Eton Sound 100 AM/FM Radio, Silver by Eton
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List Price: Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Eton Sound 100 AM/FM Radio, Silver
Digital camera Review: Eton Sound 100
Summary: 4 Stars
I got this radio from Amazon when it was on sale (gold box deal). I've been using it to listen to AM/FM stations as well as connect my MP3 player to it. Overall I am happy with the purchase. Some of the pros and cons of this unit are:
Pros:
Excellent AM and FM reception
I do like the design and styling (I got the silver version)
Remote
Aux input
Audio quality is good for a unit this size
Cons:
No EQ/Tone control
Can not use external antenna or wire antenna
Digital camera Review: Eton radio works as a radio, not as a clock
Summary: 3 Stars
The Eton 100 has wonderful sound quality, great FM tuning, and lots of nice features, including a remote and the ability to interact remotely with an ipod. The problem is that this CLOCK/RADIO fails one task - the clock. The blue on blue display is completely illegible unless you are directly in front of it, and no more than 8 ft away. With the clock across the room, perhaps 10ft away, the only thing visible was a blue glow making it useless as a clock. That coupled with the fact that the alarm would reset itself back to 8am after ever use, made this a poor choice for a clock. I ended up returning it but if someone was going to have it on a desk, a great choice.Digital camera Review: Eton's Sound 100 - For Eton Purists - check out the iPod version instead
Summary: 2 Stars
The Sound 100 is the latest in Eton's product family. As a stand-alone radio this device is average. The model with the iPod dock is a cut above and more worth consideration for only $30 to $50 more.
Eton Sound 100 iPod Dock, White
Etón Sound 100 iPod Dock, Black
The speaker is monaural, but optimized to prevent distortion. At the highest volume the sound gets tinny but doesn't hiss. If you like modern design, the Eton is one of the best looking. It is sleek, COMPACT and light.
But there are shortcomings. The internal AM antenna is below average. You can use an external one, and most users will need to.
There are only 10 programmable station presets. The RDS broadcast data is only 8 characters at a time. The screen is hard to read; you have to be right in front of it. There are no external RCA, speaker or subwoofer jacks, only line out. There is no EQ, treble or bass control and no way to adjust the backlight.
Why only 10 presets? Why no speaker or subwoofer jacks? Why didn't they add Short Wave or HD capability?
If you only need an alarm clock radio, there are other options. This unit is above average on FM but below average on AM. Products by Sangean, BA and others have higher ratings at this price.
Sangean WR-2 Digital AM/FM Tabletop Radio, Black
Sangean WR-3 AM/FM Digital Table Top Radio
Boston Acoustics Receptor Clock Radio (Platinum)
If you are VERY picky about sound and want a nice compact radio alarm clock, this unit will mostly appeal to Eton purists who prefer this design. Definitely compare before you buy. Enjoy!
Pros
+ Very nice iPod serial interface for optional Dock
+ Line-in and auxiliary jacks for MP3 players and other devices
+ Good speaker sound with surprising bass
+ Shielding protects the radio from interference
+ Battery backup possible for power outages
+ Nice alarm clock function
+ Nice looking design in a small and LIGHT form factor
Cons
- No equalizer; no treble or bass control
- Requires external antennae for good radio reception
- No RCA jacks or stereo connections for external speakers
- No Subwoofer connector - only standard stereo line out
- RDS only displays 8 characters at a time
- Backlight is not adjustable; you must be close to it to read it
Digital camera Review: Excellent reception and good sound quality
Summary: 5 Stars
It has excellent reception and good sound quality. I use it double as radio and computer speaker to save space of my desktop, replacing my Logitech 2.1 speakers. Though not as good as the Logitech one as a computer speaker, the sound from this small box is much better than most TV set's. That is good enough for me.Digital camera Review: Falls very short of promises
Summary: 1 Stars
This radio alarm clock is decidedly second rate. It is had to program, cheap feeling and even lacks a dimming feature for the LED, a feature that is essential for a clock radio that has an alarm feature. Stay away, there are much better options available for less money and from better names.