pianoplayer88key
08-08-2009, 12:38 PM
Hi all. I need to get a new clock radio asap, as the one I've been using failed me at the wrong time, and it turns out I need some functionality that it's not capable of. Budget is around $30-50, somewhat flexible. I'm basically looking for a radio + alarm clock combo - the type that you would put on a nightstand by your bed.
Some features I'm looking for include:
excellent sensitivity and selectivity on the radio - FM comparable to the Grundig G8 portable, AM at least as good as the Sangean DT-400W portable radio. Two of my favorite stations happen to be ones that are hard to receive locally - for example there's an FM classical station on 91.5FM about 100 miles away, next to a local on 91.7, and an AM Radio Disney station on 1110AM about 120 miles from me with a directional antenna pointed away from me, next to strong locals on 1090 and 1130. The clock radio I've been using is completely unable to hear those stations, mainly due to the locals bleeding so far off their channels.
ability to set multiple alarms, and especially ability to have them sounding simultaneously. For example, I used to have another one (which currently isn't working) with which I would often set one alarm earlier to play the radio, then a short time later the buzzer (second alarm) would come on, and both would play at the same time, reminding me it was time to get up.
ability to set each alarm, sleep timer, normal radio listening, etc, to their own separate volume and tuner settings. For example, I might listen at a normal volume to a local sports station, go to sleep to the aforementioned distant classical station at a low volume, and wake up to an earful (I'm a very deep sleeper - have slept through several southern California earthquakes where I live, and have been able to go to sleep with an mp3 player & headphones playing at almost full volume) of that aforementioned Radio Disney station.
I did just mention that I'm a deep sleeper, so I need something very loud to wake me up. However, that "humane waking system" feature that some alarm clocks have does seem like it would be a good idea to have. If it doesn't have that, then I would for sure want it to play a radio station, otherwise starting off with a buzzer full blast would have a similar effect on me to getting up on the wrong side of the bed.
A few I'm looking at include the Sony ICF-C705, Sony ICF-CD7000 (I don't really need CD capability for this, but would be willing to consider this model pending other features being close enough to what I want), Sangean RCR-2, Sangean RCR-1S, and Sangean RCR-3 (a bit out of my price range but could possibly consider it), all of which are available at Fry's.
One note of concern about the Sangeans, though, is that the manual says if the radio signal is weak it will play the buzzer. I often listen to weak / hard-to-hear stations (http://www.box.net/shared/shun11gny6) (some few-second audio examples hiding behind the link), and like I said if I wake up to a sudden 114dB buzzer loud enough to wake me up, it will not be a fun day.
This is like the third or fourth forum I've asked about this in. Anyone have an idea of what models would be good to look at, or where else I should ask? I completely slept through my alarm last Sunday and missed a church service that I had really wanted to attend, and I don't want to repeat that. Also when I can find more steady work I will want to have a reliable alarm clock that will blast me out of bed so I won't miss / be late for work. I've even thought about the possibility of mounting springs (the big heavy ones around the shock absorbers on some pickup trucks) under my bed, setting them to pop open when an alarm goes off, blasting me out of bed. Considering the fact that I'm in the bottom bed of a bunk bed, that probably wouldn't be such a good idea. Or, if it weren't for the fact that hearing suddenly loud non-program-content has a very bad effect on me, I'd even consider hooking up the home security system to be an alarm clock - the indoor bell is right outside my bedroom door, and the control panel is down the hall, which would make me have to get out of bed to turn the alarm off.
Chances are if the controls for the alarm are right by my bed, I would just reach over and shut it off if it suddenly started blasting, defeating the purpose of having one in the first place. (If it started quietly then got louder it wouldn't be quite as bad, though.)
So anyone have any suggestions? I know my cell phone (G1) has that capability, but it's not nearly loud enough. If I tried to make it loud enough, I probably would physically break the speaker from the overdriven audio.
Some features I'm looking for include:
excellent sensitivity and selectivity on the radio - FM comparable to the Grundig G8 portable, AM at least as good as the Sangean DT-400W portable radio. Two of my favorite stations happen to be ones that are hard to receive locally - for example there's an FM classical station on 91.5FM about 100 miles away, next to a local on 91.7, and an AM Radio Disney station on 1110AM about 120 miles from me with a directional antenna pointed away from me, next to strong locals on 1090 and 1130. The clock radio I've been using is completely unable to hear those stations, mainly due to the locals bleeding so far off their channels.
ability to set multiple alarms, and especially ability to have them sounding simultaneously. For example, I used to have another one (which currently isn't working) with which I would often set one alarm earlier to play the radio, then a short time later the buzzer (second alarm) would come on, and both would play at the same time, reminding me it was time to get up.
ability to set each alarm, sleep timer, normal radio listening, etc, to their own separate volume and tuner settings. For example, I might listen at a normal volume to a local sports station, go to sleep to the aforementioned distant classical station at a low volume, and wake up to an earful (I'm a very deep sleeper - have slept through several southern California earthquakes where I live, and have been able to go to sleep with an mp3 player & headphones playing at almost full volume) of that aforementioned Radio Disney station.
I did just mention that I'm a deep sleeper, so I need something very loud to wake me up. However, that "humane waking system" feature that some alarm clocks have does seem like it would be a good idea to have. If it doesn't have that, then I would for sure want it to play a radio station, otherwise starting off with a buzzer full blast would have a similar effect on me to getting up on the wrong side of the bed.
A few I'm looking at include the Sony ICF-C705, Sony ICF-CD7000 (I don't really need CD capability for this, but would be willing to consider this model pending other features being close enough to what I want), Sangean RCR-2, Sangean RCR-1S, and Sangean RCR-3 (a bit out of my price range but could possibly consider it), all of which are available at Fry's.
One note of concern about the Sangeans, though, is that the manual says if the radio signal is weak it will play the buzzer. I often listen to weak / hard-to-hear stations (http://www.box.net/shared/shun11gny6) (some few-second audio examples hiding behind the link), and like I said if I wake up to a sudden 114dB buzzer loud enough to wake me up, it will not be a fun day.
This is like the third or fourth forum I've asked about this in. Anyone have an idea of what models would be good to look at, or where else I should ask? I completely slept through my alarm last Sunday and missed a church service that I had really wanted to attend, and I don't want to repeat that. Also when I can find more steady work I will want to have a reliable alarm clock that will blast me out of bed so I won't miss / be late for work. I've even thought about the possibility of mounting springs (the big heavy ones around the shock absorbers on some pickup trucks) under my bed, setting them to pop open when an alarm goes off, blasting me out of bed. Considering the fact that I'm in the bottom bed of a bunk bed, that probably wouldn't be such a good idea. Or, if it weren't for the fact that hearing suddenly loud non-program-content has a very bad effect on me, I'd even consider hooking up the home security system to be an alarm clock - the indoor bell is right outside my bedroom door, and the control panel is down the hall, which would make me have to get out of bed to turn the alarm off.
Chances are if the controls for the alarm are right by my bed, I would just reach over and shut it off if it suddenly started blasting, defeating the purpose of having one in the first place. (If it started quietly then got louder it wouldn't be quite as bad, though.)
So anyone have any suggestions? I know my cell phone (G1) has that capability, but it's not nearly loud enough. If I tried to make it loud enough, I probably would physically break the speaker from the overdriven audio.