Panasonic RC-CD500 Dual-Alarm CD Clock Radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For being such a small device, it really does give nice sound. In fact, I popped in some obscure CD that had a recording of birds twirping to test it out, and my cat came running in the room. It's lightweight and compact, so if fits nicely on the stand. The numbers are much easier to read than you would think, judging from the picture here. The screen gives you all sorts of information as to what you have programmed, so when you wake up at 3:00 in the morning, wondering if you have programmed your alarm so you don't miss your flight, it's very easy to see whether or not your alarm is on and how you will wake up. The tuner picked up a station 60 miles away, too. The only thing I wish it had is a graduwake feature. But that's about it. It's easy to use. I had it all set up in less than four minutes. The doze alarm lasts for six minutes, and it's easy to find due to the good design. No worries about hitting the wrong button and shutting off your alarm.

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With 20-preset memory (10 AM and 10 FM), the RC-CD500 dual-alarm CD clock radio gives great sound as well as keeping good time. A MASH 1-bit digital converter and XBS extra-bass augment this clock's dual alarms and Sure-Alarm battery backup system.

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Sony ICFC723 AM/FM Memory Clock Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)This clock came out in Korea a little over a week ago. I bought it at my favorite Korean store to use in my bedroom. It(sony) is a great American brand I always try to find American things to put in my house. I got this one because i like Sony a lot. I have had a Sony clock beofer this and it lasted for many years. I just got it yesterday and i used it last night. Even though the shape seems a little wierd with the time being to the back of the clock it did not make a very big difference. I think I actually like it better the time being not right in your face, like most other clocks have their screen at the front of their machine. This is a wounderful clock my by one of the best American companies in the WHOLE WORLD.

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The Sony ICF-C723's unique, high-tech design with function controls cleverly set in the base, stands apart from ordinary clock radios because it saves nightstand space, letting you place it almost anywhere. The synthesized tuner with PLL (Phase Locked Loop) provides the most accurate drift-free tuning of AM and FM radio stations. And the five random memory presets offer convenient one-button tuning of your choice of five favorite radio stations. A dual alarm permits you to set two separate wake-up times, especially useful for working couples. And the self-power back-up maintains clock and alarm settings in case of power failure. Leave yourself wake-up messages and personal reminders on the built-in IC chip to remind yourself of that day's business and other appointments. Message will be played at wake up time (before and after alarm) helping to ensure that your message has been noted.

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SONY ICF-C211-BLK AM/FM Clock Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had my Sony Clock Radio for quite a while now. It's durable (I've dropped it several times down several flights of stairs, but it's still here and working) and performs as advertised. One minor complaint though. The radio doesn't go very loud without distortion. But who would want to crank an alarm clock radio up anyways??? Overall, this is a great product.

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This clock radio from Sony features a large highly readable display that can be seen form just about anywhere in the room, even at night. Wake to the sound of music from your favorite radio station or to the standard digital alarm sound.Large easy-to-see LED display is highly readable from a distance, even at night. AM/FM Tuner lets you choose from the wide variety of news, talk radio and music programming. AM Wide Band Reception allows reception of all AM radio stations in the new expanded AM band. Easy Operation with Single Function Keys makes it a simple matter to set time, select alarm preference (buzzer or radio), and all other functions in easy, convenient steps. Alarm-On Indicator tells you at a glance if alarm is set. Snooze Bar shuts off alarm temporarily to allow for a few extra minutes of snoozing before it turns on again. Sleep Timer shuts off radio automatically after a pre-set length of time. Full Power Memory Back-Up uses single 9V battery (optional) to maintain clock and alarm settings and operation in event of blackout or other power failure. Antennas include built-in ferrite bar antenna for AM, convenient wire antenna for FM.

