6/30/2010

Sony ICF-CD815 AM/FM Stereo CD Clock Radio with Dual Alarm Review

Sony ICF-CD815 AM/FM Stereo CD Clock Radio with Dual AlarmThe old clock radio finally died and my husband and I thought it would be nice to have a CD player in the bedroom to listen to audio books in bed now and then (yes, I know, but it depends on the book!!).We've found the sound quality on such an inexpensive item to be extremely good, it's easy to tune the radio in and we like the huge time display - I can even see it without my glasses at night!!So far, it's awakened us at our ridiculously early get up time during the week without fail.No complaints - very happy with this clock/radio/CD player.

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Product Description:
Sony AM/FM Stereo CD Clock Radio

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6/29/2010

Sangean RCR-22 AM/FM Atomic Clock Radio Review

Sangean RCR-22 AM/FM Atomic Clock RadioI was looking for a high-quality alarm clock after about 12 years with an unimpressive Sony Dreammachine. This clock delivered on that front, and unlike most consumer electronics devices I've purchased in the past several years, it is clear that lots of thought was put into this device (and very little into the manual).

PROS:
There are tons of little nuances that the manual does not detail that I've discovered using the clock for a few weeks. For example the display can be dimmed with a dial on the bottom (which on my unit did not take effect until my alarm goes off the first time). The clock remains dimmed at your preset level, but goes to full brightness when the alarm goes off, making the clock easier to find. Combined with the pleasing blue light and the HWS (makes the alarm bell go from soft to loud) it's really nice to wake up to.

Another thoughtful touch is that alarm indicators only light within 24 hours of your alarm. Either alarm can be set to go off on particular days, with any combination of Su-Sa set for each alarm (i.e. alarm1 can be set for Monday, Thursday and Sunday, no weekday/weekend restrictions like some others). The alarm indicators however only light up when your alarm will ring the next morning. Very nice.

Other functions like the snooze, nap timers, etc. all work well. Like most alarms you need some time to figure out how it works, but after a few mornings most functions were intuitive.

The radio functions well, and pulls in way more stations than the Dreammachine. The speaker is fine, that is to say neither exceptionally good or exceptionally poor. If I want the ultimate music experience, I have an expensive stereo for that.

The clock is a true atomic time clock (not just a "preset" clock like many others). I don't know all the nuances of atomic cock synchronization, but the weather and location of the antenna seem to affect the two atomic clocks I have at home. Try moving the antenna towards the window if you have problems.

CONS
It is nicer than average plastic and construction, but still not going to win any design awards. I can't figure out why all alarm clock designs are frozen in 1992.

The manual was clearly written by a bunch of engineers. It is no nonsense, and explains how to set/use everything, but does not mention any of the usability features I noted above. For example if it's Monday and you set an alarm for thursday, You might wonder why the alarm indicators do not all light up. No mention at all in the manual. I thought the clock was broken since the dimmer did not function until the first time an alarm went off. Again, no mention in the manual of what turned out to be a very nice feature, and one I almost returned the clock for!

Another example is the unwieldly "Time Machine" antenna for the atomic clock. It is big and odd looking, but fits nicely to the back of the clock. Again, no mention in the manual save for a single line drawing.

When I initially plugged the clock in, all kinds of crytic numbers flashed on the display while it synced the time, again, no mention of what was happening or why in the manual. The manual does tell you how to DO everything, but does not explain WHY certain things work the way they do, or explain the various nice features someone clearly took time to think through.

Overal a great buy, especially for something you'll likely use every day for 5-15 years. I would like to see a better manual, autodimming of the display (it is BRIGHT when set to max), Sangean using a designer that is somewhat current, and perhaps a user manual rewrite, other than that, this clock works very well and will be on my nightstand for years to come.

I agonized over what to put on my nightstand (everything from Bose to Timex) and am very happy with my choice.

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Product Description:
Sangean's RCR-22 Clock Radio is the atomic clock radio you can set once and forget.It connects to the atomic clock in Boulder, Colorado to set the most accurate time available.Once the clock is set you can program the dual alarms to wake to your favorite AM or FM station.Take advantage of the Humane Waking System that begins with a low volume beep and gradually increases in intensity to slowly wake you instead of receiving a firm jolt that others provide.There is also a handy sleep timer that allows you to fall asleep listening to your favorite radio station from 15 minutes up to 2 hours.You can also connect your iPod or a CD player to the auxiliary input to enjoy your favorite soothing sounds CD or digital music collection to fall asleep.

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6/28/2010

Timex Travel Alarm Clock Radio (T315S) (T315S) Review

Timex Travel Alarm Clock RadioGreat product. Indestructable clamshell close, lightweight, and small for travel, a new battery lasts for a year or two, loud alarm, big numbers and nighttime visibility, snooze seems to keep working no matter how many times you hit it, am and fm work fine. I've bought 6 of these in the past, given most of them away to guests who used them and really liked them, and logged on again today to buy a few more. I've bought dozens of different small travel alarm clocks over the past 30 years (which I also use for my main home alarm clock--I don't like switching when I travel), and this is by far the best ever. I'm buying more so that I don't ever run out--I worry they'll quit making it someday. Never have known any of them to miss an alarm, in spite of that other review to the contrary.

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Product Description:
TIMEX T315ST is a travel alarm clock radio with snooze.PRODUCT FEATURES:Compact, folding design lets this travel clock fit almost anywhere - even your pocket!;AM/FM radio with extendable antenna;Wake to choice of radio or buzzer;Snooze alarm with four-minute intervals;One-touch night-light for easy night viewing;Rotary volume and tuning thumbwheels.

