Sangean RCR-22 AM/FM Atomic Clock Radio by Sangean America, Inc.
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List Price: Our Price: Calculated in a shopping cart Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Sangean RCR-22 AM/FM Atomic Clock Radio
Digital camera Review: Good Clock but Quiet Alarm
Summary: 4 Stars
Like this clock. It has great features and the radio reception is marvelous. I live waaay out in the country, and it picks up both Houston and Austin. I work a nonstandard schedule, and really appreciate that the alarm can be set for specific days. If there is a shortfall, it is the alarm volume. Even with it set to maximum amplification, it is a bit quiet. I like a good, loud alarm. Still, this is the best alarm clock/radio I have owned.Digital camera Review: Good click radio
Summary: 5 Stars
This clock radio lived up to my expectations when I received it. It has most of the features I want. The FM receiver works well and the sound is good for a small unit with a small speaker. The "atomic" clock setting feature works better than the other two "atomic set" clocks I have in the house - so far it has never missed setting itself overnight where my other clocks that set from the National Time Station will miss a day occasionally. I suspect that it's the external antenna for the station that this unit comes supplied with. I have one complaint about this external antenna - it is hard-wired to the clock and a connector would be a big help in a lot of ways.
The instruction manual could use a lot of work - it's pretty basic and is mostly a review of the clock's features.
I had one technical question - not a problem but a question about how something works that was not covered in the manual. It was answered promptly and well.
There are a couple of features that could be better - for example, when an alarm is active (waiting to go off) you don't have any display of the day and date. This could probably be fixed in the firmware. A signal strength display for the Time Station would be really useful for placing the external antenna, right now it's pretty much trial and error to get it in a good location. I think this would require a new display so it's not a simple firmware fix.
Devices like this make me nervous without a USB port so that the firmware can be updated if necessary. This unit doesn't have anything like that so you're pretty much stuck with what it has when you get it.
All-in-all it's a good clock radio with good features that work as advertised. It's biggest fault is that it's a little pricey for a clock radio.
Digital camera Review: Good clock but room for improvement
Summary: 3 Stars
As a previous owner of the Sangean RCR-1 I was a bit disapointed to see that many features were omitted. I realize that this clock is really based on the RCR-2 and not the model that I'm comparing it against. That said my observations on this clock are as follows.
1. The new clock display is a vast improvement over the old one. It's very easy to read from any angle and it can be manually dimmed. However I feel that there still exists room for improvement with the display. I feel that Sangean should have included a photosensor to automatically adjust the display brightness according to ambient lighting conditions. I've had this option on many other clocks costing much less and it's an awesome feature to have. I also feel that they should have kept the outgoing models display size. The larger display was able to show more information at a glance. For instance the RCR-1 and RCR-2 were able to display the date while the alarm's are active. The RCR-22 will not do this. With the new unit you must press the date button to display the information. Also missing is the dual color display of the RCR-1. When the alarm on the RCR-1 activated the display would change color from blue to amber. That feature no longer exists on this model which was a bit of a disapointment.
2. The lack of a battery backup is a serious oversight. I am aware that it has a super capacitor which will hold the time for up to an hour in the event of a power failure. However, a battery backup will hold the time for up to a year AND still be able to sound the buzzer alarm during a power failure. Sony has this feature as well as many other brands on the market today.
3. Another serious oversight is the lack of Humane Waking System (HWS)when the alarm is set to radio mode. This clock features HWS in buzzer mode only. My old RCR-1 has HWS in radio mode and I really miss having the radio volume gradually ramp up to ease me out of my slumber. This new radio simply turns on the radio to the preset volume and blasts you awake.
4. This clock now features a much improved method to activate or deactivate the alarm. You simply push the alarm button and hold it for a few seconds to activate the alarm. The button will illuminate red to show the alarm is active. It also has a redundant indicator in the display.
5. Sangean is known for their excellent radio reception and this unit lives up to the hype. It easily pulls in distant stations and delivers drift free reception. The sound quality is above average for a clock radio and will not disapoint.
Now for the items on my wish list for a future product.
1. Add an HD Radio Tuner. HD radio is catching on and there are a lot of good stations that this can't receive.
2. Add Radio Data System (RDS) to the radio.
3. Add NOAA weather radio to alert you of possible severe weather
4. Photo sensor display dimmer to automatically adjust to ambient light
5. Battery Backup (Sangean this is a must have feature!)
6. HWS for the radio mode of the alarm
7. Larger display
8. Stereo speakers
9. CD Player.
10. Improved alarm programming to allow for different times to be set for each day of the week. This clock does allow you to program a random day pattern giving it more flexibility than most but it could be taken to the next level.
Heck as long as I'm wishing why not put all these features in a table radio and you'll have a winner.
Conclusion, This radio adds a much improved display that makes it easier to live with than the previous models. However several features have been ommitted that should have been left in place. For this reason I am unable to give it more than 3 stars. Most people will be perfectly happy with this clock radio as it is. As for me I'm always looking for that elusive clock radio that address ALL of my needs so the search continues.
Digital camera Review: Good product but too bright
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this as a replacement for a clock radio that had fairly bad reception. The reception is great (we live in a 'fringe' area and most radio don't do well). It has a lot of options though it is complicated and time consuming setting stuff up and it's not very intuitive. The sound quality is alright - it's not great but for the price I paid I am quite satisfied.
My least favorite thing about it is that it's SO bright. Even on the low light setting you could almost use it as a reading lamp (and that's from across the room). Aside from the blue lighting for the display being bright there are two very bright red indicators that show if the two alarms are set.
Also, even though it is very bright the contrast on the display isn't that good so even though it shines like a beacon from across the room it's still not that easy to read. It looks like instead of springing for a backlit dislay they used a standard display and just put a very bright LED at the right edge. I can understand the desire for cost savings (I would doubt they could offer it at this price point with a backlit display). Still, spending some time fine tuning the display contrast and display and alarm indicator brightness would have been appreciated.
Digital camera Review: Good use a better manual
Summary: 4 Stars
So far I love this product, but the manual sadly lacks. The radio has good reception and the way the alarm slowing gets louder makes waking up no longer a jolt, but a much better experience. Recommended.