HD Radio

Showing posts with label antique clock radio. Show all posts

Boss 647CK 240 Watt MP3/CD Receiver/Speaker Package System

Single-DIN mounting, Active black mask display, Illuminated control buttons
PLL synthesized tuner with 30 station presets, USB port / Front panel AUX input, Compatible with audio output of iPod and other MP3 players
ID3-Tag display, Quartz digital clock, Separate bass and treble

So glad I bought it, my expectations are right sounds great, me and my kids enjoy driving even more it was worth buying.thank you

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Good radio for the price. I would buy it again, good for the fixer upper or that run about vehicle

Sony Slim Under-Cabinet FM/AM CD Kitchen Clock Radio

Had been looking for a while for a nice undercounter unit as an anniversary gift for our son and his wife. This unit had everything that we were looking for to include an interface cable for an MP3/IPOD player. Very impressed.

The CD play part is great with good sound. But radio part has problems with some of freqencies. For example, when i switch to 99.5 frequency, it has lots of noise. Since I use it primarily to play CD, i just ingore the radio part.

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This is exactly what I was looking for to use in my kitchen. It's nice that it doesn't take up any counter space. It has an adapter for an iPod. At first I was concerned because the adapter cord is very short, but the radio comes with an iPod holder that attaches to the side so it doesn't have to reach far. The magnetic remote is also nice because I can stick it high on my fridge where the kiddos cannot get to it. I am very pleased with this purchase :)

Thanks!

Read Best Reviews of Sony Slim Under-Cabinet FM/AM CD Kitchen Clock Radio Here

Replaced an older Emerson under the counter C/D radio that finally died, and decided to upgrade and try the Sony model.It is thicker and bulkier then Emerson, has same features and sound, and cost double. The worse is this radio has terrible reception. The cord is suppose to act as an antenna and just does not work. Even attached an extension cord with no improvement in reception of some local stations. Defeats the purpose of having a radio. Would not buy this radio.

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Just received the under cabinet radio by Sony. I was really interested in getting certain features but the quality of the sound was most important. This radio delivers nice sound volume and quality for its design and size. I am very pleased with the audio and would recommend it to those with similar concerns. I was also pleased with the capability to have 10 preset FM bands and 5 presets for the AM band. I really like the the MP3 integration feature even though it doesn't charge my iPhone while playing. It's a simple economical design with a removable side tray to hold the device when plugged in. I had no issues installing from underneath, using the template, because there was no room to use my drill above the cabinet due to height restrictions. It all worked first time. It's easy to set the clock and even has a timer. I think this was the right selection and there aren't really that many quality devices to choose from it seems.

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HELLO KITTY KT2055 Digital AM/FM Clock Radio with Night Light

Attractive alarm clock. It does everything my daughter wanted it to. The red LED display is VERY bright, and, as far as I can tell, there is no way to dim it down.

Very disappointed. purchased for a Christmas gift for my daughter. 9 Volt battery backup and still will not turn on.

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The clock was in great condition and was shipped on time. My daughter has carried it with her and will not let the thing go. This was a great buy

Read Best Reviews of HELLO KITTY KT2055 Digital AM/FM Clock Radio with Night Light Here

Naxa NX-649 Car Audio In Dash 350 Watt CD MP3 Player AM FM Stereo Aux

* Real Time Clock Function

after receving the radio and hooking it up ,it has ok sound,sounds better without using the eq setting,it takes away from the volume of the music playing and doesnt sound good at any setting on the eq.also its says its 350 watts. yes it might be,but not at speaker output,all naxa car stereos are 40 watts per channel nothing more.if you want good sound with a little kick get 50 watts per channel from somewhere else.my old stereo sounded better.if want alright sound then this will work.

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This is an (ok) item if you just want somethin in your vehicle, but when it comes to performance, its very weak. it definitely doesn't push no 350 wtts.

Read Best Reviews of Naxa NX-649 Car Audio In Dash 350 Watt CD MP3 Player AM FM Stereo Aux Here

I was looking for a car cd player that I could connect my ipod too but also could play my cd's with good sound and power to help give my speakers the extra boost. This player gives me the few options that I required and sound great. And for the price you can't really go wrong. I'd definitely recommend this stereo.

RCA Armband AM/FM Radio

AM/FM radio with digital PLL tuning
LCD display
16 station presets
Digital tuning and volume controls
Built-in antenna
AM/FM radio - digital PLL tuning
Adjustable armband
Headphone jack
Stereo earphones included
16 radio station presets

Just what I was looking for. Great radio for the price. I listen to talk radio mostly on AM stations and have had no problems with reception.I wear it on my arm and sometimes forget I have it on. Buy It ! you won't have any regrets.

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I was looking for an inexpensive option for music while walking at night with my daughter. This was the perfect solution. Couldn't be happier. Lightweight, great reception extremely happy with this purchase. We are still able to talk using the Sony Ultra Lightweight MDR-W08L Vertical In-The-Ear Headphones!

Read Best Reviews of RCA Armband AM/FM Radio Here

Sometimes you get what you pay for. In the case of this radio you don't. $5.00 would have been more like it. The AM radio station I wanted to listen to 55 miles away would fade in and out while walking. I usually had to keep the radio in my hand and constantly adjust it. The ear buds are as cheap as they get. Sound quality is poor even for AM. At maximum volume you won't cause any ear damage. Plugging in my high quality Sony ear buds improved it significantly. My main reason for purchasing it was to use during my lunch hour while walking and listening to talk radio. The day I brought it to work the digital display was all messed up. Parts of the digital numbers were missing. It was unreadable. A day later is was ok again. Then several days later the top half of the numbers were missing. That was it, I returned it to Amazon and got my money back. This radio looked promising and after reading the 5 star reviews I thought I had a winner. It looks nice and is small and portable. But the electronics are bare bones basic.

