Today’s review is a simple product from Sony. It’s a radio clock. It has digital display in orange color. We can listen to FM/AM radio. We can adjust the display brightness (3 brightness settings). According to Sony Australia website and its box, this unit has a feature called “gradual wake alarm”. However, I did not find any button or setting to activate this feature. Perhaps they consider the “buzzer” sound as gradual. Even though it does not sound as “gradual” for me.
I bought this clock because it looks good. The physical form is like a cube. On the front side we have nice looking digital clock display with alarm, am/pm and DST indicator. On the top side we have few controls: alarm mode switch (off, radio or buzzer), two buttons to adjust alarm time, radio button, sleep button, alarm reset button and snooze/brightness button. On the left side we have volume slider. On the right side we have radio frequency slider and AM/FM switch. On the back side we have enter button, plus and minus button and DST button to quickly adjust daylight saving time.
This clock is directly connected to power outlet, but it has backup battery (included) so we don’t have to redo the whole setting when the power is interrupted.
Having brightness control is nice, but I end up using the brightest setting anyway. The other 2 settings are too dim for my liking.
Well, not much to say actually. It’s a simple product and it works fine, as long as your primary reason of buying is not the “gradual wake alarm” feature. So I happily put it on my bedside table and rely on it every morning.
how to set the clock with am and pm mode instead of 24 hours format?
Is it possible to increase antenna power or inserta another? Because my radio is not finding the any frequences.
I brought this product and cant find an off button?! So the radio goes constantly unless its turned off at the wall.
Hay guest. I have bougth this product, i want to ask to you, if power supply not connected the alarm still sounding or not? And what a fungtion the battery backup?
Thank you…
If the power supply is not connected, the alarm will not sound. The battery backup is to keep the time when power supply is not connected. For example, it you disconnect power supply at 12:34 and reconnect it at 14:56, the clock will display 14:56 if you have battery backup installed. Otherwise, you would need to set the time again.
Robert,
You didn’t study this thoroughly.
You just copied the features and didn’t try them out. Well not all of them.
Gradual Wake was the feature I most wanted. Early models had it. The model you bought and pictured above only has three modes. The Gradual Wake function is not there. Evidence of you mistake is in the picture.
Bad form Robert.
Walt
I originally did not expect “gradual wake alarm” as something that needs to be activated by any button or setting.
Since I did not know about earlier models, I simple assumed that the normal “buzzer” sound is the one they refer as “gradual wake”.
Now that you mention it, I just tried the alarm and it does not really sound gradual.
Didn’t really notice this before because when I wake in the morning, usually the sound is already loud.
Thanks for pointing this out. The review has been updated accordingly.