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6/27/2010

Timex T065S Solar Powered Radio Controlled Atomic Alarm Clock Review

Timex T065S Solar Powered Radio Controlled Atomic Alarm ClockI bought this because I wanted a small, maintenance-free alarm clock.It's not as small as I'd like (it's about the size of two VHS tapes).It claims to be solar powered but it comes with a CR123A lithium "back-up" battery.The manual reads, "This battery should provide a back up power supply to your clock for up to 8 years or even longer."I haven't had it long so I can't verify that claim.

It does set the time automatically, which is cool.

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Timex T065S Solar Powered, Radio Controlled Atomic Alarm Clock

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6/26/2010

American Innovative Neverlate 7-Day Alarm Clock Review

American Innovative Neverlate 7-Day Alarm ClockI bought this clock because of it's fantastic ability to have a separate alarm for each day of the week, something that just makes a lot of sense and should be standard on every alarm clock. This one feature works exactly as advertised, and is very easy and intuitive to use and configure. The clock has a unique style to it, with a sort of retro look going on, and it doesn't take up a lot of space. It is higher than most clocks but compensates with a smaller footprint. The standard features like nap and snooze all work well and are easy to configure.

The problem with this clock comes down to the fact that several corners were cut to make it as cheap as possible to produce. The radio has an old style analog tuner (albeit a slightly better one than most clock radios out there). This is 2005, and one would think that digital tuners would be a standard by now. Unless you enjoy listening to one and only one radio station, you will find the analog tuner a pain.

The sound quality of the radio is also very average. It's not bad by any means, and the reception is very good, but like many clock radios it has zero lower end sound (ie bass). The radio also makes an annoying 'pop' when you turn it on or the alarm kicks in. It is a very minor sound, but I expect better. My 15 year old $10 clock radio makes the exact same noise when the radio kicks in.

Another problem I have with it is the lighting of the LCD screen. In my opinion it is just bright enough to make nobody happy. It is slightly too dim to see well during the day, and it is slightly too bright to be comfortable at night. I have lived with old school clock radios my entire life, with the glowing red numbers. These clocks produce almost no light, which is what I like. If you are used to the new style clocks that choose to backlight the entire display instead of just the numbers, then this will be no problem for you, but if you are like me and like a clock that puts out a minimal amount of light, you won't like this clock. Would an adjustable brightness really cost that much more? Or how about a light sensor that would adjust automatically?

I really wanted to like this clock, but the lack of a digital tuner and the annoying brightness / lack thereof make this clock all but useless to me. Still, I do recommend the clock over most other clocks out there. If you can get past the analog tuner and poor display, you will be happy with this product.

PROS:
- 7 day alarm feature
- very easy to configure
- unique design and good button layout

CONS:
- very average sound
- no digital tuner
- hard to see the display during the day
- display too bright at night

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Product Description:
Why bother setting the alarm clock daily when one can preset rising times for every day of the week with American Innovative's Neverlate 7-day alarm clock? With seven individual alarms for each day Monday through Sunday, users can tailor the 120-volt alarm clock's settings according to their unique schedules. The clock is ideal for individuals who work different shifts day to day, college students with their varied class schedules, or anyone who needs to rise early on certain days of the week.
With its analog AM/FM radio, the clock allows the user to choose between buzzer and radio alarms. Two dials on the front of the clock are provided for searching radio stations and regulating volume. To change the radio from AM to FM, press the band button, located on top of the unit along with the radio on/off button, and buttons for clock set-up and adjusting the sleep and nap timers. The rotary mode knob on top of the clock selects the day of the week while the inset rotary value knob sets alarm times. For slow risers, the clock includes a customizable snooze function with durations of up to 30 minutes between alerts. An LCD screen displays the time in military or 12-hour format, the day of week, and active settings and functions. With low and high brightness options, a backlight illuminates the screen. In the event of relocation or a power outage, protect clock settings with the battery back-up. Battery back-up requires the separate purchase and installation of two AAA batteries. For thorough instructions and clock information, a product manual is available for download online. This item is covered by a limited 90-day warranty. The alarm clock measures 5-by-4-1/2-by-5 inches and weighs 2 pounds upon shipping.

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6/25/2010

Rca Rc59I Clock Radio with Ipod Dock Review

Rca Rc59I Clock Radio with Ipod DockI saw this for sale at a local store, so I thought I would do some digging for information. Unfortunately, there is almost zero. It doesn't say it anywhere online or on the box, but this will indeed charge your iPhone 3G. It's possible that they did not want to pay for licensing. Since it will charge the 3G, it should charge all of the new non-firewire iPods (Nano 5G, etc).

It's nice and compact, but certainly sturdy. Once you take a leaf through the instruction manual, it's very easy to use. Not one of those things I recommend to start pushing buttons feet-first, because you'll probably be woken up at 2:30am by accident.

What else can I say about it? It charges my iPhone, plays pretty well (a 5.1 system this isn't), has an aux-in for a Zune, etc, has dual-alarms with 3-4 different options each. If you're looking for a cheap replacement for your firewire-charging alarm clock, this is a good choice.

