listed

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50218 in Single Detail Page Misc
• Brand: Naxa
• Model: NX-160
• Dimensions: 2.00 pounds

• AM/FM Radio Tuner
• Digital Clock with 0.6 Red Display
• Wake up to Radio or Alarm
• Snooze Function
• PM LED Indicator

Product Reviews

Ford Thunderbird Retro Neon Alarm Clock Radio with CD Player - Red

Price: $69.46
Manufacturer: TELEMANIA


Get your morning motor running with this retro neon analog alarm clock. Styled after the classic 1950s Ford Thunderbird, it features a rectangular shape with classic knobs and detailing for a vintage look. Listen to your favorite tunes on the AM/FM radio or the top-loading CD player. Set the alarm to music or chime. Illuminated by a neon tube light. Includes a second hand and snooze option. Measures 7-1/2"H x 7"W x 7"D. Color: RED

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26416 in Single Detail Page Misc
• Brand: TELEMANIA
• Model: tbirdred
• Dimensions: 48.00" h x 96.00" w x 144.00" l, 6.00 pounds

Product Reviews

Defective Product
Nice idea, but poorly executed. I purchased for my son. The radio buzzes with a neon light noise, and the CD player unexpectedly comes on and off. I believe I have a defective model; but in reviewing other individuals who purchased this clock radio, some had the same experience.

Looks are great. Just not well-engineered.

Sangean RCR-5 Digital AM/FM Clock Radio

Price: $46.73
Manufacturer: Sangean America, Inc.


Sangean's latest digital RCR-5 AM/FM clock radio is as attractive as it is unique offering features and performance generally found in the most expensive clock radios. Dual Alarm Timers for both "Waking Up to Radio" and/or "Waking up to HWS Buzzer" at different times for week days, weekends, daily or just once. Has both "Sleep" and "Nap" and "Snooze" timers if you need a little extra sleep. "Aux" input allows listening to your CD or any audio device through the RCR-5 radio.

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2430 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: White
• Brand: Sangean America, Inc.
• Model: RCR-5
• Dimensions: 2.00" h x 5.57" w x 7.00" l, 1.20 pounds

• Digital tuner with 10 station presets
• Dual alarms with "human wake" buzzer
• Set recurring alarms for daily, weekends, and weekdays
• Sleep timer (15-120 minutes)
• Includes AC Power Adapter

Product Reviews

Most Impressive!
I have nothing but praise for the Sangean RCR-5 clock radio. Specifically, here are the most noteworthy aspects of this truly amazing product:

Display
Here is where the RCR-5 truly shines, as it incorporates a backlit LCD with adjustable intensity: one may adjust the backlight to suit your needs, so you have a perfectly legible, yet not too bright display (at night) which can never be "washed out", even in direct sunlight. The display even has a clever feature whereby it will illuminate to full intensity when any of the buttons are pressed, after which it returns to the user's preset intensity after ten seconds. As you can see from the product photos, the display is of a soft, warm color, most conducive to a good sleeping environment; other clock radios using bright blue or green illumination, IMHO, should be avoided if you want to get any sleep.

Auxiliary Input
Very useful for listening to my podcasts at night; when an external source is attached, the Band button will cycle through AM/FM/AU; when none is attached, only AM/FM are available, thereby eliminating "clutter" for those who do not wish to enable this feature. (Note: I'm old-school, and prefer using this method over a "Dockable" iPod solution, as I prefer to completely run my iPod's battery source to zero before recharging...)

Flexibility in Programming
Only found on more expensive clock radios, this model will allow you to use the "Sleep" feature to listen to a particular station (or podcast with the Auxiliary feature) at night, and then to wake to radio on a different station. In addition, all alarms allow Daily, Mon-Fri, or Single, with the Audible Alarm using a gentle "ramp-up" feature.

Reception and Speaker Quality
The radio's receiver portion of this product is very good, rivaled by only my Sony short wave receiver (a great radio, by the way!); what looks like a 3-inch speaker provides a very warm, intelligible output, very suitable for the spoken word, adequate for music. If you need a strong system for powerful music, I would suggest purchasing an additional desktop speaker setup (such as for a computer) which can be attached to the headphone output by means of a standard mini-jack connection.

Finally, a no-nonsense Sleep function
Sangean has cleverly incorporated the Sleep function into the Power button (which is gently illuminated when the radio's off); to turn the radio on or off, press the button. To use the Sleep feature, press and hold the same button to select up to 120 minutes. Simple, effective, "it just works".

Final Recommendation
Well, what more can I say? This product works for me (and I'm purchasing three more for gifts) and has a lot going for it, including high value (very reasonably priced!). Is there anything that you should be aware of? Yes:

> As described in the previous customer's entry, setting the alarm may require a few extra key-strokes, as this product offers many options when it comes to waking by either the alarm or the radio; if you do not need all of these features, you may wish to consider something of simpler means. That being said, it took me only about 22 seconds to set the alarm; for me, it was relatively intuitive and logical.

> The built-in battery back up feature only works for about ten minutes worth of backup, according to the manual; in my neck of the woods, this is not a big issue, but should be noted if you experience many nighttime blackouts where you are located.

> Even though this model is referred to as an "RCR-5", it should be noted that it does not employ an automatic time synchronization feature as is found on Sangean's higher end clock radios. (Not a big issue for me, and may actually be desirable for those of us who prefer to set our clocks 5, 10, or 15 minutes fast to "keep us on time"!)

I hope this helps you in making the right decision! All the best!

High Quality Digital Clock Radio that looks like one too!
I started realizing the quality of this radio as soon as I held the box it came in. It's well packaged in heavy cardboard throughout. Take the radio out and look it over; you can tell this is not your everyday clock radio you find in all the stores. It's built solid and the buttons and controls feel solid. The sound is much better than any clock radio I've ever owned in this price range. The display is easy to see from all angles and not too brite. The amber is soft on your eyes unlike some of the blues and greens out there. Setting the alarms is slightless less intuitive then it could be but it's easy once you do it a few times (the reason for the 4 out of 5 stars). Products like this are few and far between these days. High quality and does what it is made to do very well without looking like an alien aircraft with unessessary bells and whistles. Very possibly the best engineered clock radio for under $50. Im very happy with my purchase.

a QUALITY clock radio...
I have to say that I'm quite impressed by the QUALITY of the Sangean RCR-5 clock radio. Quite a bit of great detail has already been mentioned in a fine way by a previous reviewer. I just have to say that I'm really impressed at how clear the radio reception is...absolutely NO drift, it locks onto the radio frequency and stays there! And the sound from the speaker (even if it is just a single speaker) is rather impressive...I've never heard a speaker sound so clear, crisp, and distinct, whether it be music or spoken word! I also like how smooth the volume control feels. It keeps great time with an easy-to-view display, and wakes you up comfortably with its "humane waking system." Some people have noted that the settings for the clock are too complex and complicated, but I frankly didn't experience any problems in that sense. Of course, it does not have the atomic clock updating, nor does it have a built-in cd player, but it does have the auxillary input, if you wanted to connect a cd player or mp3 player. Overall, I have to say that certainly alot of thought has gone into the designing of the Sangean RCR-5...this certainly is NO ordinary clock radio...it's a finely-crafted instrument!

RCA RP5605 AM/FM CD Clock Radio with Large LED Display

Price: $28.53
Manufacturer: RCA


The RP5605 CD clock radio by RCA is the perfect companion in the morning. The AM/FM clock radio has a large 0.6-inch LED display that makes it easy to see and read. This is a basic clock radio that offers dependability without having to learn how to set-up various features. The simple alarm button layout eliminates any confusion and ensures that setting the alarm will be easy. The top-loading CD player also is easy to access. You can change the alarm settings to wake to the radio, buzzer or any track of a favorite CD.

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2826 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: RCA
• Model: RP5605
• Dimensions: 3.46" h x 7.91" w x 5.51" l, 2.75 pounds

• AM/FM CD clock radio with LED display
• Top loading CD player
• Wake to radio, CD or alarm
• Simple alarm setting
• Basic design is very easy to use

Product Reviews

Good clock for the money
I am very happy with this clock radio/CD player. I especially like that the time can be set forward and backward and that the time display is easy to see without the light from it keeping me awake. The radio and CD player sound fine for what I use it for and for the price. The control buttons are in a good location and easy to use in the dark, once you know where everything is.

