Showing posts with label alarm clock for iphone 5. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alarm clock for iphone 5. Show all posts

Alkaline C-8 Battery Family Packs

Alkaline C-8 Battery Family PacksThey're batteries... You can't ask for more: either they work or they dont. (in this case, they did). . .

This is pretty much what they cost at any grocery store, if not slightly more. Not a good value, very disappointing from Amazon. Also, they arrived in a bag with quite a bit of damage, with the batteries spilled out all over the place!

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Gets the job done adequate life but not as great as rayovacs. Starting voltage 1.42 volts ......Enough said

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Midland XT511 GMRS Two-Way Emergency Crank Radio

Midland XT511 GMRS Two-Way Emergency Crank Radio
  • Emergency radio with 22 GMRS/FRS channels and all 10 NOAA weather channels with alert function
  • Includes AM/FM radio reception, a clock with an alarm function, and a 3-LED flashlight
  • Features VOX automatic voice-activated operation, and a USB port for charging cell phones, radios, etc.
  • Rechargeable battery can be powered by dynamo hand crank, or included AC or DC power adapters
  • Constructed to be water resistant, and backed by a manufacturer's 3-year warranty

If you are looking for an Emergency 2 way radio, look no further.

Pros:

1. AM/FM These are not Bose speakers, but they are clear. It works just like portable battery powered radios. This is useful in emergencies when the TV and cable are knocked down so you can get news from stations that are still transmitting. I take it out with me on my patio and just listen to music or news.

2. Multiple power source Can run on Alkaline, included Rechargeable battery pack, AC socket, DC through the cigarette lighter, or just cranking to recharge the batteries. With all those sources of energy, you will never run out of power.

3. 5 Watt GMRS Radio It truly is powerful. Just as strong as my professional radios. Excellent as a base station when traveling or trying to look for help in an emergency.

4. Portability It comes with a strap so that you dont have to hold it when moving about. It also has a handle so you have a firm grip when carrying it.

5. LED flashlight You will never be in the dark. I have tried leaving it on the whole night and it still had have charge. I just used the crank to fully charge it again.

6. Weather-proof I actually used it when there was a one week heavy downpour here LA. It got wet in the rain, but it did not fail.

7. VOX It has 3 levels of sensitivity. At level 1, it is so sensitive that it will transmit if someone in the room speaks.

8. External Speaker Mic It is very clear and is functional. It uses the same connectors as my Professional Icom handheld radio, so you can even upgrade the Speaker mic if you wish.

Cons:

1. Durability As a base station, or if you don't drop it it is perfectly fine. It is not built to withstand a drop on a hard surface like Professional radios. This is an emergency base station so, you aren't expected to treat it like a walkie talkie. They never stated that it is as durable as a professional radio, so I was not expecting it. So it isn't such a big deal.

2. No carrying case It would have made it more useful if they included a small bag where you can put this and the accessories, as well as some basic emergency supplies. But, again, this was something I knew that was not included so, it is just a nice to have.

Summary:

It does everything it says it can do, and does it very well. If you were caught after an earthquake, this is the equipment you will need to have with you. It delivers what it promises, and is better than the other Midland Walkie talkies.

*****UPDATE APRIL 2, 2010********

I performed a distance and clarity test.

Test equipment:

1. Midland XT511($65)

2. ICOM F21 4 WATT PROFESSIONAL RADIO($200)

3. ICOM F40GT 4 WATT PROFESSIONAL RADIO($500)

Test Scenario:

1. My wife standing on the balcony of my house. She has both the Midland and the ICOM F40GT.

2. I will stop every 1 mile and get down from the car and I will use the ICOM F21 to talk to her.

3. I will ask her to communicate first with the Midland, then the ICOM.

Test results:

Mile 1:

1. Midland I can hear her and understand her without static or noise. The audio quality was a little muffled and was not as loud as the ICOM.

2. ICOM I can hear her and understand her without static or noise. The audio was noticeably louder and clearer than the Midland.

Mile 2:

1. Midland I can still talk to her. There is some static and a little noise. The audio did not drop.

2. ICOM Just as good as it was at 1 mile. No static or noise.

Mile 3:

1. Midland Barely audible. Trails in and out.

2. ICOM Noticeable static and noise, but I can still communicate without drop of audio.

Summary:

The ICOM can reach further and is clearer than the Midland in transmit and receive, but it still does what it was meant to do and it does do it well, standing up to an ICOM. But keep in mind that the ICOM is just a tranceiver, it does not have any of the many functions of the Midland. I still give this 5 stars for function and excellent value.

****UPDATE November 28,2011****

I am very happy to report that it still works fine and I have had no problems with it. I use it as my mobile base station when we go outdoors. Still doing a great job. do not leave batteries inside if you intend to store it so that the battery will not leak or cause corrosion.

****UPDATE October 26, 2012*****

Amazingly, both Emergency GMRS radios are alive and still used daily. I have one under my car seat, and the other one is supposed to be in my Bug Out Bag, but instead of shelling out money, I used it as my patio radio. I listen to my favorite Radio station, 104.3 FM in LA. Of course I switch over to AM and NOAA just to be sure there are no emergencies, or just to find out the weather forecast. I also Kayak, so it helps to know if the waves are high in the beach area.

All consumer radios have limited warranties, usually lasting only a year. So please TEST YOUR RADIOS extensively in the first year so that if there is a problem with it, they will replace it. But, I am so happy with how long these radios have lasted. $65 for 3 years of extensive use as an emergency radio, flashlight, Patio entertainment and weather forecasts. I only had to change the rechargeable battery and bought a spare after 3 years.

Hope to catch you on the air.

****UPDATE January 16,2013*****

Coming up to 4 years and these radios are still working great. The AC Adapter wire got cut because I accidentally ran over it with the Vacuum cleaner(Genius, I know). I called Midland now and told them, no questions asked, they told me they were sending me a brand new adapter for FREE! That is EXCELLENT customer service right there! Kudos to Midland.

Anyway, I am using the Dual channel watch option now since more of my neighbors also got into radio. I have 2 groups talking on different channels so that it does not get crowded. I then use the Dual Channel Monitor feature to monitor 2 channels simultaneously. We have our radios always on so that we can call each other, and I am acting as a repeater/operator since I have the XT511 Basecamp. We make sure to always have someone in the neighborhood monitoring the radios. It does give us peace of mind that we can call for help to the entire neighborhood at a press of a button.

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I have to think that there is tremendous quality control variability with this radio based on the wildly different reviews.

I'm a radio geek and have been collecting radios for the last 40 years. When I saw the ad for this Midland I just had to have it. I thought it would be a perfect addition for my camping adventures. The radio seems to be totally loaded with just about anything you would need. It has a GRMS/FRS 2-way radio, an AM/FM radio, a weather radio, a clock with alarm and even a 3 LED flashlight. Add to this the fact that it runs on both alkaline and a wind-up rechargeable battery! Wow.

Sadly, none of the functions work very well. Both the AM and FM reception are very subpar. AM reception could only receive the strongest stations and they bled over adjacent frequencies. Many stations that I could pick up on a cheap pocket radio could not be picked up on this radio. FM was worse, only picking up a couple of very powerful local stations.

Weather band worked, but only barely. I was able to pick up many more channels on a little Grundig/Eton wind-up.

FRS/GRMS radio functions were similarly mediocre to poor.

Cranking was more awkward than on other emergency radios that I have used including those by Freeplay and Grundig.

On a positive note, the LED flashlight is nice and the clock/alarm is also a nice feature. You also get a lot of accessories, including an external mic, both car and AC chargers and a carrying strap.

