Soundfreaq SFQ-02RB Sound Step Bluetooth Wireless Speaker (Black)

• High Fidelity Sound Signature sound profile crafted for natural bass response and vocal clarity.
• Battery Power Rechargeable Lithium battery with 6hr+ battery life
• Composite Video Out Display video from iPad, iPhone or iPod device on external TV or monitor display
• Docking Apple 30-Pin Connector supports docking iPad, iPhone and iPod devices.
• Vocal clarity /2.1 Channel (2 x 2", 1 x 3" drivers), acoustically tuned chamber / UQ3 spatial enhancement processor enhancement processor.
• /2.1 Channel (2 x 2", 1 x 3" drivers), acoustically tuned chamber / UQ3 spatial enhancement processor enhancement processor
• Additional USB charging port provides variable power up to 2.5V to charge mobile and smart phones, headsets.
• Also additional USB charging port provides variable power up to 2.5V to charge for other portable devices with USB charging interface
• Bluetooth Wireless Pair & Play to wirelessly stream audio from any compatible A2DP Bluetooth device
• Compatible A2DP Bluetooth device including: iPhone, iPod, iPad, smart phones, mobile phones, tablet PCs, netbooks and computers.
• Docking Apple 30-Pin Connector supports docking iPad, iPhone and iPod devices Additional USB charging port
• Free remote control app available for iPhone and iPad.
• High Fidelity Sound Signature sound profile crafted for natural bass response and vocal clarity
• /2.1 Channel (2 x 2", 1 x 3" drivers), acoustically tuned chamber / UQ3 spatial enhancement processor enhancement processor
• Provides variable power up to 2.5V to charge mobile phones, smart phones, headsets and other portable devices with USB charging interface

Soundfreaq is a awesome company. One year ago, I was looking for a speaker with airplay/bluetooth and FM radio. Then I bought the SFQ1, extremely satisfied. Nothing more happy than playing the music in background while having my iPhone on my desk. Now, one year later, the company comes out a new product, which target consumers who want portability and space saving. Sound Step is 30% smaller than SFQ1, and the max volume is less louder than SFQ1. Sound Step is definitely more portable, but SFQ1 has bass and treble controls. So SFQ1 will have a heavier bass if you turn it up. Sound Step has the advantage that fit iPad/iPad2 right on the dock, plus a extra USB port. So the final question lays down to wether you want a portable speaker that fit iPad or a louder (about 15%) speaker with bass control.

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I had been searching around for a portable dock for my ipod touch that not only allowed for AC power but for outdoor use as well without having to worry about replacing batteries and after some researching I decided to take the leap and purchase the Soundfreaq SFQ-02RB. For me, Summer in Southern California means a lot of outdoor events which usually involves BBQs and other social gatherings, I was in need of a sound dock that allowed me to remove the AC plug and take it with me. The Soundfreaq SFQ-02RB allowed me to do this and much more. With so many people having smarthphones and various other mp3 players, the bluetooth connectivity is an awesome feature, I no longer have to remove the ipod from the dock in order to play music from someone's iphone/ipod touch. Also for me the bluetooth feature is great considering I have an android phone enabled with the google music beta and I carry my phone with me at all times unlike my ipod touch. As for the sound, considering it is smaller than most docks in its price range, it still has a good sound. I am happy with my purchase and wouldn't mind purchasing the larger Soundfreaq SFQ-1 Sound Platform as my main sound dock for my living room.

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The feature set is awesome, and it works well as far as that goes, but both my wife and I immediately noticed the poor sound quality. It is very "tinny" and has a very weak bass response. Even our old Philips DC310 clock/ipod dock sounds better. We are not audiophiles and frankly I am not usually very picky about my speakers, but the sound quality on this thing is actually distractingly poor to the point where it is irritating to have it on. It's going back.

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Soundfreaq vs. Logitech S715i, This debate is really amazing. First I gotta say the Soundfreaq is louder than the Logitech. I read both reviews, watched video's on both and was really quite surprised at just how many people like the Logitech. I did not find it really that loud or to have a great balance between the bass and treble. With really booming bass tunes like harder classic rock say, it sounded a little muffled to me, and you really don't get much volume at even 1/2 way up. Yeah it looks like a boombox but so what. It seems to have compatibility issues with newer ipods and battery problems as well. I also did not care for the docking area, one wrong move and you'll break off the connection port. I don't know about anyone else but I take my speakers everywhere, the yard, on the boat, in the woods anywhere I need it. So it needs to be tough. Plus when you review these speakers you need to be in a noisy place or at the very least a few feet back to hear what they can do. I mean where do you take these anyway, into the noisy world. I do think Logitech body is built a little tougher as it is all plastic vs. Soundfreaq's speaker cover which is regular speaker cover material, and snags and tears more easily.

Soundfreaq is a new company, and this is a pretty good attempt in this market. It is loud and does have the "stereo" ability, but as with the others the Bass needs work. Most songs are very low in bass and high in treble, you can make adjustment in your ipod music settings and also by turning off the UQ3 enhancement. But it gets tiring. The bluetooth ability knocks off Logitech right away for me, no docking issues or concerns, I also like the boxyness of it, it's more stable for in the boat but the front control panel sticks out a bit making transporting it a concern if you smack it. As no cover is included, not even a dust cover. It does seem to fill up the quiet house nicely, you just have to deal with the low power bass. As most of these "wireless" portable speakers can't support deep rich bass in such a small footprint. Remember the old adage, the heavier the magnet the better the bass? Still think it's true today, just pick up a Bose and see the weight difference as well as price! Soundfreaq has packed in quite a lot of features for the money, it is loud and you can fiddle with it. The bluetooth was the selling point for me, as I did try and weight all factors in comparing both units. I just think Logitech has the "hype" going for it due to some tech sites reviews. Nothing compares with side by side testing, in noisy areas and not being right on top of it. As they all sound good at 1 foot away plugged into the wall. To me Soundfreaq won the unplugged test, no contest. Logitech has a better remote but who cares, Soundfreaq's ability to use your ipod or phone as a remote ROCKS!!!