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Product Description:
RCA RC59I Clock Radio With iPod Dock

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6/24/2010

Emerson Radio Hot Wheels HW800 Snore Slammer Alarm Clock Radio (Red/Black) Review

Emerson Radio Hot Wheels HW800 Snore Slammer Alarm Clock RadioWe got this alarm clock radio for my 6yr old son for Christmas, his first alarm clock. He loves it. You can set it to wake up by radio, or the Hot Wheel soundwhich is wheels peeling out and an anouncer telling the racers to "START YOUR ENGINES", then the wheels peel out again and says something about racing for the checkerd flag. The volume dial and the radio tuner dial are wheels and the radio has a pretty good sound for an alarm clock. Great buy

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Product Description:
Emerson makes it easy for young boys to wake-up for school with the Hot Wheels Snore Slammer alarm clock radio. Boys will love incorporating the fun of Hot Wheels into their routine of going to bed and waking in the morning. The alarm can be set to play Snore Slammer custom sounds or to favorite radio station. Alarm has snooze button for extra tired boys who don-t want to wake up for the first alarm. Boys will love adjusting the volume and tuning the radio with the car wheel controls.Alarm clock radio has car reflector nightlight with an on/off switch. All features are controlled with easy to use buttons. The clock radio has a bright easy to read 7-inch LED display and built-in AM/FM antenna. No need to reset clock after a power outage with battery back-up which holds one "9V" battery. (model # HW800)

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6/23/2010

Emerson CKS3516 SmartSet Dual-Alarm Clock Radio with Time Projection System Review

Emerson CKS3516 SmartSet Dual-Alarm Clock Radio with Time Projection SystemThis review refers to the CKS3528 model, which I purchased from Amazon's partner, Target. The only difference between my model and this one is that the clock projection has a selectable color filter on the CKS3528. This unit listed here does not.

I purchased this clock for the large digit display and projection functions. So far both are working out quite nicely. The display is not too bright at night, when the dimmer is set to low. It is still quite readable in a lit room. The projection is too dim to read if the room is lit, but it works nicely in the dark. I am nearsighted, but I have no problem reading the ceiling display with my glasses off at night. I'd guess the digits are about 10 inches high on my ceiling. The projection is also not so bright that it lights up the room or keeps me awake.

The smart set function is little more than a preset internal clock that lives off a lithium battery when it is not plugged in. The manual says the battery will last 3 years even if the unit is never plugged in, and should last 5+ years when used normally. The clock allows you to change the time settings yourself (if you like your clock 5-10 minutes fast, or if the time ever drifts) and the internal memory will keep the new time setting. This is a nice improvement over the RCA version that I replaced, which had drifted about 2 minutes off and could not be corrected.

The clock knows 7 times zones: Atlantic, Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Yukon, and Hawaiian. Since you can change the internal time memory anyway, I imagine it would be pretty easy to use this in any zone and just fix the time shift once. However, the clock obeys the 2007 US daylight savings time rules: starting 2nd Sunday of March, ending 1st Sunday of November. There does not appear to be a way to turn DST off. So, if your state or country does not follow these rules, you'll have to change the time or timezone every time the DST changes do not match your area.

The radio is set by an analog dial. The dial indicator lights up when the clock is plugged in, but it's still not easy to tell by the display what channel number you have set. It doesn't seem to drift very badly, but my chosen wake-up station is pretty strong in my area. I'd have preferred a digital tuner.

There are two alarms. Each can be set to wake by buzzer or radio. Each alarm can be set to run for 7-days, 5-days (Mon-Fri), or 2-days (Sat-Sun). The buzzer alarms wake by crescendo, that is, they start softly and increase in volume. I can't comment on how loud they get, since I don't use buzzer alarms. The wake by radio function works nicely, coming on directly to the volume that you have preset. To turn off the buzzer alarms, you have to find one of the tiny (1) or (2) alarm buttons among the many on top of the unit. To turn off the radio alarm, you can also hit the much larger Radio On/Off button on the right end of the unit. The snooze button is large and easy to find in the middle. Snooze is fixed at 9 minutes.

I recommend this clock to anyone who likes to wake up to a radio, and who lives in a US timezone following the new DST rules. My only complaint is the lack of a digital radio tuner.

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Product Description:
Enjoy true ease of operation and convenience with Emerson's SmartSet Dual-Alarm Clock with Time Projection System.With Emerson's exclusive SmartSet Auto Time-Setting Technology, the clock automatically sets itself to the correct date and time as soon as you plug it in.Not only does it feature an easy-to-read display, but the projection system also shows the time in brilliant red numbers on your wall or ceiling.Programmable dual alarms can also be set for weekday only, weekend only, or every day operation.

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6/22/2010

Emerson CKS1702 SmartSet Alarm Clock Radio Review

Emerson CKS1702 SmartSet Alarm Clock RadioThis 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.

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Product Description:
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.

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6/21/2010

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

RCA RP5605 AM/FM CD Clock Radio with Large LED DisplayI 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.

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Product Description:
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.

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6/20/2010

American Innovative Neverlate Executive Alarm Clock Review

American Innovative Neverlate Executive Alarm ClockI generally only review a product if it's really bad, really good, or as in this case, a very good product with lots of room for improvement to make it even better. I've only owned and been using this product for a few days, so this is a preliminary review, but so far I have noticed a lot of both good and bad with it.

First, there are several features of this clock, some that are less prominent and therefore not mentioned in the description or anywhere else. These are as follows:

-When setting alarms, it starts at 7am. This is great, because you don't have to sit there forever on each alarm changing it from midnight to whatever time you get up in the morning. Most people get up around 7-8, not midnight. I can't believe this isn't more common in alarm clocks, and it's one of many things that shows the ingenuity of the designers.