Overall, I was disappointed by this radio. The fact that others like it suggests to me that there may be a lot of variability between radios. However, in general, I would pass on this radio. There are many inexpensive GRMS/FRS radios that would do a better job. If you are looking for a good emergency broadcast band radio check out those made by Freeplay or Grundig/Eton.

Read Best Reviews of Midland XT511 GMRS Two-Way Emergency Crank Radio Here

I bought this radio based on Google reviews as I wanted a crank AM-FM primarily. But the GMRS side of this radio is superb, the NiMH battery with additional AA alk options, hand mic/speaker are most welcome.

I use FRS/GMRS quite a bit both on the Motorola commercial side, Ham and family. I have used scores of different radios from $10 junk FRS walkies to $1000 commercial 2-way. For the price, the GMRS performance is excellent. Sensitive receiver, credible power (not published; but I'm guessing 2 watts on the GMRS channels), good carrier and PL/DCS squelch systems and all the junk beeps and bops are disabled by default. The weather and other features are icing on a a fine cake.

Only downside for my application is that the size of the unit is fairly large. It currently is on 7/24 in my office sitting on GMRS channel 7, PL 22. It is replacing my desktop Audiovox 2000 as my full time monitor radio.

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I just got my Midland XT511 today; This unit pulls in wx signals with clearer and louder reception than my Cobra WXST and my Cobra Microtalk. It also pulls in am and fm frequencies with more clarity and loudness than my Grundig FR200. I also sent out on my familys' GMRS channel a call and in moments got two reports back from my brother who lives about 1/4 mile distance and my father who lives about 1/3 mile distance. Its not actually printed on the box or owners manual that the XT511 transmits at 5 watts output while on Hi, but I will assure you with confidence that 1/3 mile distance with loudness and clarity through homes packed with all sorts of electrical appliances is impressive enough to suggest the full 5 watt output is being emitted from the XT511. Another point of interest that perhaps sets the Basecamp as more of a Basestation above all of the walkies; I've yet to hear the annoying chirp that barks from my Cobras, I believe the autosquelch featured in the XT511 is some nice noise filtering that really keeps the barks and belches from stealing the peace, better squelch than my Audiovox GMRS-2000. On a critical note, I suggest that Midland should enhance thier AVP-7 battery pack and upgrade the 700-mah to something offering longer standby and transmit capability, perhaps 2500-mah or 2900-mah. This surely isnt a 300mw transmit like the radio shack walkies from yester-year and the solid state circuitry offers some loud audio thats going to suck down that old-tech 700mah pack quicker than the avp-7 was designed for. On a side note, the 4AA alkaline slots are a nice home for some 2500-mah energizers that I have charging(seperatly from the unit) as I write; perhaps Midland will make a slight engineering adustment and let you crank-charge the alkaline slots as though it were apart of the nimh system. Nevetheless, the Midland XT511 offers consolidated and refined features; someone or some commitee at Midland must be very happy and proud to be able to brainstorm something into existence that integrates this much form and function into a marketable product. I love my XT511, Thanks Midland.

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Being an Extra class ham operator, I am always looking for radios which could be used in an emergency. i.e. When a disaster has downed all forms of communication, Ham radio operators provided the communications for civil authorities & civilians. This radio is a welcomed addition to my shack. All of the features work as advertised, and work well! My other primary reason for purchasing this radio is my 30 year old son, who has Duchene Muscular Dystrophy. He has extremely limited use of only his fingers & speech. He now has this radio setting besides him on the #1 VOX setting. It is sensitive enough to easily pick his voice up, using the included mic, setting near his shirt collar. His speech comes over the receiver clearly. And best of all, we can now talk back to him, when he calls, needing assistance. I also bought the Midland GXT1000VP4 set of radios. We use one to monitor my son's frequency, while the 2nd charges. When the 'in-use' radio's battery is depleted, we simply set it in the charger and use the other, which is fully charged. It is a great addition for my son's piece of mind! THANKS Amazon for the great prices!!

BlackBerry Charging Pod for BlackBerry Bold 9000

BlackBerry Charging Pod for BlackBerry Bold 9000I bought this charging pod to use as a bedside stand for my new BlackBerry Bold. I'd read online that some didn't like it because when the Bold is in the pod it can easily tip.

In my usage I have not had any problems with the base tumbling. There's a grippy rubber bottom to the stand that further keeps it from moving around when knocked.

Could you inadvertently knock over your Bold while it's in this stand? Absolutely. The bold sticks up about 4 to 6" so it becomes an easier target. That's going to be an issue with any charging stand of this type.

What's cool (and I didn't expect) is there's a white light at the back of this pod so you can find it in the dark (useful if used as bedside charger stand) to re-cradle your BlackBerry Bold.

As the description say's, this is a charging pod only you'll need to supply your own charger (and BlackBerry Bold).

The fit is perfect. Drop your Bold. It charges. Enough said.

I'm buying another for my office.

I like the charge pod. I had the same idea of wanting to have it bedside to charge overnight. Having the Bold in the flip clock mode reminds me of my old clock radio. Anyway, the charger works, but not if you have a skin on your Blackberry. The skin has cutouts for everything else, why not for the charger? I'm tempted to make some cuts in the skin to see if I can get it to work. May just resign to taking the skin off at night. Overall, like the product, just wish it worked with the skin on.

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I consider this one of those "no-brainer" products. At the time of this review, the price is below $12 (in part because the Bold has been out for a year now and there is likely a newer phone in the pipeline). For us late adopters (or those who need a second or replacement charging pod), the price is so right.

To make this thing work, you need a Blackberry power cord (like the one that came with your phone). You can find a spare cheap here on Amazon. This is the pod only, no cord.

My pod came in hassle free packaging, which was a nice surprise. No crazy plastic package to wrestle with.

The pod itself is handsome a blueish flat chrome finish with black plastic inside. You simply drop a naked phone (no case, as the charger uses little metal prongs on the bottom outside of the phone and a case would cover these up) into the pod and it does its thing. No cord to mess with.

This pod is perfect for a desk or nightstand. It provides a far superior charging experience for two reasons: 1) no cord to plug in and 2) you can see the phone because it is standing up.

I see nothing wrong with this it's designed well, functions well, is described well on the site, and the price is great. Five stars.

Read Best Reviews of BlackBerry Charging Pod for BlackBerry Bold 9000 Here

I use my BlackBerry Bold as my alarm clock, so I find this charging pod a necessity allowing to see the time as the wee hours of the night. The pod is lightweight and the loose fit allows retrieving the phone while leaving the pod in place. The led on the back stays lit at all times, and while great to find the pod at night without turning on the lights, perhaps it should turn off once the phone sits in it.

Unfortunately, there are a few pesky bugs in the OS that this pod uncovers. I have the phone setup to "Enter Bedside Mode" when charging. Removing the phone from the dock prompts the question: Do you want to exit Bedside Mode? Yes/No. Well, Yes means No, and No means Yes--meaning, if one answers Yes, the phone remains in bedside mode. This doesn't happen if charging the phone through the USB port.

Closing words, the Bold should ship with the charging pod in the box, or a rebate coupon to get it free. It adds sufficient usability to make it almost a requirement, and with the bold price (pun intended) there is no excuse.

All said, I definitely recommend!

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Very good dock. Works very well. Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because sometimes you have to shift the phone in the dock to make sure the contacts line up. Other than that it has worked perfectly for me.

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Grundig S450DLX Deluxe AM/FM/Shortwave Radio, Black (NGS450DLB)

Grundig S450DLX Deluxe AM/FM/Shortwave Radio, Black
  • AM/MW (520-1710 KHz / 522-1620 KHz), FM (88-108 MHz), SW (continuous frequency range from 1711-29999kHz).
  • Provides high sensitivity, strong anti-interference, low background noise and lower distortion.
  • MCU Control (micro controller unit) and large LCD backlight display
  • 50 station memory (10 presets for each band).
  • Individual MW 500 Ext./GND socket for external antenna and ground to improve MW sensitivity.