UPDATE: Bose came out with the soundlink. As much as I like the Soundfreq speaker, it just can't compete with Bose sound. I really wanted to like it more, at 1/2 the price of Bose. But sadly Bose is smaller, more portable and not made of plastic. The Bass you ask, well it can be booming depending on song, and so far it really is the best portable speaker on the market. Soundfreq is hitting the ground running thoughin it's price range it is the loudestipod set on flat optionand it does sound ok. Would like to see a more durable body for outdoors.

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Have used this speaker system daily for 2 months, both plugged in and on battery. Love the sound, portability, and well designed capabilities. IPAD 2 and IPHONE 4 plug in and charge flawlessly, even with cases on! The extra USB port is a great touch to make this a useful charging station. Free APP for IPAD and IPHONE works flawlessly (simple and elegant). Bluetooth connects quick and is stable. The SoundFreaq staff are most helpful and a pleasure to do business with. One of my favorite current devises. I have many! Battery life is 7hrs+

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iHome iH26 Portable Travel Alarm Clock for iPod (Black)

• The perfect portable alarm clock for when you are on the go with your iPod, it even comes with a carrying case to protect both itself
• Lets you listen, fall asleep, and wake up to your music while charging your iPod when running on AC adapter, but it also runs on 4 AA batteries
• Features a low-profile design, an auxiliary line-in jack, gradual increasing wake-up music witha sleep timer
• Includes 2 stereo neodymium micro driver speakers, a travel lock feature that maintains your settings, a sure-alarm battery backup
• Comes with inserts for all iPod models including the Nano, measures 8.22 x 5.9 x 1.65 inches (W x H x D)

This is a fun little device the perfect size with plenty of features. It fits on my nightstand in place of your typical alarm clock, not taking up any extra room. It easily packs up to go on the road with you. It has custom adapters included for every size of docking iPod, as well as a connector for non-docking iPods. Great sound, great control of sleep vs. wake volumes, and a nice dimming feature with 4 settings to it, so that the light of the clock doesn't keep you awake. And if you forget to dock your iPod, the buzzer alarm will still sound (actually it's a beeping alarm).

If you are a heavy sleeper, or like 90 minutes of sleep music in addition to your wake music, I recommend putting your iPod on shuffle all songs before docking it on this station so that you won't get to the end of your playlist and run out of music.

I only have two complaints about the iHome 2 Go travel alarm clock. One is that my clock seems to gain a few minutes every day, so it ends up being very fast. I reset the time once a week. The other is that I have to remove my iSkin to dock my iPod. I was sure when I bought the skin that it said I wouldn't have to remove it to dock the iPod, but because of how the docking works on this station, I do.

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I got this alarm clock for my birthday from my parents (im 20). SO, about the ihome2go: This little thing is awesome. Speakers: get loud, and quiet. I had no trouble falling asleep with the "sleep" function and i didnt have it on the lowest volume. Alarm function: take your ipod out to get the standard "beep" alarm. the remots is mad convenient too. Not to mention this thing comes with a case! People are complaining about the ac adapter not fitting in the pack, but i dont think its a big deal. The batteries in the alarm clock last long enough on short trips that if i were to bring it with me, i would only need the ihome and my ipod. the audio cable is also really convenient, allowing any and all ipods, cd players, and mp3 players to offer alarm music. Basically, best gift ever.

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I found the sound to be excellent on this unit, especially given the smaller size. Crystal clear sound even at maximum volume. Much better than I expected. I wasn't able to get any sound until I inserted the batteries (4 AA) so I would consider that a drawback. I have no idea how long those batteries will last yet. There is a separate backup battery for the clock in case of a power outage. It comes with a nice travel case as well as a remote that can pause/play the iPod. Overall I am pleased with my purchase.

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this is an awesome product I'm just going to do a pro and con table thing

pros-

-Nice sound

-Can run on batteries and play music

-Back up battery for clock only

-Waking up to music rocks

-almost if not all iPods work on it

-can hook up a mp3 player to it

-Comes with a case

-Has a remote

cons(only a few)

-Case is good except u cant fit the speakers and the ac adapter, u can fit your iPod and the remote though

-remote has to be faced at the speakers to work

-You have to take off your skins to put it in... unless its really really small but i don't know you still might have too

I'm a college student, and I bought this in order to play music in my dorm. Unlike many other reviews, the iHome can be as quiet as you want, but can also be very loud. It works great as an alarm clock, the sleep function is excellent, and the sound quality is great. One con is that the backlit lcd face generates a lot of light at night... it's similar to a night light.

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C Crane CCRadio Plus Multiband Portable AM/FM/Weather/TV Band Radio, Black

• AM/FM/weather/TV band radio specifically engineered for high-end AM radio reception
• Precise digital tuning, ferrite antenna, and advanced circuitry provide topnotch long-range AM sound
• 24-hour NOAA weather service info; built-in weather alert sounds during weather emergencies
• Receives VHF TV channels 2 to 13; 5 memory preset buttons with 5 memories per band (20 total)
• Built-in clock with alarm and sleep timer; measures 11 x 6.5 x 4 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty

I last reviewed this radio after my initial purchase... almost one year ago. My original opinion (for the most part) hasn't changed. Compared to other portable radios, its reception capabilities (on AM) is above average. I DID however purchase a TERK AM Advantage antenna to use with it, because AM reception is really important to me. THAT makes a world of difference!! The TV & FM reception are good. The weather band does a fairly good job as well (depending on your location). Overall sound is good... but I wish the bass were a big stronger. Battery life is SUPERB!