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I remember when RCA was a respected brand, no more. The radio broke soon afer I got it, had to toss it. When tuning, it was very cumbersome. if you selected only 3 fav channels, you had to cycle thru all(20 if I remember)

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Item arrived on time. Volume and station clarity, while doing workout at gym, are low. Can't get decent response to make this item of any value there.

Exclusive Hello Kitty KT2052 Sleeping AM/FM Clock Radio with Night-Light By SPECTRA

Really cute clock radio. But, the clock only works with the power cord. With the battery only the radio works. I am not sure if that is normal, or mine is broken. The cord is too short for where I want it, so I hoped to use just the battery. Can't.

ETON Grundig YB400PE AM/FM Shortwave Radio

Receives AM, FM, continuous shortwave, and SSB (single sideband)
Tuning via up/down buttons, auto-scan, and a numeric keypad
High-quality circuitry and a digital PLL tuner
Dual clocks allow you to track the time in two time zones
Can be powered with the included AC adapter, or via six "AA" batteries

This, along with the Sony ICF-7600G are among the two best portable shortwave radios offered by Amazon at this time. Both have their advantages and it is up to the user what is most important. The Grundig YB-400 is a fairly easy to use radio that allows the user to punch in the desired frequency, enter it into one of 40 memories, or scan desired bands to find a station of interest. The Grundig's best asset is its great audio. It is definitely the best audio I've heard from a shortwave portable and makes listening a real pleasure. If you live or travel to any part of the world other than Europe or eastern North America the Grundig YB-400 is the best you can buy. If you live in one of those two places consider the Sony, which has a synch. detector that allows you to reduce interference from adjacent stations. This is important in areas where there are a high number of strong stations crowded next to one another. In any case, both are well worth the money.

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Among the best consumer world band radios available today, and the finest low-cost radio I have owned in over twenty years of listening.

This is great all-around radio. If you are new to short-wave, this is an very good radio to start with. For beginners, the lock-on tuning and scanning functions make listening easy. For more experienced and adventurous listeners, there is the ability to access single sideband transmissions. All current and proposed medium-wave, FM, and short-wave bands are available.

The speaker sound is excellent, and one can also attach stereo speakers to the YB400's headphone jack; my YB400 does double duty as an FM tuner and short-wave.

The Grundig YB400 comes as part of a very complete package. Included with the radio is an AC adapter, stereo earbuds, carrying case, and an external reel antenna that plugs into the radio itself. The manual is brief but clear, and a listening guide is also included.

Read Best Reviews of ETON Grundig YB400PE AM/FM Shortwave Radio Here

Great sensitivity and sound in a small radio.

Very simple to operate.

It's to be compared with the Sony 7600G, in choosing a portable, its chief competitor. You can't go wrong with either one.

The YB400 audio is much better than the Sony, and the operation is easier than the Sony.

The interference rejection however is better in the Sony because of the Sony's synch detector, if interference of strong stations is a consideration, or if ``selective fading,'' common on shortwave or twilight AM broadcasting, where the carrier fades below the sidebands causing distortion, is a problem. This is also solved by synch detection.

If distance daytime AM listening is desired, the Sony with its fast AGC is better than the YB400 with its slow AGC, because you can add a MW loop (Select-a-tenna, Terk Loop, or Radio Shack MW loop) and tune it successfully with a fast AGC. It's difficult to tune with the YB400's slow AGC, though sometimes you can turn the switch to local and disable the AGC temporarily to do it.

(Slow AGC gives you an edge in copying interfering morse code stations, however, because the louder station won't modulate the weaker one on the YB400, and it will on the Sony.)

For strong stations, pick the YB400 for the audio. For interference or AM distance listening with a MW loop, pick the Sony.

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While I'm not exactly a shortwave hobbyist I've used shortwave radios on every one of my travels overseas. That being said the YB 400 PE is the best SW I've ever had. This Grundig brings a lot of features to the table such as digital tuning, forty presets, great capture of stations and above average sound. I've really enjoyed using the 400 and its great features.

One complaint I had was that the manual that accompanies it does an inadequate job of explaining some of the functions and the pre-sets are all inclusive, that is it's forty pre-sets for all bands FM/SW/LW/MW rather than per band. But these are small things that shouldn't take away from the overall excellence of the radio.

I'm getting ready to go on an extended trip to the third world and the Grundig YB 400PE is at the top of my packing list.

I've had my YachtBoy 400 for about a week now, and I love it! [the 400 is identical to the 400PE, but the newer PE comes with an AC adaptor.]

Within minutes of putting the batteries in the unit I was listening to stations from all over the world. To maximize your listening, especially as a newer listener, buy a good guide like Passport to Worldband Radio.

I have read all the reviews, and I believe the tone quality is better than the naysayers lead you to believe. The tuning is very simple, and once you try all the functions, the operations are intuitive.

I considered the Sony and the ATS-909 among others. I read hundreds of reviews, and I was convinced that the biggest weakness of the Yacht Boy is SSB reception. I have been satisfied with that feature on mine, and since it works ok for me, I'm not sure what the grumbling is all about.

If I had it to do all over again, which radio would I buy? This one. I'm perfectly satisfied with it.

By the way, if you have questions or ever need help, I have found that the Eton (Grundig U.S) customer service and technical folks are extremely helpful.