Ordered from Amazon and received my radio a few days after Christmas. As a radio enthusiast I have been in search of the perfect radio. My interests are mainly in MW dxing and have been looking for a modern radio with strong AM reception. My location is in North East PA on the outskirts of a small city. I enjoy listening to am stations located in Philly, Chicago and NYC. Two years ago I decided to look for a new radio that would have the ability to pick up my favorite stations during the daytime. I currently own several Grunding radios, the G3, G5 and G6 that I have purchased thru Radio Shack. (As a side note I must have bought and returned those models several times until I found a hot one that performed well). I was in search of a modern radio with AM performance close to my Sony ICF-2010. I must admit that this radio is very close and has better AM reception than my Sangean 909 and Sony ICF-SW7600GR. The 2010 is still the king, but I am very happy with this radio.

The FM performance is also very good, however my little Tecsun PL -310 with DSP has it beat. By the way, the 310 also has very good AM performance for it's size.

The s450 is a large radio, and when loaded with six "D" cells it gets quite heavy. Included with it is power adapter that in my comparison added little to no extra noise. Overall the radios build quality is decent. The tuning nob and most other switches seems ok, with the exception of the wide, narrow and FM switch. The display lights up well and there is a switch that will also light up most of the buttons on the front panel. The radio comes set with a annoying beep when turned on, but I found that if you hold the sleep button down when the radio is off it will disable this feature. So, in summary, this radio is not perfect but for me comes very very close with terrific AM sensitivity and for the money it is a great deal.

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Out of the box, this radio was fantastic! Then I put batteries in it. AM was okay, but noisy when my CCRadio and CCRadio-SW weren't. I also couldn't get a lot of farther away stations with it. Very disappointed. Saw on another site it's only got a 5.5" ferrite bar for AM. I think an 8" bar would easily fit this radio. What a waste. SW was okay, about the same as the CCRadio-SW, but nothing spectacular. Not bad, not good, average; and there's really nothing wrong with that, it's just not anything to crow about. FM though... FM was great for 3 days. Then it completely died on the radio. Nothing. Researching online I found that's par for the course for this radio. It went back to the store, got a replacement. 4 days later, FM gone again! This time I got a refund, not another replacement.

Bottom line, I'd avoid this radio until they get the problems fixed. It will be a great radio for the price then, but not now it's not. Stay away. Very far away!

Read Best Reviews of Grundig S450DLX Deluxe AM/FM/Shortwave Radio, Black (NGS450DLB) Here

I currently own the Tecsun PL-600 and the Grundig S350 DL radios. They are both superior reception radios for AM/FM. I didn't really give it good long test for SW reception since I'd already determined the 450 was going back.

Compared to the S350 the 450 looks and feels cheap. The reception is much weaker and sound is tinny whether though the speaker or headphones. Even when the station was locked on with a strong signal it still sounded weak to me. I read the entire manual and changed every setting I could think of to improve this.

I expect a field radio to have a strong speaker sound like the S350 DL has. The 450 speaker sounds more like the much smaller PL-600.

I like Tecsun/Grundig/Eton products but this particular radio is lacking. I don't consider myself a radio expert by any means but for this money I would look elsewhere. If you don't already own a Grundig S350 DL, I would certainly give it a strong look.

With this Worldwide lousy economy it seems that many companies are flat out cutting costs so much they are now producing inferior products. I know it's happening in the digital camera industry as well. Consumers are buying the older versions in greater numbers.

kd

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After having read early reviews of this radio from January 2011, I was a little concerned when I ordered it. It arrived nicely packaged, although the main tuning knob was off the shaft and loose in the box. Thankfully, it pushed back on easily and has a smooth, "analog" feel to it.

All controls work well, and selectivity and sensitivity are good, certainly in the same class as other radios in this price range. I'm using this radio primarily for AM and FM and I'm satisfied so far with its performance.

The S450 is exceedingly good looking and, after a month of use, I don't have any severe complaints, but I do wish the bass were a bit deeper.

For the $80.00 price on Amazon.Com, I think I made a good purchase. It's early, and only time will tell if it will hold up well, but you get a year warranty period, so I'm not concerned.

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new above the 350 dlx

--Audio in, yes now you can plug in your favorite mp3 player or standalone satellite radio player.

--PRESETS---yes, thank you!

--6 D batteries instead of 4 on the 350dlx, so longer play

--my favorite, the lock key, I carry my radio in my backpack when I bring it to work ( a delivery driver) and the 350 used to always turn on, the lock button is a nice feature

the only con is the snooze and alarm buttons on the top edge of the radio. I wedge the radio in a spot in my truck where it is lying face up the sometimes the buttons will get pressed and make a little beeping, and I'll have to adjust the radio. It's a minor thing and it's really about where I place the radio, not the radio design. All in all, great upgrades over the previous model. No headphones come with it like the 350 dlx. but the speaker sounds crisper.

Memorex MI7805P 30-Pin iPod/iPhone Speaker Dock with CD Player (Black)

Memorex MI7805P 30-Pin iPod/iPhone Speaker Dock with CD Player
  • Powers and charges your iPhone & iPod devices. Charcoal black, also available in white
  • Multi-directional speakers provide high quality sound to the entire room
  • Digital AM/FM radio with station presets, includes AM and FM antenna
  • Line-in jack to connect other audio devices
  • Includes AC adapter and rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides 4 to 6 hours of continuous play

The Memorex Party Cube is a docking boombox designed to pair up with a range of Apple iPod and iPhone products. It also offers its own built-in CD and AM/FM tuner sources. Its compact design, sturdy build and rechargeable battery make it a great option for bringing your music on-the-go. It also provides lots of sound thanks to its multi-directional speaker array, although the range of frequencies (especially low-end) is limited.

The Party Cube is roughly the size of a four-slice toaster and easy to carry thanks to its folding handle. It is made from heavy-duty plastic that feels like it would stand up to lots of jostling with minimal scratches and scuffs. The bottom of the unit is slightly rubberized for some grip this would be useful for keeping it in place while in motion on boats and RVs. A very nice feature is that it carries its own built-in rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries, which means that it should hold a charge even if it's been shelved for some time. This feature further suits the Party Cube for on-the-fly use whenever you're heading out to the park or the beach.

The controls are simple and straightforward (play/pause/stop/track/skip/etc.), but in order to accommodate the variety of Apple products that it can dock with, there are some clear omissions. For example, when docking my iPod, I was surprised to see that there is no means for navigating the menus or selecting albums/playlists. In order to do so, you have to use the actual controls on the face of the iPod. The Party Cube does come with an adjustable backing behind the dock so that you can press the portable's buttons without worrying about bending the connection pins. I was surprised to see that the Party Cube did not come with any sort of remote control, which should have been included in order to get the most utility out of its strengths.

Soundwise, the Party Cube provided a mixed bag: it is plenty loud and easy to hear in all directions, but sound quality was not terribly impressive. The omnidirectional array of speakers makes it great for picnics or grilling on the deck wherever you place it, everyone is hearing the same sound. Treble was not quite tinny but definitely a bit flat; bass was virtually non-existent due to the small size of the speaker cones. However, the Party Cube does provide a lot of amplification power, making it very well-suited to outdoor use. Assuming that you're not looking for perfect fidelity when using the Party Cube, the deficiencies in sound quality are an acceptable trade-off for the size of the unit.