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RCA RP5430 AM/FM Clock Radio with 1.4-Inch Display and Auto Time Set Review

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(More customer reviews)This is just a terrific alarm clock. The only minus is that there are lots of buttons, but I find them to be very well laid out, with the occasional settings (daylight savings time, time zone, etc) hidden nicely on the back. I initially didn't care for the asymmetric casing, which looks a bit like someone cut off the left side of the clock, but it's grown on me.
Here are things I like:
* The numbers are clear, not too bright with the autodimmer on, and a very pleasant shade of blue. I can easily read them across a 11 foot room, even with my glasses off.
* It has two alarms, either or both of which can be radio or buzzer.
* The buzzer is a gradual-wake that ends up very loud. It's never failed to wake me.
* The snooze time is settable. I'm not a fan of the 9 minute snooze--I like a nice round 10 minute snooze. :)
* It has a nap feature, where you can set an instant alarm for however long from now without having to change the actual alarms.
* The time set is just the right speed--not too fast (and it's two-way if you overshoot) and not too slow. Sounds like a funny thing to note, but having just purchased another clock with a glacially slow time set, I really appreciate it.
My only caveat is that I had an earlier version of this clock that had an iPod-style set wheel and a slightly different button layout. After awhile, the switch that takes you between lock/wake1/wake2/clock set wore somehow, so that the clock would switch in and out of radio mode when you tried to set the alarm. No biggie, but it's one of the reasons I replaced it, and this clock has a very similar switch. If I run into problems, I'll update the review.
Update: I've seen some comments that you can't turn NAP off once it's set.
You can turn off NAP by holding down the NAP button for a few seconds again once the clock has exited NAP set mode and is showing the time. When you first hit the button, it'll go back into NAP set mode (probably showing 0:20) but after a few seconds, you'll go back to the time with NAP off.
Trick is, the button's a little quirky, and you have to hold down just the edge closest to the back of the clock. The middle of the button or any other edge just throws you back into NAP time adjust but never turns it off. I have no idea why--must be a design or manufacturing flaw of some kind.

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Acoustic Research Clock Radio with Dock for iPod Review

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(More customer reviews)USE:
Every aspect of the design of this device was extremely well thought out. Every task is exactly as easy or difficult as it should be. The buttons to change the time are less convenient so that the time cannot be reset accidently. Setting individual alarms and changing them quickly (and with the rooms lights off) is absolutely easy when awake but more difficult when groggy.
The clock face is very easy to read but not bright enough to be disturbing. The time numbers are large enough to be read from across the room, though in a room with a lot of daytime glare, this may be more difficult to do. Again, I think the legibility is exactly what it should be for an item placed next to the bed.
The options for the two alarms are wonderful and include a volume (independent of the playing volume as well as of the other alarm) as well as choice of sound source. Changing a time setting takes only a few seconds. Alarm times (if alarms are active for the day) are displayed on the face of the clock, so there is no fumbling to find out if the alarm is set or for what time.
The snooze alarm is unique. It appears to be vibration oriented and the clock is snoozed by slapping, bumping or smacking the clock anywhere on the clock body. It works wonderfully as a snooze and is the same method used to mute the device when used to play music or sounds. (During setup, I kept muting the sound accidently before I understood what was happening.) A simple tap unmutes the device again. Pretty nice feature.
SETUP:
I thought the controls for the clock looked a bit daunting at first, so I originally just plugged it in to make sure it work. Just fiddling with it with no reference to the instructions, I set every option on it within 15 minutes, I kid you not. For almost any feature, once you begin to set things, the clock displays a menu of what to do next and how to change options. Most options are set by slightly rotating the large metal dial surrounding the clock face.
The backup batteries (in case of power out) do require a small screwdriver to access, but again, I feel this is an advantage as this protects the batteries from being accidently dislodged.
SOUND & APPEARANCE:
The look of this clock is FANTASTIC. It is a real wood veneer, is very heavy and has a general feel of quality. The look is somewhat retro, however it clearly has every modern convenience. With the hardiness of it's construction, I have even used this as a "portable" player during a commercial exhibition event. The sound was adequately loud and adjustable by small enough degrees to be able to control just the amount of sound.
For home audio use, the quality is as good as one could ever expect for such a compact device. The clock feet are a soft (but very firmly attached) rubber (likely to assist with the snooze/mute activiation). This helps isolate the radio and prevents it from causing any vibrations of the surface below it.
I've used the dock with both iPod and iPhone and both work splendidly. The docking seat could be more secure, but with the clock in a moderately protected location, I'm unconcerned with this.
The only item about the device that I would like to see different would be an upgrade to the materials used in the small control knobs on top. They are the only items made of plastic on the clock and they do feel more lightweight in comparison to the exceptional sturdy construction of this clock. Time will tell how they hold up.
RECOMMENDATION:
While expensive, the cost is well-justified. I'm thrilled with my purchase and plan on buying one for each place I stay regularly. If an alarm clock is an important item for you, you will not be disappointed with this selection.