Tenergy Centura AAA Low Self-Discharge LSD NiMH Rechargeable Batteries, 1 Card 4xAAA

Very slow self discharge maintains 85% residual capacity after 1 year of storage and 70% residual capacity after 2 years of storage
Exact replacement for standard AAA size battery in all the devices
Designed for enhanced performance for high drain applications such as digital cameras, CD players,portable audio devices
Can be recharged for up to 1000 times, providing big saving by replacing hundreds of throw away AAA batteries.
Can be rapidly charged with any quick charger, smart chargers, plug in charger or universal chargers
Designed for hand held games, 2-way radios, PDAs, and other portable high drain digital electronics

I don't have much confidence in Tenergy products in general. But the Tenergy Centura AAA Low Self-Discharge (LSD) NiMH Rechargeable Batteries are presently available at ~50% the cost of Sanyo Eneloop AAA. So I took a chance and was pleasantly surprised. Here are my test results, using my old La Crosse BC-900 Battery Charger:

Right out of the package, the average remaining charge measured was only 237mAh, or 30% of the rated capacity of '800mAh'.

After the first recharge, the average capacity jumped up to 898mAh!

After another two discharge/recharge cycles, the average peaked at 900mAh. The spread is quite small, with minimum=880mAh and maximum=922mAh.

In comparison, Sanyo eneloop AAA typically arrives with ~75% of rated capacity, and the average capacity after 2 cycles is 830-840mAh. So the Tenergy Centura, while marketed as an eneloop clone, actually delivered ~7% higher capacity than eneloop.

The measured capacity of Tenergy Centura is higher than all other LSD AAA cells I have tested except for PowerEx Imedion AAA. The Imedion AAA is rated for '950mAh', and delivers 975mAh average capacity under the same test conditions. But of course the price for Imedion is much higher.

I still have one concern: the performance charts provided by Tenergy claim that the capacity of Centura AAA is within 1% variation from that of eneloop, but why did I measure ~7% higher capacity instead? It is possible that Centura cells have actually improved in capacity, or maybe they are made by two different suppliers, one with higher capacity than the other. In any case, the present low price of Centura makes it an irresistible deal. You got to start picking while the picking is good.

[Aside]

Make sure you shop around for the best unit-price. As of this writing, the Tenergy Centura 12xAAA package is actually more expensive than three 4-pack, after you factor in shipping cost.

[Update on Oct 9, 2011]

Long term self-discharge data: After 92 days in storage, a pair of Tenergy Centura AAA cells retained 83.3% of the original charge. This proves that they are indeed LSD type, although the charge retention rate is slightly worse than advertised ("85% after 12 months").

[Update on Dec 5, 2011]

Tested a second pair of Centura AAA cells after 5 months. The average remaining charge is 739mAh, or 81.2% of original measured capacity of 910mAh. Another way of look at it: those cells have retained 92% of rated capacity of 800mAh. This is probably where the marketing claim of "85% after 12 months" came from.

Unlike the Tenergy Centura AA, those AAA cells did not suffer any capaity loss after storage. So I can fully reommend them without reservations.

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In spite of Centura's advertised similarity to Eneloop, Centura has a significantly higher self-discharge rate. I'd rate these batteries at about 4.3 stars (Price...5 stars, Capacity...5, Self discharge rate...3.) If they didn't advertise these batteries as retaining 90% capacity at 6 months and 85% at 1 year, I'd have given them 5 stars since they are a good value in an LSD. However, since they have a higher discharge rate than advertised (I'd say no better than average for a LSD), can't do it.

I've pretty much replaced all alkaline batteries with NiMH LSD. Most devices use AAs...cameras, flashlights, GPS, wireless devices etc. and they're loaded with the older Rayovac Hybrids and Eneloops. Have a couple which use AAA and they have Hybrids. When I saw the $5 price of 4 Tenergy Centura AAAs and the advertised comparison to Eneloop (generally considered the best LSD available), I couldn't resist a purchase to test and keep them as a backup.

As were previous reviewers, I also was impressed with initial capacity which was well above the 800 mAh rating. After a couple of discharge/recharge cycles on a LaCrosse BC-9009 at a 100 mA discharge rate, they yielded a capacity of 916, 880, 879, and 870 mAh. Pretty impressive for AAA rechargeables.

I initially intended to test capacity at 6 months and 1 year to determine discharge rate. However, after reading NLee's test at 92 days, decided to test a couple myself which now are at 110 days and have been stored in the basement at 60 to 65 degrees. The results: 916 mAh now down to 727 mAh...79% of initial capacity. 880 mAh down to 731...83% of initial capacity. Average the two and you have 81%...in line with NLee's results and already below the advertised 85% at 1 year. However, there is another way to look at this. These batteries are rated at 800 mAh so if you consider the percent of rated capacity, they now average 91% of it at a bit under 4 months. Although the discharge rate will likely decrease with time, given the past rate of discharge, it's pretty doubtful they'll lose no more than 1% over the next 2 months or maintain 85 percent at a year. To be fair, I'll test one battery at 6 months and the last at 1 year. If there's still 680 mAh (85% of 800 mAh) remaining at 1 year, I'll update this review and change the rating to a 5.

Would I recommend these batteries? Absolutely! They are a great value in a LSD! Get some of the major brand 800 mAh LSDs and you will pay twice the price, have less capacity, and see little change in discharge rate. However, if you want a LSD battery with that advertised 85% capacity at one year, it would seem you'll have to spend the extra money and get Eneloop.

_______________________________________________________________________________

(Update 1/2/12) Final testing. At six months (184 days) tested both remaining batteries for self-discharge rate. The results...879 mAh battery now 726...82% of initial and 91% of rated 800mAh. 870 mAh now 710...82% of initial and 89% of rated..

Ran all four batteries through 4 charge/discharge cycles to determine capacity loss under use. Including the initial preparation for testing, this represents a total of 7 cycles. Initial capacity/ Current/ percentage drop for the 4 batteries. 916/851/7%, 880/876/under1%, 879/866/1.5%, 870/836/4%.