PROS

* Sturdy build and compact size make it ideal for travel and outdoor use

* Omnidirectional speakers and ample volume give it long range

* Built-in rechargeable LiON battery means its always ready to go

* Compatible with a variety of Apple iProducts

CONS

* So-so sound quality

* Lack of iPod/iPhone control built in; no remote control

With so many dockable speaker products crowing the Apple market, the Party Cube stands out as a great option for travel and outdoor use. Whether you boat or camp frequently, or if you're just looking for something that's always ready to throw tunes way down the beach, this is highly recommended.

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This is an amazing, small sized, but BIG sound/BIG performance "speaker" for your iPod! Unlike most others in this price range, it includes a cd player and fm/am! It is so easy to take anywhere, too, and even tho I got so I could to dock my iPod in something great looking WITH SPEAKERS, I was amazed at all the extra features it has for the money over the other "docking station" type sound system stuff I searched thru. The price is very competitive especially because it offers so much more functionality. Best, for me, is the small size because it fits my headboard. Nope, don't think you can do better than this if you need a blaster for all your fave tunes!

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Nicely designed, sleek and sturdy I do love the looks, versatility and portability of the Party Cube but the sound quality is not what I expected/hoped from a player in this price range. There is very little treble and even less bass so the music sounds flat. It does do a decent job of playing tunes for background though. The multi-directional speakers are great for a large area and there is plenty of volume capability. I like the gripper feet so the Cube stays put even on a slick surface. FM reception is spotty if the included antenna wire is not attached. A remote control even just for volume and skipping a track is missed.

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Summary: Great way to have portable music at a party or other event, has a few flaws which make it frustrating to use as a stereo replacement...

Aptly named the party cube, the sound quality and volume won't compete with a full stereo, but are certainly better than the other boom boxes we have and noticably more rich than our Eton Sound 100 radio

The built in rechargeable battery means you don't have to worry about cords or batteries as long as your party doesn't last too long. For us it's super convenient to grab and bring it out to our deck for dinner. It's really very nice looking black and silver color with bright bluish-white LCD screen on the bottom (more on that later). Unfortunately, we listen to the radio a lot and the reception isn't so great it comes with a separate plug in antenna wire. Without it, reception is almost nonexistent. With it, well, it's far less portable. Also, it would appear that form was prioritized over function in a few places, most noticeably on the volume control.

I did take it apart to see what kind of battery it used. It has a 18650 type battery so it should be simple to replace or upgrade when it eventually dies.

Likes:

Excellent overall appearance

Sound quality

~4 hour performance with iPod , 5+ hour radio performance (Moderate volume)

Digital radio tuner with presets

Dock support dials in and out to support your device when you use the scroll wheel.

Dislikes

Bright blue display backlight means you will have to cover it if you use it in your bedroom at night it's really obnoxious if you are trying to rest.

Radio reception is just OK with the long antenna wire dangling all around and non existent without it. The plug hangs on the back as an invitation to damage.

Display font can be hard to read it's a very cool looking font though.

Volume control is NOT ergonomic flat smooth dial which can be VERY hard to turn (Sometimes I have to wet my fingertips to get friction)

Volume control has no indicator of where it is when you turn it on just hope the last person wasn't blasting something.

Disclosure: I received this through Amazon Vine, if you found this review helpful or have any questions, please let me know!

The Memorex Party Cube has the ability to play cd's, radio, input from a 3.5mm stereo cable, music from a docked iPod (or iPhone). It is one of the best boomboxes I've tried recently and they are a dying breed. It's nice to finally find a portable cd player that has excellent build quality and a sleek, attractive design.

The sound of the system is excellent for the size. The high range is clear and vibrant, while the mid range is full and punchy. The bass is lacking as expected due to the lack of large drivers. Volume gets loud enough for most parties, but obviously has limitations considering the price, size and weight. At the top of the volume range, sound gets distorted and harsh, but for comfortable (even moderately loud) listening, the quality of the sound does not diminish. The sound system impressively filled the entire space with sound effectively because it projects to the front and back (but not sides).

The unit is compact and feels very solid from the heft and materials. Buttons and dials are kept to a minimum. There are 5 presets for radio channels and you'll need to use them because scanning the airwaves isn't so easy. The buttons to go up and down frequencies move in 0.1 increments and holding it down makes it go faster, but also makes it go into auto-scan mode where it will not stop until it reaches a strong signal; finding your station can take a little long. Reception is poor without the included antennae for Fm and AM bandwidths, though fairly strong with the antennae. My only major gripe is that my CDR with burned .mp3 files would not play. CD+-R/W compatibility should be standard these days.

Overall, I found the Memorex Party Cube to be one of the best portable stereo systems currently available with a great mix of features and aesthetics. I would highly recommend this sound system to anybody, but especially to those interested in something that will fill a space with sound from the center of the room.

Harman Kardon HK990 2x150 Watt 2.2-Channel Stereo Integrated Amplifier (Black)

Harman Kardon HK990 2x150 Watt 2.2-Channel Stereo Integrated Amplifier
  • 150W x 2 into 8 ohms, 20Hz ? 20kHz, at <0.07% THD, with all channels driven simultaneously
  • High-current (±200 amps), ultrawide-bandwidth (10Hz ? 100kHz) amplifier design
  • High-current capability provides the instantaneous current necessary to precisely drive and control nearly any loudspeaker system
  • Dual-line dot-matrix display

If you're not picky about your audio don't read any further. If you are seriously considering this amp you probably are a pretty serious hifi enthusiast anyway. I just received the amp yesterday and have spent several hours of listening with it. The way you hear every piece of new gear is relative to what you already have. So first let me explain my set-up so you get a sense of where I'm coming from...

About a year ago I upgraded my speakers from a set of so-so Infinity speakers (which were nicer than your typical person's speakers but certainly not audiophile stuff). I invested about $3800 in a set of Paradigm Studio 100s and a Paradigm DSP 3100 subwoofer. Amazing, unbelievable speakers that still leave me awestruck a year later. If you can afford it (which you probably can if you're looking at this) and you're in the market for speakers DON'T OVERLOOK PARADIGM. They really are jaw-dropping.

My problem was that these are large speakers 5 drivers each. So my Harman Kardon AVR40 just wasn't doing the job. It's a good sounding amp but nowhere near the class of my speakers. So I have been waiting until I had some cash to upgrade my amp. My plan had been to purchase a power amp and just run from the preamp outs of the AVR40 to the new power amp. I had set my sights on the Emotiva XPA-2. Read nothing but great things about it and the price was right. But through a family member who works for Harman Int'l I discovered I was able to get HK at a discount. So I decided to go with this, based primarily on the existing reviews and the bang for my buck.

Here are my initial impressions:

PRO

High frequency. The improvement in top end is dramatic. Especially given the capability of my speakers, the airy, open, bright, crystal clear top end is stunning. The kids and I were watching "Young Justice" last night on Cartoon Network. The voices and sound effects just sounded unbelievable. I've never ever on any stereo anywhere heard the clarity I'm now getting. Even my wife NOT an audiophile said "Wow that really sounds good."

PLENTY of power.

Flexible set up options. Lots of inputs including digital and XLR, which can be routed to any of the sources.

A plethora of EQ options, which can be individually set on each input source. So you can run one source to bypass EQ, one to use an automatic EQ setting, one to a set of manually chosen options.

Room correction. It has a mic which you use in four different places to run an a set of auto EQ parameters. Never had an amp with that before.

Awesome looks.

CON

Documentation is inadequate. Given the massive variety of options, the instructions are pretty scant. For example it explains that you can manually set EQ but doesn't explain how to do that. It doesn't explain how to route inputs. There really should be a flowchart that explains the menu system and where to go for each function.