-Set and preference buttons need to be held for a couple seconds before they bring up the menu, avoiding accidental menu access by merely pressing the wrong button.

-Great sound. I was expecting sound superior to normal clock radios, but I was really impressed. It definitely surpassed my expectations and then some.

-Small (smaller than I thought it would be) and looks great, with great layout for the most part.

-Excellent snooze button size and location. (could be seen as a con by some people I suppose)

-Remembers nap/sleep timers for quick one touch setting

-Alarm duration setting, nice so alarm can be set to only go off for a short period of time, just in case you leave it on when you leave and it will disturb others when it goes off.

-Gradual wake feature.

-Alarm volume independent from sleep volume.

-Four different alarm sounds.

-Descending snooze makes it so every time you hit the snooze button you get less time before the alarm sounds again. Once again, I can't believe this isn't a more common feature, but this is the first clock I've seen it on.

Now for the negative points. Some of these are pretty severe, at least in my mind, whereas others are really quit minor and even perhaps a little nitpicky. However, I believe a product can always be made better, and I hope that by pointing these things out American Innovations will be encouraged to take them into consideration for an improved model. Also, for a product with such obvious creativity and ingenuity involved in its design, the fact that some of these negative items even exist is just that much more baffling and upsetting. Also, I feel the consumer should be as informed as possible when making a decision, so hopefully this will help people considering this clock. Here are my issues with this alarm clock:

-Value collar (outer ring) should spin more freely. It's whole purpose in life is to quickly advance the time backward or forward to set the clock or alarm, and this is done by spinning or rotating it. For this purpose, I feel it is way too stiff, and that detracts from its functionality.

-Minimum volume should be lower. It's pretty quiet, but I have absolutely no doubt there are people that like to listen to very quiet music when they're going to sleep, quieter than this will go down to, and there should be more options on the low end of the scale to account for that. I realize that is a problem with digitally controlling the volume instead of using an anolog dial with infinite positions, but they could, and should, certainly implement a few more volume steps between their current minimum volume and no volume.

-The volume buttons are backwards from any sort of common sense arrangement. Seriously, who puts the volume up on the left and the volume down on the right. It's just counter-intuitive.

-I'd prefer the use of a couple AA or AAA batteries instead of the 3.0V CR2032 button-type battery that's used for the backup functions. They are everywhere, people are a lot more likely to have spares of them lying around the house than CR2032s, and they can be rechargable.

-More color choices would be nice. The white and gray don't really fit into the colors of the rest of the room. I personally prefer the colors of the standard version of the clock, I don't know why the options are so limited here, or why they chose to go with this color for this model instead of the same color scheme they have on the other.

-Easy to accidentally (or subconsiously) hit the on/off button instead of the snooze button, killing the alarm completely instead of snoozing it.

-No alarm preview function. In order to hear the different alarms to know which to use, I had to set nap timer to 1 minute, wait for it to alarm, switch alarm sounds, and repeat until I heard all four.

-Lowest brightness for display not dim enough. This goes hand in hand with the lowest volume not low enough problem.

-No preference for how long the display stays on high brightness after pressing a button.

-Alarm volumes and lengths can't be set independently from one another.

-Beta feature for making one time change doesn't allow changing of multiple banks, or at least I haven't figured out how yet if you can.

All in all, this is a very nice alarm clock, and it's so convenient to not have to switch the alarms back and forth every day, since I have class at 9 MWF and 8 on T & Th, plus I like to have one for the weekends just so I don't sleep until the afternoon. Even with the flaws and areas of needed improvement, it's still a big step up. I just wish the creativity had extended more to some of these other things, as well as other things I probably haven't thought of. I would so far recommend it based off its functionality and the specific need it caters to, but as I said, I've only had it a few days, so it's still too early to tell. So far, I haven't noticed any glitch or bug issues with it.

EDIT: I have now owned this alarm clock for a little over 3 months and just wanted to make a quick update. This clock got me through a semester of late nights and early mornings excellently, and it is still running strong (knock on wood). I haven't really found anything new I like or dislike about it, it's performing exactly as I'd hoped and I'm really glad I got it. As I said before, it has its problems, but they are minor for the most part and do not overcome the usefulness of the clock. The only new thing I have to mention is when turning the two dials, or even when they're in position but pressed lightly, the display sort of spazzes out, for lack of a better term, and jumps all over like you're spinning the dial rapidly. It doesn't cause any real issues, it's just annoying, as you have to release it so it settles down (which is immediate) then you can make any changes you need to make. As I said, it's more an annoyance or minor hindrance at most, and does not impact the clock's functionality, and I wouldn't let it affect my decision to buy one. However, it is, to me, a sign of something either being poorly designed or poorly put together. I have no idea if it's common or just mine. Anyways, after owning it for 3 months, I still hold to my initial rating of 4 stars.

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Product Description:
Nearly every aspect of the Neverlate Executive Alarm Clock is fully customizable to suit personal preferences. Everything from the backlight brightness to the alarm duration is fully adjustable. Two alarm banks provide two completely independent seven-day wake schedules, his and hers for example. In addition, the clock features a daily reminder bank, calendar display, and a preferences menu that allows one to choose disparate wake settings. For example, wake to NPR news at 7:00 am weekdays, a favorite Saturday morning talk show on a different station, and the buzzer on Sunday. Designed to be easy to set, a simple twist of the patent-pending rotary dial makes complicated push-buttons a thing of the past. A powered USB port on the back accommodates an electric fan or laptop boom lamp. Plus, the clock features line-in, headphone jack, and more. Each time the snooze button is hit, the snooze time is cut in half until finally the Neverlate Executive won't allow snoozing any more. Or, one can even disable the tempting snooze button. This ultra high-tech clock is ac powered with battery backup.

