SONY ENTRY CLOCK RADIO - GREEN LED

Perfect for nights, 22 Oct 2008
I'm so pleased with this product - its ideal for easily peeking at the time through sleepy eyes, when the newborn is stirring, as the display is so bright at night (without having to press any buttons). My 3 year old also loves the fact that the radio is only a button away from dancing round the bedroom.

It's such a bargin and easy to use, I love the fact that the time is automatic. Only recommendation I'd suggest is that it is a 'bedroom clock', as display is dim in daylight - just so you know... I'd still give it 5 stars as is such value for money! :-)

Buzzzzzzz and that's just the power supply, 09 Jun 2008
As an alarm clock it's basic. Buying something this cheap seems to mean that the radio is fiddly to tune and sound quality is 1970s telephone. Yes, it's cheap, but Sony's much vaunted build quality is definitely slipping. The first one we got had a very definite mains hum from the power supply. The second one was better but still audible and annoying. The third one was ok - but I was annoyed at having to exchange two before getting one that was satisfactory.

The display isn't the brightest and the controls are scattered all round the place with little logic. Some of the switches are rather hit and miss.

It's cheap but you take pot luck with the build quality.

Nice little item., 20 Apr 2008
I bought this clock radio after looking everywhere for a model with a large display for a friend with poor eyesight. You can get an ordinary alarm with a huge display, but without the radio.This seemed to fit the bill. It sure is an attractive bit of kit, and easy to use.The only criticism I have is that the display is quite dim in daylight,and even I struggled to see the time, and my eyesight is good.After all,it's not always dark when you want to know the time, is it? All in all, it's Sony,it cost just over a tenner,and is good value,but the poor display lets it down, hence the 3 stars.

Stopped working after 3 months!, 07 Dec 2007
Cheap and simple to use it may be but when the alarm stops working after three months it can't be described as reliable! The other problem is that although it is covered by Sony's comprehensive guarantee the cost of returning the clock to them is nearly half the cost of the original purchase price. My last Sony alarm lasted over twelve years so I must have had the `Friday afternoon' model this time.

Top quality product!, 22 Jun 2007
I recieved mine today from another site (play.com/11.99/free delivery) and i am very pleased with it.

As soon as i plugged it in the time and date set itself- wow! Really simple to use. The green display is large and i was worried it would be really bright- its not at all and it is still perfectly visable.

I did think though that it was a little bigger than i expected, but still its stylish and i would definately recommend it!

£17 from amazon is a bit steep though!

Perfect for nights, 22 Oct 2008
I'm so pleased with this product - its ideal for easily peeking at the time through sleepy eyes, when the newborn is stirring, as the display is so bright at night (without having to press any buttons). My 3 year old also loves the fact that the radio is only a button away from dancing round the bedroom.

It's such a bargin and easy to use, I love the fact that the time is automatic. Only recommendation I'd suggest is that it is a 'bedroom clock', as display is dim in daylight - just so you know... I'd still give it 5 stars as is such value for money! :-)

Buzzzzzzz and that's just the power supply, 09 Jun 2008
As an alarm clock it's basic. Buying something this cheap seems to mean that the radio is fiddly to tune and sound quality is 1970s telephone. Yes, it's cheap, but Sony's much vaunted build quality is definitely slipping. The first one we got had a very definite mains hum from the power supply. The second one was better but still audible and annoying. The third one was ok - but I was annoyed at having to exchange two before getting one that was satisfactory.

The display isn't the brightest and the controls are scattered all round the place with little logic. Some of the switches are rather hit and miss.

It's cheap but you take pot luck with the build quality.

Nice little item., 20 Apr 2008
I bought this clock radio after looking everywhere for a model with a large display for a friend with poor eyesight. You can get an ordinary alarm with a huge display, but without the radio.This seemed to fit the bill. It sure is an attractive bit of kit, and easy to use.The only criticism I have is that the display is quite dim in daylight,and even I struggled to see the time, and my eyesight is good.After all,it's not always dark when you want to know the time, is it? All in all, it's Sony,it cost just over a tenner,and is good value,but the poor display lets it down, hence the 3 stars.

Stopped working after 3 months!, 07 Dec 2007
Cheap and simple to use it may be but when the alarm stops working after three months it can't be described as reliable! The other problem is that although it is covered by Sony's comprehensive guarantee the cost of returning the clock to them is nearly half the cost of the original purchase price. My last Sony alarm lasted over twelve years so I must have had the `Friday afternoon' model this time.

Top quality product!, 22 Jun 2007
I recieved mine today from another site (play.com/11.99/free delivery) and i am very pleased with it.

As soon as i plugged it in the time and date set itself- wow! Really simple to use. The green display is large and i was worried it would be really bright- its not at all and it is still perfectly visable.

I did think though that it was a little bigger than i expected, but still its stylish and i would definately recommend it!

£17 from amazon is a bit steep though!

GET ONE, 19 Oct 2008
BRILIANT LITTLE RADIO WITH SUPERB RECEPTION EVERYWHERE I'VE TRIED IT. Sound quality excellent and not heavy on batteries.

Superb sound and easy to use., 08 Sep 2008
The main requirement of a radio is that it produces excellent sound quality and that is exactly what this Sony radio does. The bass is perfect (my partner's a professional bassist, so I'm fussy!)and I rarely have to use the mega bass facility. I mainly listen to classical which has the widest range of sound covering the whole orchestra & jazz which requires a full bass sound without overpowering the top and middle, so it's a good test and the balance is perfect. Speech is very clear and easy to listen to. The tuning wheel is precise and isn't too loose, so it doesn't retune if accidentally brushed.The tuning dial lights up so it's very clear. Simple on/off switch, again nicely stiff to avoid mistakes, but easy to use. If I had a criticism it would be the comfort of the headphones. I use them for a couple of hours at a time and by then I want to take them out, but this depends vey much on ear shape and length of use.I am considering buying an in-ear variety, but despite this I would still buy this radio again as it is excellent.

Simple Sony Quality Delivers Excellent Sound, 07 Apr 2008
Like many of the others reviewers, I wanted a simple personal radio that sounded good, had adequate reception and didn't cost the earth. I visited a number of retailers, trying out about 15 radios across a number of well known brands. This little cracker stood out for it's quality, cost and outstanding sound reproduction. I use it for walking to and from work and with a small speaker when in my office. Absoluely Ideal. If you don't include this radio in your shortlist of options you could be missing out on an excellent deal!!

Easy to use, good reception on FM, good value, 28 Mar 2008
I wanted a small radio for use on the move which could be used without referring to an instruction manual and without needing to put my glasses on. This little Sony unit does the business. The controls are well spaced and simple to operate, with the tuning wheel have a good degree of resistance so it stays in the right place once you've selected a station. The sound quality is very acceptable. Only 4 stars because the supplied headphones are pretty useless - I bought a cheap pair of Panasonic "outside ear" phones which are comfortable and give very good sound quality.

So small, so light, so amazing, 09 Feb 2008
Without exaggeration - when I unpacked this little item I thought that it couldn't possibly be much good: It was as light, and almost as small, as an empty box of matches - but the quality of reception is amazing. I have two other, mini radios, neither of which can receive much inside the house. But this little radio tuned in perfectly, without any hint of phasing or lost signal as I moved from room to room. As for outside - well, obviously, there is no problem at all.
The unit comes with a useful, integral belt or pocket clip which is just as well as it's so small and light, it might get lost if unconnected to the earphones.
The tuning slider is firm and doesn't slip and although this isn't a digital receiver, there appears to be no problem with tuning.
The earpieces which come with it are of good quality, although personally I've never liked that sort of unit, so I've ordered some Sony MDR-W08L Headphones which will suit me better.
All-in-all - I thoroughly recommend this little radio.

Perfect for nights, 22 Oct 2008
I'm so pleased with this product - its ideal for easily peeking at the time through sleepy eyes, when the newborn is stirring, as the display is so bright at night (without having to press any buttons). My 3 year old also loves the fact that the radio is only a button away from dancing round the bedroom.

It's such a bargin and easy to use, I love the fact that the time is automatic. Only recommendation I'd suggest is that it is a 'bedroom clock', as display is dim in daylight - just so you know... I'd still give it 5 stars as is such value for money! :-)

Buzzzzzzz and that's just the power supply, 09 Jun 2008
As an alarm clock it's basic. Buying something this cheap seems to mean that the radio is fiddly to tune and sound quality is 1970s telephone. Yes, it's cheap, but Sony's much vaunted build quality is definitely slipping. The first one we got had a very definite mains hum from the power supply. The second one was better but still audible and annoying. The third one was ok - but I was annoyed at having to exchange two before getting one that was satisfactory.

The display isn't the brightest and the controls are scattered all round the place with little logic. Some of the switches are rather hit and miss.

It's cheap but you take pot luck with the build quality.

Nice little item., 20 Apr 2008
I bought this clock radio after looking everywhere for a model with a large display for a friend with poor eyesight. You can get an ordinary alarm with a huge display, but without the radio.This seemed to fit the bill. It sure is an attractive bit of kit, and easy to use.The only criticism I have is that the display is quite dim in daylight,and even I struggled to see the time, and my eyesight is good.After all,it's not always dark when you want to know the time, is it? All in all, it's Sony,it cost just over a tenner,and is good value,but the poor display lets it down, hence the 3 stars.