The high frequency can actually be a little overwhelming. Not let me hasten to add that my ears are getting used to it, I haven't spent a whole lot of time with it. And there's always an adjustment period. But some people might consider it a little overly bright I think.

Midrange. Again let me add the caveat that perhaps my previous, cheaper amp OVERemphasized middle frequencies. But I feel like voices, electric guitars, snare drums, and toms are maybe lacking a little punch that I like in the 1-2 khz range. This is extremely subjective, so this may not be a good criticism. It's just different. If I was describing the mid-range I wouldn't call it "muscular."

Manual EQ options. As far as I can tell (and it's hard to tell because the documentation is not very detailed and the menu interface is not super intuitive) the manual EQ options are limited to bass, treble, subwoofer level, and subwoofer crossover frequency. When you pay $2000+ for an amp you expect the EQ options to be a little more specific than bass and treble.

Tuner. There isn't one. This is really not a criticism so much as just pointing out something that I didn't notice before ordering. I have my previous amp with tuner, I can just run that into the "processor" input on the HK990. But if you want to use a tuner you'll need to plan extra room for it in addition to the amp.

CONCLUSION

I'm not going to give you a "bottom line" cuz it's too subjective. It might be the perfect amp for you. Or maybe not. I will set myself a calendar reminder to update my review on Jan 1st. At that point I will have had time to do some extensive listening and for my ears to adjust.

1/8/12 UPDATE...

So I've been listening like crazy over the last 3-4 weeks. Here are my additional thoughts:

Clarity it's just unreal. I brought a friend over to hear it. He's a musician hi/fi guy. After a few minutes listening the first thing he said was "wow the clarity is really surprising." I remind you that this amp is paired with a set of world class (IMO) speakers but again if you're considering this piece of gear you probably have nice stuff, too. I think I have reached the point of diminishing returns. I could try more amps, replace cables, etc., but it's hard to imagine the clarity of sound getting much better. I can only imagine what it would sound like if I hadn't abused my ears so much in my youth and permanently damaged them. (Let that be a warning to all you young'uns!)

High frequency I think the honest truth is I was just getting to used to hearing what was really supposed to be there all along.

The midrange thing I still say there are times when I feel like the midrange is a little too ... underemphasized maybe? I just wish I had a little more precision with the EQ. As I mentioned above, the manual EQ options are more or less blunt force objects: "bass" and "treble."

The EQ and room correction modes so basically you have a couple options. (1) You can bypass the EQ for "direct path." (2) You can manually set the EQ (which is just high, low, sub-woofer crossover and level. And (3) you can use one of several EZset EQ options that involve hi/mid/lo settings based on the room correction reading. Personally I don't care for the choices the EZset EQ makes any of them. And it's hard for me to explain what it is I don't like about the direct path mode. Direct path just feels a little too raw and unrefined. Maybe that's the idea. I have found with my particular speaker/room set up that I prefer the manual mode with bass boosted +2, treble flat, and sub crossover at 90 kHz.

BLU-RAY! So as much as I'm a music enthusiast and that's primarily what my system is for, we also have our main TV/cable/blu-ray set up on it. The boys and I were watching "Super 8" on blu-ray. There's a big train wreck scene early on in the movie. We had it turned up pretty loud and HOLY MOTHER there are all these pieces of metal and stuff that go flying all over in the movie. I swear it sounded like they were landing on the floor in my living room. And with my Paradigm subwoofer boy you could really feel it. It was the most glorious movie sound I've ever heard! We had to rewind it and watch it again cuz it was so amazing. Explosion sounds can really test the limitations of a sound system. I have never heard such super clear, uncompressed explosions. Just rich sound that blossomed and trailed off so clearly. Ok, enough about that ... It was awesome!

It's a Keeper. When I bought it, because of my discount I figured if I didn't like it I could turn around and sell it without losing anything because it's a new model and all. No way man! I'm keeping it.

Buy Harman Kardon HK990 2x150 Watt 2.2-Channel Stereo Integrated Amplifier (Black) Now

I purchased this item in October 2011 and connected it to my Pioneer multi-CD player and Phillips 4 ohm speakers via a digital cable. The sound is excellent. Also, I had to contact the manufacturer for help setting it up and found that HK customer service was superior.

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First time owning Harman Kardon product and i love it.

The HK990 is amazing with its 150 watts of power but

seems to be more on hand what was specified.The bass

is incredible and midrange is sweet also the treble

is better than my M15hd.I hook my ATC SCM19 to this

amp and it is delicious despite my speakers screaming

for 300 watts the HK990 is more than capable of delivering

the power.

Great amp with a beautiful,almost neutral sound that

has captivated me and has made me a Harman Kardon fan.

Just remove the cheesy aluminum veneer on the bottom

section and replace it with real aluminum.It would be

fitting for a product of this quality sound to have

the aesthetics to match.

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I dont write many reviews, but im compelled to do this one since im so impressed with the HK990.

I recently got into Hifi about 6 months ago. Like anything i do, i get a little obsessed. I went and bought an NAD 375bee amp for about 1300 dollars. It was ok but I It wasn't really satisfied. Sound was colored with warmth and crisp extended highs were missing. I was wanting something more so i went and bought a Roksan M2 amp (rated #1 amp for 2011 in the 2000 dollar range from whathifi reviews in England) It was very cold and didnt get any emotion out of the music at all. I hated it .

I then grew frustrated and decided to get a more expensive music fidelity M6i at 3000 dollars! ( had great reviews) It was amazing because it was my 1st dual mono amp. It was very punchy, smooth and eerily quiet, but still the sound was slightly dry and missing a little life. Highs weren't as extended as i hoped.

"I was now very upset! I had to sell all these amps and start again."

Now, After doing tons of research and reading a dozen rave! reviews , i went and bought a 6000 dollar NAD M2 digital amp. I immediately noticed that it had very weak bass and its highes were flat. Music had no body. Weird, since reviews were outstanding. This amp sucked. It was not musical in any way.! It was not even as good as the cheaper Nad 375bee.

I saw a couple of reviews on the HK990 that said the music was very CRISP and bass was tight and well extended. So after reading all the reviews and looking the amazing specs i once again convinced myseld the this Amp was the HOLY GRAIL. The first surprise was that when i get this amp delivered i can barely lift it. The package was over 60 lbs! This amp is a beast! Its larger than any of the amps ive previously owned. I guess bigger is better! I was having thoughts as i was lugging this thing that it will probably sound like the crap the peddle at best buy. like a pioneer or yamaha or denon, or marantz.

So i turn it on and run the amp for 12 hours to break it in ( as all class a/b amps sound very harsh out of he box ) After 12 hours i sat down and i was awestruck! The sound emanating was glorious and outclassed everything ive owned to date, Just to make sure i re-hooked up my NAD m2 and confirmed it was crap. My nephew agreed with me.

(on a side note i was told my someone else who has this

amp that it keeps getting better after 3 weeks of constant use. Mine is only 2 days old so far. I cant imagine it getting better )

So how do i describe the sound of this amp. ?

Super Silky mid range ( voices ) , Crisp and extended highs. Super tight bass. I found myself going through my CD collection and listening to songs i rarely listen to. Audio NIRVANA!

My source is an OPPO BD-95 CD player, and an ONKYO ND-1 ipod transport using my iphone 4s with lossless music files (best transport ive heard by far). The onkyo transport hooks up to HK with a toslink or coaxial to straight the back of the amp. Make sure you use good cables and wires. They do make a difference. Audioquest makes good speaker cables and interconnects. I would uses nothing less than Audioquest type 4 speaker cable and a transparent brand toslink cable. The stock cheap RCA's this amp comes with are a joke and really dont let the HK990 perform in any way. (DO NOT USE THESE CHEAP CABLES).

