Great on paper, terrible execution
Written: Mar 30 '07 (Updated Feb 25 '09)
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Pros: Large green display, good sound, easy to use, versatile alarm configurations.
Cons: Poor build quality and analog tuner.
The Bottom Line: Nice features, suspect quality.
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| mothadone's Full Review: Sony ICF-CD873 Clock Radio |
This clock radio was EXACTLY what I was looking for. It has a 2 stage alarm that you can set in any combination you wish. Radio first, then alarm etc. It has a CD player with pretty decent sound for its size and you can even set it up to wake up to any track on the CD inside.
It has a nice green display which I find more soothing than the conventional red and it also has a dimmer if you find it too bright. It's also nice and big for us myopic sleepers that don't want to put our glasses on to check the time!
The controls are well laid out and easy to use.
That's why I say it's perfect on paper. Now the reason I want to mail this thing back to Sony in a Ziploc bag in 1000 pieces.
Less than a year after I got it for Xmas, the display started changing its brightness on its own. Then eventually it got to the point where it would turf off completely, making you think the power was out when you woke up. Tapping it gently would get the display back. Then after another month or two, the tapping stopped working and the display would flicker, which is incredibly annoying in a dark room with your eyes closed. It felt like I was sleeping on a dance floor. Anyhow, then the display stopped working completely and I was very fed up with it so I whacked it pretty hard from the side where it used to respond to the aforementioned tapping. Like the Fonz, it worked! The display hasn't acted up since...but as I found out last night, the CD player doesn't work now. Yes, it's probably a result of my angry Hulk smash but I'm really not impressed with the shoddy construction that can't even take one impact. I have a 10 year old JVC portable CD player that's been dropped more than George Bush as a baby and it still works fine. I must say I'm really disappointed in Sony. My Trinitron TV is 25 years old and still sharp as the day we got it but this thing is a P.O.S.
Update Feb. 2009: The CD player still doesn't work but the display has been fine since the Fonzy beating I gave it. I figured I'd be fair and update my harsh review considering it's been behaving.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 60
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Epinions.com ID:
mothadone
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Reviews written: 9
Trusted by: 1 member
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