Conclusion:It would appear that after about 3-4 months, discharge rate falls to about 1% per month...so although not quite up to Eneloop, its close to that advertised for the 800 mAh RATED capacity. Two of the batteries (880 & 879) held capacities reasonably well under use but the 870 showed a significant drop and the 916 was unacceptable. Although noteworthy that all capacities are still above rated capacity, I have little confidence that the 916 will stand up under long-term us. I would say I have two 5 star batteries, a 4 star...and a 3 star. My initial 4 star rating still holds.

Added note: Early purchasers, myself included, report near 900 mAh initial capacity while a more recent purchaser reports it near 800. This implies that Centura may have changed manufacturers or that they are branding products from two different manufacturers. My testing confirms significant variability in quality within a single lot. Long term durability of Centura remains an unknown. For those concerned about it, I would recommend Eneloop due to their well-established high quality in all aspects...especially considering the recent 40% jump in Amazon's Centura price.

Read Best Reviews of Tenergy Centura AAA Low Self-Discharge LSD NiMH Rechargeable Batteries, 1 Card 4xAAA Here

These batteries seem to be a fine replacement for the original Panasonic batteries that came with our Panasonic cordless phone set. After a month or so of use they are working fine, and much less expensive than anything else.

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Panasonic house phone set had 2 of 4 phones that never kept the charge. These batteries were the correct type. Read the reviews and tried them out. Very happy with them. Needed to be fully charged upon arrival, but put them in the phones and they charged up quickly. Great price too. With Prime delivery they got here in a snap.

With all the pre-charged batteries from different manufacturers out there now, there is no need for 1-time use alkaline batteries anymore.

Using my Lacrosee BC-700 battery charge/test function, the 4 "AAA" batteries performed as follows:

Battery 1 = 784 mAh

Battery 2 = 742 mAh

Battery 3 = 770 mAh

Battery 4 = 793 mAh

(See picture on customers' submitted images)

Straight from the box, the batteries show remaining voltages are between 1.30 to 1.31 volts (see pic above). All packs a little less juice compared to its rated capacity of 800 mAh. Compared to the more popular brands like Eneloops and Duracell, they performed not as good but not bad at all.

At the time of the review, they were available around 5 bucks which is the cheapest pre-charged batteries I can find.

I have been using pre-charged batteries for everything now, from toys, digital cameras, clocks, to remote controls.

Grace Digital MatchStick (GDI-GFD7200) Charging Speaker Dock for Kindle Fire - Portrait and Landscap

Grace Digital MatchStick Charging Speaker Dock for Kindle Fire - Portrait and Landscape Modes

++++++++++

Update:

I was informed by the Grace Digital MatchStick management that the battery pack that makes this product portable will be available in August of 2012. Its part number is AAC-GFDLI and it will sell for $29.99 on Amazon. This seems like a fair price and provides the added benefit of making your Kindle Fire and Matchstick Dock portable and easier to use. This is good news!

Here is my later video review of the Matchstick Battery pack and you can find it here.

Grace Digital Matchstick for Kindle Fire Rechargeable Battery Pack

I also attached the speaker system to my iPad 3 and iPhone using the included audio cable and the system sound was very good. This is ideal for watching movies or listing to music with your Apple devices to get much better sound quality instead of just using your Apple device for the sound. I have included a photo of my iPad hooked up. Make sure to turn-up the volume level on your iPad and then use your volume control on the MatchStick to set the volume. With the battery option this makes a nice portable sound system for picnicking or camping. Just connect your earphone output plug from your Apple device to the audio input plug on the back of the MatchStick and change the input setting of the MatchStick using the remote control.

++++++++++

This is an innovative docking station as this is the first one I have seen for the Kindle Fire. It is well designed and the audio output is very good. I wish I could have played some audio or a video for you in my video review but with the copyright laws I did not want to push the chance of making someone mad. The audio is just great and it provides a loud volume without distortion or cracking. The balance of bass, midrange and highs is well done and you can adjust the bass and treble to suit your needs.

I am convinced that this product is a winner but I am also convinced that having the battery pack is the way to go for people who are Amazon prime members and stream music or videos using Prime or another video streaming system. You could then watch movies and not be tied to the AC power cord. Please watch my video as there more details in it to help you evaluate the product.

If you have any questions please post your comments and I will try to respond to them.

Grace Digital MatchStick Pros

* Very nice sound with a good mixture of highs, midrange and bass.

* Good for watching videos or listening to music.

* Volume is quite good and the sound was still crisp without distortion.

* Remote control provided with bass and treble control.

* Auxiliary input cable provided.

* Landscape and portrait modes of operation.

* 50 and 38 degree viewing angle while in portrait mode.

* A good instruction manual is included.

* A hefty AC adapter to charge your Kindle Fire and the optional AC battery with the same device.

Grace Digital MatchStick cons

* 4 ½ foot power cord on the AC adapter can't reach to the top of a dresser or to the middle of a desk.

* Rechargeable battery option but no price or availability known at this time. If you are an Amazon Prime member this is a must have option to relax and watch movies without being tied to a power cord.

Overall analysis

* Easy to use and adds value to using a Kindle Fire for an entertainment system.

* Good sound for the money. It isn't a Bose system but it also costs 40% of the price of a Bose iPod AC powered docking station.

* If you are an Amazon Prime Member this is an ideal add on to enhance your audio enjoyment while playing music or watching a movie.

* I wish it included the battery and would only cost say $30 more as a package. It would also have been ideal to use some of my rechargeable Sanyo eneloop or 18650 rechargeable power cells instead of a proprietary battery design.