Now for its downfalls. Similar to what another reviewer said, sometimes the station preset buttons have to be given a good "push" to change the channel.. (but they always work). I also wish there were jacks on the back for an external FM antenna AS WELL as an AM antenna. Last but not least........... another reviewer complained of an earlier model losing the digital display from time to time. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY RADIO. On several occasions, some of the digits have suddenly vanished! Then after a little while, they returned. It's VERY, VERY tempermental. It may go months with NO problems, then suddenly it'll act up for a day or so, then correct itself and be fine again. I was all set to return it to C Crane, then thought I'd wait to see if it did it again. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I've knocked my rating down to 3 stars following the "vanishing digit incident".

APRIL 15th UPDATE --2006

Late last Fall I became so frustrated with the LCD on this radio, that I called C Crane. They were familiar with this issue & gave me a repair # with intsructions to send it back to them. I did, & after about 6 weeks or so, it returned with a NEW LCD and has had NO problems since! The best thing of all...... they repaired it for FREE!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely FREE!!! So if I were you, still having this issue, I'd stop complaning and CALL THEM!

I would also like to also add a 4th star to my rating! ****

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I'm on my second cc radio since 1999, both have had LCD failures when using it in my camper. Other then that, it has been a fine AM and Fm receiver in the back country of Idaho, Montana and Northern California. It does not have the speaker quality sound of my GE Super III with it's larger 2 speaker system, but it will filter out more backgound noise on FM and AM stations. However the smaller size, clock, alarm, and WX band keeps the Super III at home and the CC with me.

After lengthy talks with C. Cranes techs today, they tell me high condensation has caused LCD failures in some observed conditions. Condensation in a camper closed up at night from ones breath is quite a problem, especially in the Winter or at high altitude with wide temperature changes. The LCD failures I've had are always in the Camper on battery power, after 3 or 4 days of camping. This last incident was in Idaho with a freak cold rain storm for two days in July. The radio when brought home seems to "heal" itself within a day, and the LCD works again. So the condensation theory seems plausable. C. Crane has also stated some LCD units had problems in some shipments of 2000, so they are going to replace the LCD in my out of warranty radio, with the later LCD, for free, after a call to them today, 7-19-05. 5 years later, what more could I ask for. Well, perhaps the new Mini CC, they tell me it will sound better than the cc with a smaller speaker, like a Tivoli Song Book.................

Footnote:

Researching LCD's in general, I found the following about them:

"Condensation at terminals will cause malfunction and possible electro-chemical reaction. Relative humidity of the environment should therefore be kept below 60%." Other sites mention limits of 10% to 80% limits with "No" condensation.

Perhaps those camping, or using the radio in other high condensation areas like a bathroom etc. Should consider radios with analog tuners. I now remember my LCD alarm clocks won't work at all below certain temperatures when camping in the Winter.

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I had a repetitive problem with the CCRadio Plus and had returned it for repair. That repair was made at a cost to me as it was outside of the warranty period. The repaired radio failed in exactly the same manner, albeit in a much shorter time frame, and I reacted by tossing the radio and writing a rather negative, yet accurate IMO review. That review was read by a Crane Customer Service Rep over a year later and they offered to replace the original radio at no cost to me. I took them up on it and the new radio was received yesterday. Our boat goes in next month and I will be evaluating the radio once again during our weekend camping trips in the boat. Hopefully, they got it right this time in regards to fixing whatever generic problem was causing my earlier failures.

I have no idea what Crane did to fix the problem that I had experienced but to say they did is an understatement. The radio now seems to live forever on a battery load. We use it extensively each 3 day weekend on our boat and also for our two week stays in the islands. Reception is phenomenal. It's like a Timex it just keeps "ticking". Only downside, and it is no fault of Crane, is the loss of my local TV station's audio due to the FCC mandated switch to all digital transmissions. I would buy another CCRadio Plus in a heartbeat were I to lose this one. Kudos to Crane both their customer service and their technical staff.

For some strange reason, my computer will not allow me to change the rating it should show 5 stars now. dated September 1, 2009

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I've owned this product for two years, and I do not recommend it. In fact, it's one of the worst purchases I've ever made. Let me explain . . .

The much-hyped AM reception is vastly overstated in Crane's advertising. I tested this unit against my car radio (which is nothing special). The standard radio in my car does MUCH better at pulling in distant stations on both AM and FM bands. This C. Crane unit is 80% hype and 20% performance. Like Bose, it's "better sound through marketing".

Within a year the alarm function failed and the station quick-select buttons sometimes don't work unless you really bear down on them. The antenna is fragile and snapped off.

I sent the unit in for repair ($50) only to find out C. Crane needs at least 4 weeks to do the work. Absurd! They don't give a damn about service. I sent the president/manager of the company an email and never got a response.

Update 3/15/2005: When I received the radio back from Crane's repair depot, I discovered that they had in fact NOT made the repair and didn't even test the unit before it was returned to me. They agreed to repair again, but it took two additional weeks for them to send me a return UPS label. Now, I'm waiting again with no radio.

Update: 4/11/05: After almost four more weeks of "priority" service for the second repair from C. Crane, I finally got my radio. It works. That's about all I can say. Have a sour taste in my mouth from this whole experience and every time I use the radio, I think about it.

Update: 11/18/05: Push buttons to set clock and alarm have failed. As other reviewers have reported, there seems to be a real problem the controls on this unit. No more clock radio in the morning.

Final update: When I complained to KGO radio in San Francisco, one of the big stations that advertises C. Crane products, I got a call from C. Crane's owner. He promised to send me a check for $50 to reimburse me for the botched repair experience. Over a year later, guess what . . . no check. I'm still waiting. Soon after, the radio stopped working. Just a flashing LED display, no working controls (again) and no audio. It's not worth repeating the repair experience with C. Crane, so I pitched it in the trash.

The bottom line is that this product is a dog. And C. Crane Company is slow, incompetent, and doesn't keep their promises. I will never buy another product from them and you shouldn't either.