Decent for the price
I got this cheap alarm clock hoping it's two speakers would sound better than my even cheaper alarm clock with one speaker. It does but not by much. The CD player is very quiet but I find that the buttons are rather loud. Changing the alarm time at night will often wake my wife. The CD always starts at the beginning when using the alarm so I found it helpful to make my own CDs with a different wake-up song on each one.


Pros

Controls are strait forward and function well
Quiet CD player
Easy to read display

Cons

Loud buttons
Sort of ugly

Simple, cheap, quiet, just what we wanted.
We bought and tried several different units that all had different deficiences. This does have only one alarm setting but that's okay since we only get up once a day. The display is red with a black background so there is no glow keeping you awake half of the night. The CD motor is the quietest of 5 units that we tried. We have no problems with the volume. It stays where we put it for falling asleep to the CD and waking to the radio. Don't get hung up on the bells and whistles that you'll never need, this works great.

Emerson Dual Alarm SmartSet Clock Radio with 1.3" Red Display

Price: $17.99
Manufacturer: Emerson


AM/FM Dual Alarm Clock Radio

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #58295 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Emerson

• Clock Radio
• Analog, AM/FM Tuner
• Additional Functions: Buzzer, Alarm Clock, AM/FM Radio, Built-In Digital Clock, Cooler
• Built-In Speaker
• Features Sleep Timer, Analog Tuner, Built-In Speaker, LED Display Screen, Separate Weekday Alarm Setting, 90-Min. Sleep Timer, Sure Alarm Battery Backup to Ensure You Wakeup, Patented SmartSet Automatic Time Setting System
• Operational Modes: Sleep Mode, Convenient Snooze Button, On/Off Mode, Volume Control, Snooze Mode
• Audio Features: Adjustable Volume, AM/FM Radio
• Other Features: Dual Alarm, Battery Back Up
• Yes; Uses 1 Rechargeable Li-ion
• 8 x 4 x 4 "

Product Reviews

This is an excellent clock radio and a great value!
After buying and returning four clock radios, I purchased this Emerson Dual Alarm Smartset Clock Radio. I am very pleased with this product and here are the reasons:
- Clock comes with battery back-up.
- Automatically sets time (and date), just plug it into the wall. This is an amazing feature
- Red LEDs are much less glaring than other colors - this makes it easier to sleep with. This is because red light has shorter wavelengths. Fewer and fewer clocks offer red LEDs.
- Dual alarms
- Excellent construction. Construction quality is an issue across the board for this type of clock radio. The Tuner and Volume dials are stiff and stay in position.
- A great price.

I only wish it had a built-in CD player.

Bad display
We bought this alarm clock less than a week ago at our local Target and already the display is on the fritz. Based on another bad review for this product on the Target site, I will not merely exchange this one for another of the same type, but for a completely different brand or style.

Sangean HDR-1 Table Top HD Radio Receiver

Price: $160.64
Manufacturer: Sangean


HDR-1 Wooden Table Top Receiver5 w/information display showing channel no. channel frequency, ensemble label, service label, dynamic label, transmission mode, data rate & secondary service availability indicator. Auto tuning list, automatic multiplex re-configuration, real time clock with Alarm & Sleep function, Multicast capability, PAD services, Aux IN for iPOD or MP3 player, Remote Control with IR, Auto tuning system, Frequency range: AM: 520-1710 kHz (10kHz steps) FM: 87.5-108 MHz

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16411 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Walnut
• Brand: Sangean
• Model: HDR-1
• Dimensions: 4.50" h x 8.00" w x 11.00" l, 7.00 pounds

• Auto tuning system
• Auto preset system
• 20 memory presets
• Backlit LCD display
• Tone and bass control

Product Reviews

Amazon.com
HD radio is the next step in the evolution of sound. For some time, radio listeners have had to put up with static, hiss, and lost signals. HD radio eliminates this loss of signal by providing a digital signal that allows AM to sound like FM, and CD-quality sound out of FM stations. The HDR-1 is a full-featured, portable HD radio, with 20 memory presets, tone and bass control, an IR remote control, and much more.

Feature List

• Auto Tuning System (ATS)
• Auto Preset System
• 20 Memory Presets (10 FM, 10 AM)
• Backlit LCD Display
• Automatic Multiplex Re-configuration.
• Tone & Bass Control
• EQ Pre-sets
• Adjustable Sleep Timer
• Program Associated Data Service (PAD)
• Hybrid and Full Digital Radio Reception
• SPDIF Optical Out-put
• IR Remote Control

From the Manufacturer
HD radio is the next step in the evolution of sound. For some time, radio listeners have had to put up with static, hiss, and lost signals. HD radio eliminates this loss of signal by providing a digital signal that allows AM to sound like FM, and CD-quality sound out of FM stations. The HDR-1 is a full-featured, portable HD radio, with 20 memory presets, tone and bass control, an IR remote control, and much more.

Feature List

• Auto Tuning System (ATS)
• Auto Preset System
• 20 Memory Presets (10 FM, 10 AM)
• Backlit LCD Display
• Automatic Multiplex Re-configuration.
• Tone & Bass Control
• EQ Pre-sets
• Adjustable Sleep Timer
• Program Associated Data Service (PAD)
• Hybrid and Full Digital Radio Reception
• SPDIF Optical Out-put
• IR Remote Control

Excellent Initiation Into HD Radio
After owning a Sangean WR-2 clock radio for a year and a half and growing more fond of it, I decided to get another upscale radio for my office, a radio with a remote control so I could avoid computer interference by keeping the radio a good 6 feet away. After reading about HD radio and Sangean's entrance into the market, I decided to take a chance. Worst case scenario, I figured, is that it would be another high-grade radio like my Sangean WR-2. Like the WR-2, the HDR-1 has a high-grade feel, a solid construction, memory presets, a remote control, and strong sensitivity on AM and FM. However, the HDR-1 is definitely an upgrade and you might consider that it has the following advantages and differences:

1. Two speakers instead of one.
2. Easy-to-use (simply plug in) AM external antenna for hard-to-get stations.
3. HD quality is clearly discernable, clear, full, no static, no "birdy," no chirps.
4. Some HD stations have multi-broadcasts.
5. Most functions have to be performed with the remote. For this reason, I don't see this as a bedside radio. Who wants to squint at their remote in a dark bedroom? More appropriate for a bedside radio is the Sangean WR-2 or the Eton Sound 100. But for office or anywhere that requires a distance between you and your radio, the HDR-1 is an excellent choice.

Update: Be aware that in AM it takes a few seconds before the radio "kicks in" to digital mode. The sound is so good it's hard to listen to non-digital AM stations. Even the strongest station in Los Angeles, KFI 640, sounds bad because it's non HD. One last point: I'm more and more in love with the speaker sound. I can't even play them as loud as I want to as I'm working when I have the radio on. But these dual speakers really shine.

Second Update: 1-19-07: After 3 weeks, I've discovered a weakness on AM: Rainy weather compromises the HD signal. This problem is compounded by the fact that the radio has weak conventional AM (much weaker for example than my Sangean WR-2 and my Eton/Grundig S350) so that when it's not in HD mode the AM sounds bad, a constant crackle in the background. FM remains strong in both HD and non HD mode, but Sangean needs to address this AM weakness.

Comparing Sangean HDR-1 with Boston Acoustics Recepter Radio HD
de K0UNX. I know radios.

A year ago I purchased the Boston Acoustics Recepter Radio HD, one of the few available at that time. I used it for a weekend and returned it immediately. It would pick up ONLY HD, not standard AM or FM stations. The receiver was so weak that even strong local stations in the Denver market didn't hold lock, and would have to rebuffer.

Last week, I decided to give the Sangean HDR-1 a try. Yippee! This one is a keeper! It picks up BOTH HD and STANDARD AM/FM stations. The receiver is much more sensitive than the BA model, and easily holds lock without even raising the FM antenna. The audio is clear and strong enough to fill the whole yard.

I was also impressed with the EQUALIZER. I'm an "old-timer", so I have high-frequency loss. Conversations sound "muddy" to me. This radio allows me to tailor the frequency response so that it sounds good to my failing ears.

Having an auxiliary input is VERY WELCOME, so I can use it for my XM radio or iPod as well.