Stopped working after 3 months!, 07 Dec 2007
Cheap and simple to use it may be but when the alarm stops working after three months it can't be described as reliable! The other problem is that although it is covered by Sony's comprehensive guarantee the cost of returning the clock to them is nearly half the cost of the original purchase price. My last Sony alarm lasted over twelve years so I must have had the `Friday afternoon' model this time.

Top quality product!, 22 Jun 2007
I recieved mine today from another site (play.com/11.99/free delivery) and i am very pleased with it.

As soon as i plugged it in the time and date set itself- wow! Really simple to use. The green display is large and i was worried it would be really bright- its not at all and it is still perfectly visable.

I did think though that it was a little bigger than i expected, but still its stylish and i would definately recommend it!

£17 from amazon is a bit steep though!

GET ONE, 19 Oct 2008
BRILIANT LITTLE RADIO WITH SUPERB RECEPTION EVERYWHERE I'VE TRIED IT. Sound quality excellent and not heavy on batteries.

Superb sound and easy to use., 08 Sep 2008
The main requirement of a radio is that it produces excellent sound quality and that is exactly what this Sony radio does. The bass is perfect (my partner's a professional bassist, so I'm fussy!)and I rarely have to use the mega bass facility. I mainly listen to classical which has the widest range of sound covering the whole orchestra & jazz which requires a full bass sound without overpowering the top and middle, so it's a good test and the balance is perfect. Speech is very clear and easy to listen to. The tuning wheel is precise and isn't too loose, so it doesn't retune if accidentally brushed.The tuning dial lights up so it's very clear. Simple on/off switch, again nicely stiff to avoid mistakes, but easy to use. If I had a criticism it would be the comfort of the headphones. I use them for a couple of hours at a time and by then I want to take them out, but this depends vey much on ear shape and length of use.I am considering buying an in-ear variety, but despite this I would still buy this radio again as it is excellent.

Simple Sony Quality Delivers Excellent Sound, 07 Apr 2008
Like many of the others reviewers, I wanted a simple personal radio that sounded good, had adequate reception and didn't cost the earth. I visited a number of retailers, trying out about 15 radios across a number of well known brands. This little cracker stood out for it's quality, cost and outstanding sound reproduction. I use it for walking to and from work and with a small speaker when in my office. Absoluely Ideal. If you don't include this radio in your shortlist of options you could be missing out on an excellent deal!!

Easy to use, good reception on FM, good value, 28 Mar 2008
I wanted a small radio for use on the move which could be used without referring to an instruction manual and without needing to put my glasses on. This little Sony unit does the business. The controls are well spaced and simple to operate, with the tuning wheel have a good degree of resistance so it stays in the right place once you've selected a station. The sound quality is very acceptable. Only 4 stars because the supplied headphones are pretty useless - I bought a cheap pair of Panasonic "outside ear" phones which are comfortable and give very good sound quality.

So small, so light, so amazing, 09 Feb 2008
Without exaggeration - when I unpacked this little item I thought that it couldn't possibly be much good: It was as light, and almost as small, as an empty box of matches - but the quality of reception is amazing. I have two other, mini radios, neither of which can receive much inside the house. But this little radio tuned in perfectly, without any hint of phasing or lost signal as I moved from room to room. As for outside - well, obviously, there is no problem at all.
The unit comes with a useful, integral belt or pocket clip which is just as well as it's so small and light, it might get lost if unconnected to the earphones.
The tuning slider is firm and doesn't slip and although this isn't a digital receiver, there appears to be no problem with tuning.
The earpieces which come with it are of good quality, although personally I've never liked that sort of unit, so I've ordered some Sony MDR-W08L Headphones which will suit me better.
All-in-all - I thoroughly recommend this little radio.


Big on functionality thin-ish on sound quality, 28 Sep 2008
I was looking to replace the mess of wires that was the hi-fi unit in our kitchen; this unit comprised a CD player, cassette player and radio. With some Heath Robinson DAB contraption using an extra plug point and further gadgetry to allow mp3 players to play!

I was desperate to find something compact, which ran off ONE plug and which would have an auxiliary access point for an mp3 player cable (we have three different mp3 players in our house - none of them iPod). Incorporated DAB radio was also high on my wish list - if the thing looked half-way decent I would also be happy. The cassette player was not an issue :)

Enter the PURE Chronos CD DAB:
Radio (DAB & FM);
CD player (which plays mp3 CDs but the random play algorithm is iffy);
Alarm Clock;
Auxiliary port for mp3 player cable (lets any mp3 play);
compact;
remote control;
stylish, and
bonus points as the unit arrived with the clock set to the right time and all the radio presets set.

The only fly in the ointment is the sound quality. The hi-fi has a fulsome, meaty sound with good bass, the Chronos is comparatively light and thin even after playing around with settings. The volume is good and is more than adequate for the room size.

Sound purists will have issues with this, but from my point of view the functionality, style and size of the PURE Chronos is marvellous.

Alan M (Cambridge), 20 May 2008
I found the headphone socket is not of the same high quality as the rest of the unit. You have to play arround with it to get it to work and it tends to jam. Mechanicially its not solid. I used Dell and Sennheiser phones, both had problems.

As a general grip about Alarm/Radios including this one. They all seem to be designed to cut the alarm sound over to the headphones when inserted. To my mind the alarm should always be on the speakers regardless of the use of headphones. Otherwise you are probably going to miss it!

Good things sometimes come in small packages!, 18 Feb 2008
Very little to be negative about. Good sound, very versatile settings, the radio seems quite sensitive, even with the silly wire aerial and the CD sound is perfectly adequate to all but perfectionists. You can use headphones (proper ones, not those painful plastic things). It does what it says on the box - that's all you can ask. I also like the light-sensing display. I just hope it's reliable - I may change my mind if it breaks!

Great sound from a compact all-rounder!, 01 Jan 2008
Pros:

Great sound with little distortion from such a small unit. CD sound is clear and has plenty of bass.
DAB signal is strong and display is very clear.
Handy autotune takes hassle out of homing in on over 50 stations.

Cons:

Remote control sometimes takes a few presses to respond and has limited range.
Buttons on the radio front need a firm press to activate.

Overall a good value for money product that is well designed. Good looks and good sound too. Highly recommended.

USER FRIENDLY CD CLOCK RADIO WITH DUAL ALARM AND ANALOGUE TUNER, ANALOGUE FM/AM WITH CD, DUAL ALARM, EASY TO READ 1.4" GREEN LED DISPLAY, BRIGHTNESS CONTROL, EXTENDABLE SNOOZE.

Perfect for nights, 22 Oct 2008
I'm so pleased with this product - its ideal for easily peeking at the time through sleepy eyes, when the newborn is stirring, as the display is so bright at night (without having to press any buttons). My 3 year old also loves the fact that the radio is only a button away from dancing round the bedroom.

It's such a bargin and easy to use, I love the fact that the time is automatic. Only recommendation I'd suggest is that it is a 'bedroom clock', as display is dim in daylight - just so you know... I'd still give it 5 stars as is such value for money! :-)

Buzzzzzzz and that's just the power supply, 09 Jun 2008
As an alarm clock it's basic. Buying something this cheap seems to mean that the radio is fiddly to tune and sound quality is 1970s telephone. Yes, it's cheap, but Sony's much vaunted build quality is definitely slipping. The first one we got had a very definite mains hum from the power supply. The second one was better but still audible and annoying. The third one was ok - but I was annoyed at having to exchange two before getting one that was satisfactory.

The display isn't the brightest and the controls are scattered all round the place with little logic. Some of the switches are rather hit and miss.

It's cheap but you take pot luck with the build quality.

Nice little item., 20 Apr 2008
I bought this clock radio after looking everywhere for a model with a large display for a friend with poor eyesight. You can get an ordinary alarm with a huge display, but without the radio.This seemed to fit the bill. It sure is an attractive bit of kit, and easy to use.The only criticism I have is that the display is quite dim in daylight,and even I struggled to see the time, and my eyesight is good.After all,it's not always dark when you want to know the time, is it? All in all, it's Sony,it cost just over a tenner,and is good value,but the poor display lets it down, hence the 3 stars.

Stopped working after 3 months!, 07 Dec 2007
Cheap and simple to use it may be but when the alarm stops working after three months it can't be described as reliable! The other problem is that although it is covered by Sony's comprehensive guarantee the cost of returning the clock to them is nearly half the cost of the original purchase price. My last Sony alarm lasted over twelve years so I must have had the `Friday afternoon' model this time.

Top quality product!, 22 Jun 2007
I recieved mine today from another site (play.com/11.99/free delivery) and i am very pleased with it.

As soon as i plugged it in the time and date set itself- wow! Really simple to use. The green display is large and i was worried it would be really bright- its not at all and it is still perfectly visable.

I did think though that it was a little bigger than i expected, but still its stylish and i would definately recommend it!

£17 from amazon is a bit steep though!