By the way, this radio is nothing more than a re-branded Sangean. Sangean makes a nicely-designed radio, although the reliability of this particular model is POOR.

I repeat: save yourself some grief and buy something else.

If you want a decent small-format (travel) radio, consider the Kaito models -much smaller than the C.Crane/Sangean reviewed here, perhaps too small for a desk radio, but better quality and half the price. See the Kaito reviews on this site for more information. For a table-top unit, consider other Sangean models. By the way, I tried the Tivoli and found it to be very poor.

Look for products that have many excellent user reviews. That's the best way to steer clear of the manufacturer and retailer marketing hype. It's disapointing, but often the products you hear the most about are actually the worst choice.

Thanks for listening!

I found the AM reception better than any other "average" radio I've had. There's nothing special about FM reception but I don't think they make any special claims to superior FM. But I'll never purchase another product from Crane. I purchased my first CC Plus a few years ago. It worked fine for a little over a year or so, then it died. All attempts to reset the radio failed. Since the CC is expensive, I didn't go right out and get another one. The problem is I use it in my company vehicle which doesn't have a radio. If you've tried this you know it's difficult to get good AM reception from portable radio inside a vehicle.

Many months later I purchased their pocket version which claims to be the best AM pocket radio on the market. It does OK but I found nothing remarkable about it's performance. Their claim it works almost as good (reception wise) as the CC Plus just isn't true. Desparate for a decent radio I broke down several months ago and purchased my second CC Plus. This one only worked for about 4 months and died. Any attempt at resetting it has failed.

These radios are not cheap, so buyer beware. Again, I was pleased with the performance of CC Plus while it worked. Maybe it's just my bad luck, but I'm through with Crane.

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Motorola Multimedia Station for CLIQ2 (t-Mobile Retail Packaging)

I love this docking station. Its very easy to use. I only gave it 4 stars, however, because I wish it would charge up the phone while a case was on it. But, as that is the only thing I've found wrong, I'm pretty happy with it overall.

I bought one of these for my wife's Cliq 2, but was surprised that, with the insert removed, it also works quite well for my T-Mobile G2. The G2 doesn't recognize it as a multimedia dock, but simply a charger, but it makes a nice stand. Launch the Clock app and it works well as a music / picture dock.

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Naxa NCA671 Detachable Stereo AM/FM Car Radio with Compact Disc Player and Aux-In Jack (Black)

• Manual Tuning Stereo AM/FM Radio Tuner
• Mechanical Front Face Detachable Panel with Carrying Case
• Anti-vibration Auto-insert CD Mechanism
• Disc Intro/Random/Repeat/Play/Track & Search Function
• Electronic Preset Equalizer (Pop/Rock/Classic) Controls

This stereo is really good for how much it cost.plus it looks good with buttons and screen lit up with blue.all the functions that it say it has are all working.only there was no instructions for set the clock .but i figured it out ,i had stereo off then the clock is on,here you just hold down sel button while the two cd scan buttons are your adjustment for clock set time.the left > forward is the hour.i have a total of 8 speakers hooked up,4 5 1/4 two one inch dome tweets and two legacy 10 inch woofers.all run by a kenwood 280 watt 4 channel amp and a very old purple boss 3 way crossover.its very loud an clear.im no profesional but i been hookin beat for my self an freinds for years.there is no engine or alt. noise at all very nice an clear stereo sound.if your lookin for a low price stereo this naxa 671 is good for it.mine works like a champ.

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I bought this CD player to try to upgrade from the tape player/radio that my car came with. Since I'm not a huge audiophile, I didn't want to spend tons of money on a fancy sound system, just wanted something serviceable to play CDs.

This item did not fulfill that criteria. It worked fine for about 2 weeks, then it stopped working. It wasn't a problem with the CDs themselves, because this problem happened with the radio too. After a minute or so of playing, the sound would randomly fade out and remain silent for a long time, then come back for a few seconds, then out again, and so on. And when I say that it was silent for a long time, I mean that I'd get about 2 minutes of music during a 45-minute drive.

I had my mechanic look at it, and it was definitely not a wiring or installation problem. Finally we determined that it was with the internal hardware of the CD player, a circuit that would overheat after a few minutes of work, rendering the whole item useless.

Unfortunately, by the time it stopped working, it was too late to return the stupid thing. So, don't waste your money, people! Spend a little more to get something that actually works.

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This is the most worthless car radio I have ever seen. The tuner is manual, difficult to tune perfeclty, and will not hold the setting. Switching between AM and FM, and tuning to a station on either one, will change the channel on both. THERE ARE NO PRESETS!!!!! Even the radios from the 1950's had presets! My gosh, how this piece of junk ever made it to the market is way beyond intelligent understanding. It's cheap, but don't waste your money. You'll only be buying another one within a month.

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This product sucks really badly! It does not play any cds what so ever, whether they are bootlegged or out the store. It has noise interference when listening to the radio or songs on your phone. It does not sound good having a system hooked up to it. I guess what u pay for is what u get....A CHEAP BRAND OF CD PLAYER!

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This is a piece of JUNK.Nothing works properly on it exspectually the CD player,also the stations don't stay on the station.You almost need to force the buttons to get them to work.Basicly,A WORTHLESS PRODUCT for the money.I'm a UNHAPPY customer & will never purchase a product from them AGAIN.Stay away from the radios,PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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RCA RCD10 Alarm Clock

• 1.0-Inch display
• Easy-to-use control buttons
• Portability when needed
• On-demand blue backlight
• Snooze function

Anyone who buys this Alarm Clock will buy it for its simplicity. And that is where this clock excels. Its refreshingly simple. It does what it is supposed to do and like it should.

The clock does require 2 AAA batteries, not as common as they once were. RCA elected to not include the batteries, which I found odd, but not a catastrophe. Unlike another reviewer, I found no issues with the slide bars or the black on black raised text of the indicators.