One other really nice feature is NON-VOLATILE RAM, so it doesn't have to be completely reprogrammed after moving it from room to room or a power failure. You need to reset the clock, but that's all you lose. Being retired, I don't even care what time it is, so thats no show-stopper for me. I'm very happy not having to reprogram all the stations and equalizer.

Congratulations to the Sangean team!

Good sound, terrible interface and buggy
I am returning this radio, even though the sound was very good and -- except for one difficult station -- the reception was also very good.

I bought this to use as a bedside clock radio. It has no real controls except those found on a poorly laid-out remote (the bose for some reason also just uses a remote only). If you lose the remote, or even if you can't find it in the morning, you can't operate the functions. Changing the clock time, changing the alarms or putting the radio into sleep mode all take endless button pushing on the remote. It got very frustrating after a while, but because I liked the HD sound I had planned to keep it.

That was before I found out that the radio alarm would sometimes just not go off. Then the machine sometimes jammed up when setting the functions and refused to respond to the remote or the on and off switch until the unit was "reset". Resetting the unit means unplugging it, unplugging it means you lose everything but your presets (you have to go through all the cycles to set the clock and alarms). The final final straw that caused me to return it and find a new radio was when it started losing the signal from a local station (but not the sister hd stations transmitting on the same frequency).

So, in sum, I liked the look, I liked the sound, I liked the hd stations, I hated the required remote, I hated the difficult and cumbersome user interface, I hated the buggy operation.

Timex Clock Radio w/ Dual Alarm and 12 Radio Presets - Silver ( T312S )

Price: $24.50
Manufacturer: Timex


The Timex T312S is a clock radio with pre-set digital tuning and MP3/CD line-in.

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15510 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Slvr
• Brand: Timex
• Model: T312S
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds

• AM/FM Clock Radio
• Digital AM/FM Tuner
• Additional Functions: Built-In Digital Clock, Buzzer, AM/FM Clock Radio.
• Built-In Speaker
• Features Buzzer, Programmable Snooze, Adjustable Alarm Volume Control, Backlit Display, 90-Min. Sleep Timer, Automatic Time-Set, Separate Weekday Alarm Setting, Sure Alarm Battery Backup to Ensure You Wakeup

Product Reviews

Great series of clock radios
I own several of the clock radios in this series including T312 and T307. They are compact, have good quality sound, lighted screen with level control, am/fm presets, choice of wake-to radio or "natural" sounds, dual alarm, sleep mode, date... It sounds like a typical clock radio except in my experience most are lacking in some of these features, most often being either too big or having tinny sound. CAUTION: I found that I had to spend 5 minutes reading the manual for each model to figure out how to set the time and date. Normal day to day operation is intuitive though.

Dissapointed
I'm dissapointed with this alarm clock. When I first saw it in the box I thought it would be great and even bought a second one for my girlfriend. However, after using it for a few months I have 2 complaints: (1) it does not seem to have a plain buzzer option (2) when you hit snooze a few times it turns the alarm off.

Aiwa FR-CD3000 Digital Alarm Clock Radio with Am/FM Tnr, CD-R/RW, Vert CD, Slp Tmr, Dl Alrm, Stereo Spkrs, Backlit LCD and Weekend Alarm Skip

Price:
Manufacturer: Aiwa


This full-featured lifestyle combo gives you plenty of options. Tune in to your favorite radio station or pop in a CD anywhere, any time. FR-CD3000 is capable of CD-R/RW playback and features a digital synthesized tuner, a single vertical CD, a backlit LCD display, stereo speakers, a battery back-up (9V), and more.

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #91849 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Aiwa
• Model: FR-CD3000

Product Reviews

A mixed bag
I did a lot of research to find the best CD clock radio for my purposes. I needed one with good sound and a small footprint and this one has those. It has other very good qualities, including a quiet CD mechanism, dual alarms with weekend skip, and fairly good FM reception. However, it has a couple of issues which keep me from recommending it wholeheartedly. Most annoying is that the alarms don't work unless the CD is turned off, and it doesn't turn off when finished playing--you have to manually shut off the power. So unless you use the sleep function, you can't go to sleep to the CD and wake up with the alarm. The display is too bright, not adjustable, and hard to read on an angle. The clock/radio/alarm set sequence is not exactly intuitive. There aren't buttons for direct access to the FM presets, just forward and back. Also, the first one I got from Amazon was defective--the CD player didn't work correctly--and it took almost two months to get a replacement, although it does work. Overall, this may well be the best product of its kind for the price, but it's far from perfect.

Fatal flaw in otherwise perfect clock radio
Good sound, simpler to use than any other high-end clock radio, good control layout with decent sized buttons, amazingly quiet mechanism, good balance of features, and a small footprint. We loved it until we went to bed.
The time display is just awful in the dark. It's a green background with black letters that don't stand out well in the dark. One of us needs glasses and the display is unreadable without them at more than 6 inches. I myself don't need glasses and can read it ok from a distance. However, I hate the fact that the green background lights up the room enough to see shadows on the walls. Not what I want when going to sleep. There's no adjustment on the display.

It was apparently designed by an otherwise excellent engineer who didn't understand that people might want to use a clock radio in a dark bedroom.

High quality at a reasonable price
You might think in this day and age, consumer electronic products of a given type are pretty much alike in terms of quality. Not so! I bought a similar, stylish CD clock radio from a long-established manufacturer (woof!) and was disappointed when the sound started crackling after just one hour. I could barely hear the music from the noise of the CD player motor! Then came Aiwa's little gem. It cost a fraction more, but now I don't have to worry about a noisy mechanism keeping me up at night! And did I mention it sounds great? Thank you, Aiwa!

SANGEAN Atomic RCR-3 AM/FM Clock Radio

Price: $84.58
Manufacturer: Sangean America, Inc.


ATOMIC AM/FM CLOCK RADIO

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3928 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: WHITE
• Brand: Sangean
• Model: RCR-3
• Dimensions: 6.50" h x 4.00" w x 6.50" l, 3.00 pounds

• Radio controlled clock
• Large lcd display
• 14 station preset
• 4 wake up timers
• Pll tuners

Product Reviews

Sangean is getting closer to perfection
SANGEAN Atomic RCR-3 AM/FM Clock RadioSANGEAN Atomic RCR-3 AM/FM Clock Radio

I've owned many Sangean clock radios over the last few years and this one is by far the best. Many of my complaints have been addressed making me a very happy camper ;)

This radio is an update to the Sangean rcr-1. As far as I can tell it only comes in white. Improvements to this one include:

1. A change from blue backlighting to white. You can now read the display from any angle and from across the room.

2. Gone is the unsightly ferrite antenna stuck to the back of the rcr-1, rcr-2 and rcr-22.

3. They added two more customizable alarms for a total of 4. The first two are buzzer only and the remaining two are for radio alarms.

4. Humane Waking System works in both radio mode and buzzer mode. (Radio mode is undocumented) HWS in radio mode was previously ONLY available on the rcr-1 and absent on the rcr-2 and rcr-22.

5. When the alarm sounds the display lighting of the analog clock changes to amber. Nice touch!

6. Power is now supplied with what I call a wall wart, LOL. This can be a double edged sword, it has a much thinner power cord running from the wall to the clock but the transformer is rather large and can get in the way.

7. Setting and operating the alarms has been greatly improved. It is more intuitive and takes less time to setup.

The radio is very sensitive and is able to pull in stations with ease. The sound quality is very good for a clock radio. It sounds very natural and pleasing. The snooze feature lets you snooze for 5 min. at a time with no option to change the interval. I've owned several clock radios from other manufacturers that let you program the snooze duration. I also wish this clock had a photo electric dimming circuit for the backlight. It does have a dimmer button and an adjustment for brightness on the bottom of the clock. When you press the dimmer button the brightness gradually decreases or increases, another nice touch! If you leave the clock in dimmed setting and momentarily push a button the display will go bright for a few seconds and then resume the dimmed setting.

Sangean reduced the size of the digital display from that used on the rcr-1. As a result it can no longer display the time and date simultaneously. In order to see the date you must first push the date button. I'm nitpicking but in my opinion this radio is not quite perfect.