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Sony ICF-CD543RM Kitchen CD Clock Radio (Silver) Review

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(More customer reviews)I tried other radios in the kitchen, but none could compare to the sound of this unit. FM reception's pretty good too. The "kitchen friendly" controls are easy to clean. Mounting is done by drilling three holes, for which it has a paper template, and it has adjustable spacers to accommodate cabinets with recessed bottoms. It's about 11-1/2 inches deep and just an inch or two wider.
I don't seem to get any weather band channels, and the TV channels I get are very quiet so I have to remember to turn the sound down before switching to FM or CD. The timer's a nice feature for the kitchen but seconds can't be set and it takes a lot of turning to get to longer bake times, like an hour or more. The magnetic remote's also nice but you have to be able to see the sensor and stay within about 45 degrees for it to work.
Overall I'm very happy with it. The sound is great and makes spending all day around the kitchen less lonely, plus it doesn't take up any counter space. I do feel like I paid a small premium for the name Sony though.

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Sony ICF-C153V Large Display Clock Radio with FM/AM/TV/Weather Band Reception Review

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(More customer reviews)Overall, we're happy with our purchase with one complaint. I wanted a clock radio with a weatherband, but it has nowhere that I can find to put batteries so it's worthless in event of power outage (which usually happens during a storm when I need the weatherband the most!).
We use it in the bathroom for a clock and to listen to the radio in the morning, so I can't comment on the alarm features. It's a little dim at night, but that might be desirable if it's by your bed.
I do like the daylight savings time feature and the preset buttons. It's also a very attractive clock and radio reception has been very good (with occasional adjustments to the antenna).

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Curtis IP215 Alarm Clock Radio/iPod Docking Station Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had this iPod docking station for a couple of years, and it's probably one of the best purchases I've made. I don't know why people buy bargain speakers and expect theatre quality sound, but they do. Don't make that mistake with this unit. It will pump up the volume (exactly what I need!) but this is not a surround sound Dolby THX'ed Wonderdock. It's a clock radio with a place to dock your iPod so that you can play it and charge it at the same time.
I frequently move this between a couple of rooms, and I've dropped it more than once. I've also spilled stuff on it, and it works the same as it did when I took it out of the box the day I bought it. I don't use the clock or alarm, so I can't really comment on how well that functions, but the buttons appear to be pretty straightforward and easy to understand if I wanted to start. I occasionally listen to a local radio station on it, and I have no issues with reception.
There's a place in the bottom for a couple of AAA batteries in case of a power outage, and in the back there are in & out aux outlets, along with a "video out" port. I've never used the ports, but it does appear to be a versatile dock. There's also a switch in the back to turn doiwn the brightness of the clock display. The display is VERY bright at night and could double as a night light. I find the brightness disturbing to my sleep even at the low setting and stuck a label over it since I don't use the clock portion anyway.
The design is very sleek and modern looking, sure to go well with most decor, and it looks nice on a dresser (if you haven't spilled something on it like I have!). For the durability, sound quality, volume output, and apparent multi-functionality, I don't think there's a lot out there that can surpass this iPod dock. It's an excellent little workhorse for someone like me who plays their iPod 24/7, needs the volume output and is a little bit clumsy. I think overall it will please most users.