I would imagine most will relegate it to a travel alarm clock due to its size. Either way, I consider it a good buy at the price point.

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When I travel I never rely on hotel alarm clocks or wake-up calls so I always bring my own. I own some nice, smaller and more expensive clocks but I am always afraid that I will accidentally leave it behind. This alarm clock is bigger than most modern models but it is so inexpensive that I won't lose much sleep about losing it. Here are the things that I like about it and some things that I don't.

PROS

* Inexpensive

* Relatively small but there are much flatter clocks on the market

* No-brainer when it comes to setting and using it

* Battery operated so there is no need to find an outlet

* Large display with manually activated back-light

* Loud enough to wake most people

CONS

* It's small for a desktop unit but somewhat bulky for a travel clock

* Runs on AAA batteries which are usually more expensive that AA's and do not last as long

* The display can't be seen in the dark unless you press the snooze/light bar

* It seems cheaply made so I wonder about how much abuse it can take which is an important feature for travel clocks

CONCLUSION:

For five or six bucks it's okay, but really nothing special. I would hope that I could pick up something like this a little cheaper at a discount store. I wouldn't use it in my home because it is not permanently backlit and doesn't use an A/C cord, but it would be fine for travel.

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This is a small, very basic alarm clock -it doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of bigger models, but it gets the job done. Not that it is NOT a clock radio...as it doesn't have a radio. :-)

It's good as a backup in case of a power outage, or for a nightstand in a guest room -nice that it won't take up an outlet if you're short on them.

The display is nothing special -and note that it's not a lit-up display (like many clock radios) -rather, it is a simple LCD display like you'd find on a digital watch. You can light it up with a button, but you won't be able to see it in the middle of the night otherwise.

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This alarm clock is as basic as you can get. The clock does require 2 AAA batteries and has no electrical back up. You could use it as a travel alarm, but it is a little bulky. This is a clock you could buy at a discount store, for a much lower price.

This tiny powerhouse clock gets the job done well (to wake you up out of a sound sleep). But, the only caveat I have with this clock is that it uses AAA batteries instead of double A. I live in a rural area, and triple AAAs, although not impossible to find, are difficult to locate. The batteries do not come with the clock, so you'll have to buy them. Additionally, there's no power cord available with this clock, if you're looking for one.

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Tivoli Audio SongBook AM / FM Alarm Clock Travel Radio, Yellow

• Outstanding AM/FM Reception
• AM/FM for North America /Europe
• Digital alarm clock and sleep function
• Plays on AC,Alkaline/NiMH/NiCAD batteries, 12V
• Weather resistant for use outdoors

The new Tivoli Songbook is one sweet, versatile radio. I was reluctant to order it because it was brand new model and I couldn't find any reviews, but I'm glad I overcame my reluctance and purchased this radio. I consider it expensive for an AM/FM radio so I expect serious performance for the money--I was not disappointed. It's Tivoli, so I expected sound quality and Tivoli delivers. The sound isn't quite as full as the Model One, but it's more than adequate. For talk radio, it's simply the best sound I've heard from any radio.

One reason I hesitated purchasing was because I planned to use this as a table radio more than a travel radio--the lack of external antenna jacks was a concern because I have trouble with AM reception in my area. The real surprise was the reception--this small radio locked on and pulled in signals that I have trouble pulling in with some of my better radios like the GE Superadio or Grundig Satellit 800--all while delivering a clear, clean signal. Admittedly, I'm not a DXer, and I'm not suggesting this is the radio for that purpose, but it's performance, particularily on AM, is impressive for such a small package.

Performance was great using the aux input on a Sirius tuner as well as MP3 and CD.

Overall, it has the look and feel--as well as performance--of a quality product.

One thing that you should be aware of--this model uses an outboard transformer--a relatively large wall wart. That negates some of the travel versatility, IMO, but isn't a problem for home use. One of the smart design features is the wall hang slot on the back--I promptly mounted the thing over my nightstand and cleared off the space formerly eaten up by my cheap, tinny sounding clock radio.

It's a rare day that a product meets my expectations, much less exceeds them, but this is a great radio!

Buy Tivoli Audio SongBook AM / FM Alarm Clock Travel Radio, Yellow Now

As a long-time enthusiast for the Tivoli Audio PAL radios (and owner of four of them), I was eager to try the new SongBook. But when I tried the SongBook next to a PAL, I discovered that the SongBook is inferior in every way.

(1) The SongBook is WAY too big for a travel radio; you can't tell from an isolated picture, but the SongBook is as tall as the PAL, and actually larger (the volume of a PAL is only 85% of the volume of a SongBook). The SongBook is very easily tipped over, and hard to pick up in one hand without changing the station; the PAL is very stable, and has convenient depressions for carrying it with one hand. A PAL fits into most briefcases more easily than a SongBook. [The PAL is 82.5 cubic inches (1,360 cc); the SongBook is 94.0 cubic inches (1,540 cc).]

(2) The SongBook is also actually heavier than the PAL! I weighed my PAL against my SongBook, both with batteries installed, both without power cord. The PAL weighs 1 pound 14 ounces (850 grams). The SongBook weighs 2 pounds 1/2 ounce (910 grams). A very curious "travel radio".

(3) The legendary audio quality of the PAL has been eroded in the SongBook. The SongBook does not have the same clear sound of the PAL, and has an annoying hum (the PAL does not). I notice the hum in the SongBook particularly through headphones. (Comparisons were made with a PAL and a SongBook side by side, tuned to the same station.)

(4) A small but important design blunder is that the SongBook does NOT charge its batteries when it is turned on; by contrast, the PAL charges its batteries whenever it is plugged in, turned on or not. This means that you can run the PAL all day on batteries, and also listen to it all night while it recharges. The SongBook won't do that, you cannot listen while it charges; if you turn it on, recharging stops. You have to stop listening to the SongBook to recharge it. This is both irritating and counter-intuitive. The PAL "just works".