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6/19/2010

RCA RC46 AM/FM Alarm Clock Radio with Large Blue LED Display (Black) Review

RCA RC46 AM/FM Alarm Clock Radio with Large Blue LED DisplayTrying to find a reliable, easy to use, inexpensive, alarm clock for the wife.She wanted one that sets itself and had a battery back-up. I wanted one that would wake her up.Found this one at K-mart and spent 30 mins playing with it over by the televisions (needed a power source). This radio alarm clock is perfect for what I need.This being my first review, I"ll just point out the things that made me buy it.
1. Nice soft blue color, 2 setting...low you can just make out and high is clearly visible
2. Battery back up (even came with batteries) easy to find AA"s
3. Plug in in and it sets itself (all you have to do is set the time zone) has a switch for Daylight Savings Time.
4. Dual alarm (his and her) or in this case days and midnights...set it and forget it. You don't have to rememberto set it everyday.
5. If the power goes out the alarm goes into kind of a sleep mode.It beeps to warn you of the power failure and according to the instructions, remembers the alarm settings and goes off without it being plugged in (not tested yet)
6. The alarm starts off kinda like any other alarm but then gets progressively louder (can't see anyone sleeping through this one)
7. Playing with the tuner, looks like one of those old fashion, spin the dial things, but it shows a digital read on the display (kinda cool but it's a cheap radio folks and sounds like one)
8. The snooze is adjustable from 1 to 30 mins.
9. Last but not least, the alarm set time is displayed on the lower right, so if your the nervous type, you can double check to make sure the alarm is where you want it to be.All for around 20 bucks...and that"s all I have to say about that.....



Click Here to see more reviews about: RCA RC46 AM/FM Alarm Clock Radio with Large Blue LED Display (Black)

Product Description:
The RC46 clock radio by RCA is the perfect companion in the morning. The AM/FM clock radio has a large 1.4-inch blue LED display that makes it easy to see and to read. The clock can be adjusted to two different levels of brightness to accommodate for different lighting situations. The clock features automatic time set that will set the clock to one of seven different time zones once clock is plugged in. Simply flip the switch to select your current time zone. LCD display has a digital frequency readout, so that you can precisely tune to your favorite radio station and read which station you are tuned in to. The programmable sleep feature will play the radio up to 2-hours before automatically turning off, allowing you to gently fall asleep to the radio. The RC46 features a 2nd display "alarm reminder" showing the time you have set for the alarm to go off. No more second guessing if you set the time of the alarm correctly or not. The clock radio has two different alarm settings that are perfect for couples who wake at different times or for those who need a second reminder to wake in the morning. Set the alarm to wake you up to the buzzer or to your favorite radio station. Enjoy the Graduwake ramp up alarm system that gently wakes you from deep sleep by gradually increasing the volume of the alarm. You'll no longer have a loud, rude awakening in the morning. Alarm clock features programmable snooze that you can set to ring between 1-30 minutes or by the default setting of every 9-minutes. Using the SmartSnooze feature, any of the top buttons will act as the snooze button when alarm has been activated, to ensure that you will find it when you're half asleep. The battery backup gives reassurance that your alarm will sound even with the loss of power. The "No Worry" battery backup keeps the clock radio working during power outages. You'll no longer have to worry about being late to work or needing to reset the clock and alarm.

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6/18/2010

Emerson Radio Jumbo Triple Display Dual Alarm AM/FM Clock Radio with SmartSet Technology Review

Emerson Radio Jumbo Triple Display Dual Alarm AM/FM Clock Radio with SmartSet TechnologyMy husband and I went through 4 other alarm clocks before we settled on this one.This alarm clock provided everything that was missing in each of our previous alarm clocks.It has a large easy to read from across the room display (but can be dimmed or shut off and then on again w/a wave of the hand), has two separate alarm settings which you can set for weekdays only, weekends only, and weekdays and weekends also w/buzzer,or radio which each of the two alarms can be set to individual preference.Both alarms are displayed constantly underneith the time (which is suprisingly reasuring feature to have) and my husband likes that the alarm shut off button (radio on/off) is a big round button off to the very left side of the alarm which allows him to turn the alarm off every morning without first putting his glasses on and then hunting for the off button.I love it that once you tap the off button, it turns the alarm off for the day and then automatically resets itself to wake me up again the next day.I also have the option to not shut the alarm off and listen to the radio for an hour as I get ready for work, after which time it will shut itself off until the next day again.All in all a very good buy and well worth the money!!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Emerson Radio Jumbo Triple Display Dual Alarm AM/FM Clock Radio with SmartSet Technology

Product Description:
Emerson's patented SmartSet® Automatic Time Setting System. The first time you connect this clock radio to your AC outlet it will immediately set itself to the correct year, month, date, day and time in the Eastern Time Zone. If you live in a different time zone there is one simple Time Zone adjustment to make and you will never see the dreaded 'flashing 12:00' display again. It will automatically reset itself every time you have a power interruption, and not just the time but your wake-up times as well. Daylight Saving Time and Leap Year adjustments are also done automatically through the year 2099.