One last comment, Sangean still has not added a battery backup! In the event of a power outage the alarm WILL NOT sound. Why did you do this Sangean? Haven't you guys been listening to all of the reviewers on this site? I know someone who supposedly works for Sangean responded to my comments on the rcr-1. To clarify, the clock will maintain time for anywhere from 1 to 3 hrs if the power fails but the alarm will not sound. To get around this issue I have plugged it into an uninterruptible power source (UPS). I live in FL and can't take chances with the alarm.

I also wish it had Radio Data System (RDS) and a HD tuner. To really put it over the top it would be nice to have stereo speakers and an iPod dock. Put all of these features in a table radio and you'll have the ultimate clock radio.

Loaded with Features, but Poor Manual
There are many great features to this clock. Some of the things I like the most are: 1) the ability to control the brightness of the display on a continuous scale (not just high & low like most alarms); 2) the ability to control the volume of the buzzer alarm or radio alarm on a continuous scale (but note that the buzzer alarm volume is controlled by a dial on the bottom of the clock, NOT by the radio volume control, a mistake I made & learned the hard way when the buzzer didn't sound); 3) the intuitiveness of the alarm set-up makes it easy to do & easy to remember; 4) the excellent digital reception for the AM/FM radio signals; 5) the ease of resetting the time & date after a power failure (just keep it plugged in & the Atomic Clock feature automatically re-sets the time & date); 6) the "Humane Waking System", which starts with a low volume beep & gradually increases (this is good for preventing heart attacks for those people shocked into awakening by the sound of most alarm clocks, which sound like a huge garbage truck has just backed up into your bedroom), but for those who need a real loud alarm, just turn up the volume & the initial beep/radio sound will be loud to begin with; 7) the tone quality of the radio is very good for such a small unit & there is a single adjustable tone knob (bass/treble). Other nice things about the clock are its superior looks (a combination of modern digital display with Art Deco features & analog clock display), & the fact that 4 alarms per day can be set & there is a separate alarm setting for each day of the week (including weekends). From the first night I used it, I slept very soundly, because it was the first time in years that I didn't feel like a light was shining in my face (from my previous clock). There are two things wrong with the Sangean: 1) the lack of a battery back-up, for those people who have blackouts, & 2) the operating manual. About 12 pages are devoted to operation of the clock in English; three of those pages are diagrams of control locations (very well done with clear layout). The instructions themselves are written by someone who does not have a good command of the English language. Words are misused, sentences end without the usual English structure, grammar is off, & it looks like the manual needs a thorough re-writing & proofreading. This is not a minor quibble, because this clock does so many things (& does them so well) that a better written & more thorough manual would enable the user to get much more out of the clock if its operation were better explained. It would be a 5* clock if the manual were better. Before buying this clock, I literally investigated over 100 clocks on the internet, & this looked to be the best I could find anywhere, considering all of its features. Now that I own it, it has lived up to its promise (except for the manual).

Amazing Clock Radio
I have owned a Sangean world band radio for over 20 years and have been impressed by its performance and build quality. So, I took a chance on the RCR-3 in my long quest for the perfect clock radio. The RCR-3 is heavy, so it's not going to fly off the nightstand. To my eye, the design is beautiful, with design cues reminiscent of 1930's Machine Age radios. The radio reception is outstanding and the RCR-3 just sounds terrific. I like the progressive alarm feature very much since my hearing isn't what it once was, and I just LOVE the nap feature. In short, Sangean has hit a grand slam homerun with the RCR-3.

Boston Acoustics HDUOIMIST Horizon Duo-I System For Ipod(R) With Am/Fm Radio (Mist)

Price: $140.65
Manufacturer: Boston Acoustics


Horizon duo-I system for Ipod with AM/FM radio (mist).

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11641 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Mist
• Brand: Boston Acoustics
• Model: Horizon Dou-I
• Dimensions: 8.60" h x 11.10" w x 16.70" l, 11.00 pounds

• Integrated Ipod(R) Dock With Video Output Charges Ipod(R) While Connected
• Dual High-Performance 3.5-Inch Full-Range Speakers
• Bass Trac Audio Processing For Clean Bass At All Listening Levels
• 2 Auxiliary Inputs
• Includes Remote, Fm Antenna & Detachable Ac Cord

Product Reviews

The Receptor on Steroids...you may have to do a little Final QC
I owned the BA Receptor (or "Recepter") and loved it---the rich deep bass, the sensitive tuner, the easy alarm settings...and hated it: no earphone jack, no Remote, no pushbutton presets and, worst of all--no STEREO.

While the new BA Solo addresses some of these deficiencies, the Solo is still only monophonoic...nice sounding to be sure, but missing that fullness that only Stereo brings. Also the Solo still uses a dial as a preset station selector and not dedicated preset buttons, which I prefer.

The Receptor--and the Solo, I'm told--are very sensitive receivers...which is a mono tuner's saving grace...noise is always much lower on a mono FM signal. They work great with the supplied 3 foot-long pigtail wire supplied. They don't need much of a signal to pull in stations. NOT SO with FM stereo radios--you need a stronger signal from a good antenna for best results. With my sample, THE DUO WOULD NOT LOCK INTO STEREO MODE WITH THE SUPPLIED ANTENNA! And since there is no "Stereo" indicator or LED to confirm it, you can't be *sure* the Duo is really getting stereo, unless you plug in heaphones and CHECK by ear. Another indication the Duo has an insensitive (or improperly set) Stereo detector is the fact that THE SEEK FUNCTION DOES NOT STOP on any stations while using the supplied antenna. It just keeps scanning. Now, I'm using the Duo on the top floor of a 2-story house where my myriad other radios need no help in getting FM stereo...I dont even need to extend the telescoping antenna on my Sangean PR-D5 to get stereo, for example. So something is definitely wrong with the Duo...it's design is flawed, or the FM Stereo section is improperly aligned. Once I connected a powered pair of rabbit ears, the Duo came alive--like a Receptor on Steroids-- and gave gorgeous room filling 2-channel sound. SO YOU MUST USE AN EXTERNAL FM ANTENNA to get this baby to bloom! Then you will be in audio Nirvana.

--Ipod sound is INCREDIBLE. May be one of the best-sounding ipod-docking units available for the price. It even has a VIDEO OUT jack.

--Did not notice the "5-minute Loss" problem or the low level last station problem reported for the BA Solo.

--It is very immune to PC interference. I put it right next to my monitor.

Other quirks:
--It loses the 5 AM presets when unplugged, but not the 10 FM presets! Wha??
--Blue backlight can be seen to "flash" slightly light & dark for a few seconds after power is turned off. Just weird.
--AM reception is also variable, sensitivity-wise. This is the only radio I have that picks up noise with KFI (local 50KWatter) but can still get KGO 810 in San Francisco OK. Again, like the FM SEEK function, the AM SEEK function doesn't stop on many stations.

My advice: spend the extra $50-$70 for the Duo-i model (now selling for about $150-160). With its ipod-docking capability it is much more than just a clock radio. It is a hi-fi component in its own right.

UPDATE: BA contacted me and arranged to take the Duo back & replace it. They sent me a 2nd Duo sample. Very quick response! Good to see a company respond to consumer feedback so quicky.
The Good News: The 1st sample definitely had reception problems. The replacement "seeks" fine and gets all the FM stations of interest in STEREO with the supplied pigtail FM antenna. No need for an external antenna unless you want the most distant stations.
-AM reception is more sensitive now, but I am not able to compare to a Solo. 1150 has no bleedthough from 1070 KNX, like the Sangean. It is very AM-directional, which can be good (for DXing) or bad (not all stations you want will come in strong with the radio fixed in one position on your table). Nightime AM DXing is to yet to be checked.
The Bad News: Still loses the 5 AM presets, but not FM, when AC is interrupted. This must be a design issue. But I can live with this, as power is rarely lost in my house. And it won't affect the alarm operation.
-Still "smells." Hope it dissipates with time.

Otherwise, I'd say it now matches or surpasses the sound and performance of the Solo, since they essentially use the same tuner, according to BA. And the ipod playback capability and remote control and preset buttons and stereo sound are just icing on the cake! My favorite radio now.

Great sound for a clock radio
FM reception is good, sound is good (well, make that great for the price range), *very* easy and tactically pleasant to use (set alarm, etc.)