(5) The alarm and time functions of the SongBook are very basic; you will do better with a very small travel clock. And the display for time and alarm is far inferior to most small travel alarms. (Also, if you run out the battery completely listening to the radio, you will lose your time and alarm settings for the clock--a bad interaction of functions, since if you run out the battery while sleeping your alarm won't go off.)

(6) Other functions of the SongBook are not improved over the PAL: it has the same headphone jack, the same AUX input jack, the built-in battery charger using a cord and wall wart, the same telescoping antenna. The PAL is every bit as useful as a powered speaker for a computer, MP3 player, CD player, etc. (more useful because it's easier to move around and handle). The nice "weather-resistant" rubbery coating on the case of the SongBook (also useful inside, and easy to clean) is the same as used on the PAL, no advantage.

(7) The SongBook does allow you to save stations on five preset buttons. This, however, is partly offset by the fact that when you pick up the radio you will likely hit one of the buttons and change the station. The PAL uses a round dial to control tuning, but actual station-tuning is just as digitally-precise on the PAL (and a real pleasure).

(8) The PAL includes a special rechargeable battery, installed in the radio at purchase, replacements sold by Tivoli on the web. The SongBook uses six AA rechargeable batteries, not included, but widely available. This opens the possibility of using AA alkaline batteries in the SongBook in a pinch--but what sort of pinch makes rechargeable batteries stop working suddenly? They wear out slowly; so that's not very useful. And in order to use alkaline batteries in the SongBook, a tiny and nearly invisible switch hidden inside the battery compartment must be moved (which seems easy to overlook), so as not to damage the radio. For what it's worth, the batteries in my PALs seem to last much longer on a charge than the six AA rechargeables I got for the SongBook, even after half a dozen complete discharges and recharges (different AA rechargeables can vary, but mine are supposed to be good ones for this use).

(9) Curiously, the SongBook requires that another nearly invisible switch hidden inside the battery compartment be moved in order to change the spacing of AM stations for tuning in North America versus Europe. But I have carried PAL radios both ways (bought in North America and used in Europe, and bought in Europe and used in North America) and listened to AM stations without needing to make any such adjustment.

The Tivoli Audio PAL is such a wonderful product that it would be hard to improve on, and the SongBook definitely is no improvement. By all means, buy a PAL! You'll love it.

Buy a PAL, and along with it buy a travel clock which is smaller than 11 cubic inches and weighs less than 2 1/2 ounces. You'll have a setup superior in every way, for home, for business, and for travel.

Read Best Reviews of Tivoli Audio SongBook AM / FM Alarm Clock Travel Radio, Yellow Here

When my nearly 20 year old Sony Dream Machine cube style alarm clock radio finally gave out I decided to go in search of the best night stand alarm clock radio money could buy. The requirements were design style, sound quality, reception, ease of use, and a back light that goes completely off so that I can sleep at night. After a good deal of research I zeroed in on the Tivoli SongBook ($159) and the Sangean Sonido ($99). After trying both, here's what I've found:

The Tivoli SongBook has very attractive, modern styling (I prefer the black model), exceptional sound quality (like having a $1,000 Bose next to my bed), terrific reception (I don't even need to extend the antenna to get my favorite radio station clearly), very easy to set/update the clock and alarm times, and a back light which thankfully goes completely off. I took one star off for the SongBooks negatives the alarm must be turned on everyday buy pushing down and holding the alarm button for a few seconds (easy to do, but I fear the day that I forget), no alarm snooze (I just turn the volume down), and the display, with or without it's beautiful blue back light turned on, is small and difficult to read, even from only a foot or so away while lying in bed.

The Sangean Sonido looks nice, though not as attractive a design as the SongBook, cost's $59 less than the SongBook, has a more readable screen than the SongBook (with back light that goes completely off), has an alarm snooze, and has an alarm that stays on from day to day. While I haven't made my final decision yet on which to keep, I'm strongly leaning toward the SongBook given the Sonido's shortcomings to get my favorite station clearly I must extend the antenna directly upwards creating an unsightly mess, while better than a Sony Dream Machine the speaker audio quality is only about half as good as the SongBooks (I think this is what spoiled it for me), and even though the display is nicer when the radio alarm sounds the display shows the radio station number, not the time!

I hope Tivoli will improve the alarm functions in a future SongBook model update, until then I think it's still worth the $159 price tag (as long as I'm not late for a meeting because I forgot to turn the alarm on!)

Update: In the end I decided to go with the Sonido. I exchanged my first unit and the replacement had much better audio quality (though still not as good as the SongBook). The reception remains less than stellar, but while using the SongBook I was late for a meeting because of it's lack of full alarm function features, so it had to go.

Want Tivoli Audio SongBook AM / FM Alarm Clock Travel Radio, Yellow Discount?

I've got a few of the Tivoli products and the SongBook shares the same great audio as its siblings. I bought the white color and after a few months there were some brownish stains developing beneath the rubberized surface. These could not be cleaned. They were faded streaks that seemed to be developing from beneath the coating. The only thing I could imagine is these were caused by recharging the batteries, for the unit becomes warm while doing so and the marks were in that vicinity. I contacted Tivoli and without question, they automatically offered a free replacement---FANTASTIC customer support! I'm presently awaiting this new unit (also in white, I guess because of warranty policy) so perhaps the issue has been solved. In order to be safe, I'd probably order the unit in another color. The radio is worth its price and Tivoli gets top honors for their support!

With iPod auxiliary, premium speaker, and above average AM/FM reception, the Songbook is an attractive radio. I've had mine for 3 years. It locks on stations well. The speaker is not overwhelming in volume or bass but produces a warm sound. The speaker is not as rich as Tivoli's brother, the Model One, but the Songbook, perhaps because of its telescopic antenna, gets far better FM reception. One of the advantages of the silver color is that it is aluminum, not rubber like the other colors and the rubber radios hold dirt, which is not easy to clean.