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6/17/2010

jWIN JL707 Projection Alarm Clock Radio Review

jWIN JL707 Projection Alarm Clock RadioI bought this clock for my daughter after I had received a different projection clock as a gift.My daughter really likes the on-ceiling display of the clock.The only drawbacks:the projection device does not swivel left and right.That would help in positioning the on-ceiling display a little better.Also, you must set the projection clock separate from the regular clock-radio clock.Other than that, I would recommend.

Click Here to see more reviews about: jWIN JL707 Projection Alarm Clock Radio

Product Description:
The JL707 from jWIN is an AM/FM projection clock radio. Features include: 180-degree clock projection, Digital alarm clock with 9-minute snooze function, Integrated AM / FM radio, Wake to radio or buzzer, Fall asleep to radio, LED clock display , Built-in speaker

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6/16/2010

Emerson CKS9051 SmartSet Dual Alarm Clock Radio Review

Emerson CKS9051 SmartSet Dual Alarm Clock RadioAfter days of researching, I finally found the best alarm clock for me and my wife! We are so happy with what we found.

I can't say anything bad about this alarm clock, it got everything we are looking for:
- Weekday\weekend\everyday alarms function for each of its 2 alarm. We set up alarm 1 @ 6a.m. on weekdays (for me), alarm 2 @ 7:30a.m. (for her) on weekdays, therefore no alarm on the weekend. We don't have to wake up by the alarm clock Sat. @ 6a.m ever again.
- Individual setting for each alarm wake up to a gradual buzz or radio.
- The clock has a high/low light setting. If you think the display is too bright, set it to low.
- The display is very clear, showing time and day of week.
- The radio is very clear compare to our existing radio alarm clock.
- The most amazing thing is that the clock will reset itself to the correct time in the event of a power outage. The alarm will preserve the alarms' settings. So in case of a power outage in the middle of the night, when the power comes back on, your alarm clock will continue to function as before. What a great idea! You don't have to manually reset it again, and worse, miss you morning alarm.

These are other alarm clocks that I looked at:

Made by Emerson also. I was going to get this one, but I tried it at a store and it can tip forward as you reach in from hitting the snooze button. Also, some of the button are small. CKS 9051's design is much more stable\sturdy.
Emerson Radio Jumbo Triple Display Dual Alarm AM/FM Clock Radio with SmartSet Technology

Too expensive.
Sangean RCR-22 AM/FM Atomic Clock Radio

Too small, for travle maybe.
RiteAlarm Triple Weekly Alarm Clock (R) for Weekdays, Saturday and Sunday, Automatic Extended Daylight Saving Time, Automatic Snooze, Adjustable Volume, Gentle Sound Pattern, Simple Buttons, Pushing Backlight and Battery Operated

This could work, but we prefer larger display and not background lit ones.
Timex Nano Color

Could work but couldn't find it at a store (Target\Sears) to try. Dispay might be too small.
Sony ICFC180 AM/FM Clock Radio

Might work but don't like the dial, display too small. A little expensive.
American Innovative Neverlate 7-Day Alarm Clock

Hope this help.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Emerson CKS9051 SmartSet Dual Alarm Clock Radio

Product Description:
With Emerson-s award-winning and patented SmartSet technology, the flashing -12:00- display is a thing of the past.The CKS9051 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 dual alarm system features two alarms that can be programmed separately - one for you and one for your partner.Both alarms can be programmed to operate on weekdays only, weekends only, or all seven days of the week.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 CKS9051.

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6/15/2010

Timex T309T Alarm Clock Radio with Nature Sounds (Titanium) Review

Timex T309T Alarm Clock Radio with Nature SoundsThis is a nice little item. It has good sound quality and three types of alarm: radio, buzzer, and nature sounds (there are 3 or 4 of these to choose from). You can specify whether an alarm setting works every day, only on weekdays, or only on weekends. Each alarm setting has its own radio station or nature sound (and volume) associated with it. It's got a nice big snooze button on top, which doubles as a display dimmer (my favorite feature).
I've come across just a couple disappointments in the week that I've had it.
- I thought I'd be able to create a radio-alarm setting for weekdays and another radio-alarm setting (same time, but different station) for weekends. Can't do it. You get one setting for each type of alarm.
- The radio preset buttons are arranged in a line across the front of the unit. The band setting button is in that line too, to its left. So if you want preset #1, you've got to punch the second button. Hitting the first button switches you to AM.
All in all, though, it's worth the [money].

Click Here to see more reviews about: Timex T309T Alarm Clock Radio with Nature Sounds (Titanium)

Product Description:
The Timex T309TT triple-alarm clock radio lets you wake to your choice of AM/FM radio, buzzer, or any of four nature sounds (wind, brook, surf, and forest spring). Yes, you read correctly: the triple-alarm system lets you set three independent alarm times and wake sounds.
Even if you're waking alone, you might want to set the device to trigger, say, soothing nature sounds at 7 a.m., a gentle radio station at 7:15, and a blaring buzzer at 7:30 just in case your heinie is still in the sack when it ought to be in the shower. Use the convenient 7-5-2 system to set your alarm(s) for the week, weekdays, or the weekend.
Store up to 18 radio stations in memory, accessible through six one-touch tuning buttons. The radio offers drift-free PLL (phase-locked loop) digital tuning and displays station frequency and preset numbers.
Time to crash? Drift into sleep to the radio or soothing nature sounds using the programmable sleep timer. The unit also offers a 99-year calendar (2000 to 2099) with year/month/day display and a sure-alarm battery backup system.
What's in the Box
Alarm clock radio and a user's manual.

