Nice $40 clock radio with a small footprint size that's a lot less money than some other high end brands. Lighted LCD with 3 levels of brightness and dual alarm display. Easy to use, decent single-speaker sound, good radio reception, good looks, and includes built-in line-in plug for external audio source (I use it in my bedroom and have the TV sound connected to this unit). Date and time were already preset correctly right out of the box. Very happy with this Sony clock radio and recommend it. Sony ICFC705 AM/FM Clock Radio (White)
The radio looks nice, is fairly compact, and has a very good display. The radio and speaker are also good for a unit of this size and price.
However, I was surprised about two things:
* The radio's digital tuner doesn't automatically seek to the next strong station like most radios - you have to manually stop at the right frequency. Once you've preset your favorites, this of course is less bothersome. Perhaps there's a way to do it, but I couldn't figure it out.
* The clock's "auto time set" feature is not what I expected. Perhaps it's just me, but I assumed this meant it sets the time from the NIST radio signals. That's not the case. Instead, the clock comes shipped with the correct time already set and kept current thanks to the built in battery. You just have to set the time zone if you're not in EST/EDT. Unlike with a real "auto time set" feature based on NIST signals, you will probably have to adjust this clock manually every spring and fall because the US keeps changing dates on which Daylight Saving Time starts and ends.
I decided to keep it since it's for my young daughter and she won't be as fussy as I am, but it would have been nice to see these issues noted in the product description.
I really wanted a clock with a nap function so I purchased this.
Pros
nap function-hard to find
replaceable battery
automatic time set
You can turn off the radio-alarm (no more noise), and it will remain set to go off the next day
Picked up all my favorite stations
Cons-nit picking
You can adjust the dimness to very low, but the large screen still gives off a bit of a glow at night, and the low contrast makes it difficult to read in day.
All buttons on top at rear sloping angle, with no tactile differences, can take a while to find the correct button.
Mono speaker sounds alright, but stereo would be much better
Nap timer can only wake to buzz (I think)
I would recommend it, the nap function alone is worth it.
We purchased the clock radio for use in the bathroom as a radio and iPod Player, it is just perfect. The large digital display is easy to read from any distance, meaning there is no chance of losing track of time while getting ready for work. The input jack makes hooking up your iPod/mp3 player a simple and straightforward process. The digital tuner was very important as we are able to hear our radio stations in perfect clarity without having to hand adjust. A great product.
I wanted a clock radio to wake me up in the morning with NPR morning news. It does that, the audio is extremely clear for voice, and the clock is extremely reliable and accurate. The sound quality is best for voice or music at low volume (it doesn't have a booming bass response). If I want a Bose sound, [...] The backlit time display is a bit bright, but that's fine as I no longer try to put my bottle of spring water on my eyeglasses. Think of it as a night light that gives you the time.
If you want a reliable, accurate clock radio to wake you up, and you want two alarms (one for M-F and one for weekends), digital tuning, and refreshingly clear sound, this is it. [...]
This one may be the best little guy around. Dual alarms, digital tuning, small footprint, good reception, adjustable light levels, mp3 jack (though no power in), AND a battery backup. We've had others, and, incidentally, bought about 3 different alarm clocks before we actually kept this one. Each other clock had its pitfalls: too bright, too big, buttons too hard to push, no battery backup (we lose power due to bad electrical in our rental once a month), or non-digital tuning. I never thought I'd become an 'alarm clock' buff, but this guy really has what it takes! The ONLY thing I can site as a down side is that the battery backup doesn't actually power the clock, just keeps your settings in memory when the power goes out (so if the power's out when your alarm is supposed to wake, you're sleeping in no matter what - oh darn).
Nevertheless, best clock we've owned! Unequivocal 5-stars!
The controls are very easy to use. The buttons are large, the design is intuitive, and there are directions on the clock itself.
The entire clock display is illuminated, which is a minus if you prefer a dark bedroom at night. On the plus side, it can easily be set to one of three brightness levels at a push of a button, and it's not too annoying at night on the lowest level.
The radio in the Sony ICFC705 is top notch. I live in an area near several broadcast towers, and most radios are swamped by their signal and are unable to tune in most stations. The ICFC705 manages to tune in most stations clearly and with decent sound.
Regretfully, if you want to wake to something other than radio, this is not the unit for you. Both the buzzer and melodies are at a preset volume that cannot be adjusted by the volume control (a very strange design decision that ruins the usefulness of this clock radio).
This wouldn't be too bad if they were loud or if they built up to a loud volume over time. But both the buzzer and melodies are rather quiet and will not wake a sound sleeper.
As a result of this design flaw, what would have otherwise been a rating of 4 or 5 stars (depending on how you felt about the display light) drops to 3 stars at best. - Alarm Clock Radio - Digital Tuner - Clock Radio - Dual Alarm Clock'
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