If the Songbook is too pricey for you, you can get similar speaker sound and superior AM/FM reception from the similarly sized Sangean PR-D7 (3-inch mono speaker) or the Sangean PR-D5 (2.5-inch dual stereo speakers).

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Kaito Electronics Inc. KA1101 Digital AM/FM/SW World Receiver

• Dual Conversion Technology
• FM - 70.0 - 108.0 MHz ( Low FM Frequency )
• MW - 522 - 1710 MHz ( AM Narrow/Wide )
• SW - 3.00 - 26.10 MHz ( 9/10 KHz Step )
• 50 Memory Presets ( 10 on each band)

The Kaito 1101, since "replaced" by the Kaito 1102 and, even more recently, the Kaito 1103, differs only in small ways. The volume control is a spin dial, no buttons, but beyond that it's the same radio. In fact here in LA I can get the weak 103.1 FM on my Kaito 1101 but I can't get it in very well on my Kaito 1102, leading me to believe that quality control tends to bring variability. I've also heard from friends in the radio industry that the 1103, which gets stuck in certain frequency zones, is a pain in the to use. So for a small PLL synthesized dual-conversion radio, you're getting top quality for half the price in the Kaito 1101. If size isn't a factor and you don't need presets, you'll get even greater reception with the Tecsun BLC 2000, which is a superior version of its more expensive, bug-plagued clone, the Grundig S350. But for portability and presets, the Kaito 1101 is the best of its kind, better, for example, than the more expensive Sangean 505 and 606, and just as good as the more expensive Sony 7600.

Post Script: I subsequently purchased the Kaito 1103, which has even more outstanding FM sensitivity than the very impressive 1101. However, the 1103 costs about 40 dollars more and is more difficult to operate.

Buy Kaito Electronics Inc. KA1101 Digital AM/FM/SW World Receiver Now

The Kaito KA1101 is worth taking time to recommend. I was specifically in the market for the smallest available AM/FM/SW receiver with quality performance especially in the SW bands. The consensus of user reviews articulated favorable ratings of this unit, even as superior to its siblings---the more expensive KA1102 and KA1103 (when comparing capabilities note that the KA1101 does not cover SSB while its stablemates do). The Amazon purchase price (April 2008) for the KA1101 was $59.95. The order was processed within 24 hours and the package arrived three days ahead of its scheduled delivery date with free super-saver shipping from the distributor in NV.

The carton contained the receiver, AC adaptor, three rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) AA batteries, stereo earbuds, a 15-foot external wire antenna, protective soft case and instructions in English. My first impression was consistent with other reviewers who found the dark-gray receiver to be very compact and solidly built with a satisfying heft. The battery compartment door is attached to the case so it won't fall off and get lost. Not visible in the Amazon product marketing photos are the 29-inch/73cm collapsable mast antenna that pivots and folds off the top left of the unit and a permanently-mounted wrist strap attached to the top right corner.

I live in an area where radio reception is quirky. The KA1101's performance was a quantum improvement over an Eton S350DL on all bands and sensitivity is adjusted by a two-position sliding switch (Local/DX). The 2.5-inch (66mm) speaker was a great sounding room-filler considering its size. The Kaito earbuds were adequate but a pair of Bose TriPort IEs gave full and pure sound without hums, creaks, squeaks or whistles that are symptomatic of less-well-designed receiver and power supply circuitry. Audio tone is controlled by a two-position sliding switch (Music/News). Nice surprises were a button/keypad lock function and an ambient light sensor that moderates the display illumination.

The battery charging system appeared to function as designed and is switched on by a couple of button pushes. One potentially disastrous error for a strict literalist is the user's manual's directive to plug the 120 VAC power converter into a 220VAC outlet. There has been criticism that the battery meter does not show a full charge when rechargeable batteries are installed. This is addressed in the manual which states that the meter will only show 2/3 when the rechargeable cells are topped off. This makes sense as the NiMH AA cells are rated at 1.2VDC, not 1.5VDC as in disposable cells; on a scale where 4.5VDC is analogous to 100%, the voltmeter reflects the total available voltage, 3.6VDC with fully-charged NiMH rechargeables vs. 4.5VDC with disposables.

To me, the bottom line of a radio is its ability to receive broadcast signals and provide quality audio output. Ergonomics and programming functions are relative to individual preference and experience. I found the KA1101 uncluttered and simple to operate. The clock is 24-hour only but as I set mine on GMT that is not a liability. The wrist strap that some find annoying can easily be removed with a snip of some scissors. The black vinyl carrying case is simply that: a simple cover solely to protect the radio from damage during transport or storage, not designed for use while the unit is playing.

I was looking for a compact, multi-band unit and the KA1101 is terrific in this regard. For someone seeking an outstanding receiver in this category I'd definitely recommend it.

Read Best Reviews of Kaito Electronics Inc. KA1101 Digital AM/FM/SW World Receiver Here

I purchased this radio so I could get a hard-to-pull in FM station that I like to listen to. With the included FM/shortwave antenna, the reception was better than I had hoped (it's noticably better than with the telescoping antenna). The digital PLL tuning is nice because I don't have to fiddle with the tuning knob. I can just punch in the frequency I want, and then not worry about drift or tuning backlash or any of the other problems that plague analog tuners.

For power, this radio comes with an AC adapter (which adds no noise to the reception, unlike the GE Superadio III which has a built-in power supply) and rechargable NiMH batteries, and a built-in charging circuit. Or you can use regular AA batteries.

Also included are a carry strap, FM/shortwave wire radio, earbud headphones, and a leather-like carrying case. Unfortunately, the case only has room for the radio and not any of the included accessories.

The radio covers the AM band (520-1710 kHz), shortwave (3-26 MHz, but some frequencies are blocked), and FM and lower FM (70-108 MHz). Unfortunately, this means it only receives TV channels 5 and 6, but that's two more channels than this radio is advertised to receive.

