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Sony Clock Radio/CD
This is a wonderful product. It doesn't take up much space so it can be taken to work and used on a desk. Sony Dream Machine I love this radio. It has CD/Radio capibilites. It's okay looking, easy to use, works well and the very best feature for me is that with a push of a button, the snooze alarm come back on at 10, 20, or 30 minute increments. Sony Dream Machine - Refurbished - Solid So Far We bought two refurbished units (ICF-CD843V) thru Amazon Warehouse Deals - they look totally new. Working fine so far - if any changes, will update. We listen mostly AM Talk Radio - great reception - same performance as three portable radios (ICF-M410V) we've used for years. AM (internal antenna) is adjusted by rotating radio on table. Other bands (FM/TV/Weath) use wire antenna (~ 24-inch) hanging out back - reception also great. Station presets are very handy. Two speakers (stereo, for source) - great sound, lots of power - can make loud, still good. Also has 'Mega Bass' switch, next to Volume thumb-wheel on right-side. Power from AC-120v plug - NO batteries. NO external jacks (i.e. headphone, speaker, iPod, - None) The Buttons have a nice easy positive feel. Unit is 5-pounds hefty and grips table - can push buttons with one finger, no need to hold unit steady. CD works great on both units we have - no problems - no noise - great sound. Selection of Play Modes. CLOCK has BIG numerals (nearly 7/8" high, looks even bigger) - easy to read across room - three Brightness levels. Setting includes Date and Year. SLEEP timer: 90/60/30/15 min. NAP timer: 10/20/30/60/90/120 SNOOZE timer: 10/20/30/40/50/60 Unusual Nice FEATURE: dedicated button on front panel - toggles Daylight Savings On/Off - no need to change time setting. Overall Dimensions: 7"H x 7.5"W x 8.25"D (the Base is 4.5"W x 5.5"D) Great Product...(despite a few shortcomings) First the Pros... 1.) Good Price, 2.) Great Sound! 3.) Good Display, 4.) Solid Reception, 5.) Good Sleep/Nap timer Now the Cons... 1.) NO Battery Backup....C'mon get real!!! That feature should be automatic, The slightest power interruption wipes out ALL of your settings, pre-sets, alarms...TOTAL BULLSH*T.... If you lose power during the night and it resumes while you're sleeping, Then forget about waking up on time...BUMMER kinda self defeating huh? 2.) Bad placement of volume controls! Time after time I almost knocked this radio off the night stand trying to adjust the volume. It's in a non-user friendly position located near the rear of the radio, It's easy to accidently turn your wake-up alarm all the way down and miss your wake-up (if using the CD function as a source) 3.) Awful setting adjustment buttons! They are printed in a colour/font that blends into the unit, Forget about making adjustments in a dimly lit bedroom....You need bright lights just to see what you're doing unless you're anal enough to memorize all of the buttons. 4.) Three (3) Alarms are not really that! You can't set his/her alarms using the same source. It has to be one or the other...Aggravating because we both want to wake to a special CD/R that we made. Not a chance...You're forced to choose a different source for each alarm. 5.) Missing Features include: No headphone jack, If you want to use this in a cubicle or to fall asleep to music without keeping your partner up. No iPod input (or any aux/mp3 as a source for playback) doesn't really matter but it woulda been nice to have. Maybe it'll be in the next itineration of this product (hint...hint) Although this unit is inexpensive, has GREAT sound, is somewhat easy to use, There are certain things you come to expect in a product like this as well as from this company, They've been in the game too long to make the mis-steps like they did with this one. (I'd expect that of a new-comer) So if you feel that the benefits outweigh the negatives, Then this is the alarm/clock/radio for you! Great clock radio Received the clock very quickly. It is easy to set up and I especially like the three lighting choices. The audio quality is excellent for such a small cd/radio unit. Would definitely recommend this!! | |