Boston Acoustics Horizon I-Duo Volume limit problem: Mine came with "hospitality mode" enabled, and volume would not go past 19. To fix: turn on unit, turn volume all the way down to 00, push and hold volume button for 10 seconds until beep then release, then turn volume all the way up to 50 (max) and push and release volume button.

After one email to Boston Acoustics support, I received a courteous response within 12 hours with instructions.

best i have listened to so far
for the last few years i have heard multiple ipod speakers - altec lansing, bose, klipsch, jbl etc. but have never found any which could compare to a regular portable music system. they all sound like ipod speakers.

around 2 years back i bought an altec lansing inmotion portable speaker for my ipod. i knew that it couldn't compare with my regular music system - it didn't. but it was portable and so ...

four months back i bought a jbl radial high performance speaker for my ipod. it was heads above my portable altec lansing. pretty good sound - but still not comparable to a regular music system. and at low volumes the sound is lifeless.

last week i came upon the boston acoustics duo-i in sears. i have a high opinion of the capabilities of the company and wanted to demo it. but didn't have an ipod on me and thought i will come back with it and test it out later.

but couple of days back to my surprise my wife presented me with it. it is much heavier than the jbl. i hooked it up, attached my ipod and yea it is good. sound is much fuller than jbl, even in lower volumes. the bass is also quite impressive. this is the first time i have heard an ipod speaker sound something close to a regular music system. i'm impressed.

i have a bose wave music system (the smaller one) and in my opinion the sound of the duo-i is better than that - at less than half the cost! though ofcourse the bose wave has a built in cd player.

RCA RP3720 Clock Radio with Extra-Large 1.4" Blue Display, Auto Time set and Dual Wake

Price:
Manufacturer: RCA


Setting this RCA Clock is a breeze! Plug the clock radio in and the current Eastern Standard Time is displayed. Select the time zone you are in to display your time automatically! AM/FM Clock Radio has an extra-large 1.4" blue LED display for easy readability.

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50056 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: RCA
• Model: RP3720
• Dimensions: 6.80" h x 9.20" w x 4.80" l, 3.00 pounds

• AM/FM Clock Radio with Extra-Large Blue 1.4" Display
• Time Zone Selection with Daylight Saving On/Off Switch
• A thumbwheel approach to setting the time and alarms on your clock radio
• Auto Brightness Control adjusts the LED brightness according to its surroundings
• Automatic Time-Set for automatic time setting

Product Reviews

From the Manufacturer
The RCA AM/FM clock radio has an extra-large 1.4" blue LED display for easy readability. Four features are combined to make life a little bit easier. They include Graduwake Ramp-Up Alarm, Nap Function, Programmable Snooze. Digital active radio station readout displayed for current station. Also makes it easy to locate a specific frequency quickly. A thumbwheel approach to setting the time and alarms on your clock radio. Faster than pushing a button. Plug the clock radio in and the current Eastern Standard Time is displayed. You can select the time zone you are in to display your time automatically. When the environment is bright then the LED display will activate the fully brightness. When the environment is dark the LED display will activate very dim light.

Nice but idiosyncratic
As noted previously, this is *not* an "atomic" clock (the word is no longer used on the packaging). The clock comes preset with the time at the factory, with batteries, and then you can adjust it to your time zone by changing a switch on the bottom. Not terribly intuitive (and it didn't actulaly work that well).

The blue face is attractive, and as a room clock does a nice job of adjusting itself to the ambient light. It's still too bright in the middle of the night.

Having two alarms is nice, and the main reason I bought this, but the interface is not terribly intuitive. It also leaves by default an alarm active for the next day, which, on the one hand, means you don't have to set your alarm each night, but which might get you into trouble on Saturday mornings ...

Still, it's an attractive clock, the use of digitial dials instead of buttons is nice, and, as I begin to learn its quirks, I don't regret buying it.

But, no, it's not an atomic clock.

Don't be misled -- this is NOT an "atomic" clock
This clock does not set itself using the radio signal from the U.S. Atomic Clock. It merely is packaged with batteries already installed and the time set at the factory. The use of "atomic" is clearly false advertising. It's a nice clock radio otherwise. Cool looking blue digits, a good ramp-up alarm, and dials to quickly set the time and radio frequency. The speaker is tinny sounding, but it works for background music or to wake you. But, if you're looking for a super-accurate clock that uses the NIST radio signal to automatic set itself, this isn't it.

Full featured + excellent value
So I've been searching for weeks for a decent clock radio to replace our dying Sony dream machine. I thought my requirements were reasonable: attractive form, multiple alarms, decent radio reception + sound, a "gradual wake" function and battery backup. Oddly enough I found very few clock radios that could even meet these simple requirements. Sony and many other brands now use a capacitor instead of battery backup in most of their units; this provides only a few minutes of backup should our power go out. Not acceptable.
I did seriously consider the Boston recepter - the sound on that radio is truly /amazing/ for its size, but it has no gradual wake, and it will cost you $150. If I pay that for a clock radio, it had better be _perfect_.
Then I found this RCA. Attractive, functional - real battery backup - easy to use, and cheap! After I read the specs, I simply could not believe the price. Even after I ordered it, I was fully expecting to be disappointed in its function in some way based on this price, but I have to say, I have been very pleasantly surprised. Here's a summary of my experience:

- The sound and radio reception will not match the Boston recepter, but they are certainly more than adequate for a clock radio.
- The unit is just slightly bigger than I would like, but it is not obtrusive. And compared to most other clock radios, it is downright attractive.
- The "buzzer" is a very pleasant beeping sound and gradually increases in volume just as the radio alarm does.
- The "ambient light sensor" is a very nice touch, and it actually works, but I would prefer if the light dimmed just a bit further on the low end.
- Perhaps best of all, the controls are quite intuitive and _very_ easy to use. Major kudos to RCA for their design.

Sometimes, you get more than what you pay for. I would be happy even if I had paid $40 for this unit.

Rob

Maverick R-395 Color-Coded LCD Weather Station and AM/FM Radio with Atomic Alarm Clock (Silver)

Price: $51.62
Manufacturer: Maverick




Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47695 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: White
• Brand: Maverick
• Model: R395
• Dimensions: 4.00" h x 3.00" w x 7.00" l,

Product Reviews

Nice unit
I purchased the Maverick R-395 to replace a Oregon Scientific BARM699 Touch-Controlled AM/FM Radio Alarm Clock with Weather, which I found very underwhelming. The Maverick has a constant back light, better radio reception and is much easier to operate. On the negative side, the readout is a little fuzzy, the back light shines through case by the speaker and I think the back light color being based on the outdoor temperature is a little silly. I live in Minnesota, it's going to be blue 8 months out of the year.

Coby CRA58BLK Digital AM/FM Alarm/Clock Radio, Black

Price: $11.99
Manufacturer: Coby


Coby CRA58 digital AM/FM alarm/clock radio, large LED display, sensitive AM/FM tuner, alarm clock with sleep/snooze timers, wake to music or buzzer, battery backup with 9V battery, FCC/ETL approved, black

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12171 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: black
• Brand: Coby
• Model: CRA58BLK
• Dimensions: 3.25" h x 5.00" w x 5.75" l, 2.00 pounds

• large LED display
• sensitive AM/FM tuner
• alarm clock with sleep/snooze timers, wake to music or buzzer
• battery backup with 9V battery

Product Reviews

Worse Than Terrible - NO Stars
The title says it.

You won't be able to receive many stations you can get on most radios. The tuner dial is very inaccurate. Stations overrun each other. You can hardly see the time in daylight because it is so dim. You can't see the tuner dot unless bright light is shining at it.

Let's see... could this item be worse? No, and it will cost you way too much to return it. Take the money and just burn it instead of buying this clock radio.

GE 29298FE1 Corded Bedroom Phone with CID/Radio/Alarm Clock (Black)

Price: $35.52
Manufacturer: General Electric


GE corded black bedroom phone is 3 great products in one. Corded phone works even if the power is out and battery backup keeps clock and radio running. Fully functioning dual alarm clock and AM/FM radio puts you to sleep and wakes you up in the morning. Phone features include call waiting, caller ID with 50 name and number memory, 10 number speed dial, one touch redial and flash functions. CID display is large and backlit. Alarm features snooze, large LED display with brightness control. 1 year warranty.

