Sangean RCR-22 AM/FM Atomic Clock Radio by Sangean America, Inc.
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Digital camera reviews of Sangean RCR-22 AM/FM Atomic Clock Radio
Digital camera Review: Better than my Timex clock radio
Summary: 4 Stars
I had two criteria when looking for a replacement for my Timex clock radio:
1) dual alarm capability; and
2) a humane waking system.
The Sangean RCR-22 delivers both. The fact that it also syncs with the atomic clock in Boulder was a bonus but unfortunately, however, my clock did not sync automatically. I have an Oregon Scientific which does, and I set the time by it. Unlike my Timex clock radio, the RCR-22 hasn't lost time yet.
Another bonus feature is the fact that you can whack any button on top when the alarm goes off to put it into snooze. (I've always fumbled for the right button on my other clocks to the point where I've thrown one clock across the room just to shut it up!) The humane waking system is almost Pavlovian - it doesn't have to get loud for me to wake up, merely because I know it WILL get loud.
The only knock I have is one others have mentioned - the user manual. One reviewer notes that it was written by engineers. If I didn't know Sangean was a Taiwanese company, I'd think the manual was written by German engineers! It's written clearly for the sole purposes of function and efficiency. And a word of caution: the instructions for setting the days for the alarm were not accurate for my clock. In reality, I had to do Step 5 (choose the days) as the THIRD step (right after hitting the Alarm1 or Alarm2 and then the Set button).
But I still give the clock a solid thumbs up. It's a feature rich model that does what it says.
Digital camera Review: Birthday Present
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased the Atomic Clock Radio for my brother's 80th birthday to replace the one he had used for years that no longer worked. He had mentioned wanting a replacement but could not find one with the features he needed. He was surprised and very pleased with his present. My brother put in on his bedside table and the next day said it worked well and I am happy I bought it for him.Digital camera Review: Bright design dimmed by the display
Summary: 5 Stars
This is incredibly well thought out except for the display.
Plus's include:
+Size, sound quality and features are all outstanding.
+Quality feel of user interface. Most have a rubberized feel.
+Initial set-up is intimidating due to so many buttons (there are 18!)and a non-user friendly manual. Once the 2 alarms are programmed and atomic clock is synced you really only need the power button to turn off the alarm.
+FM Reception and sound quality far better than I've ever had in a clock radio.
+One other very well thought out feature is a switch on the bottom to easily set the time zone.
+Humane waking system with buzzer
Deltas include:
-The display? Yes its bright. There is a button (the one with a light bulb not to be confused with another with a sun icon for DST)to toggle between low & high brightness. On the bottom there is one more dial providing variable brightness - which my wife and I have had to tweak for several nights before finding something acceptable (too dim to read / too bright to sleep). Yes the blue back lit LCD looks more upscale than standard LED, but it comes with a trade off.
-The only other potential short coming is that there is no battery backup. It does have an internal capacitor which maintains power for approx one hour. I am a bit paranoid about an extended outage
Digital camera Review: Bull's Eye ...almost
Summary: 4 Stars
I have a running joke with my wife about clock radios -- I seem to feel the need to change mine every year or so because I get frustrated with them for various reasons. Too bright (sony), poor reception (Timex), too complicated to set up (Sony again)...
Enter the Sangean RCR22. So far it's the best CR I've ever owned. The cool blue display can be dimmed to virtually invisible, but pops back to bright mode for a few seconds when you're actually using the controls. I usually tune to AM news/talk radio- and the tuner on the Sangean is by far the best I've had in a clock radio. In NC, I was able to get stations from NYC, Chicago, and Pittsburgh last night. My old Timex barely got some of the weaker local stations. Setting the alarms and the desired days of the week couldn't have been much easier.
I do have a few minor quibbles:
a. The size of the clock's digits could be a little larger. It seems a bit lost on the display.
b. Other clock radios (Timex I think) have a cool 'sleep timer' feature that this one lacks. If you like to fall asleep with the radio playing, but also wake to the radio instead of the alarm, the Timex let me reduce the sleep timer radio volume to a modest level, but still allowed the alarm radio volume to be more substantial. Sangean would do well to add that feature.
All in all I'm happy with the Sangean... great reception, easy to set up, and good dimming features-- it gets the big issues right!
Digital camera Review: C Crane Pillow Speaker and "Nap" function
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought the unit not for the alarm clock, but for the radio and the ability to adjust the nightlight. I am more than pleased with the sensitivity of the unit and love the soft glow of the display at night. However, be forewarned and read carefully about using the "Nap" function. The nap button is adjacent to the on/off button and touching it will set an alarm anywhere from 30 to 120 minutes after activation. For me it was 1:30 a.m. and an angry spouse.
Also, the earplug requires a true stereo plug and my Crane Pillow speaker will not work with this radio. Inserting the plug will kill the radio speaker, but the pillow speaker is not activated. TMc