I was provided a free evaluation sample to test and provide an honest and thorough review.

As a viewing stand, the GRACE DIGITAL MATCHSTICK DOCK is terrific. It holds the Kindle Fire a few inches above your desktop or tabletop at an ideal vertical or horizontal viewing angle. With slight pressure, the holder turns from vertical to horizontal and settles firmly into position, so that the Fire stays put.

As a speaker dock, the MatchStick is pretty good. With the Fire volume set to maximum, the MatchStick delivers sound that is perfectly satisfactory for a non-audiophile like myself. You get sound that is similar to what you get with the AmazonBasics Portable Stereo System, but a little fuller, with more maximum volume.

However, the MatchStick is not perfect.

ON/OFF SWITCH (KINDLE FIRE): When the Fire is in the holder, you turn it on or off with a button located underneath the dock. In one of the two horizontal positions (with the dock to the right), the button on my device doesn't work properly unless the Fire is pushed firmly against the dock again, or unless the button is held down hard (which usually triggers the "do you want to turn your Kindle Fire off?" query that comes up before you do a full reboot).

ON/OFF SWITCH (MATCHSTICK DOCK): To play music, you must turn the Matchstick on with a button located in the top panel above the right speaker. When the Matchstick is turned on, it automatically charges your Kindle Fire. When your Fire is fully charged, there is no way to turn off the charger. If you wish to listen to music, the charger continues to charge continuously while the speakers play. (The MatchStick dock has an upright plug that connects with the charger outlet on the bottom of the Fire.)

TREBLE/BASS BUTTONS (REMOTE): As I said previously, I'm not an audiophile. However, I noticed very little difference when I pressed the + and buttons for the treble and bass adjustments (on the remote), or even when I pressed the Equalizer button to reset the sound.

VOLUME (MATCHSTICK DOCK, REMOTE): To me, the up/down volume buttons on both the MatchStick top panel and the remote seem sluggish. Holding them down will adjust the volume, though. To get the maximum volume from the MatchStick speakers, you must first set the Fire volume to maximum. (The dock has an upright plug that connects with the Fire's earphone jack when you slide the Fire into the holder).

TEMPERATURE (KINDLE FIRE): When I'm using the MatchStick to play music, my Fire runs at a higher temperature than when I play music with the Fire alone or with the Amazon Basics external, battery-powered speakers. (All of my music comes from a wireless connection with the Amazon Cloud--no music is on the Fire itself.) I don't usually play music for extended periods, but for testing purposes, I played music on the MatchStick for several hours. My Fire, which started around 65 percent at 73 degrees, was fully charged after 15 minutes or so, and the temperature was around 92 degrees (as measured by the excellent Badass Battery Monitor (Kindle Fire Edition) (a free Android version of this app also works with the Fire). After about an hour, there was a music skip, then there were occasional, more frequent skips. Replaying indicated that the skips were not in the music recordings. After three hours of mostly playing music with the display off, the Fire temperature was at 94 degrees. When the music developed a bit of static, I decided to end the test. Playing music with the display off on the Fire alone (plugged in to the USB charger with an outlet adaptor--not the Fire charger), or on the Amazon Basics speakers (noncharging) resulted in temperatures in the high 80s or below. (The Matchstick uses an electrical adaptor like the Fire charger--one with a big black box at the outlet end).

FOOTPRINT (MATCHSTICK DOCK): This is strictly personal, but the MatchStick footprint is too large for my available tabletop/desktop space. The MatchStick measures 4" high by 13" wide, so that leaving the unit out with the Fire docked has the effect of converting my mobile device into a permanent, immobile installation. The Fire slides smoothly in and out of the dock, but I don't have space in my small condo to leave the dock out permanently, given that it lacks superb sound quality.

I like the MatchStick dock, but because of its various drawbacks, I won't be using it regularly. For this reason, I rate it at 3 stars ("it's okay" on the official Amazon scale).

This review is based on a product supplied to me by the manufacturer free of charge for review purposes. I have no financial interest, or business relationship with the manufacturer, and this review represents my independent opinion of the product.

Buy Grace Digital MatchStick (GDI-GFD7200) Charging Speaker Dock for Kindle Fire - Portrait and Landscap Now

**UPDATE: I've noticed a few reviewers mentioning that it's hard to turn your Fire on and off. My personal experience has been that this is a very easy process. There is a button at the base of the input port, raised and easy to feel if your Fire is vertical. When I push this, my Kindle turns on immediately. You don't have to use the Kindle's power button.**

I am really impressed with the MatchStick. I don't listen to a lot of music on my Kindle Fire but I like to watch videos. But the Kindle Fire sound system was moderate at best. The MatchStick is a great solution to plug in your Fire and either listen to music, watch videos or whenever you want sound.

It plugs in securely to the audio output and the charging port of your Fire which means that it will charge the Fire while docked. The Fire can be displayed in three positions: vertical, horizontal left or horizontal right. So you can flip it either way. And the plug seems to be secure enough in any direction.

The unit has a great benefit beyond using it for your Fire. It has an auxiliary audio input that attaches to any mp3 player including an iPod. So, in one speaker set, I can use my Fire or my iPod. The best of all worlds!

The sound quality is good. It is not perfect, especially as the volume increases but it is comparable to other smaller speaker sets like this. Unlike some other similar speaker sets this has an added benefit of an equalizer including base and treble control (but only through the remote).

A nice unit with a dual purpose.

(This unit was provided to me at no cost for an honest review.)

Read Best Reviews of Grace Digital MatchStick (GDI-GFD7200) Charging Speaker Dock for Kindle Fire - Portrait and Landscap Here

Overall, the Matchstick delivers decent sound from a relatively compact footprint while charging a Kindle Fire.