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iMode Alarm Clock Radio iPod Docking Station (White) Review

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(More customer reviews)My daughter loves this clock radio. I don't like the fact that it does not charge her Ipod. Charging was a very important part of our decision to buy this product. The information in the ad stated that it was compatible with all IPODS. When we put the Ipod on the clock radio it says the it does not charge this Ipod! That was very frustrating. I called the manufacturer and they told me it doesn't charge the 5th generation Ipod!

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Philips AJ260 Weather Station Clock Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)After reading all the other reviews I wasn't too sure. But reading between the lines I decided to take a chance. I bit the bullet and bought it and so far I am happy I did. I did find one thing I would like changed, one thing I would like enhanced.
The negative and needing changed is that the dual alarms will both sound by the same method. Either both by buzzer or both by radio. I personally like to use one alarm by radio, one by buzzer. That gives me a gentle wake up and then a reminder alert a little later.
To make the clock better, it would be nice if you could dim the weather LED. It is bright, no doubt about it. You can set it so that it only comes on for 10 seconds when you press a button, but I'd still like to see it dimmable.
As far as the other complaints... almost all the bad reviews could be corrected and attributed to user error. If people would RTFM before moaning, life would be easier.
Time resets to central but you live in the west, well read the manual. Not getting the auto time update, RTFM. Weather indicator light stays lit and keeps you up at night, read the manual. Outside temperature sensor giving inaccurate readings, read the flipping manual and mount the sensor in an appropriate place. As far as the sensor only measuring barometric pressure indoors and not outside, well unless you live in a submarine or a minute-man missile silo and use the airlock, the pressure inside and outside your house are the same. Humidity might be different, but pressure is the same, and that is what gives the clock its rudimentary weather predictions. Yes, it is really basic weather predictions, but what do you expect. It's a clock radio, not a meteorologist. Turn on the radio if you want more details.
I'd buy one again, but I would prefer separate buzz/radio selections for each alarm.


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Sangean RCR-22 AM/FM Atomic Clock Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)I 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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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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Philips AJ3600 Time Projection Clock Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)I just received this clock yesterday and have already fallen in love!
To avoid hitting the snooze or reset button(s) and never waking up, I keep my alarm clock across the room from my bed. This way I wake up enough to get out of bed and walk across the room before I hit any buttons. As my eyes are getting older it has become increasingly more difficult to focus on the clock when I wake up in the middle of the night.
When I decided that a projection clock would solve my problem of focusing on the clock in the middle of the night, I started to look around for one and I was not pleased with what was out there. I did not need nature sounds, nor did I need a light to turn on as part of the alarm. I do not have an MP3 player to dock into my clock, and I do not need a complete weather report when I open my eyes (LOL, I will find that out soon enough when I shlep out of bed and let the dogs outside!). I do not need to know what time the alarm is set (I just like to be reassured that it is on), and I am perfectly capable of pressing a few buttons to set the time all by myslef.
This little guy projects the time and whether or not the alarm is on...the two things that I am most interested in when I open my eyes in the middle of the night. The projection can be moved 180 degrees and the further away you project the time, the larger it is. It has an adjustable backlight on the face so it is not too bright. It has an AM/FM radio with ten station presets, and when the alarm is set to chime instead of the radio, it starts gentle so as not to jar you awake. It does have two alarms, but instead of having a choice of alarm types (chime or radio) Alarm 1 uses the radio and Alarm 2 uses the chime. The chime is a little bit quieter than I am used to, but it woke me up just fine this morning.
So far (after one night) I love this clock, it's a great price, and I would defiantly recommend it!


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Sangean RCR-5 Digital AM/FM Clock Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)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!

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