GET ONE, 19 Oct 2008
BRILIANT LITTLE RADIO WITH SUPERB RECEPTION EVERYWHERE I'VE TRIED IT. Sound quality excellent and not heavy on batteries.

Superb sound and easy to use., 08 Sep 2008
The main requirement of a radio is that it produces excellent sound quality and that is exactly what this Sony radio does. The bass is perfect (my partner's a professional bassist, so I'm fussy!)and I rarely have to use the mega bass facility. I mainly listen to classical which has the widest range of sound covering the whole orchestra & jazz which requires a full bass sound without overpowering the top and middle, so it's a good test and the balance is perfect. Speech is very clear and easy to listen to. The tuning wheel is precise and isn't too loose, so it doesn't retune if accidentally brushed.The tuning dial lights up so it's very clear. Simple on/off switch, again nicely stiff to avoid mistakes, but easy to use. If I had a criticism it would be the comfort of the headphones. I use them for a couple of hours at a time and by then I want to take them out, but this depends vey much on ear shape and length of use.I am considering buying an in-ear variety, but despite this I would still buy this radio again as it is excellent.

Simple Sony Quality Delivers Excellent Sound, 07 Apr 2008
Like many of the others reviewers, I wanted a simple personal radio that sounded good, had adequate reception and didn't cost the earth. I visited a number of retailers, trying out about 15 radios across a number of well known brands. This little cracker stood out for it's quality, cost and outstanding sound reproduction. I use it for walking to and from work and with a small speaker when in my office. Absoluely Ideal. If you don't include this radio in your shortlist of options you could be missing out on an excellent deal!!

Easy to use, good reception on FM, good value, 28 Mar 2008
I wanted a small radio for use on the move which could be used without referring to an instruction manual and without needing to put my glasses on. This little Sony unit does the business. The controls are well spaced and simple to operate, with the tuning wheel have a good degree of resistance so it stays in the right place once you've selected a station. The sound quality is very acceptable. Only 4 stars because the supplied headphones are pretty useless - I bought a cheap pair of Panasonic "outside ear" phones which are comfortable and give very good sound quality.

So small, so light, so amazing, 09 Feb 2008
Without exaggeration - when I unpacked this little item I thought that it couldn't possibly be much good: It was as light, and almost as small, as an empty box of matches - but the quality of reception is amazing. I have two other, mini radios, neither of which can receive much inside the house. But this little radio tuned in perfectly, without any hint of phasing or lost signal as I moved from room to room. As for outside - well, obviously, there is no problem at all.
The unit comes with a useful, integral belt or pocket clip which is just as well as it's so small and light, it might get lost if unconnected to the earphones.
The tuning slider is firm and doesn't slip and although this isn't a digital receiver, there appears to be no problem with tuning.
The earpieces which come with it are of good quality, although personally I've never liked that sort of unit, so I've ordered some Sony MDR-W08L Headphones which will suit me better.
All-in-all - I thoroughly recommend this little radio.


Big on functionality thin-ish on sound quality, 28 Sep 2008
I was looking to replace the mess of wires that was the hi-fi unit in our kitchen; this unit comprised a CD player, cassette player and radio. With some Heath Robinson DAB contraption using an extra plug point and further gadgetry to allow mp3 players to play!

I was desperate to find something compact, which ran off ONE plug and which would have an auxiliary access point for an mp3 player cable (we have three different mp3 players in our house - none of them iPod). Incorporated DAB radio was also high on my wish list - if the thing looked half-way decent I would also be happy. The cassette player was not an issue :)

Enter the PURE Chronos CD DAB:
Radio (DAB & FM);
CD player (which plays mp3 CDs but the random play algorithm is iffy);
Alarm Clock;
Auxiliary port for mp3 player cable (lets any mp3 play);
compact;
remote control;
stylish, and
bonus points as the unit arrived with the clock set to the right time and all the radio presets set.

The only fly in the ointment is the sound quality. The hi-fi has a fulsome, meaty sound with good bass, the Chronos is comparatively light and thin even after playing around with settings. The volume is good and is more than adequate for the room size.

Sound purists will have issues with this, but from my point of view the functionality, style and size of the PURE Chronos is marvellous.

Alan M (Cambridge), 20 May 2008
I found the headphone socket is not of the same high quality as the rest of the unit. You have to play arround with it to get it to work and it tends to jam. Mechanicially its not solid. I used Dell and Sennheiser phones, both had problems.

As a general grip about Alarm/Radios including this one. They all seem to be designed to cut the alarm sound over to the headphones when inserted. To my mind the alarm should always be on the speakers regardless of the use of headphones. Otherwise you are probably going to miss it!

Good things sometimes come in small packages!, 18 Feb 2008
Very little to be negative about. Good sound, very versatile settings, the radio seems quite sensitive, even with the silly wire aerial and the CD sound is perfectly adequate to all but perfectionists. You can use headphones (proper ones, not those painful plastic things). It does what it says on the box - that's all you can ask. I also like the light-sensing display. I just hope it's reliable - I may change my mind if it breaks!

Great sound from a compact all-rounder!, 01 Jan 2008
Pros:

Great sound with little distortion from such a small unit. CD sound is clear and has plenty of bass.
DAB signal is strong and display is very clear.
Handy autotune takes hassle out of homing in on over 50 stations.

Cons:

Remote control sometimes takes a few presses to respond and has limited range.
Buttons on the radio front need a firm press to activate.

Overall a good value for money product that is well designed. Good looks and good sound too. Highly recommended.

Not for light sleepers, 22 Jul 2008
The functions on this unit are great. It has two alarm settings (one for during the week and one for weekends) which is great. The sound quality for the CD player is fine. The setting up was easy thanks to the decent instructions. BUT - I can't use it. There is a low hum emitted at all times by the unit (nothing to do with the CD Player) and because I want it on the bedside table (near my head) it keeps me awake. I have been onto Sony but they are not helpful, advising me to take it to a Service Centre - I suppose it is unlucky that there are none near me. So not a great product unless you are a heavy sleeper.

Sound build, adequate function, 04 Mar 2008
This product has the dimension and style of a biscuit tin, 'buzzers' that beep and an FM aerial that looks as if someone in the design department realised "Der crumbs Maisey, we forgot the FM aerial" just as the first batch was coming off the assembly line. Apart from that, it's fine.

As with other Sony items, the plastic casing feels solid and built to last. The sound is fine for a unit of this price with enough volume to reach the far side of a double bed :) The radio works well on FM but AM reception is hampered by the sheer number of radio stations elbowing each other for bandwidth. Consequently AM selectivity is not great. The FM aerial consists of a length of thin wire issuing from a hole at the rear of the unit which is why I think it was added late in the design process.

There are two independent alarm systems which can wake you with either radio, CD or buzzer. The utility of having two alarms in a single unit escapes me - unless your partner has long enough arms to reach the snooze button from the opposite side of the bed. The 'buzzer' beeps like a travel alarm clock - not like a mains driven unit - and, given the unit's night-time ambiance, viewed from the level of a pillow, of a Sherman tank, seems rather incongruous and pathetic.

The CD allows you to step through the tracks sequentially but there's no random play or repeat function. There are 'sleep' intervals of 90, 60, 30 and 15 minutes to turn off the radio or CD. The alarm 'snooze' time can be set from 10 to 60 minutes in multiples of 10.

The display digits are 35mm high with three switchable brightness settings which seem to cover most situations and should be visable even to those with the visual acuity of a mole. There's an 'audio in' socket to connect your portable MP3 player (not controlled by the sleep timer) but sadly no socket for headphones.

Overall? No prizes for beauty but, at half the cost and a third the size of a more stylish item, I feel justified in sacrificed my aesthetic needs at the alter of pecuniary interest.

Style: ***
Build: *****
Function: ****


Not bad, 02 Nov 2007
Received this from Amazon quickly.

Good
-Sound quality is better than average
-Three level dimmer for display
-Clear green display (12 hour format)
-Alarm & Time setting is intuitive
-Front mounted jack to connect ipod etc
-Build quality is good, especially for the price.

Bad
-No battery backup - if the power fails you loose the time and alarm settings. This isn't an issue for me since it's in the study and I use the alarm during the day for picking kids up from school, etc but could be a major minus if you rely on the alarm function.

-VERY fiddly tuning and volume - tuning is 1:1 ratio (like a cheap pocket radio) and on the side so unless you move the unit you rely on knowing it's Radio2-Radio3-Radio4-Local etc on FM)

-Much bigger than I thought it would be - Amazon's description is accurate, I mistakenly looked at the picture and thought the CD lid would be the diameter of a CD - it's quite a bit bigger.

Overall - good value if you can live with the snags. Two alarms is handy, and it's pretty sensitive on FM - here in Hampshire I have the choice of several 'Better music from the 80's 90's and today, deep joy.....


Nice device at a good price, 29 Jun 2007
It does the basic functionality well - clock, radio, CD player with 2 alarms. You can even play your mp3 player through it. The sound quality is OK - but obviously not hi-fi. It's most suitable for use in the bedroom. The build quailty is good, with solid simple controls.

GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 06 Jan 2007
I got this for xmas and it is GREAT!!!!!!!!! It has everything you need. Very big clock display- very easy to read. The radio quality is superb and the sound the cd player gives you is FANTASTIC. And on top of that it is cheap and has a well- known leading brand name!

Make calls or listen to music with this handy stereo headset. The practical answer/end button makes it easy to manage calls and you can listen to tunes on the music player or from the FM radio of your compatible mobile device. You can also extend its compatibility with the Nokia AV Adapter AD-53 (please note, the AD-53 is not included). Compatible with: - N95 (with AD-53 adapter) - N76 (with AD-53 adapter) - E90 Communicator - 6300 - 6301 - 6500 Slide - 6555 - 6290 - 6110 Navigator - 5300 XpressMusic - 5200 - 3110 Classic - 7500 Prism - 8600 Luna - E51 - E90 - N81

THE ELAN DX40 OFFERS THE LATEST FUNCTIONS SUCH AS TEXTSCAN, WHICH ENABLE YOU TO PAUSE AND CONTROL SCROLLING TEXT, INTELLITEXT WHICH STORES THE TEXT BROADCASTS BY PARTICIPATING STATIONS, GIVING YOU ON-DEMAND ACCESS TO SPORTS RESULTS, NEWS HEADLINES AND MORE.

Stylish, compact design CD / Radio / Tape, Digital FM/AM Tuner, large LCD display, MEGA BASS Headphone Jack 1.7W x 2 (RMS) CD-R / RW Playback Compatible

Perfect for nights, 22 Oct 2008
I'm so pleased with this product - its ideal for easily peeking at the time through sleepy eyes, when the newborn is stirring, as the display is so bright at night (without having to press any buttons). My 3 year old also loves the fact that the radio is only a button away from dancing round the bedroom.

It's such a bargin and easy to use, I love the fact that the time is automatic. Only recommendation I'd suggest is that it is a 'bedroom clock', as display is dim in daylight - just so you know... I'd still give it 5 stars as is such value for money! :-)

Buzzzzzzz and that's just the power supply, 09 Jun 2008
As an alarm clock it's basic. Buying something this cheap seems to mean that the radio is fiddly to tune and sound quality is 1970s telephone. Yes, it's cheap, but Sony's much vaunted build quality is definitely slipping. The first one we got had a very definite mains hum from the power supply. The second one was better but still audible and annoying. The third one was ok - but I was annoyed at having to exchange two before getting one that was satisfactory.

The display isn't the brightest and the controls are scattered all round the place with little logic. Some of the switches are rather hit and miss.

It's cheap but you take pot luck with the build quality.

Nice little item., 20 Apr 2008
I bought this clock radio after looking everywhere for a model with a large display for a friend with poor eyesight. You can get an ordinary alarm with a huge display, but without the radio.This seemed to fit the bill. It sure is an attractive bit of kit, and easy to use.The only criticism I have is that the display is quite dim in daylight,and even I struggled to see the time, and my eyesight is good.After all,it's not always dark when you want to know the time, is it? All in all, it's Sony,it cost just over a tenner,and is good value,but the poor display lets it down, hence the 3 stars.

Stopped working after 3 months!, 07 Dec 2007
Cheap and simple to use it may be but when the alarm stops working after three months it can't be described as reliable! The other problem is that although it is covered by Sony's comprehensive guarantee the cost of returning the clock to them is nearly half the cost of the original purchase price. My last Sony alarm lasted over twelve years so I must have had the `Friday afternoon' model this time.

Top quality product!, 22 Jun 2007
I recieved mine today from another site (play.com/11.99/free delivery) and i am very pleased with it.

As soon as i plugged it in the time and date set itself- wow! Really simple to use. The green display is large and i was worried it would be really bright- its not at all and it is still perfectly visable.

I did think though that it was a little bigger than i expected, but still its stylish and i would definately recommend it!

£17 from amazon is a bit steep though!

GET ONE, 19 Oct 2008
BRILIANT LITTLE RADIO WITH SUPERB RECEPTION EVERYWHERE I'VE TRIED IT. Sound quality excellent and not heavy on batteries.

Superb sound and easy to use., 08 Sep 2008
The main requirement of a radio is that it produces excellent sound quality and that is exactly what this Sony radio does. The bass is perfect (my partner's a professional bassist, so I'm fussy!)and I rarely have to use the mega bass facility. I mainly listen to classical which has the widest range of sound covering the whole orchestra & jazz which requires a full bass sound without overpowering the top and middle, so it's a good test and the balance is perfect. Speech is very clear and easy to listen to. The tuning wheel is precise and isn't too loose, so it doesn't retune if accidentally brushed.The tuning dial lights up so it's very clear. Simple on/off switch, again nicely stiff to avoid mistakes, but easy to use. If I had a criticism it would be the comfort of the headphones. I use them for a couple of hours at a time and by then I want to take them out, but this depends vey much on ear shape and length of use.I am considering buying an in-ear variety, but despite this I would still buy this radio again as it is excellent.

Simple Sony Quality Delivers Excellent Sound, 07 Apr 2008
Like many of the others reviewers, I wanted a simple personal radio that sounded good, had adequate reception and didn't cost the earth. I visited a number of retailers, trying out about 15 radios across a number of well known brands. This little cracker stood out for it's quality, cost and outstanding sound reproduction. I use it for walking to and from work and with a small speaker when in my office. Absoluely Ideal. If you don't include this radio in your shortlist of options you could be missing out on an excellent deal!!

Easy to use, good reception on FM, good value, 28 Mar 2008
I wanted a small radio for use on the move which could be used without referring to an instruction manual and without needing to put my glasses on. This little Sony unit does the business. The controls are well spaced and simple to operate, with the tuning wheel have a good degree of resistance so it stays in the right place once you've selected a station. The sound quality is very acceptable. Only 4 stars because the supplied headphones are pretty useless - I bought a cheap pair of Panasonic "outside ear" phones which are comfortable and give very good sound quality.

So small, so light, so amazing, 09 Feb 2008
Without exaggeration - when I unpacked this little item I thought that it couldn't possibly be much good: It was as light, and almost as small, as an empty box of matches - but the quality of reception is amazing. I have two other, mini radios, neither of which can receive much inside the house. But this little radio tuned in perfectly, without any hint of phasing or lost signal as I moved from room to room. As for outside - well, obviously, there is no problem at all.
The unit comes with a useful, integral belt or pocket clip which is just as well as it's so small and light, it might get lost if unconnected to the earphones.
The tuning slider is firm and doesn't slip and although this isn't a digital receiver, there appears to be no problem with tuning.
The earpieces which come with it are of good quality, although personally I've never liked that sort of unit, so I've ordered some Sony MDR-W08L Headphones which will suit me better.
All-in-all - I thoroughly recommend this little radio.


Big on functionality thin-ish on sound quality, 28 Sep 2008
I was looking to replace the mess of wires that was the hi-fi unit in our kitchen; this unit comprised a CD player, cassette player and radio. With some Heath Robinson DAB contraption using an extra plug point and further gadgetry to allow mp3 players to play!

I was desperate to find something compact, which ran off ONE plug and which would have an auxiliary access point for an mp3 player cable (we have three different mp3 players in our house - none of them iPod). Incorporated DAB radio was also high on my wish list - if the thing looked half-way decent I would also be happy. The cassette player was not an issue :)

Enter the PURE Chronos CD DAB:
Radio (DAB & FM);
CD player (which plays mp3 CDs but the random play algorithm is iffy);
Alarm Clock;
Auxiliary port for mp3 player cable (lets any mp3 play);
compact;
remote control;
stylish, and
bonus points as the unit arrived with the clock set to the right time and all the radio presets set.

The only fly in the ointment is the sound quality. The hi-fi has a fulsome, meaty sound with good bass, the Chronos is comparatively light and thin even after playing around with settings. The volume is good and is more than adequate for the room size.

Sound purists will have issues with this, but from my point of view the functionality, style and size of the PURE Chronos is marvellous.

Alan M (Cambridge), 20 May 2008
I found the headphone socket is not of the same high quality as the rest of the unit. You have to play arround with it to get it to work and it tends to jam. Mechanicially its not solid. I used Dell and Sennheiser phones, both had problems.

As a general grip about Alarm/Radios including this one. They all seem to be designed to cut the alarm sound over to the headphones when inserted. To my mind the alarm should always be on the speakers regardless of the use of headphones. Otherwise you are probably going to miss it!

Good things sometimes come in small packages!, 18 Feb 2008
Very little to be negative about. Good sound, very versatile settings, the radio seems quite sensitive, even with the silly wire aerial and the CD sound is perfectly adequate to all but perfectionists. You can use headphones (proper ones, not those painful plastic things). It does what it says on the box - that's all you can ask. I also like the light-sensing display. I just hope it's reliable - I may change my mind if it breaks!

Great sound from a compact all-rounder!, 01 Jan 2008
Pros:

Great sound with little distortion from such a small unit. CD sound is clear and has plenty of bass.
DAB signal is strong and display is very clear.
Handy autotune takes hassle out of homing in on over 50 stations.

Cons:

Remote control sometimes takes a few presses to respond and has limited range.
Buttons on the radio front need a firm press to activate.

Overall a good value for money product that is well designed. Good looks and good sound too. Highly recommended.