Information

• Color: Black
• Brand: General Electric
• Model: 29298FE1
• Dimensions: 3.47" h x 8.27" w x 9.30" l, 1.00 pounds

• GE corded black bedroom phone works even when the power is out while battery backup keeps clock and radio running
• AM/FM radio and fully functioning dual alarm clock with large LED display, brightness control and snooze and sleep functions
• Phone features include call waiting, caller ID with 50 name and number memory, 10 number speed dial, one touch redial and flash functions
• Handset has large backlit caller ID display, volume control, ringer settings
• 1 Year warranty

Product Reviews

Terrific product, exactly what we wanted!
Like one other reviewer I hesitated to order this because of the one person who said they got the wrong product. First of all, that did not happen to us. The product arrived quickly after it was ordered, and it was exactly as pictured. It is hard to find these "all in one" phone/radio/alarm clocks and we were thrilled to find this one. The best feature is being able to read the clock numbers from pretty much any place in the room or lying in the bed, and you can adjust the brightness (either high or low.) The two alarms are great, the radio reception is really good too. The settings are easy to understand and use (we don't have caller ID so that part we don't use.) The phone itself takes a little getting used to, but the sound is good when using it. One great feature is that you can buy a longer phone cord and easily replace the short one that it came with it should this be your preference. The ringer settings are nice, the low one being good in a bedroom. Overall if you are searching for this type of combination product I would say this is a superb choice.

Great
This is a great phone for the price. The only 2 down falls I see are, the ringer volume switch gives you 3 settings, high, low and off. The low setting may as well be a second off setting. You can hardly hear it ring sitting next to it. And the other thing is that the key pad on the phone stays constantly on, even in the cradle. It's not that bright and won't bother when the room is dark, but why they designed it this way is a good question. Most phones key pads turn off when you set them in the cradle.
Other than those minor things,(that's why only 4 stars) this is a great phone for the bedroom. Radio works great. Caller I.D. works just fine. Phone has plenty of memory and is clear. I recommend this one!

Don't belive everything you read
After reading the last review, I took a chance and bought this phone from Amazon and it is exactly as described and looks exactly like the photo. I think the last reviewer might have gotten a mistaken product from another seller other buying than Amazon. I'm very pleased with my purchase.

Sony ICF-C414 Clock Radio with Large 1.4 LED Display

Price: $17.57
Manufacturer: Sony


1.4" Large LED Display, Stylish Floating Design, Auto Time Set, Auto Daylight Savings Time, No Power No Problem Alarm System, Dual Alarm

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1480 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Sony
• Model: ICF-C414
• Dimensions: 3.00 pounds

• Stylish "floating" design
• Automatic time set
• Automatic daylight savings time adjustment
• No power, no problem alarm system
• Dual alarm

Product Reviews

Great Simple Alarm Clock
I bought this to replace my old alarm clock. It has a sleek design that takes up very little space. It has two alarms and can be set to radio, beeps or songs and has an adjustable snooze setting. The built in radio works well and there's a sleep setting so that if you like to fall asleep to the radio you can have it automatically shut off after a certain amount of time.

It has an adjustable brightness level, but I found its default/highest level to be suitable. At that level it's bright enough to see in the dark, but not bright enough to keep me up. The alarm is easy to wake up to and gradually gets louder on the beep setting. It automatically set itself to the correct time and date as soon as I plugged it in, all I had to do is set the time zone. It has a DST feature that can be turned off or on.

The only feature lacking is the ability to customize the alarm for either weekdays, weekends or both. It's not a big deal, especially with two alarms but it would have been nice. Overall I'm very pleased with this alarm clock.

BASIC BUT GOOD
The item description is very accurate. If you want a dual alarm clock radio similar to those from 10 years ago, that is exactly what you will get and that is why I ordered it. Nothing fancy, just basic but with the Sony dependability. There are a few nice things though - the time is preset, options for the dual alarms sound, adjustable brightness, battery backup, very easy to operate and the AM radio actually works well, unlike other clock radios. This clock radio has no frills but for the price, it is good and dependable.

Bare bones deluxe
Likes:
Takes up little space on the night stand
Easy to set up
Big Green LEDs
Alarm works even when the power is out
Radio is adequate

Not exactly so great:
Rear speaker, not audiophile sound quality, but it's a $20 clock radio, so...
Sort of weird gradual alarm
Analog radio dial, no station presets, but that's to be expected

You can't plug your iPod into this clock radio. It's not voice activated. It's not solar powered. It is just a good solid alarm clock.

Timex T300B Digital Tuning Clock Radio with Nature Sounds

Price:
Manufacturer: Timex


Marketing description is not available.

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64060 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Timex
• Model: T300B

• Wake to AM/FM radio, buzzer, or 4 nature sounds
• Triple-alarm system
• Digital AM/FM radio
• 18 preset station memories, 12 FM and 6 AM
• Amber-glow LCD screen with backlight

Product Reviews

If you need assurance that you'll wake up in the morning, the Timex T300B digital tuning clock radio with nature sounds provides three separate alarms. You can choose from four nature sounds for the alarm: brook, ocean, wind, and forest. The digital AM/FM radio features 18 preset station memories, and the LCD display is backlit with an amber glow.

Terrific value. Some unneeded features.
I am happy with this alarm clock. Period. It has some awesome features that I haven't seen on any other alarm clock. It also has some less useful features, but even if these were magically eliminated, you would still be left with a great clock.

UNIQUE and terrific features: 1. Sleep function: 90/60/30/15 min countdown at Normal/Low/Very Low volume. Here's the best part: the volume control on the side is over-ridden by the 3 sound levels. So if you want to fall asleep to low volume, the wake to radio alarm is at normal volume. (I don't know what Denys was talking about in previous review) Also, it can be a completely different station than the one you fell asleep to. 2. 3 alarms: radio or buzzer or nature or any combo. Easy to set a sort of progressive wake sequence: 1st alarm nature sound, then later radio, then last brain-splitting beeping. (see drawbacks below) 3. digital tuner. Try to find this feature in another clock for this price. Great reception. 12 FM presets (lots), plus 6 AM.

Other good features: decent sound from single speaker, three light levels from backlit display (though I would have preferred Indiglo), date on display, unlike others here I found it to be very easy to set all features "Buzzer" very much resembles the "beep" of a Timex watch, but much louder. The rhythm of the beeping increases every 10 sec or so. I'm a deep sleeper, and this works well.

DRAWBACKS (that would not keep me from buying this clock again, but why I gave it 4/5): 1. buttons a bit cheap feeling... whadya want for this price 2. clock/alarm set is forward only (bad), although you set hour/min separately (good). My last alarm clock had fast/slow, and you had to count around the clock to set something earlier - this drove me crazy. How hard could it have been to have up/down buttons? And there are already tuner up/down buttons there! 3. I was hoping (but not really expecting) that there was a bit more flexibility with the 3 alarms: ie. possible to set buzzer for all 3. Alas, the 3 alarms are one each of radio/buzzer/nature. 4. Nature sounds. All resemble white noise, as if recorded with a bad microphone. Not great for relaxing prior to sleep. However, surprisingly unobtrusive way to wake up in morning. 5. Backlit display on the lowest level is still a bit bright after your eyes have adjusted to dark.

Cheers Stink

I'll wear my sunglasses at night -- now.
I don't know why everyone is having such a hard time using the clock, I'm not Bob Vila, but after reading a few pages in the manual, the clock was very easy to program.
I prefer to wake up to the babbling brook sound (even though it sounds more like an aviary than a brook) and I love the fact that you can go to sleep with one radio station on at a certain volume and wake up with a different station on at a different volume. The digital tuner works great, I always had a hard time getting "dial radio" reception on my old, clock radio but the tuner on the Timex is superb. The sound quality of the speaker is nice. I agree with another reviewer-- the ocean and the wind sound very . . . how do you say . . . creepy, like something you'd hear in a bad Dr. Who episode.
THE BIGGEST DRAWBACK: The display is way too bright. I'm convinced that it's screwing up my melatonin production! There are three settings for the brightness, 1) forest fire 2) day at the beach or 3) staring at the sun. And the color of the display is very annoying. Perhaps if it was tinted blue instead of orange it may be a little more soothing (like an alien ship stopping by my room in the middle of the night rather than the feeling that you get if you left every light on in the house before you hit the sack).
THE BEST FEATURE: Definitely, the alarm options. I haven't slept through my alarm yet (something that I consistently did in the past with my old Panasonic clock radio).
WOULD BE SWELL IF THEY COULD...: Change the display and had some better "nature sounds" or added a Zen chime.