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6/14/2010

Aluratek AIRMM01 Internet Radio Alarm Clock with built-in WiFi (Black) Review

Aluratek AIRMM01 Internet Radio Alarm Clock with built-in WiFiThink about the humble clock-radio.Everybody has one. They've scarcely changed in the last two decades.They have poor sound quality.Are usually in a bedroom where radio reception can be poor--and are usually given only a crummy wire antenna sticking out the back. With some, you can play a CD, just as CDs are being superseded by other digital music. Few can access the wealth of programming on satellite.Not a twenty-first century device.

This device brings the clock-radio into the 21st Century.It connects to your Wi-fi at home, and delivers almost any radio station you want from around the world.

NPR junkies can choose from a brace of stations, and the worldwide selection is superb--let me recommend Radio National and Directions in Groove from Australia, KQED and WNYC (the AM version; you'll get AM radio in hi-fi!), Deutsche Welle in English, Radio Netherlands, and of course, the BBC.Living in a non-English-speaking country, it's a real life-line for me.

It solves an issue that has vexed me with conventional clock radios I've owned.Reception problems.With an internet radio, the signal is as strong as your home wi-fi.

No need for an integrated CD.You can play music wirelessly from your computer or a USB stick.

And for a small speaker, the sound is remarkably good. You can plug it into your hi-fi if you wish, for even better sound.

It gets five stars, but not without a couple of glitches. The radio updates the station list automatically, but if a station changes its website in between software updates, you might miss out for a while.The menus are elaborate and can be a bit complex until you get used to them--and that includes the one you use simply to turn the alarm on.And the backlighted time displays ONLY when the radio is actually on; though I expect that glitch to be fixed in a software update.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Aluratek AIRMM01 Internet Radio Alarm Clock with built-in WiFi (Black)

Product Description:
Choose between more than 11,000 radio stations worldwide via built-in vTuner with no monthly cost Compatible with universal Plug-n-Play audio servers such as: Microsoft Media Player 11 (WMP11), Microsoft Media Connect, MusicMatch Jukebox Wireless access WIFI 802.11 b and g, Ethernet and USB 2.0 (host only) connectivity Access music fi les (MP3, WMA, WAV) stored on a USB 2.0 flash drive, MP3 player or Hard drive through the unit-s USB port Alarm clock function with 2 programmable alarms wakes you up to internet radio, FM radio, digital music, or choice of several alarm tones

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6/13/2010

Sony ICF-C318 Automatic Time Set Clock Radio with Dual Alarm (White) Review

Sony ICF-C318 Automatic Time Set Clock Radio with Dual AlarmI bought two of these, (one for my husband and one for my teenage son), since they would automatically reset themselves after a power outage. They both immediately complained that the alarms were not loud enough, (both are VERY heavy sleepers). It does have a very light and polite beep with no volume control. However, the beeps gradually increase in frequency and after week of use, both of them are waking up easily to the sound and without the jarring blasts from our old alarms.
So, it may require getting accustomed to for heavy sleepers, but it's great for those of us who don't like to be blasted awake every day.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony ICF-C318 Automatic Time Set Clock Radio with Dual Alarm (White)

Product Description:
Stylish Design takes up a minimum of space on the nightstand, desk or dresser. Visible 0.9" Green LED allows the large size numerals to be seen easily, even at night.

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6/12/2010

Sony ICF-C318 Automatic Time Set Clock Radio with Dual Alarm (Black) Review

Sony ICF-C318 Automatic Time Set Clock Radio with Dual AlarmThis clock radio shares an obvious family resemblance to its highly successful predecessor, the Sony ICF-C218 Automatic Time Set Clock Radio (Black): 90% of the buttons and functions of the earlier version are implemented and placed identically in the newer model.The buttons and their labeling are so intuitive that a manual is hardly needed (but helpful for the Sleep and Time Zone buttons).The ICF-C318 possesses four new buttons, switches and controls and a feature that make it a more desirable model than the earlier one: a 3-level brightness button, a two-level buzzer volume switch, a second alarm mode rotary switch, a second alarm time setting control, and most importantly, the 'No Power No Problem' feature means the alarm will still sound even if the AC power is off when the alarm was set to ring.The efficacy of those new contols and feature were assessed.

The brightness control was a feature requested by many users of the ICF-C218 who complained it was too bright in a darkened room.There is no doubt that the display of the newer ICF-C318 can be set to be very dim (thus pleasing insomniacs bothered by the 'nighlight effect') but at its brightest setting it is still too dim to be seen clearly in a brightly lit room.The alarm buzzer is not really a buzzer, its a peeper and the two level slide control has little noticeable effect on volume - its just not very loud either way.When ignored the alarm peeps more frequently.If you need a really loud alarm, you will be safer using the radio alarm rather than the buzzer.The rotary switches to set alarm mode (off, buzzer, radio) are improved in that the indicator on the switch is a larger, more visible groove than the the tiny, hard-to-see pit of the earlier model.The alarm time set knobs allow a new time to be set very quickly and easily; they are just a little clunkier looking than the sleek recessed toggle control of the earler model.The 'No Power No Problem' feature is the best new feature for this unit that sets it apart from the ICF-C218.I expect my alarm clock to work at a very high level of reliability, a power outage is no excuse for failure of that function.In this regard, the ICF-C318 performs as expected, but the ICF-C218 fails miserably.If the alarm mode is set to radio and the AC power is off when the alarm should ring, the ICF-C318 uses the buzzer (peeper) alarm instead; the buzzer probably drains less energy from the tiny backup battery than the radio.