Not for light sleepers, 22 Jul 2008
The functions on this unit are great. It has two alarm settings (one for during the week and one for weekends) which is great. The sound quality for the CD player is fine. The setting up was easy thanks to the decent instructions. BUT - I can't use it. There is a low hum emitted at all times by the unit (nothing to do with the CD Player) and because I want it on the bedside table (near my head) it keeps me awake. I have been onto Sony but they are not helpful, advising me to take it to a Service Centre - I suppose it is unlucky that there are none near me. So not a great product unless you are a heavy sleeper.

Sound build, adequate function, 04 Mar 2008
This product has the dimension and style of a biscuit tin, 'buzzers' that beep and an FM aerial that looks as if someone in the design department realised "Der crumbs Maisey, we forgot the FM aerial" just as the first batch was coming off the assembly line. Apart from that, it's fine.

As with other Sony items, the plastic casing feels solid and built to last. The sound is fine for a unit of this price with enough volume to reach the far side of a double bed :) The radio works well on FM but AM reception is hampered by the sheer number of radio stations elbowing each other for bandwidth. Consequently AM selectivity is not great. The FM aerial consists of a length of thin wire issuing from a hole at the rear of the unit which is why I think it was added late in the design process.

There are two independent alarm systems which can wake you with either radio, CD or buzzer. The utility of having two alarms in a single unit escapes me - unless your partner has long enough arms to reach the snooze button from the opposite side of the bed. The 'buzzer' beeps like a travel alarm clock - not like a mains driven unit - and, given the unit's night-time ambiance, viewed from the level of a pillow, of a Sherman tank, seems rather incongruous and pathetic.

The CD allows you to step through the tracks sequentially but there's no random play or repeat function. There are 'sleep' intervals of 90, 60, 30 and 15 minutes to turn off the radio or CD. The alarm 'snooze' time can be set from 10 to 60 minutes in multiples of 10.

The display digits are 35mm high with three switchable brightness settings which seem to cover most situations and should be visable even to those with the visual acuity of a mole. There's an 'audio in' socket to connect your portable MP3 player (not controlled by the sleep timer) but sadly no socket for headphones.

Overall? No prizes for beauty but, at half the cost and a third the size of a more stylish item, I feel justified in sacrificed my aesthetic needs at the alter of pecuniary interest.

Style: ***
Build: *****
Function: ****


Not bad, 02 Nov 2007
Received this from Amazon quickly.

Good
-Sound quality is better than average
-Three level dimmer for display
-Clear green display (12 hour format)
-Alarm & Time setting is intuitive
-Front mounted jack to connect ipod etc
-Build quality is good, especially for the price.

Bad
-No battery backup - if the power fails you loose the time and alarm settings. This isn't an issue for me since it's in the study and I use the alarm during the day for picking kids up from school, etc but could be a major minus if you rely on the alarm function.

-VERY fiddly tuning and volume - tuning is 1:1 ratio (like a cheap pocket radio) and on the side so unless you move the unit you rely on knowing it's Radio2-Radio3-Radio4-Local etc on FM)

-Much bigger than I thought it would be - Amazon's description is accurate, I mistakenly looked at the picture and thought the CD lid would be the diameter of a CD - it's quite a bit bigger.

Overall - good value if you can live with the snags. Two alarms is handy, and it's pretty sensitive on FM - here in Hampshire I have the choice of several 'Better music from the 80's 90's and today, deep joy.....


Nice device at a good price, 29 Jun 2007
It does the basic functionality well - clock, radio, CD player with 2 alarms. You can even play your mp3 player through it. The sound quality is OK - but obviously not hi-fi. It's most suitable for use in the bedroom. The build quailty is good, with solid simple controls.

GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 06 Jan 2007
I got this for xmas and it is GREAT!!!!!!!!! It has everything you need. Very big clock display- very easy to read. The radio quality is superb and the sound the cd player gives you is FANTASTIC. And on top of that it is cheap and has a well- known leading brand name!

Sony CFDS01CD Radio Recorder, 11 Apr 2008
I bought this radio recorder for a friend who is partially sighted. It's perfect, the buttons are big and it's very easy to use at an affordable price.

Compact, good quality, good features, 18 Aug 2007
I wanted a decent radio but live in an area with no DAB coverage. This fits the bill perfectly. With 30 presets in FM and AM (which it does automatically) we can switch between all our stations easily. The sound quality is good for such a compact unit and the design is neat, clean and under-stated - it won't embarrass you sat in the kitchen.

Poor performer, 29 May 2007
This little unit from Sony looks OK. It's buttons are large and well laid out. My main complaint is the sound. I bought it to listen to music so the sound quality was the most important factor. Unfortunately it fails to deliver. The sound is tinny and tiny. The 1.7 watts struggle to push out anything but the very basics from my CD's. A real disappointment. Look elsewhere.

Does what it says on the tin, 11 Mar 2007
I wanted a bed-side table size CD/radio/tape player. This one does the job really well, without looking bulky or ugly. The sound quality is very good - my spoken word BBC version of the Hobbit sounded really vibrant. Recommended.

MODERN DESIGN RADIO WALKMAN WITH EASY TO SEE TUNING SCALE, FM/AM ANALOGUE TUNER, COMPACT AND LIGHT WEIGHT EASY TO USE TUNING KNOB, OPERATES ON 1 AA SUPPLIED WITH THE BELTCLIP ND STEREO FONTOPIA HEADPHONES.

Perfect for nights, 22 Oct 2008
I'm so pleased with this product - its ideal for easily peeking at the time through sleepy eyes, when the newborn is stirring, as the display is so bright at night (without having to press any buttons). My 3 year old also loves the fact that the radio is only a button away from dancing round the bedroom.

It's such a bargin and easy to use, I love the fact that the time is automatic. Only recommendation I'd suggest is that it is a 'bedroom clock', as display is dim in daylight - just so you know... I'd still give it 5 stars as is such value for money! :-)

Buzzzzzzz and that's just the power supply, 09 Jun 2008
As an alarm clock it's basic. Buying something this cheap seems to mean that the radio is fiddly to tune and sound quality is 1970s telephone. Yes, it's cheap, but Sony's much vaunted build quality is definitely slipping. The first one we got had a very definite mains hum from the power supply. The second one was better but still audible and annoying. The third one was ok - but I was annoyed at having to exchange two before getting one that was satisfactory.

The display isn't the brightest and the controls are scattered all round the place with little logic. Some of the switches are rather hit and miss.

It's cheap but you take pot luck with the build quality.

Nice little item., 20 Apr 2008
I bought this clock radio after looking everywhere for a model with a large display for a friend with poor eyesight. You can get an ordinary alarm with a huge display, but without the radio.This seemed to fit the bill. It sure is an attractive bit of kit, and easy to use.The only criticism I have is that the display is quite dim in daylight,and even I struggled to see the time, and my eyesight is good.After all,it's not always dark when you want to know the time, is it? All in all, it's Sony,it cost just over a tenner,and is good value,but the poor display lets it down, hence the 3 stars.

Stopped working after 3 months!, 07 Dec 2007
Cheap and simple to use it may be but when the alarm stops working after three months it can't be described as reliable! The other problem is that although it is covered by Sony's comprehensive guarantee the cost of returning the clock to them is nearly half the cost of the original purchase price. My last Sony alarm lasted over twelve years so I must have had the `Friday afternoon' model this time.

Top quality product!, 22 Jun 2007
I recieved mine today from another site (play.com/11.99/free delivery) and i am very pleased with it.

As soon as i plugged it in the time and date set itself- wow! Really simple to use. The green display is large and i was worried it would be really bright- its not at all and it is still perfectly visable.

I did think though that it was a little bigger than i expected, but still its stylish and i would definately recommend it!

£17 from amazon is a bit steep though!

GET ONE, 19 Oct 2008
BRILIANT LITTLE RADIO WITH SUPERB RECEPTION EVERYWHERE I'VE TRIED IT. Sound quality excellent and not heavy on batteries.

Superb sound and easy to use., 08 Sep 2008
The main requirement of a radio is that it produces excellent sound quality and that is exactly what this Sony radio does. The bass is perfect (my partner's a professional bassist, so I'm fussy!)and I rarely have to use the mega bass facility. I mainly listen to classical which has the widest range of sound covering the whole orchestra & jazz which requires a full bass sound without overpowering the top and middle, so it's a good test and the balance is perfect. Speech is very clear and easy to listen to. The tuning wheel is precise and isn't too loose, so it doesn't retune if accidentally brushed.The tuning dial lights up so it's very clear. Simple on/off switch, again nicely stiff to avoid mistakes, but easy to use. If I had a criticism it would be the comfort of the headphones. I use them for a couple of hours at a time and by then I want to take them out, but this depends vey much on ear shape and length of use.I am considering buying an in-ear variety, but despite this I would still buy this radio again as it is excellent.

Simple Sony Quality Delivers Excellent Sound, 07 Apr 2008
Like many of the others reviewers, I wanted a simple personal radio that sounded good, had adequate reception and didn't cost the earth. I visited a number of retailers, trying out about 15 radios across a number of well known brands. This little cracker stood out for it's quality, cost and outstanding sound reproduction. I use it for walking to and from work and with a small speaker when in my office. Absoluely Ideal. If you don't include this radio in your shortlist of options you could be missing out on an excellent deal!!