-PROS

--The Grace Digital Matchstick performs its two basic functions very well: delivering sound from Kindle sources (either locally stored .mp3 files or content streamed from the cloud (such as via Pandora or Amazon's cloud player) and charging the Kindle Fire.

--The Matchstick's cradle holds a headset jack (that provides audio input to its speakers from the Fire) and a USB port (that provides charging for the Fire). The Kindle Fire slides easily into the cradle, and the input jack and USB port are nicely aligned. The cradle itself can me manually rotated for either a portrait or landscape view of the Kindle Fire.

--Sound quality is very good (within the normal constraints of the lossy nature of either .mp3 or streaming sources). I judge speakers mostly by midrange sound and the clarity of guitars and vocals. You won't host a party with these speakers, but in a quiet room, they deliver a very good sound quality.

--The unit ships with an auxiliary cable, and will also accept audio output from non-Kindle devices (I tested with both an HTC Evo phone and iPod Nano 5G)

--Includes a nicely written user guide (useful even if it does contain some typos).

--The Matchstick weighs 4 pounds and overall has a solid, hefty field.

-CONS (all minor)

--You will be tethered to an AC power source. The user guide indicates a proprietary rechargeable battery unit is available (and the rear of the Matchstick contains a compartment for it), but I was unable to find the battery for sale on either Amazon or Grace Digital. Battery availability and increased portability would move this item to 5 stars. Contact with the vendor indicates the battery will become available in August 2012. According the the user guide, when installed the battery will power the speakers, but will not charge the Kindle Fire.

--Some controls (treble/bass/EQ) are available only on the remote. The remote is VERY small and very thin, Misplace it, and you'll lose these control features.

--Non-intuitive status indicators from two LEDs: the user guide contains a 31x5 chart of possible combinations of color and flashing/steady indicators from the Matchstick's two LEDs. Unless something is wrong: too hard (especially since many indicators address the apparently non-available battery!).

--Aux audio input is co-located on the rear/bottom of the unit near the AC adapter input. Placing the aux input on the top would have improved access for connecting a non-Fire device.

--Large "wall-wart" for AC adapter.

Overall, I found the Matchstick easy to use and liked the quality of sound from its speakers. This costs enough to not be considered a casual purchase, and at that price I wish the battery capability was available in order to make this unit truly portable.

Note:

This product was provided at no cost to me by the vendor.

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Ordered 2 days ago. Much intervening regret for spending so much. Arrived 5 hrs ago and since then all regrets vanished. The device is very solid. It can orient your kindle in any direction. Mainly the sound is wonderful. I'm slightly hard of hearing but wish to play it low so as to not impose my music on townhouse neighbors. I think I'm playing no louder than formerly yet I can hear so much better. Don't understand this but am willing to accept it. I agree with all who say this transforms the kindle fire. It does!

Only regret: It's heavy so picking it up from table to lay on my generous midsection to read will require gentle care. There's no handle to lift it so there's the temptation to contact the speaker face with the thumb. This would eventually rub a hole in the fabric covering the speaker. A solid plastic carrying handle would be a nice bonus.

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Grandstream GXV3175 IP Multimedia Phone 7" touch screen

7" resistive touch screen color LCD (800x400), 1.3M pixel CMOS camera with privacy shutter
Multi-language, full Web browser, weather, news, stocks, currency, world clock, calendar, games, Google Voice, Internet radio, YouTube, movie trailer, Last.fm, digital photo frame, photo album integration with Yahoo
H.264/H.263/H.263+ video compression at bit rate of 32kbps-2Mbps, frame rate of up to 30fps, video resolution of VGA/WQVGA/QVGA (H.264) and CIF/QCIF (H.263/H.263+)
Dual USB ports, SD/MMC/SDHC, headset, stereo audio output, video output
?High fidelity full-duplex speakerphone with high performance acoustic echo canceller

GXV3175 Current status 13th January 2011 -

(Firmware versions Boot:1.0.0.7, Core: 1.0.1.2, Base: 1.0.1.3, DSP: 1.0.4.82, Prog: 1.0.0.28, GUI-A: 1.0.0.7, GUI-B 1.0.0.7, Recovery: 1.0.0.3, Supplement: 1.0.0.27):

Navigation:

The Navigation feels good. New users will get the hang of the "new" navigation easily. The basic idea is that you either

* Point and click

* Point long enough (Options will popup)

* Slide with the finger

* Drag and drop

Applications:

The basic phone functions and some previously existing applications (same as on GXV3140) are working.

Note that all currently existing applications have a new quality (visually and functionally).

That includes of course the phone function itself, the phonebook, 3-way voice or video conferencing etc.,

Whats nice is that it doesn't stop there.

The calculator f.e now offers three interface types: "Simple, Science and Finance" and those work surprisingly exactly the way you would imagine them to do.

Science and Finance mode with all respect, deserve their own documentation to maximize efficiency.

Perhaps one of the lesser known applications is called "Movie Trailer".

Think of it as your personal in-flight entertainment program.

It opens up and shows you the latest cinema film trailers. (The GXV3140 does that too).

Whats new is that now you have also the space to show their stories, background info etc.

Wanna see it ? No problem, click on the "watch now" button and it plays the trailer.

The applications start fast, especially the browser. Internet access feels quick.

Application quality seems to be improved (robust) when compared to the GXV3140.

Applications (f.e Internet radio) can be minimized.

Pressing on the icon will preview the application.

Clicking on the preview will bring it back into the foreground.

Hardware:

The higher spec hardware (double amount of Memory, bigger screen, probably also faster CPU, additional USB port) does seem to be well appreciated by the applications. There is no stuttering anymore (compare to GXV3140) when running Internet radio and screensaver same time.

