Sony ICF-C318 Automatic Time Set Clock Radio with Dual Alarm (White) by Sony
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Digital camera reviews of Sony ICF-C318 Automatic Time Set Clock Radio with Dual Alarm (White)
Digital camera Review: Excellent value
Summary: 4 Stars
Two common complaints pop up in the reviews of this clock radio: (1) too bright and (2) not loud enough. So imagine my surprise when mine arrived with both a brightness adjustment and an alarm volume adjustment! It's as if Sony reads these reviews and used the complaints to improve the product.
As for the brightness, there are 3 brightness settings, and I think Sony might have actually overreacted to the reviews here, as I found all 3 settings a bit dim. The least bright setting is actually very nice for sleeping, but you can't even read the clock during the daytime with this setting. I would prefer for the brightest setting to be a bit brighter for during daylight hours, but the brightest setting is good enough for me. Anyone complaining of the dim setting being too bright clearly has a different configuration from the one I received.
Regarding the alarm volume, there are two loudness settings, and I can barely tell the difference between the two settings. They could have left this feature off, since there is hardly any difference. I agree with other readers that deep sleepers may not wake up from this alarm clock, as even the loud setting is fairly soft. I think even my iPhone's alarm is louder! But I awake fairly easily, so this gentle alarm is nice for me.
There are two alarms, and you can set one to music and one to alarm a few minutes later (or vice versa) if you don't need to share the alarm with someone else.
The controls are very intuitive and easy to use. My only complaint is that the volume is too close to the radio tuning, so you could accidentally change the radio dial when attempting to adjust the volume. Besides the volume control location, all other controls are easy to use.
The clock time and date are preset at the factory, and I found it to be exactly one minute faster than my computer, which is surprising accurate while on battery backup. You simply punch in a time zone code to adjust for your time zone. The time zone setting instructions are on top of the clock, so you don't even have to open up the users manual.
There is a low battery indicator, which is nice, so that you'll know when the included battery is starting to get low (this is for backup; it runs on electricity).
The radio sound quality is ho hum, as to be expected from a clock radio this size and in this price range.
This is not the sexiest clock radio out there, but for the price, it is an excellent value.
Digital camera Review: False claim of auto time set; good otherwise
Summary: 3 Stars
The claim that it has automatic time set is simply false. It does not have automatic time set (the time was not even pre-set to EST).
The radio is clear enough to be listenable, unlike an RCA equivalent clock-radio (2 of which have broken--but that one does have auto time set). The appearance is acceptable; for me the time display is bright (green). For me, the buzzer is plenty loud--not pleasant but at least not too jarring. A problem for me is that the "alarm reset" button is too small and hard to find by touch--it's too easy to push a different small button. I'm considering how to stick something on top of it so I can feel it. The snooze bar is big and easy to find. To set the time you have to go through the hours by minute ("hour set" and "minute set" are not separate); however, it goes quickly and in both directions. I am pleased overall--despite being annoyed by the claim of automatic time set.
Digital camera Review: Fantastic alarm clock!
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this alarm clock for my daughter and she loves it. Very easy to use and well designed. Sony has really done a great job designing everything so that it is simple to setup and use. It would be nice if it had an MP3 connection but for the price that is probably asking to much.Digital camera Review: Finally I found the ultimate alarm clock
Summary: 5 Stars
The way this clock sets the alarm time is ingenious! It's so easy to use, especially for me whose work time changes daily. There are two knobs on the two sides of the clock, because this is a dual-alarm clock. You own one knob and your wife the other. Just rotate the knob up to increase the time and down to decrease. The time will accelerate faster if you hold it for a moment, or go minute by minute if you click. All the dual-alarm clocks out there have too many buttons that make changing the wake up time a real choir. This single knob replaces 4 buttons: hour up, hour down, minute up, minute down.
And changing the current time is easy. It will do it for you.
The buzzer will start out beeping slowly, and accelerate in the frequency if you don't snooze it. Great way NOT to bother other people in the house.
I don't need it to play CD or have high fidelity sound. It's an alarm clock and it's good at being just that, an alarm clock.
Digital camera Review: Flashing time no matter what
Summary: 1 Stars
I plugged this in and the wrong time flashed constantly, read the directions for time zone etc and nothing worked. I purchased a new battery from Amazon and the the clock still did not work. I have the single alarm version and that worked out of the box.
I'm out the cost of a battery and the cost of the clock as I am unable to get out of the house to return. Shame on Amazon.