The radio portion of this clock radio performs adequately.The sound can be quite clear for a strong station but it is obviously not high fidelity.The radio portion of this unit is just gravy - the alarm and clock function are the only real crucial parts to me.It seems to keep good time.I synchronised it with an atomic clock initially and a week later see no difference between the two when they were compared again.Clock time is maintained by a Li wafer battery even when the AC power is off; I don't know why they didn't use a more common, cheaper, higher capacity backup battery like an AA.The clockwill perform automatic advance and setback of the time for regions that follow daylight savings time.Fortunately, this feature can be disabled for regions like the state of Arizona that do not use DST. By comparison, Emerson clock radios that have 'SmartSet' are crippled - DST advance and setback cannot be disabled.

How about aesthetics?In my opinion the earlier version's (ICF-C218) simpler shape and flat faceplate were snappier looking.The rounded faceplate and rear of the newer ICF-C318 seem less attractive.But its easy to dismiss the skin-deep homeliness when the other good features of the ICF-C318 are considered.The ICF-C318 comes in a white case and a black case version (complete Sony model numbers ICF-C318/WC and ICF-C318/BC respectively).This review applies to both color models because they are functionally identical.Although I don't normally like white appliances, it is a little bit easier to read the black button labels on the white case than the white button labels on the black case.

It took a while for me to understand that with this clock there is both a manual and an automated way to spring clock time forward for Daylight Saving Time and to 'fall back' when Standard Time resumes.These two mechanisms don't always play nice together and that can lead to confusion.Well, at least it confused me.I should also point out that the instructions that came with the clock just discuss US Time Zones which have designated DST start/stop dates at least until 2015, and spring forward and fall back at 2AM.In other parts of the world, the designated DST dates and times often differ from the US so it is unlikely that the automated DST adjustment of this clock will be of any use (except in Canada).So where you don't fall into a US time zone, the automatic DST adjustment should be disabled; just remember to use the manual method on the appropriate date.And of course if you live in a part of the US (like Arizona) where DST is not observed, the automatic DST adjustment should likewise be disabled.

I have concluded that the Time Zone setting has no effect on anything including automatic DST adjustment.I can only envision one situation where it would matter or be helpful to set or adjust the Time Zone: if you take the alarm clock with you when you travel and in your travels you cross time zone boundaries.Adjusting the Time Zone allows the clock time to be altered in 1 hour increments without having to go through the Clock button to manually reset the time.Its easy to set the Time Zone, so why don't you set it for your zone anyway?

I will spare you some of the trial and error I went through to try to figure out how DST was implemented and if it worked correctly on this clock. DST adjustments are explained in the manual that came with the clock but those explanations didn't go quite far enough. I wanted to understand it so I could set this up for my mom and know exactly what would happen when DST started and stopped.Maybe my explanation will help you.

Before you start, use the Snooze button to verify the year, month and day.If incorrect, then set using the Clock button.

To Disable Automatic DST Adjustment For Places That Don't Observe DST
Hold down the DST button until 'Aut' then 'OFF' appear, then release.If 'Aut' then 'On' appear, release the DST button then press and hold it again to display 'Aut' then 'OFF' and release the DST button.If the DST LED is illuminated on the front of the clock, press the DST button momentarily: this will have the effect of extinguishing the DST LED and setting back the time 1 hour.If the time is incorrect, find a good reference time source and use the Clock and + - buttons to adjust.So now you are good to go in places like Arizona that don't observe DST.Put some clear tape across the Time Zone and DST buttons so you won't be inadvertantly adjusting them as you are stabbing for the Alarm Reset button in the dark.

To Manually Invoke DST Adjustment
First, make sure you have disabled automatic DST adjustment by holding down the DST button to get Aut' then 'OFF' in the display.To 'spring forward' the clock, momentarily press the DST button.This will illuminate the DST LED and set the clock ahead 1 hour.To 'fall back' momentarily press the DST button. This will extinguish the DST LED and set the clock back 1 hour.By this method you can easily compensate for DST changes in locations other than the US where the date or time for DST start/end are different from the US.

Automatic DST Adjustment
If you live in a US time zone where DST is implemented, the automatic DST adjustment of this clock is handy.It's handy because you don't have to remember to do it and because it's easier than manually changing the time on your clock.To enable automatic DST adjustment, hold down the DST button until 'Aut' then 'On' appear, then release.If 'Aut' then 'OFF' appear, release the button and repeat to display 'Aut' then 'On' and release the DST button.If the date is within the range for DST, then the DST LED illuminates.If the date is within the range for Standard Time, then the DST LED is extinguished.If automatic DST adjustment is on, then at 2 AM on March 9, 2008 for example the clock suddenly jumped forward to display 3 AM and the DST LED became illuminated.

Future Proof Automatic DST Adjustment?
I set the clock ahead to March 8, 2015 and verified that it 'sprung forward' at 2 AM like it should.Without checking the years between 2008 and 2015, I assume the clock would also apply and remove DST on the appropriate date for those years.So the automated DST adjustment of this clock is probably good for at least the next seven years unless DST gets discontinued or altered by Congress before then.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony ICF-C318 Automatic Time Set Clock Radio with Dual Alarm (Black)

Product Description:
Stylish Design takes up a minimum of space on the nightstand, desk or dresser. Visible 0.9" Green LED allows the large size numerals to be seen easily, even at night.

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