Timex T300B Buttons too small...
This clock radio has great radio sound (thats why I bought it). However, the buttons are way too small and there are too many of them so changing the alarm is too complicated. I am never sure if I have set it correctly. The time is large enough but the backround color is strange looking in a dark room. Also, it is difficult to see if the alarm is set while I am in bed.

Altec Lansing M402SR Moondance Glow Speaker System with Clock Radio, Snooze Remote, and iPod Dock (Black)

Price: $99.80
Manufacturer: Altec Lansing Technologies




Information

• Color: black
• Brand: Altec Lansing
• Model: M402SR
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 7.25" h x 14.25" w x 6.50" l, 3.50 pounds

• Compatibility: iPod mini; iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G; iPod classic 4G, 5G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod touch 1G, 2G
• Rear mood lighting provides a soothing, diffused lighting effect--choose your color and intensity
• FM Radio with four station presets and wire antenna for superior reception
• Dual alarms allow you to wake to your iPod, radio, or alarm; wireless snooze remote included
• 1-year limited warranty

Product Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description -- Posted November 21, 2008
The Altec Lansing M402SR Moondance Glow packages iPod/MP3-player functionality with an alarm clock, wireless remote snooze, and FM radio--plus a multicolored nightlight function--to create an exceptionally unique bedroom-specific sound system.

Altec Lansing packaged its renowned audio performance into an elegant, compact alarm clock, with a unique wireless snooze remote. Click to enlarge.

With its two 3-inch full-range drivers and a unique multicolor, diffused illumination system, the Moondance Glow is a genuine delight of sound--and sight!

The integrated diffused lighting system allows lets you set the perfect illuminated ambiance with 17 user-definable colors, various brightness intensities, and manually activated on/off. Click to enlarge.

A remote control is included. Click to enlarge.

Escape to Your Musical Oasis
The bedroom has become important personal living space--a sanctuary, an oasis, and a place to recharge. More than just a bedside alarm clock, the Moondance Glow is designed with a feature set that dramatically enhances the bedroom environment. Altec Lansing started with big audio and then added the iPod dock and alarm clock. The system features two 3-inch full-range drivers that deliver exceptional stereo clarity.

Adjustable Lighting Sets the Mood
Understanding that the bedroom is a place with many moods, Altec Lansing added a diffused lighting system that lets you select between 17 colors and any intensity to create the perfect illuminated ambiance. It's perfect for individual use, for entertaining, or as a white-noise-and-nighlight system for a child's bedroom.

Innovative Snooze Remote Eases Your Morning
The Moondance Glow has a remote snooze alarm that enables this audio system to be placed anywhere in the bedroom for the best room-filling sound--not just on the bedside table like other alarm clocks. Simply touch the snooze alarm pad on the bedside table and, using a wireless RF signal, the alarm goes off across the room. This remote also serves to pause and play your tunes anytime during the day. The system's dual alarms allow you to wake by iPod, radio, another audio device, or alarm buzz.

Full-featured Clock Display and Additional Features
The visual command center is informative, intuitive, and user-adjustable, such as the light intensity and the size of clock digits. The LCD displays scrolling song and FM station data (RDS). The FM tuner has four station presets and wire antenna for superior reception. Back-lit touch capacitive buttons allow control of the system with the whisper press of a fingertip. Or, a remote control (separate from the wireless snooze control) provides across-the-room command of the speaker system functions, FM radio, alarm, and playlist song navigation. An auxiliary input connects a second audio source, including CD, DVD, and other MP3 players. And the Moondance Glow will keep your iPod charged, always ready to take and go.

Its compact size (12.2 x 3.1 x 5.3 inches (W x D x H) conserves that precious space in your bedroom. Plus, the Moondance Glow is backed by a one-year warranty.

What's in the Box
Moondance Glow stereo alarm clock, snooze remote pad and dongle, wireless remote control, iPod docking adapters, power supply, user's guide, and quick connect instructions.

Everything You Should Know
All in all, this is a great unit. It combines ipod docking station, radio with digital tuner and clock radio all together. Before I bought this, the potentially negative things I wish I had known are the following:
- There are not a lot of buttons so it can be complicated to execute simple tasks. For example, to activate the alarm you have to scroll through all of the various alarm settings - there is no simple on/off button for the alarm.
- The remote control is really small. I worry that it will be lost or I'll fall asleep with it in bed and never find it in the sheets. It also takes a really tiny battery - kind of a large watch battery. It's too new for me to comment on whether the battery life is good.
- The remote snooze button is a really good feature if you don't want your docking station right next to your bed. Again, it has a small battery.
- It's kind of hard to read the time on the display - tougher than would be the case for a more traditional clock radio. And it's impossible if you (like me) have bought this unit because the remote snooze button allows you to keep the docking station in a more convenient place than beside the bed.
- There are only 4 radio presets and I think you can scroll through the presets only with the remote control (not the main unit).
- Sound quality is fine. Not as good as the Bose docking station but about what you would expect from a decent clock radio.
- There are only three volume settings for the alarm - low, medium and loud. I tried medium and it was quite loud so I've had to go with low. Fortunately, low is adquately loud, but you should know that there aren't a ton of volume choices to suit all tastes.
Although I really like having the features of this item, because of it is inconvenient to make on the fly changes to alarm settings and because of the difficulty reading the display I haven't got rid of my old clock radio (which I use just to read the time and if I want to set a one-off alarm).
Sorry for the long review, but this is the info I would have like to have known before making my purchase decision. I likely still would have picked this item, but with my eyes more open.

Altec Lansing M402SR vs. Logitech Pure-Fi Anytime. -- A nice music alarm clock with lots of features.
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RN8YKBJ594OIV I also have the Logitech Pure-Fi Anytime Premium Alarm Clock, so I'll be comparing it with that. Although this speaker costs more, you get what you pay for. The sound is easily better in clarity, range, bass AND this alarm clock also has a lot more features.

First of all, I like how the AC is not a huge brick (I don't know what Logitech was thinking with their Pure-Fi!)

I also like that the radio antenna (it's the wired kind) can be removed from the speakers if you never plan on using it (for the Logitech, it's permanently attached. However, Logitech has AM radio that can be attached -- but it's big and pretty ugly.)

If you plan on putting the speakers away from your bed, or fear hitting your iPod instead when waking up, the extra wireless snooze button will make a great addition.

However, the wireless snooze receiver must be attached on the back (it would have been nice if it was built-in). I thought the wireless snooze button was touch sensitive too, but it's actually just a plastic triggering the button on the bottom, so you'll need to have that on a flat surface (or press the button on the back).

* Actually displays the full date or the scrolling of song title.
* Button on the top is much more reasonably placed. (The Pure-Fi's button placement is a bit confusing)
* Save up to 4 favorite radio stations (only 3 with the Logitech, but you can select them through the speaker. The Altec requires the remote, so if you lose it, you're pretty much screwed.)
* Set two alarms and it will tell you exactly on the LCD.
* Wake up to the iPod, radio, or the clock alarm buzz (which can get really loud!)

If you set the sleep timer, the LCD displays "SWEET DREAMS... (and the minutes left until shutdown)". 5 minutes is the lowest that you can set it and up to 90 minutes. (to cancel the sleep timer, you have to power off and turn on again)

I think the "mood" feature, where you can choose from 17 different color backlight is pretty cool, but it would have been much cooler if it alternated by itself or flashed with the beat of the music!

I don't know what's the deal with all these alarm clock speakers, but it's not the most user-friendly to set the time, alarm, settings. You'll definitely have to sit down and read the manual and really get accustomed to it. To the set the time, it's actually a small button on the back of the speakers. For setting most of the options, you'll often have to be holding on to the button for a few seconds.

The buttons on the top are touch sensitive (or more like pressure sensitive), but that's another thing you have to get used to it. I think it could be a bit more sensitive to the touch. Sometimes you're holding down the button, but it's hard to tell if it's actually going to go through to the certain mode or not.

The remote could have used some tiny bumps or different feel on some buttons to be able to tell them apart in the dark.