Easy to use, good reception on FM, good value, 28 Mar 2008
I wanted a small radio for use on the move which could be used without referring to an instruction manual and without needing to put my glasses on. This little Sony unit does the business. The controls are well spaced and simple to operate, with the tuning wheel have a good degree of resistance so it stays in the right place once you've selected a station. The sound quality is very acceptable. Only 4 stars because the supplied headphones are pretty useless - I bought a cheap pair of Panasonic "outside ear" phones which are comfortable and give very good sound quality.

So small, so light, so amazing, 09 Feb 2008
Without exaggeration - when I unpacked this little item I thought that it couldn't possibly be much good: It was as light, and almost as small, as an empty box of matches - but the quality of reception is amazing. I have two other, mini radios, neither of which can receive much inside the house. But this little radio tuned in perfectly, without any hint of phasing or lost signal as I moved from room to room. As for outside - well, obviously, there is no problem at all.
The unit comes with a useful, integral belt or pocket clip which is just as well as it's so small and light, it might get lost if unconnected to the earphones.
The tuning slider is firm and doesn't slip and although this isn't a digital receiver, there appears to be no problem with tuning.
The earpieces which come with it are of good quality, although personally I've never liked that sort of unit, so I've ordered some Sony MDR-W08L Headphones which will suit me better.
All-in-all - I thoroughly recommend this little radio.


Big on functionality thin-ish on sound quality, 28 Sep 2008
I was looking to replace the mess of wires that was the hi-fi unit in our kitchen; this unit comprised a CD player, cassette player and radio. With some Heath Robinson DAB contraption using an extra plug point and further gadgetry to allow mp3 players to play!

I was desperate to find something compact, which ran off ONE plug and which would have an auxiliary access point for an mp3 player cable (we have three different mp3 players in our house - none of them iPod). Incorporated DAB radio was also high on my wish list - if the thing looked half-way decent I would also be happy. The cassette player was not an issue :)

Enter the PURE Chronos CD DAB:
Radio (DAB & FM);
CD player (which plays mp3 CDs but the random play algorithm is iffy);
Alarm Clock;
Auxiliary port for mp3 player cable (lets any mp3 play);
compact;
remote control;
stylish, and
bonus points as the unit arrived with the clock set to the right time and all the radio presets set.

The only fly in the ointment is the sound quality. The hi-fi has a fulsome, meaty sound with good bass, the Chronos is comparatively light and thin even after playing around with settings. The volume is good and is more than adequate for the room size.

Sound purists will have issues with this, but from my point of view the functionality, style and size of the PURE Chronos is marvellous.

Alan M (Cambridge), 20 May 2008
I found the headphone socket is not of the same high quality as the rest of the unit. You have to play arround with it to get it to work and it tends to jam. Mechanicially its not solid. I used Dell and Sennheiser phones, both had problems.

As a general grip about Alarm/Radios including this one. They all seem to be designed to cut the alarm sound over to the headphones when inserted. To my mind the alarm should always be on the speakers regardless of the use of headphones. Otherwise you are probably going to miss it!

Good things sometimes come in small packages!, 18 Feb 2008
Very little to be negative about. Good sound, very versatile settings, the radio seems quite sensitive, even with the silly wire aerial and the CD sound is perfectly adequate to all but perfectionists. You can use headphones (proper ones, not those painful plastic things). It does what it says on the box - that's all you can ask. I also like the light-sensing display. I just hope it's reliable - I may change my mind if it breaks!

Great sound from a compact all-rounder!, 01 Jan 2008
Pros:

Great sound with little distortion from such a small unit. CD sound is clear and has plenty of bass.
DAB signal is strong and display is very clear.
Handy autotune takes hassle out of homing in on over 50 stations.

Cons:

Remote control sometimes takes a few presses to respond and has limited range.
Buttons on the radio front need a firm press to activate.

Overall a good value for money product that is well designed. Good looks and good sound too. Highly recommended.

Not for light sleepers, 22 Jul 2008
The functions on this unit are great. It has two alarm settings (one for during the week and one for weekends) which is great. The sound quality for the CD player is fine. The setting up was easy thanks to the decent instructions. BUT - I can't use it. There is a low hum emitted at all times by the unit (nothing to do with the CD Player) and because I want it on the bedside table (near my head) it keeps me awake. I have been onto Sony but they are not helpful, advising me to take it to a Service Centre - I suppose it is unlucky that there are none near me. So not a great product unless you are a heavy sleeper.

Sound build, adequate function, 04 Mar 2008
This product has the dimension and style of a biscuit tin, 'buzzers' that beep and an FM aerial that looks as if someone in the design department realised "Der crumbs Maisey, we forgot the FM aerial" just as the first batch was coming off the assembly line. Apart from that, it's fine.

As with other Sony items, the plastic casing feels solid and built to last. The sound is fine for a unit of this price with enough volume to reach the far side of a double bed :) The radio works well on FM but AM reception is hampered by the sheer number of radio stations elbowing each other for bandwidth. Consequently AM selectivity is not great. The FM aerial consists of a length of thin wire issuing from a hole at the rear of the unit which is why I think it was added late in the design process.

There are two independent alarm systems which can wake you with either radio, CD or buzzer. The utility of having two alarms in a single unit escapes me - unless your partner has long enough arms to reach the snooze button from the opposite side of the bed. The 'buzzer' beeps like a travel alarm clock - not like a mains driven unit - and, given the unit's night-time ambiance, viewed from the level of a pillow, of a Sherman tank, seems rather incongruous and pathetic.

The CD allows you to step through the tracks sequentially but there's no random play or repeat function. There are 'sleep' intervals of 90, 60, 30 and 15 minutes to turn off the radio or CD. The alarm 'snooze' time can be set from 10 to 60 minutes in multiples of 10.

The display digits are 35mm high with three switchable brightness settings which seem to cover most situations and should be visable even to those with the visual acuity of a mole. There's an 'audio in' socket to connect your portable MP3 player (not controlled by the sleep timer) but sadly no socket for headphones.

Overall? No prizes for beauty but, at half the cost and a third the size of a more stylish item, I feel justified in sacrificed my aesthetic needs at the alter of pecuniary interest.

Style: ***
Build: *****
Function: ****


Not bad, 02 Nov 2007
Received this from Amazon quickly.

Good
-Sound quality is better than average
-Three level dimmer for display
-Clear green display (12 hour format)
-Alarm & Time setting is intuitive
-Front mounted jack to connect ipod etc
-Build quality is good, especially for the price.

Bad
-No battery backup - if the power fails you loose the time and alarm settings. This isn't an issue for me since it's in the study and I use the alarm during the day for picking kids up from school, etc but could be a major minus if you rely on the alarm function.

-VERY fiddly tuning and volume - tuning is 1:1 ratio (like a cheap pocket radio) and on the side so unless you move the unit you rely on knowing it's Radio2-Radio3-Radio4-Local etc on FM)

-Much bigger than I thought it would be - Amazon's description is accurate, I mistakenly looked at the picture and thought the CD lid would be the diameter of a CD - it's quite a bit bigger.

Overall - good value if you can live with the snags. Two alarms is handy, and it's pretty sensitive on FM - here in Hampshire I have the choice of several 'Better music from the 80's 90's and today, deep joy.....


Nice device at a good price, 29 Jun 2007
It does the basic functionality well - clock, radio, CD player with 2 alarms. You can even play your mp3 player through it. The sound quality is OK - but obviously not hi-fi. It's most suitable for use in the bedroom. The build quailty is good, with solid simple controls.

GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 06 Jan 2007
I got this for xmas and it is GREAT!!!!!!!!! It has everything you need. Very big clock display- very easy to read. The radio quality is superb and the sound the cd player gives you is FANTASTIC. And on top of that it is cheap and has a well- known leading brand name!

Sony CFDS01CD Radio Recorder, 11 Apr 2008
I bought this radio recorder for a friend who is partially sighted. It's perfect, the buttons are big and it's very easy to use at an affordable price.

Compact, good quality, good features, 18 Aug 2007
I wanted a decent radio but live in an area with no DAB coverage. This fits the bill perfectly. With 30 presets in FM and AM (which it does automatically) we can switch between all our stations easily. The sound quality is good for such a compact unit and the design is neat, clean and under-stated - it won't embarrass you sat in the kitchen.

Poor performer, 29 May 2007
This little unit from Sony looks OK. It's buttons are large and well laid out. My main complaint is the sound. I bought it to listen to music so the sound quality was the most important factor. Unfortunately it fails to deliver. The sound is tinny and tiny. The 1.7 watts struggle to push out anything but the very basics from my CD's. A real disappointment. Look elsewhere.

Does what it says on the tin, 11 Mar 2007
I wanted a bed-side table size CD/radio/tape player. This one does the job really well, without looking bulky or ugly. The sound quality is very good - my spoken word BBC version of the Hobbit sounded really vibrant. Recommended.