I hope this review saves new and upcoming audiophiles lots of money and time. ;-)

Save 23% Off

Bought this amp for about a year now. This amp is used to play CD (and SACD) by a Sony SACD player (scd-xa5400es), driving a pair of Gallo Ref 3.5.

Typical of a dual-mono amp, which has two transformers (one for channel), the sound is very smooth. The power is more than adequate, and the details are also great. This amp helps elminating the hardware from the sound, so you can concentrate on the material (usually music, but sometimes video also) being played, rather than thinking about if how good or bad the sound is.

This is what I mean by disappearing in the music.

Pro:

1 Smooth and clean sound.

2 More adequate power.

3 Crystal clear, transparent sound.

4 Very cool and designer look.

Con:

1 Lacking the sense of 'Air' compared with playback from vacuum-tube gear.

2 Forget about the built-in auto equalisation function, the software marginal.

3 Not the quietest amp. Harmon should have shielded the transformers.

4 The US price is much higher than that in the UK.

5 The sound could have been better (and better pricing, too) if some of the extra functiionality (but useless) is omitted, eg the auto equalisation.

6 Owner's handbook useless.

Not the ultimate audiophile amp, or the cheapest. But if you are a music lover and just want your stereo to play your music faithfully and stay out of the way of the music, this is the amp to get.

Tenergy Centura AA Low Self-Discharge LSD NiMH Rechargeable Batteries, 6 Card 24xAA

Tenergy Centura AA Low Self-Discharge LSD NiMH Rechargeable Batteries, 6 Card 24xAA
  • Very slow self discharge maintains 85% residual capacity after 1 year of storage and 70% residual capacity after 2 years of storage
  • Apr. 4 time more shots than with alkaline batteries. High performance even at low temperatures down to -10 C during your winter vacation
  • Designed for enhanced performance for high drain applications such as digital cameras, CD players, portable audio devices, hand held games, 2-way radios, PDAs, and other portable high drain digital electronics
  • Can be recharged for up to 1000 times, providing big saving by replacing hundreds of throw away AA batteries.
  • Can be rapidly charged with any quick charger, smart chargers, plug in charger or universal chargers

The only trouble I have had of any kind was a charger that committed suicide taking out 4 cells by literally cooking them from the inside out. The remaining 12 cells in the set being charged at the same time have continued to function quite well.

I would prefer a larger MAH rating sometimes but doubt you can pack what I desire into the same package size so I settle for quick changing batteries. I have made my own packs using easily available holders to double, triple or even quintuple my time to depleted.

Voltages measured when removing cells from any charger vary from between 1.3v and 1.6v which worries me a little but as long as they keep powering the various devices they were purchased for I will accept that variability.

The charge times (in smart chargers) are quite long to me compared to other NIMH batteries but as this is my first experience with the LSD and that may be normal.

I can recycle a set of regular (years old) 2200mah NIMH in about 10 hours total, nearly double that for these. (recycle is a mode on one of my chargers which discharges then charges each cell individually).

Some devices and situations seem to discharge these more/less rapidly than other types of batteries (regular NIMH, NICD, etc.) since many of my devices have always preferred one chemistry over another I will also assume this is normal.

Buy Tenergy Centura AA Low Self-Discharge LSD NiMH Rechargeable Batteries, 6 Card 24xAA Now

I have about 60 of these batteries and I can tell you they are worth every bit of what they cost. For those of you who haven't used rechargeable's and those that haven't researched rechargeable's in the last 5 years these are truly the best rechargeable's in the AA, AAA, C, D and 9V format. They are not lying when they say they will hold their charge for a year. We use them almost exclusively in children's toys and for that purpose they are just as good as Alkaline's. We originally used regular rechargeable's but had to recharge them every month because of their quick self-discharge rate which meant taking apart every toy to get them out, but with these I only occasionally have to recharge them because if the toy is not used the battery doesn't die it will hold its charge for months then operate as soon as the toy is used then continue holding for months until the toy is used again. Since kids don't use their toys continuously they last about 6 months to a year in your average baby toy before needing a recharge. Obviously the more the kid plays with that toy the faster it dies but you get the point. Now for the tech stuff: These batteries have about 2000Mah @ 1.2V which is = to 2.4 Watts. Your average Alkaline at a its best discharge rate of 100Mah has 2200Mah @ 1.5V which is = 3.3 Watts. These Tenergy calls can recharge 1000+ times which means you can recharge them every day for 3 years or once a month for 83 years, however I read somewhere that these batteries will only last 27 years due to chemical breakdown regardless of recharges, but still 27 years!! For that you could recharge them every 10 days. I recommend a stockpile of these to replace all your alkaline needs.

Read Best Reviews of Tenergy Centura AA Low Self-Discharge LSD NiMH Rechargeable Batteries, 6 Card 24xAA Here

I have used these for a few months after doing some review reading. They do seem to work well. I use a lacrosse smart charger and its nice not having to buy batteries anymore. Just toss them in the charger!

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I ordered these batteries because I had heard the really do hold a charge much longer than other brands. I now have proof that they do hold a longer charge. They also seem to not discharge as quickly as some other brand names.

I would buy these again and I do recommend them.

Best Battery life of all batteries. I got these for my son for all his rechargable things including my grand children's toys. There is a charger made by Tenergy also that is great, Charges lots of batteries at one time. This is a product to buy!

Emerson CKS3088 Emerson SmartSet Dual-Alarm Clock Radio with 4-Way Lamp Control

Emerson CKS3088 Emerson SmartSet Dual-Alarm Clock Radio with 4-Way Lamp ControlThis is an old model clock. The computer in the clock was programmed with the Daylight Savings time prior to the August 2005 Daylight Savings Time extention. There is no way to change the clock program. This means you will have to correct the time four times a year when the time changes. I am retired so this is mostly an irritation, however, I would have returned the clock if I had not already thrown the box away. There is no notice of this problem on Amazon nor was there a notice in the package or the Owner's Manual CKS3088.

Ref:

"Daylight Savings Time Important Notice".

Was happy to find this product on Amazon. I had the same type clock/radio for over 14 years when the alarm stopped working. Loved this product and was so happy to find that Emerson still makes it. Now I'm good for another 14 years.

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I bought this clock a few months ago, largely for the features. The dual alarm works great; however...

First, the automatic clock is 6-8 minutes off at any time; when you manually set it to the correct time, it reverts back to the wrong time.

Second, the display kicks in an out, such that most of the time only portions of the time are visible, making it look like some alien script, not recognizable as numbers of any sort. Sometimes when I pound it, all the numbers will be visible for a a minute, but then goes back to garble.

If not for these two things, it would be a great alarm clock... but I am now buying the sony with the best reviews on amazon.

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This clock does exactly what I want. Several different seeting for the alarms, set it once and never again have to remember to set the alarm again. Great Buy!

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My old clock radio died after a lightning storm. It was an Emerson, so I decided to purchase another one. The only thing that I do not like is that it does not automatically set the time to the world clock, as did the other Emerson. But it is a good radio, has dual alarms, and good buy for the price.

iHome iP90BZC Dual Alarm Clock Radio with iPhone/iPod Dock

iHome iP90BZC Dual Alarm Clock Radio with iPhone/iPod Dock
  • Wake or sleep to iPod, iPhone, custom playlist, AM/FM radio
  • Programmable snooze time Lets you sleep in a little or a lot with snooze time between 1 and 29 minutes
  • 7.5.2 Dual Alarm to wake to iPod, iPhone, AM/FM radio, or buzzer
  • Sure Alarm battery backup for alarm during power interruptions
  • Large backlit LCD display and backlit buttons ,Reson8® speaker chambers

I have had this slightly over a year. I rarely use it for more than a clock. I have had an old iphone left pluged into it for about 9 months to access the music on it. I went to use it and discovered the the ipod/iphone dock is breaking. I had to push forward on the iphone to get the ihome to recognize it. It seems the weight of the iphone is breaking the dock connection.