There's a Local/DX switch and a Music/Talk tone switch. In FM you can switch between Stereo and Mono, and in AM between Narrow and Wideband reception.

Unfortunately, you have to read the instruction booklet to figure out how to turn off the sleep timer, set memories, set the frequency using the number pad, and check the time when the radio is on. In other words, it isn't as intuitive as it could be. The manual is easy enough to read, but the point is you shouldn't have to.

Another issue is the constant amplifier hiss through the headphone jack due to the cheap built-in headphone amplifier. It's most noticeable when you have the volume turned down. However, the audio through the line out jack is fine. I've read that the amplifier in the Sony 7600GR is better, but that radio isn't cheap.

Am I glad I bought this radio? Absolutely! The quality is above average and it has the features I was looking for, at a very good price. It isn't iPod or TiVo perfect, but you can't do better for a radio under $100.

Want Kaito Electronics Inc. KA1101 Digital AM/FM/SW World Receiver Discount?

After enjoying the superb reception on the Kaito 1103 but not enjoying the counter-intuitive control buttons, I decided to invest in the Kaito 1101 because of the excellent reviews. Here is my comparison:

Value: The 1101 is an incredible value. This is a lot of radio for the price. The 1103 is well worth its cost but the 1103 has more features.

Sound: The 1103 wins, hands down, with its larger speaker and fuller sound. The 1101 is good but inferior sounding to the 1103.

Ease of use: Yikes! How can Kaito get so much right with reception and so much wrong with ergonomics? The 1103 has the least intutive volume control of any radio I have ever seen. The 1101 has the dial volume control right under the carrying strap it is nearly impossible not to get caught up with one when using the other. The power button on the 1101 is near the middle of the front panel not on the far right where you would expect to find it. Try fiddling for it without looking. The carrying strap is on the top right bad choice. The ac input is on the right side should be on the left. These radios are so counter-intuitive to use. That is so sad because they have great reception:

Reception: This is where Kaito excels. Great FM, above average AM, Great Shortwave. These radios are hot receivers! The 1101 is very near to the 1103 as far as reception goes. I do detect a slight improvement in the 1103 but not enough to make much of a difference for the user.

Which one should you get? The 1101 is smaller and more compact and is about 40$ less than the 1103. The 1103 has better sound. Either way, you are going to have to deal with the bizarre but minor tuning. volume, preset, ergonomics issues. Well worth the price but may be frustrating to someone who just wants to turn it on and listen. The manual is in poor English that barely makes sense but you can figur eit all out in about 15 minutes if you are patient.

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Kaito KA1101 Worldband radio

Bottom lines first: I am neither audiophile nor shortwaver/DXer, rather someone who wanted a decent-sounding, easy-to-operate, small-as-possible radio for FM and AM news and music broadcasts, albeit with an eye toward dabbling in shortwave to see if there was enough there to develop a semi-serious interest in. I did a lot of research, including reading around extensively in Passport to World Band Radio, the bible of this activity, and other online sites. Based on what I read, the KA1101 delivered the best performance for the buck, and it offered excellent reception in all bands, including world band. So I figured that even if the shortwave thing didn't pan out that I would still have a solid FM/AM radio.

After a month of use, I can say that the KA1101 is a superb little package, one that lived up to, or exceeded, every expectation. FM reception is outstanding, ditto AM reception. Every station, even the hard to get local all-classical station, come in clear and clean and crisp. As for sound, well it's not Bose, but for such a tiny speaker it's really pretty impressive, and the stereo sound through the earpieces that come with the radio is not bad at all.

As for shortwave, I've played around with it just using the built-in retractable antenna and managed to get quite a few broadcasts, mainly in the evening and mainly on the 49 meter (5800-6200 or so) range: Radio Netherlands, Radio Habana, some odd music, a UFO government conspiracy station, 10 minutes of Bob Dylan, a reading from Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World", a discussion of a "colon-cleansing Holy tea", assorted news/culture/music bits. It's kinda fun, though from what I understand, we on the west coast are at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to shortwave reception. Outside the 49 meter band, the pickings have been slim, but I do latch onto something worth a few minutes of listening time now and then. Keep in mind, I have no expertise here and am just flipping around to see what I come up with. I'm sure that SW reception would improve, perhaps significantly, with an external antenna, but I'm not quite there yet. In the interim, shortwaving in the evening using just the built-in has so far been an enjoyable little adventure. And I can carry the radio around with me in the morning and evening, then put it down wherever I end up by using the flip-down stand on the backside.

What else? The build quality is quite good, the whole package having a well-made, solid feel to it. The buttons are sound and "clicky" (you never have to guess whether you've pushed one) and I like the positioning of the turning up and down buttons that are arranged in a little semi-circle in the lower right hand corner and, for me, seem perfectly positioned for using my thumb on when I am holding the radio. Plenty of presets with 10 per band (and totally easy to use), easy direct access, Wide and Narrow band switch to use for difficult to tune-in stations. Everything about operating this radio is intuitive and quickly mastered. The retractable antenna seems a bit fragile, and I did manage to break off the tip by apparently pushing back down when it wasn't perfectly straight (phoned KaitoUsa and for $10 they are sending me a replacement).

Last week, I bought a pair of Sennheiser 202 headphones and have to say that using these is a HUGE improvement in stereo sound quality, almost a concert hall sound when listening to classical music. Vastly superior to the ear buds that come with the radio.

No matter how long I charge the NiMH batteries, the logo always shows only 2/3 full, but from other reports I've read this is apparently the norm for this radio. Whatever, almost a month later and they are still running on the initial charge, this on 1+ hours of use per day.

All in all, this has to be the best AM/FM/SW package out there ($52.95 is what I paid through amazon which routed the sale directly through KaitoUSA in Monclair, CA).

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