Poor reception, 15 Feb 2008
I bought this to listen to the radio on the train (I am a Radio 4 addict!) and it was absolutely useless for the vast majority of the journey. Admittedly, I was journeying from darkest Cornwall to South Wales - remote landscape, with few transmitters - but there was no signal AT ALL for much of the journey, and the only time it worked was at stations, when changing trains, and immediately around the larger cities. I presume it would work for an urban commute, but if you're looking for something to listen to on a long journey, the only thing this will give you is white noise!

Brilliant, 08 Nov 2007
My wife was going into hospital and needed a small easy to use and good performing radio. It has been all those things and we consider it to have been an excellent buy. Good sound and long lasting battery too. Thanks Sony, nice one!

A real gem!, 23 Feb 2006
I've owned my Sony Walkman personal radio for at least a couple of years, using it about 10 hours a day and have been so pleased with it I've just ordered another exactly the same as I've dropped it more times than I'd like to admit! Despite this, it still works so could be described as robust. It is small, lightweight, very simple to use, cheap to run with one AA battery that seems to lasts for ever and with good sound quality on FM. The stations are easy to set and the thumbwheels for volume and station setting are stiff enough not to be inadvertantly altered. I would recommend this to anyone.

Cheap but cheerful!, 27 Jul 2005
I decided to buy this Sony Walkman radio when my old Aiwa started gently falling apart after many years of fine service. For the price, I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised by the sound quality when I first unwrapped it and shoved a SINGLE AA battery inside.
The first thing to say is that this is a very basic affair - manual tuning, no presets, and no built-in speaker. In fact there are only 5 controls on the Sony: volume and tuning wheels, on/off switch, and selectors for fm/am and stereo/mono (for fm). (And a headphone socket!)
The unit itself is light and slim, more so if you remove the plastic belt clip (though I keep it on as it could easily get lost!). The tuning wheel is reassuringly firm so as not to get knocked accidentally in a pocket, but it is on exactly the opposite side from the volume wheel, so if you want to adjust the volume with the unit in your pocket you can end up changing the radio station instead.
How it sounds: with a good signal (ie my local park) the fm stereo reception and sound quality are very good indeed, and though lacking any bass boost effect, the overall balance is very smooth, even through the supplied headphones. The am quality is a poor second, as is to be expected, but more than acceptable for speech (if you MUST listen to the cricket!).
On the train (where I use the radio to shut out the helpful cries of "I'm just pulling into/out of Waterloo/London Bridge etc) the fm stereo reception is not as clean, resulting in fairly frequent buzzes as the train proceeds. Switching to mono clears things up and reduces hiss, but some occasional interference remains. However, this is to be expected in such a situation and is no worse than my old Aiwa. Don't bother with am radio on a train- it just doesn't work.
To sum up then, a good quality, compact, completely old-school analogue, personal radio at a very good price. And cheap to run, using just one AA battery.

ANALOGUE TUNER, WORKD BAND RECIEVER, DAB TUNER, CLOCK.

Perfect for nights, 22 Oct 2008
I'm so pleased with this product - its ideal for easily peeking at the time through sleepy eyes, when the newborn is stirring, as the display is so bright at night (without having to press any buttons). My 3 year old also loves the fact that the radio is only a button away from dancing round the bedroom.

It's such a bargin and easy to use, I love the fact that the time is automatic. Only recommendation I'd suggest is that it is a 'bedroom clock', as display is dim in daylight - just so you know... I'd still give it 5 stars as is such value for money! :-)

Buzzzzzzz and that's just the power supply, 09 Jun 2008
As an alarm clock it's basic. Buying something this cheap seems to mean that the radio is fiddly to tune and sound quality is 1970s telephone. Yes, it's cheap, but Sony's much vaunted build quality is definitely slipping. The first one we got had a very definite mains hum from the power supply. The second one was better but still audible and annoying. The third one was ok - but I was annoyed at having to exchange two before getting one that was satisfactory.

The display isn't the brightest and the controls are scattered all round the place with little logic. Some of the switches are rather hit and miss.

It's cheap but you take pot luck with the build quality.

Nice little item., 20 Apr 2008
I bought this clock radio after looking everywhere for a model with a large display for a friend with poor eyesight. You can get an ordinary alarm with a huge display, but without the radio.This seemed to fit the bill. It sure is an attractive bit of kit, and easy to use.The only criticism I have is that the display is quite dim in daylight,and even I struggled to see the time, and my eyesight is good.After all,it's not always dark when you want to know the time, is it? All in all, it's Sony,it cost just over a tenner,and is good value,but the poor display lets it down, hence the 3 stars.

Stopped working after 3 months!, 07 Dec 2007
Cheap and simple to use it may be but when the alarm stops working after three months it can't be described as reliable! The other problem is that although it is covered by Sony's comprehensive guarantee the cost of returning the clock to them is nearly half the cost of the original purchase price. My last Sony alarm lasted over twelve years so I must have had the `Friday afternoon' model this time.

Top quality product!, 22 Jun 2007
I recieved mine today from another site (play.com/11.99/free delivery) and i am very pleased with it.

As soon as i plugged it in the time and date set itself- wow! Really simple to use. The green display is large and i was worried it would be really bright- its not at all and it is still perfectly visable.

I did think though that it was a little bigger than i expected, but still its stylish and i would definately recommend it!

£17 from amazon is a bit steep though!

GET ONE, 19 Oct 2008
BRILIANT LITTLE RADIO WITH SUPERB RECEPTION EVERYWHERE I'VE TRIED IT. Sound quality excellent and not heavy on batteries.

Superb sound and easy to use., 08 Sep 2008
The main requirement of a radio is that it produces excellent sound quality and that is exactly what this Sony radio does. The bass is perfect (my partner's a professional bassist, so I'm fussy!)and I rarely have to use the mega bass facility. I mainly listen to classical which has the widest range of sound covering the whole orchestra & jazz which requires a full bass sound without overpowering the top and middle, so it's a good test and the balance is perfect. Speech is very clear and easy to listen to. The tuning wheel is precise and isn't too loose, so it doesn't retune if accidentally brushed.The tuning dial lights up so it's very clear. Simple on/off switch, again nicely stiff to avoid mistakes, but easy to use. If I had a criticism it would be the comfort of the headphones. I use them for a couple of hours at a time and by then I want to take them out, but this depends vey much on ear shape and length of use.I am considering buying an in-ear variety, but despite this I would still buy this radio again as it is excellent.

Simple Sony Quality Delivers Excellent Sound, 07 Apr 2008
Like many of the others reviewers, I wanted a simple personal radio that sounded good, had adequate reception and didn't cost the earth. I visited a number of retailers, trying out about 15 radios across a number of well known brands. This little cracker stood out for it's quality, cost and outstanding sound reproduction. I use it for walking to and from work and with a small speaker when in my office. Absoluely Ideal. If you don't include this radio in your shortlist of options you could be missing out on an excellent deal!!

Easy to use, good reception on FM, good value, 28 Mar 2008
I wanted a small radio for use on the move which could be used without referring to an instruction manual and without needing to put my glasses on. This little Sony unit does the business. The controls are well spaced and simple to operate, with the tuning wheel have a good degree of resistance so it stays in the right place once you've selected a station. The sound quality is very acceptable. Only 4 stars because the supplied headphones are pretty useless - I bought a cheap pair of Panasonic "outside ear" phones which are comfortable and give very good sound quality.

So small, so light, so amazing, 09 Feb 2008
Without exaggeration - when I unpacked this little item I thought that it couldn't possibly be much good: It was as light, and almost as small, as an empty box of matches - but the quality of reception is amazing. I have two other, mini radios, neither of which can receive much inside the house. But this little radio tuned in perfectly, without any hint of phasing or lost signal as I moved from room to room. As for outside - well, obviously, there is no problem at all.
The unit comes with a useful, integral belt or pocket clip which is just as well as it's so small and light, it might get lost if unconnected to the earphones.
The tuning slider is firm and doesn't slip and although this isn't a digital receiver, there appears to be no problem with tuning.
The earpieces which come with it are of good quality, although personally I've never liked that sort of unit, so I've ordered some Sony MDR-W08L Headphones which will suit me better.
All-in-all - I thoroughly recommend this little radio.


Big on functionality thin-ish on sound quality, 28 Sep 2008
I was looking to replace the mess of wires that was the hi-fi unit in our kitchen; this unit comprised a CD player, cassette player and radio. With some Heath Robinson DAB contraption using an extra plug point and further gadgetry to allow mp3 players to play!

I was desperate to find something compact, which ran off ONE plug and which would have an auxiliary access point for an mp3 player cable (we have three different mp3 players in our house - none of them iPod). Incorporated DAB radio was also high on my wish list - if the thing looked half-way decent I would also be happy. The cassette player was not an issue :)

Enter the PURE Chronos CD DAB:
Radio (DAB & FM);
CD player (which plays mp3 CDs but the random play algorithm is iffy);
Alarm Clock;
Auxiliary port for mp3 player cable (lets any mp3 play);
compact;
remote control;
stylish, and
bonus points as the unit arrived with the clock set to the right time and all the radio presets set.