For now I have helped fix the problem by using sugru (moldable silicone clay) to create a support that pushed the iphone forward. Could be done with anything though, such as a wad of duck tape, etc. I'll have to see how long this "fix" lasts. An online search revealed a blog with a DIY tutorial on how to order and replace the dock connection.

Remote is also problematic. The remote works to power on and off and change radio stations, but I can no longer get it to change anything else, such as volume or skip track on connect iphone.

Buy iHome iP90BZC Dual Alarm Clock Radio with iPhone/iPod Dock Now

Great $80 alarm clock ($80 alarm clock!!) until it just stopped working after 10 months. Stay away from any of these iHome products manufactured by SDI Technologies. The sellers will not honor the warranties as they know these things are pieces of crap. Then best of luck with SDI Technologies lack of customer service.

Stick to true Apple manufactured products!

Read Best Reviews of iHome iP90BZC Dual Alarm Clock Radio with iPhone/iPod Dock Here

Surprisingly great sound quality much better than I expected from such a small unit. The music sounds great even if I turn the volume up. The unit is also very easy to program. I have used similar products before (Sony and Panasonic) and have found instructions are often difficult to follow. That's not the case with this product. The unit also synchs with and charges my iPod nice features!! I also love the large display with dimmer, easy timezone adjustment (need this when working from home with international offices), modern design and sturdy craftsmanship.

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Purchased the iHome iP90BZC.

The sound quality was very good.

The features are complete and easy to use.

I get notifications on my docked iphone (3GS)

as well as my iPhone 4S.

Highly recommend this alarm clock.

Save 32% Off

This is the most frustrating purchase I've made through Amazon. For $80 an alarm clock should work longer than six months. This thing did not. First the iPod function went after about one month and the entire alarm clock went after about five months after that. I have $15 alarm clocks handed down to my from my parents that still work after decades of abuse. I'm never going to buy an iHome product again and strongly recommend you stay away from them, as well.

Grundig G4000A AM/FM Shortwave Radio

Grundig G4000A AM/FM Shortwave Radio
  • Powerful AM/FM/shortwave radio with high-quality tuner circuitry and precise digital PLL tuner
  • Receives AM, FM, continuous shortwave (1,711 to 29,999 kHz), and SSB (single sideband) frequencies
  • Tuning via up/down buttons, auto-scan, and numeric keypad; built-in telescopic antenna for FM and shortwave
  • Integrated speaker delivers full-range sound; dual clocks with selectable alarm and sleep timer
  • Runs on AC adapter or 6 AA batteries; measures 7.75 x 4.5 x 1.25 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty

In this review I'm comparing the G4000 to its sleeker, more attractive cousin the Eton E10, the Kaito 1103, the Kaito 1102 and the big Grundig S350 DL. I'm even throwing in my Tivoli PAL and Tivoli Songbook. The winner? Much to my disbelief (I've been a big fan of my Kaito 1103 for over a year with its strong FM reception)the winner is the G4000. As I turned the stations here in Los Angeles, I didn't have to budge the antenna and I got perfect reception--for even the difficult stations like 88.9. Both AM and FM were stronger than the Eton E10 and the Kaito 1102. The G4000 beat the Kaito 1103 for AM and at least tied for FM, maybe even better because like I said, the G4000's FM strength is so impressive I don't even have to adjust the antenna for what are usually hard-to-get stations. I can't even say this about my big reliable Grundig S350 DL. Plus the speaker on my G4000 is far better than its small digital PLL sythnesized cousins, the Kaito 1102 and 1103 and the Eton E10. The only radios I have that have a nicer sounding speaker are my Tivoli PAL (my best)and my Tivoli Songbook but those radios have, relatively speaking, inferior reception. Plus they're fifty to sixty dollars more. On balance the Grundig G4000 is my best radio and I would argue the best radio for the money. Yeah, the Eton E10 is more attractive and has a better interface but its speaker isn't as loud and it costs 30 dollars more. If you can pick up a G4000 for a hundred dollars, as I did on Amazon with free shipping, you're getting a great deal.

Update: Gladly, I took my G4000 out of my office where the computer was creating a little interference, especially on AM. I love the G4000 so much I'm now using it in my bedroom as a "clock radio." In my office, I put what used to be my clock radio, my Sangean WR-2, a bigger table radio which doesn't get interference.

Second update on 7-15-06: Side by side comparison of the G4000 with the Eton E10 shows that the G4000 blows the E10 away in AM. The E10 gets AM overload on 1150 AM and sounds cold and distant whereas the G4000 locks in on 1150 perfectly and sounds warm and full. The G4000 even gets better AM separation than my Grundig/Eton S350. Get the G4000.

Buy Grundig G4000A AM/FM Shortwave Radio Now

This radio beats my other radios for AM reception, including the

Sony 7600GR. The 7600GR ranks 2nd. I also brought a Radio Shack DX396 for $45.00 and it ranks 3rd, and my Kaito 1103 ranks 4th. For SW reception it ties for 1rst with the DX 396. The FM is also

great, almost as good as the Kaito 1103. I also use this as my

clock radio. The timer is great because I can check to see how

much time I have left before shutoff. The dial light also gives

adequate light in the dark.

Update: 3/4/08 I just recently purchased the Sangean Sonido that gets even

better AM reception, knocking the Grundig down to 2nd place. This makes the Sonido the king of portable radios! You can get one on Amazon for $89.99 plus free shipping!

Read Best Reviews of Grundig G4000A AM/FM Shortwave Radio Here

I own a S350 Grundig and was looking for something smaller but did not want to compromise on sound quality. The G4000A has very good speaker audio quality, especially considering the size of the unit. The access to controls and their functions are readily mastered with just a cursory review of a very logical manual that is included. The radios ability to function as a clock/radio and still provide high performance in recieving SW,FM,AM and SSB makes it that much more valuable to me, as I travel extensively in my work. I work at many remote locations here in the States as well as overseas.

While there seem to be more feature laden units on the market, this radio has a feel of quiet competence that is refreshing. No myriad of buttons, just what you need that will enhance performance but not overload the user. With the ease of use, well above average audio, nice balance of tuning features, and multi functions of the clock, I definitely consider this radio an excellent buy for the money.

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Excellent portable radio for Short Wave Listening! Excellent for AM/FM listening! It has all the features needed (ext. ant. jack, spkr. jack, etc.). I wanted a very nice portable radio to keep on my sailboat; the Grundig G4000A satifies my needs 100% . The Amazon price of $99 minus $30 credit (w/ new Amazon Credit Card) and the free S/H made it an unbeatable bargain in my humble opinion! 5 Stars +++++

I purchased this radio from Amazon just over a month ago, and am happy with the unit. It receives AM and FM as good as most any other portable. The shortwave and single side band do function, but are not a strong point. The included wind-up antenna really does work to increase the shortwave signal. The batteries seem to last a long time, and I have never used the wal-wart except to check how well it worked. The unit is very easy to tune, and the memorys work well. The only improvements I would like are a proper handle to carry it around (I don't like the lanyard system) and the display needs a better light for night viewing. Overall a lot of good radio for an incredibly cheap price.

GPX CC312B AM/FM Clock Radio with Dual Alarms and Top Load CD Player - Black

GPX CC312B AM/FM Clock Radio with Dual Alarms and Top Load CD Player - Black
  • Clock radio with CD player and AM/FM radio
  • Gradually wake to one of the dual alarms or your favorite radio station
  • 1.2" red LED display with dimmer control
  • 3.5mm audio line input for connecting MP3 players (players sold separately)
  • AC power cable built in, but also runs on 9V battery backup (battery not included)

This device has a few features I like, and a few I don't. Here's the list.

