Sony ICF-C318 Clock Radio with Dual Alarm (Black) by Sony
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Digital camera reviews of Sony ICF-C318 Clock Radio with Dual Alarm (Black)
Digital camera Review: Best alarm clock radio ever
Summary: 5 Stars
This product is far and away the best alarm clock radio I've ever used (and an incredible bargain).
Initial Setup
If you happen to be in the Eastern Time Zone, as I am at the moment, then all you do is plug it in, and it instantly displays the correct time, including DST. If you're not in EST or EDT, then there's a dedicated button clearly labeled "TIME ZONE". I've never seen an atomic clock set itself instantly, so I assume that it got turned on and was allowed to set itself at the factory, and the backup battery did the rest.
On the day we were supposed to"spring forward", the clock correctly switched to DST, so I guess the atomic clock broadcast must include a DST bit that the clock knows how to use. The only other explanation I can think of is that the clock keeps track of the date for the sole purpose of toggling DST, which I find unlikely
User Interface
This clock has the most intuitive alarm clock UI I've ever seen. On each side, it has a "jog dial" knob. The one on the left adjusts Alarm A's set time; the one on the right adjust Alarm B's. To advance the alarm time, twist the knob "forward" (away from you). To adjust the alarm time backward, twist the knob backward (toward you). No instructions needed (that's my standard for a good UI!).
I started to add a note critical of the clock's support for only 7 time zones, but then realized that perhaps there is no time broadcast available outside these zones. The top of the unit has controls for manually setting the time and DST.
Reliability: so far, so good...
Pros
+ Extremely intuitive to use
+ Automatically switches to/from Daylight Savings Time
+ Does a good job of pulling in stations
+ Clean sound (if a bit tinny)
+ Battery backup (keeps time and remembers settings, but display, and presumably alarm, is off until power is restored)
+ Display brightness is adjustable (3 levels)
Cons
+ Analog tuning
+ No station presets
Digital camera Review: Brightness control works great
Summary: 5 Stars
Just got mine. I'd been worried about the brightness control (whether the low setting would be dim enough) based on some other reviews I'd read, but in fact it's perfect.Digital camera Review: Can be Set to Really Dim!
Summary: 5 Stars
I wanted two features in a new clock - #1 was being able to dim the display so we don't have to turn it on it's face to sleep in the same room with it like the last one, and #2 have recognizable controls so you don't change a setting every time you touch it, like the last on.
This one scores well on both counts. It has three dimming levels - regular, dim, and really dim. The last works very well in our really dark house at night, though it's a bit hard to read in the day time. Not an issue - we don't read the bedroom clock in the daytime.
The controls are easy to find, and distinct. No more changing settings accidentally.
All in all, totally satisfactory.
Digital camera Review: Clock OK, Dead Battery on Arrival
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a great little clock radio with all of the features that I wanted. And the price was right. However, I was not able to "just plug it in" so it would show the correct time (with time zone adjustments) as advertised. The CR2032 battery, which keeps the time when there is no AC power, was dead. I had to go out and buy another battery to replace it. I did and now it is working fine. A more general observation: the brand name Sony used to be synonymous with quality; now it is not. Lately, most of the Sony products I have bought have had one or more defects.Digital camera Review: College Student's Best Friend
Summary: 4 Stars
I LOVE this clock! It is so easy to use. Plus the two alarms make it so that I can set them 5 minutes apart and thus I am ALWAYS up on time! It's really easy to unset as well, so when I go home for the weekend I wont wake up my dorm-mate.
Very Awesome.