---

Whats NOT YET in the official release ?

Rumours have it that Skype wont come due to "Skype stopped providing the needed SDK", which sounds like a lame excuse to us.

IM status is unknown.

---

Update: 27th July 2011

Grandstream released today new Firmware 1.0.3.22 which adds new functionality like BLF, Twitter, Facebook, games etc. .

It also impressively increases usability to a new level again. The phone feels much smoother now.

---

Update: 28th Dec 2011

So as of now Skype and IM are still not there yet on the GXV3175.

Also it doesnt look as if development is going on for it anymore.

I can only guess that Grandstream are only doing bugfixes from now on.

If thats the case, than we will probably see a new product coming soon.

In the meantime if you need Skype or IM urgently consider using the GXV3140.

---

Summary:

In terms of user experience the GXV3175 comes included with most of the benefits of its brother, the GXV3140.

Exception IM and Skype.

In addition it offers a different navigation method (touch panel) and more in any aspect we could think of.

* Quality of navigation improved,

* Visual quality more clear,

* more information,

* faster access,

* new voice quality (especially for hands free function),

* High spec hardware

The old standard tip applies also here, always upgrade first to the latest firmware version.

Then enjoy your new phone ;-)

>> Do More, Do it better, have fun doing it.

Microlab MD332 Alarm Radio Clock with iPod Dock (Black)

All-in-One 2.1 speaker system with iPod dock
docking/charging and FM/AM radio.
full range speakers, designed by Denmark master, Peter Larsen.
Reflex bass 5.25" S12 woofer and 2 x 2.5" V12
Clear highs and deep bass - ideal for all audio playbacks

If you can accept the oddities of the unit: A) 24-hour clock only, B) less than sterling AM-FM radio, C) odd antenna connections, D) quaint and outmoded LED display, you will find yourself possessing a fine, compact speaker system that produces an excellent level of sound and power you wouldn't expect at this price point. It might also function as a decent, inexpensive sound bar for a TV. And I agree with others: it's too large and heavy to think of as a bedside clock radio.

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Bought this in April 2010 (now 15 months later), and the volume control is inoperable. Displays the time real well, but no volume adjustment. So, off to the recycle bin it goes. Pity, it performed well with my iPhone and PC audio input.

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I read a very good review of this product on the internet and bought one.

Odd configuration (separate AM/FM antennas made of wires )

Odd control configuration

After three month of use, this thing started making " loud crakling" noise at random intervals...tried to see if looses connecting with vibration from the speaker but not...repair cost would be more than $100.00 so i am done with this junk.

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I got the sound machine in september, so far I have no complaints besides the down side of the weak fm antenna. On the next version of this product, please include a slot for a cd/dvd player and dont hide the supersound machine under "Alarm Radio Clock", this cant fit on a side table as alarm clock and even the strong sound is not appropriate for the bedroom.

I recommend the product![

[ASIN:B0037ENMMY MICROLAB MD332 Alarm Radio Clock with iPod docking station remote Control]]

This iPod AM/FM Clock Radio is a very good deal for the price. It has Bose quality sound which is what I hoped for. The radio side is very weak. OK AM but the FM stinks. It comes with a cheap FM antenna and gets almost no stations in my area. I haven't been able to replace the antenna because the plug-in connection won't match up with anything I have been able to find. If the radio worked better I would have given it the highest rating.

Homedics DP-900 Portable DocknParty iPod Docking Station with FM Clock Radio Black/White

I bought this to replace an old tinny-sounding mono alarm clock and a clunky bookshelf stereo. It was to function as an alarm and audio center in the bedroom. The sad thing is that it sounds pretty darned good, but it's poorly executed in just about every other way.

iPod playback is unreliable, with playback pausing at some interval after starting almost every time, requiring you to unpause seems to be a bug with the iPod display going into sleep mode. There's no sleep timer, a must on an alarm clock, and if you go to sleep to the iPod playing the alarm won't go off in the morning because "alarm mode" and "audio mode" are mutually exclusive. As a bonus there's no visual indication of which mode the unit's in.

iPod alarm mode is flaky, too if you don't pick a playlist and pause it before going to bed, the unit won't play any audio at alarm time. Add a lack of radio presets, and a too-bright backlight (why must every unit like this have a display bright enough to cast shadows?!) and it's a complete failure as anything other than a slightly unreliable docking station. What's tragic is that it's the best sounding unit under $200 I've found. Boo on Homedics for being such a tease this thing's going back.

This unit (DP-900) seemed like a good deal at the sale price of only $70 at Bed Bath & Beyond so we bought one. Worked alright. Sound quality was good, but setup and functions seemed clumsy and not very well thought out. The back-light on the unit is very bright and does not shut off, so we could not use it in our bedroom. Unit/remote functionality with iPod control was lacking. Unit would also randomly stop playing iPod music.

However, after 2 to 3 months of use the unit quit working all together. It will turn on and attempt to play from iPod or AM/FM radio, but all you can hear is a faint garbled noise. Volume control is also lost. Luckily, Bed, Bath & Beyond let us return without receipt & packaging for store credit.

I do not plan on purchasing another one of these units, and would not recommend it to others.

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The overall sound and ease of use is good, the remote did not work when received and it does not charge the IPOD Nano (5th Gen.) or my son's IPOD Touch...gives the error message of "charging is not supported by this accessory". Charging isn't a huge issue for me so the cost for sound ratio was good. It does charge the IPOD (1st Gen.)my wife uses.

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I bought this paper weight from some organization that was not Amazon, but none the less thru the Amazon website. It was DOA. The company required me to contact them in order to obtain the return authorization number. I had only a short period of time upon receipt of package to ensure that the product worked. If I had bought it as a gift for someone, I'd have been screwed. My solution: take it to [edited for content]. They accepted it for in store credit, and I got something else. Of course the manufacturer wanted nothing to do with me.