Like:

1. Large numbers

2. battery backup

3. two alarms

4. USB charger for cell phone/kindle, etc

Don't like:

1. Volume increase on radio/cd wakeup too quick and too loud

2. Snooze button is only for 1 minute (tho you can hit it several times at once)

3. Radio is difficult to tune (analog, and the dial moves the pointer too fast)

The "Like" list met my requirements (first three items, 4th was a bonus). This was the only model I could find that had the 3 I needed. If your list is like mine, go ahead and get it. If not, you'll probably be happier elsewhere.

Buy GPX CC312B AM/FM Clock Radio with Dual Alarms and Top Load CD Player - Black Now

Looks good. Fewer buttons than most. But there is always a catch. Ah, if it only worked as described. The instructions (obviously translated from Chinese to English) are missing steps and therefore you cannot complete some functions. You go as far as you can with the instructions then you're on your own. Try this, try that, find what combinations work and then hope you remember the sequence that worked. It's maddening. When you're lucky enough to set the alarm to the radio, you cannot set the volume so when the alarm time is reached, the radio or CD or buzzer turns on and quickly and automatically increases the volume to wall shattering levels. Speaker quality is not good. And, oh yes, this bit of info: There are two models of this, both showing the same model number, however, one model has an output plug-in, radio tuning wheel and AM/FM switch on the left (it's left). The other has the output plug-in and USB port on its left side. No tuner or selection switch. Other buttons perform those tasks. To learn about the warranty you must go to a website provided in the Owners Guide. If it had a correct guide for setup and better speaker sound this would be okay for the price. If you can figure out the setups it's worth keeping. The jury is still out on how long it will last. I have had mine for just ten days. If you have my model (USB port on lefthand side) do this in setting the alarm: Follow steps 1 through 7 under "setting alarm", after choosing your choice of wakeup PRESS THE AL1 BUTTON. In step seven is states to "use the VOL +/to adjust alarm (NO, this won't work and screws up the original setup). The fact that the wakeup volumn automatically increases to an awful level and therefore makes waking up unpleasant, this unit is being returned. Shame because that one auto volumn feature makes makes the alarm way too stressfull.

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Good CD clock radio. Has a 3.5mm audio line input for connecting MP3 players and has an AC power cable built in, but also runs on 9V battery backup. The sound may not be amazing as if coming from a nice top of the line stereo, but I have played many CDs in it and I can't complain.

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Our clock CD Player in our two year old sons room died on us. It was a Sony upright with sea sounds and all that jazz it lasted probably 5+ years but probably couldn't handle the constant CD usage of a 0+ child's needs. So I researched not wanting to spend much more than $30 bucks on a replacement since mp3s are more popular but we have so many infant/child CDs we just need that and we HAVE to have a clock in the kids room. So we checked out the Lego but so many mixed reviews for a $40 + clock I was hesitant. I am glad we went with this player it is simple but durable and the CD player works great with the sleep timer and large clock makes it easy to see at 2am that Mr man needs to go back to bed. It also has a USB and MP3 port on the side if you want to plug in AUX like iPod or what not. I will definitely recommend and hope the CD player holds out another 5 years at least. I can follow up if something goes terribly wrong in the upcoming months though.

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If you are a very deep sleeper this alarm clock is for you. Place it in easy reach because it will continue to increase in volume until turned off.

Brand-X XL72DV 7-Inch Motorized Touch Screen TFT Monitor with DVD/AM/FM Player

Brand-X XL72DV 7-Inch Motorized Touch Screen TFT Monitor with DVD/AM/FM Player
  • DVD/VCD/MPEG4/MP3/DIVX/CD/CD-R/CD-RW Compatible - Switchable USA/ Europe Radio Frequency - On Screen Display Title, Time, Chapter, Subtitle & Angle - RCA Line Out/Preset EQ - Direct Connection of Alternate Audio/Video Source Through Line Input Jack - UNIT
  • Motorized & Fixed Front panel Treble/Bass/Balance/Fader/Encoder - 30 Station Memory (18FM/12AM) - Dolby Digital Coaxial Outputs - SUBWOOFER OUTPUT - MP3/DVD/CD Wireless Remote Control
  • Volume Control PLL systhesizer - Built-In 7'' (16:9) TFT Color Monitor - ESP Function Anti-Viation/Electronic Shock Protection - Selectable View Angle - Rear Camera Output
  • Tuner Auto Store/Preset Scan - Touch Screen Control Operation - LO/DX & ST/MO Selector Repeat/Intro/Random Clock Function/ Mute Control - A/V input & A/V Output - Parking Video Input
  • AM/FM-MPX 2 Band Radio - Resolution: 1440x234 Pixels/Brightness:400nits - Front Panel AUX Input - SD/MMC Card Slot - USB Connector Last Position Memory

Really nice stereo, comes with lots of bells and whistles. Camera input with trigger, Sub output, Aux input from back of radio, another video input and 2 video outputs, Digital coax audio input, usb connection in front. SD slot, plays dvds and the picture looks really good for a TFT monitor, FM channels come in great. Radio has 45watts per channel. Noticed spinning sounds from radio when ignition is off, I believe its a cooling fan inside, sound goes away after 30mins. Installed this radio in a express van 2 weeks ago, seems to be running fine and sound good too.

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Brand X is slowing making a name for themselves, i was a bit timid when making this purchase however i must say I am very pleased with the product. It has held up quite well so far with no complaints to Date.

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My parents got this for me for chirstmas and it was a great buy i love it i couldnt ask for anything more from this touch Cd player

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I bought this product for a friend. He said it fit perfect. The dimentions were accuate, and the product is excellent. He is recommending others to purchase one like it.

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If your intentions are to listen to CDs and watch DVDs then this is the double din for you. But if you want a front panel 3.5 auxiliary output, this is not for you.

Sony Walkman E-Series NWZ-E364 8GB USB 2.0 MP3 Digital Music/Video FM Player w/2.0" LCD (Black)

Sony Walkman E-Series NWZ-E364 8GB USB 2.0 MP3 Digital Music/Video FM Player w/2.0' LCD
  • Sony Walkman E-Series NWZ-E364BLK 8 GB MP3/Video Digital Player General Features: Sleek black design
  • Slim and stylish 8 GB capacity MP3 player Built-in digital FM tuner Video player Photo playback
  • 2.0-inch TFT color display (240 x 320 pixels, 262,144 colors)
  • Clock: alarm and sleep timer (30, 60, 90, 120 minutes) Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery
  • Easy navigation

I had gotten this mp3 player for my birthday in red and i was in love. It was easy to use, had an amazing battery and sound and well organized. I only got to use it for a total of 3 1/2 months until it stopped working completely. It wont turn on, charge over even blink. I am highly upset and feel duped. An mp3 player should last way longer than 3 1/2 months. I advise anyone not to buy it unless you have money to replace it every 3 months. :/

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I have NO CLUE what these other reviews are about...I bought this same one almost a year ago now, and it is in top shape. The sound quality is mind boggling! And its got great CLEAR BASS with no distortion, and good battery life. Best mp3 player ever! Hands down. Although there are later versions I would go with those because they are newer, but this is a great device.

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It was great until it refused to turn on after three months. I really wished I would have read these reviews before picking this up. I definitely would not recommend this product to anyone.

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This unit worked great for 4 months. One day I plugged it in to my computer to re-charge it. The computer did not recognize that the unit was plugged in. It did not show up as a drive. I can not change songs and the unit does not charge. It is now worthless.