Out of the Logitech Pure-Fi and iHome iH36, the Altec speakers definitely win in the amount of bass.

Pros:
- Good bass for its size
- LCD display (tells you sleep timer/alarm/etc.)
- Displays the day/month/date/year, time, or song title
- Backlight
- iPod cradle can close in if you end up using other audio devices via AUX.
- Set alarm to go off once, or everyday, or just weekdays or weekends.
- Wireless Snooze Button
- AC size/detachable radio antenna
- Set the brightness of the LCD and mood lights.

Cons:
- It's not too intuitive. Lots of holding buttons to set options. In other words, this clock is definitely not for your grandma (unless you want to constantly help her out on how to set things. Sometimes you'll have to refer back to the manual).
- Need to point the remote directly at the remote sensor.
- Generic remote.
- Touch sensitive could be more sensitive.
- Display will not be easy to read from across the room.
- FM station presets only accessible through remote (no buttons on the actual speaker!)
- No "mood" (light) button on the remote!
- Can't set sleep timer/alarm through remote.

Nevertheless, this is a solid 4-star speaker. However, if sound is your priority then, you really should be looking for speakers that doesn't have all the fancy extra stuff like radio/alarm.

If you're really picky with sound, you're just not going to get that full surround sound depth with speakers that only have two drivers and only 5" or so apart. However, that being said, these speakers sound pretty good for what it is. I can say that it sounds better than Logitech's Pure-Fi Anytime Alarm speakers. I think the bass is pretty strong for its size.

As long as if you're not expecting 5.1 surround sound-like miracle, you'll be quite pleased with these speakers. If you're looking for an alarm clock for the iPod, these speakers are definitely worth checking out. Altec Lansing is a reputable speaker brand too.

Altec Lansing M402SR Review
First, I'm always skeptical of reviewers that don't state whether they have a relationship with either the manufacturer or product being reviewed or a competing manufacturer. So, let me say I have no relationship with Altec Lansing, or any other manufacturer of any kind. I bought this ipod player/clock for my college-aged daughter for Christmas, after reading internet reviews. Unwrapping it today, I was not disappointed. My daughter, who had not seen it previously, thought it was "cool." The unit has plenty of volume and pleasant sound without distortion. Its not going to replace a home audio system, but its more than adequate for a dorm or bedroom application. The clock display is not the biggest in the ipod/clock market, but the display is plenty bright (and adjustable) even in bright light. The display is clearly readable from at least 15 ft. away. The operating "buttons" on the top of the unit are touch activated and work smoothly. The unit comes with a small remote that uses a lithium battery, and works well from at least 15 ft. The unit also comes with a wireless snooze remote that allows one to activate the normal snooze function found on clocks, as well as to pause the music or turn the unit off. There are 2 separate alarms that can be programed for everyday, weekdays, once, etc. It comes with four ipod adapters, but frankly I don't think they are necessary or really secure the ipod any better. I used ipod nanos gen 1 & 2 with no problems. An FM antenna that plugs into the back is included, and the stations in my area were easily located and sounded as good if not better than the ipod. The mood glow function, which allows for a selectable color to be displayed out the back of the unit, worked but was not terribly impressive. From a seated position, and viewing the unit head-on the color was nearly impossible to see because it is displayed on the rear-side of the unit. No big deal, I didn't buy the thing for the mood glow.

Naxa NX-159 Digital Alarm Clock with am/fm radio And Snooze

Price: $19.25
Manufacturer: NAXA




Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #166878 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Naxa
• Model: nx159
• Dimensions: 48.00" h x 96.00" w x 144.00" l, 3.00 pounds

• Digital Alarm Clock with LED Display
• Perfect for Home and Travel Use
• Snooze/Sleep Function
• Wake to Music or Alarm
• Alarm-On Indicator and PM LED Indicator

Product Reviews

Terrible alarm clock!
Bought one for $10 and this is one of the worst product ever! Cheaply made and does not get radio (analog tuner) reception but a few. Terrible sound. PLEASE STAY AWAY! Don't make the mistake like me. Another crappy product from China. And there's a warning about LEAD in this product! I will throw this away ASAP.

InsigniaTM CD Stereo Clock Radio with AM/FM Tuner

Price:
Manufacturer: Insigna


Stay on track with this clock radio that also lets you play your favorite CDs or listen to the radio. Top-loading CD player plays CD and CD-R/RW discs Forward, reverse, skip, random, repeat and search functions let you customize your listening experience AM/FM stereo tuner Alarm clock with digital LED display Snooze control Sleep timer lets you doze off to music Stereo headphone jack 2 speakers Battery backup protects settings in case of a power outage

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13620 in Consumer Electronics
• Model: NS-C2116

Product Reviews

Great with caution
This is a great product and has been working great for years. I did notice that the description says that it has a headphone jack. IT DOES NOT HAVE A HEADPHONE JACK. I wanted this for my desk, and we are required to have headphones, so no luck. Still a great product and I would recommend it to anyone.

Timex Digital Tuning Large LED Projection Clock Radio with Dual Alarm, Nature Sounds Noise Maker, And Line-In For all CD Players, MP-3 Players, all Generations iPod and all Audio Players

Price: $29.99
Manufacturer: Timex




Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13661 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Timex

• Projects Time & Alarm Time onwall or ceiling, Plus Rotate button flips projection times for overhead viewing
• Go to Sleep Listening to AM/FM radio, Nature Sounds or MP3 with Programmable Sleep Time
• Crystal-clear Superior sound with a dynamic 2.5" stereo Speaker
• Wake to AM/FM Radio, Nature Sounds, or Buzzer / Individual alarm sounds Setting for each of the Individual Dual Alarm wake times
• Battery Backup system guards against power failures

Product Reviews

Emerson CKS1702 SmartSet Alarm Clock Radio

Price: $14.99
Manufacturer: Emerson


With Emerson's award-winning and patented SmartSet technology, the flashing "12:00" display is a thing of the past. The CKS1702 digital tuning clock radio automatically sets itself on the first use to the correct year, month, date, day, and time. The clock radio features a large, easy-to-read LED display with dimmer control so it is easy on your eyes in the dark. The alarm can be programmed to operate on weekdays only, weekends only, or all seven days of the week. The alarm displays the month and date with the touch of a button. Set the alarm to wake you to your favorite AM/FM music or news station, or to the buzzer. The clock radio adjusts itself automatically for Daylight Savings Time and Leap Year, as well as maintains the correct time when the power returns after power outages. Getting out of bed will no longer be a chore with the help of the CKS1702.

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19735 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Blk/Silver
• Brand: Emerson
• Model: CKS1702
• Dimensions: 1.87 pounds

• SmartSet single alarm AM/FM clock radio with battery backup
• Automatically adjusts for Daylight Savings Time and Leap Year
• Sure Alarm battery back-up activates the alarms even if the power is out
• Easy-to-read 0.9-inch green LED display
• Choice of 3 alarm modes: every day, weekends only and weekdays only

Product Reviews

Dependable alarm clock
This thing is pretty nice because if the power goes out it'll automatically reset to the correct time (either the one set at the factory or the one that you've tweaked, if the factory preset was a bit off). It's not atomic, but it's the next best thing. The radio comes in pretty good too, depending on how you have the antenna positioned (the FM antenna is built into the power cable, and the AM antenna is an iron rod built into the case). It keeps the time when the power is out by way of a small lithium "button" battery. The instructions say that, depending on how long it was on the shelf at the store, the battery could last up to 5 years and that when it does get low a light will flash in the bottom-right corner to alert you. It can even be set to awake you at different times set by you on weekdays or weekends, although the process to do this is a bit convoluted, but if you read the instructions carefully it's easy enough. You can set the alarm to wake you up by way of the radio, or a beeping noise. The beep should awaken even the heaviest of sleepers (after all, it wakes me up). The instructions say that the beeping will rise in volume until you press the alarm button to reset it until the same time next day, or until you press the snooze button to make it sound again in 8 or 9 minutes (can't remember the exact number). Just make sure you don't press the snooze button 7 times or it will NOT sound again until the next day! So keep track of how many times you push the snooze button, get up the first time or risk oversleeping. Overall, this is a very nice, affordable alarm clock. I must also say that the instructions are very informative and easy to understand.