How to choose a clock radio?
Jun 10 '01
The Bottom Line Choosing the right clock radio is no laughing matter. Choose one that best suits your sleeping habits. More features = higher price, but not necessarily better.
Ok, don't laugh. choosing a clock radio is serious business. I mean you depend on these things to wake you up on time for work right? I can't imagine how someone like me would ever be able to keep a job without one.
Choosing the wrong alarm clock can really get your day off to a bad start. I'm a very heavy sleeper. I set four alarms every day and sometimes, I still oversleep. I'm writing this opinion with heavy sleepers in mind. I often find that the louder and more irritating alarms don't wake me up as well as it may seem.
Of course a loud alarm will wake almost anyone up. My problem is that they wake me up too suddenly, with a jolt. I jump up, rush to turn them off and then go back to bed, still half asleep.
Features to look for
For a heavy sleeper, the best feature that I've found is the gradual wake feature. The alarm will begin at a very low volume and gradually get louder until you turn it off. Instead of waking you up with a jolt and sending you into a frenzied rush to find the off or snooze button, it gradually wakes you. I find it helps a lot. Finding a clock radio with this feature that you actually like may not be easy though. I've only seen a few of them.
Dual alarms are also nice. Especially if you have two people who need to get up at two different times. I use the dual alarm feature on mine just in case the first one doesn't wake me.
The battery backup feature is also one you'll want to look for in case of a power outage. The better ones will still sound the alarm even if the power is still out.
A large, clear display is definitely a plus. Especially if you, like me have poor eyesight. I've found that the displays with the green numbers are much easier on the eyes than the harsh red ones. Most clock radios have some way of dimming the display in case you don't want your alarm clock doubling as a nightlight.
There are many other features available on clock radios. If you're the type that wants a clock radio that does everything but have your coffee ready for you when you wake up, there's probably one available to suit your needs. some other features that are nice but not necessarily essential are:
*Cd Player
*Nature sounds
*Stereo sound
Above all, try to look for a clock radio that is easy to operate. There's nothing more frustrating than trying to set a clock that goes up one number at a time. Or one that won't let you go back if you accidentally overshoot the desired time. Keep in mind that there will probably be times when you'll need to control certain features in the dark. A unit with a thousand buttons may look impressive but it's sure to confuse you in the dark. Simple is always better when it comes to an alarm clock.
If you're a light sleeper, almost any alarm will probably do. My sister had a very basic alarm that woke her up without fail for years. I've gone through many of them and still haven't found the perfect one for me.
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Member: Brian
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