Lessons learned: watch the return policy, check the product reliability prior to purchase, and always have a back up return plan.

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My power went out for about 30 seconds tonight...(not unusual for the mountains) and now it's fried. I've never had anything ever fry and go completely dead from a simple power outage. This makes me hesitate from buying another one although I've had mine for about 2 years without any issues like the other 2 reviewers had. Hmmm...at the new price of only $38, I might take a chance on it again but I'm going to shop around first.

As for when it worked it was great. My teenage niece and her friends loved the sound and it never had any play issues. I keep it in the livingroom so the brightness of the clock isn't an issue. Personally I think it's too big for a bedroom alarm clock.

Crosley CR02-002A-WA Dock Clock

First the good. Remote control, alarm clock features, good.

The bad hardly any separation on FM or AM channels. I have a $10.00 portable transistor radio that alongside the Crosley Ipod radio gets much better reception , with great station separation and receives many more stations then the Crosley. The FM receiver in the Crosley is a piece of junk and It is not a broken receiver as I returned the original thinking that the FM receiver was broken. It wasn't broken an is a poor excuse for a FM radio, it is almost non functional because you cannot tune in your favorite stations even with external antenna adjusted properly.

If you want a decent FM radio stay away from this product.

We bought this to replace another alarm clock, mainly to get the iPod docking feature and the retro look. For those features, which mean more to my wife than to me, the product satisfies. But here are the problems that make it an unsatisfactory product for me: The first issue we encountered was that the contrast on the backlighting is awful, so in a dark room (e.g., when you wake up in the middle of the night or before dawn), you can't read the clock! This is true even at the brighter settings, which would be too bright to leave on anyway. The second problem that wasn't apparent right away was that the clock is losing time, probably 1-2 minutes per month. Sorry to note that this is an American-made product. Awful.

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I bought this product because I was looking for a clock radio that would work with my iTouch. Most of my chargers, bought for earlier models of ipod, won't charge the iTouch. This works great. I leave it on the charger at night and I know right where it is in the morning. The sound is certainly decent not Bose but better and stronger than from my laptop. It can be a little bit of work to properly dock the iTouch I am sure this would be resolved if I knew where my adapter went. The alarm is good; tuning is okay digital readout helps; the blue display screen has 3 levels of dimming (on the remote), and the remote is a nice touch. I am partial to that retro look so really this was a good purchase. I am considering buying 2 more as both my older children like to listen to their ipods as they go to sleep and they are killing my wallet with the battery waste.... this would not only recharge their ipods but help keep track of where they are!

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Very nice sound. High-end for table top radio.

Works well with iPhone, though only certified for iPod.

Nice appearance. Wood case. Face plate and buttons are plastic. Would have been nice to have metal pieces, but pretty standard quality.

Controls work well. Dials allow great sensitivity. Probably good if your hand is not steady, but you have to turn the dial quite a bit to change radio stations or set the time.

Overall very happy with product.

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is product home 2 days ago and was disappointed. I am returning it shortly. This device is pretty, but that's pretty much it. The sound is weak and tinny, including the iPod sound. The radio reception is poor and is outperformed by my 1992 boombox. I would have loved to keep it because it looks good.

Jensen JiMS 200 Docking Digital Music System for iPod

Made for Your iPod nano,shuffle, mini, and iPod(10GB,15GB,20GB,30GB,40GB,60GB,photo, U2,+hp), with MP3,CD Player,or other Dig.Audio
Card Size Infra-red Remote Control for Radio and iPod Functions
Audio Line in for Connecting MP3 or other digital audio players
AM/FM Clock Radio/Snooze/Light/Blue Backlight LCD Display
2 Built in Hi Fi Aluminum Cone Speakers with 6 watts RMS Output

Oh my gosh, this was a great buy for a pre-teen. She uses it constantly and it's got a wonderful sound, etc. Her parents even borrow it on occasion and her sister tries to borrow it, too.

Nerf N105R Football Alarm Clock

Wake-to Piezo Buzzer or Chip-based sounds
Cool football design with foam accents
Easy-to-read digital display
Adjustable alarm volume and large snooze button
Try me packaging
Cool Football Design
Foam Treatment
Wake To Chip-Based Sports Sounds Or Buzzer

We're able to set up the alarm but have trouble figuring out snooze and shut-off. My son and I would hit the off (?) button only to have it come back repeatedly. The alarm sound itself is an obnoxious and annoying beeping. It's cute and durable (my son's dropped it a few times), but not happy with it as an alarm clock.

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Like one of the other reviewers, I can't figure out how to set the alarm, either. In addition, the clock part isn't back-lit so my son can't see what time it is unless his light is on. Do not recommend purchasing this item.

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It's an AWESOME alarm clock with fun sounds!! The "demo mode" makes the 4 sounds and cycles through them with each press of the "Snooze" button. What's more, it has 2 sound level settings. I use "Hi" to wake me up every morning. And, waking up to these sounds is a LOT of fun. But, there's one small problem... it has to be close to the sleeper who owns it to wake him up! Otherwise, this alarm clock with a Nerf Football on top as the ACTUAL clock is a lot of fun!! I highly reccomend it. Just try not to lose the instructions! ;)

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Great for the little football enthusiasts. Looks durable and easy enough to for a child to use but mine did not work on arrival. My son is disappointed that I have to return this.

I got this for my husband as a gag christmas gift a few years ago. I guess the joke was on me since he actually uses the damn thing. Hearing the alarm going off every morning wakes me with a heart attack. He seems to enjoy it though.

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