The only fly in the ointment is the sound quality. The hi-fi has a fulsome, meaty sound with good bass, the Chronos is comparatively light and thin even after playing around with settings. The volume is good and is more than adequate for the room size.

Sound purists will have issues with this, but from my point of view the functionality, style and size of the PURE Chronos is marvellous.

Alan M (Cambridge), 20 May 2008
I found the headphone socket is not of the same high quality as the rest of the unit. You have to play arround with it to get it to work and it tends to jam. Mechanicially its not solid. I used Dell and Sennheiser phones, both had problems.

As a general grip about Alarm/Radios including this one. They all seem to be designed to cut the alarm sound over to the headphones when inserted. To my mind the alarm should always be on the speakers regardless of the use of headphones. Otherwise you are probably going to miss it!

Good things sometimes come in small packages!, 18 Feb 2008
Very little to be negative about. Good sound, very versatile settings, the radio seems quite sensitive, even with the silly wire aerial and the CD sound is perfectly adequate to all but perfectionists. You can use headphones (proper ones, not those painful plastic things). It does what it says on the box - that's all you can ask. I also like the light-sensing display. I just hope it's reliable - I may change my mind if it breaks!

Great sound from a compact all-rounder!, 01 Jan 2008
Pros:

Great sound with little distortion from such a small unit. CD sound is clear and has plenty of bass.
DAB signal is strong and display is very clear.
Handy autotune takes hassle out of homing in on over 50 stations.

Cons:

Remote control sometimes takes a few presses to respond and has limited range.
Buttons on the radio front need a firm press to activate.

Overall a good value for money product that is well designed. Good looks and good sound too. Highly recommended.

Not for light sleepers, 22 Jul 2008
The functions on this unit are great. It has two alarm settings (one for during the week and one for weekends) which is great. The sound quality for the CD player is fine. The setting up was easy thanks to the decent instructions. BUT - I can't use it. There is a low hum emitted at all times by the unit (nothing to do with the CD Player) and because I want it on the bedside table (near my head) it keeps me awake. I have been onto Sony but they are not helpful, advising me to take it to a Service Centre - I suppose it is unlucky that there are none near me. So not a great product unless you are a heavy sleeper.

Sound build, adequate function, 04 Mar 2008
This product has the dimension and style of a biscuit tin, 'buzzers' that beep and an FM aerial that looks as if someone in the design department realised "Der crumbs Maisey, we forgot the FM aerial" just as the first batch was coming off the assembly line. Apart from that, it's fine.

As with other Sony items, the plastic casing feels solid and built to last. The sound is fine for a unit of this price with enough volume to reach the far side of a double bed :) The radio works well on FM but AM reception is hampered by the sheer number of radio stations elbowing each other for bandwidth. Consequently AM selectivity is not great. The FM aerial consists of a length of thin wire issuing from a hole at the rear of the unit which is why I think it was added late in the design process.

There are two independent alarm systems which can wake you with either radio, CD or buzzer. The utility of having two alarms in a single unit escapes me - unless your partner has long enough arms to reach the snooze button from the opposite side of the bed. The 'buzzer' beeps like a travel alarm clock - not like a mains driven unit - and, given the unit's night-time ambiance, viewed from the level of a pillow, of a Sherman tank, seems rather incongruous and pathetic.

The CD allows you to step through the tracks sequentially but there's no random play or repeat function. There are 'sleep' intervals of 90, 60, 30 and 15 minutes to turn off the radio or CD. The alarm 'snooze' time can be set from 10 to 60 minutes in multiples of 10.

The display digits are 35mm high with three switchable brightness settings which seem to cover most situations and should be visable even to those with the visual acuity of a mole. There's an 'audio in' socket to connect your portable MP3 player (not controlled by the sleep timer) but sadly no socket for headphones.

Overall? No prizes for beauty but, at half the cost and a third the size of a more stylish item, I feel justified in sacrificed my aesthetic needs at the alter of pecuniary interest.

Style: ***
Build: *****
Function: ****


Not bad, 02 Nov 2007
Received this from Amazon quickly.

Good
-Sound quality is better than average
-Three level dimmer for display
-Clear green display (12 hour format)
-Alarm & Time setting is intuitive
-Front mounted jack to connect ipod etc
-Build quality is good, especially for the price.

Bad
-No battery backup - if the power fails you loose the time and alarm settings. This isn't an issue for me since it's in the study and I use the alarm during the day for picking kids up from school, etc but could be a major minus if you rely on the alarm function.

-VERY fiddly tuning and volume - tuning is 1:1 ratio (like a cheap pocket radio) and on the side so unless you move the unit you rely on knowing it's Radio2-Radio3-Radio4-Local etc on FM)

-Much bigger than I thought it would be - Amazon's description is accurate, I mistakenly looked at the picture and thought the CD lid would be the diameter of a CD - it's quite a bit bigger.

Overall - good value if you can live with the snags. Two alarms is handy, and it's pretty sensitive on FM - here in Hampshire I have the choice of several 'Better music from the 80's 90's and today, deep joy.....


Nice device at a good price, 29 Jun 2007
It does the basic functionality well - clock, radio, CD player with 2 alarms. You can even play your mp3 player through it. The sound quality is OK - but obviously not hi-fi. It's most suitable for use in the bedroom. The build quailty is good, with solid simple controls.

GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, 06 Jan 2007
I got this for xmas and it is GREAT!!!!!!!!! It has everything you need. Very big clock display- very easy to read. The radio quality is superb and the sound the cd player gives you is FANTASTIC. And on top of that it is cheap and has a well- known leading brand name!

Sony CFDS01CD Radio Recorder, 11 Apr 2008
I bought this radio recorder for a friend who is partially sighted. It's perfect, the buttons are big and it's very easy to use at an affordable price.

Compact, good quality, good features, 18 Aug 2007
I wanted a decent radio but live in an area with no DAB coverage. This fits the bill perfectly. With 30 presets in FM and AM (which it does automatically) we can switch between all our stations easily. The sound quality is good for such a compact unit and the design is neat, clean and under-stated - it won't embarrass you sat in the kitchen.

Poor performer, 29 May 2007
This little unit from Sony looks OK. It's buttons are large and well laid out. My main complaint is the sound. I bought it to listen to music so the sound quality was the most important factor. Unfortunately it fails to deliver. The sound is tinny and tiny. The 1.7 watts struggle to push out anything but the very basics from my CD's. A real disappointment. Look elsewhere.

Does what it says on the tin, 11 Mar 2007
I wanted a bed-side table size CD/radio/tape player. This one does the job really well, without looking bulky or ugly. The sound quality is very good - my spoken word BBC version of the Hobbit sounded really vibrant. Recommended.

Poor reception, 15 Feb 2008
I bought this to listen to the radio on the train (I am a Radio 4 addict!) and it was absolutely useless for the vast majority of the journey. Admittedly, I was journeying from darkest Cornwall to South Wales - remote landscape, with few transmitters - but there was no signal AT ALL for much of the journey, and the only time it worked was at stations, when changing trains, and immediately around the larger cities. I presume it would work for an urban commute, but if you're looking for something to listen to on a long journey, the only thing this will give you is white noise!

Brilliant, 08 Nov 2007
My wife was going into hospital and needed a small easy to use and good performing radio. It has been all those things and we consider it to have been an excellent buy. Good sound and long lasting battery too. Thanks Sony, nice one!

A real gem!, 23 Feb 2006
I've owned my Sony Walkman personal radio for at least a couple of years, using it about 10 hours a day and have been so pleased with it I've just ordered another exactly the same as I've dropped it more times than I'd like to admit! Despite this, it still works so could be described as robust. It is small, lightweight, very simple to use, cheap to run with one AA battery that seems to lasts for ever and with good sound quality on FM. The stations are easy to set and the thumbwheels for volume and station setting are stiff enough not to be inadvertantly altered. I would recommend this to anyone.

Cheap but cheerful!, 27 Jul 2005
I decided to buy this Sony Walkman radio when my old Aiwa started gently falling apart after many years of fine service. For the price, I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised by the sound quality when I first unwrapped it and shoved a SINGLE AA battery inside.
The first thing to say is that this is a very basic affair - manual tuning, no presets, and no built-in speaker. In fact there are only 5 controls on the Sony: volume and tuning wheels, on/off switch, and selectors for fm/am and stereo/mono (for fm). (And a headphone socket!)
The unit itself is light and slim, more so if you remove the plastic belt clip (though I keep it on as it could easily get lost!). The tuning wheel is reassuringly firm so as not to get knocked accidentally in a pocket, but it is on exactly the opposite side from the volume wheel, so if you want to adjust the volume with the unit in your pocket you can end up changing the radio station instead.
How it sounds: with a good signal (ie my local park) the fm stereo reception and sound quality are very good indeed, and though lacking any bass boost effect, the overall balance is very smooth, even through the supplied headphones. The am quality is a poor second, as is to be expected, but more than acceptable for speech (if you MUST listen to the cricket!).
On the train (where I use the radio to shut out the helpful cries of "I'm just pulling into/out of Waterloo/London Bridge etc) the fm stereo reception is not as clean, resulting in fairly frequent buzzes as the train proceeds. Switching to mono clears things up and reduces hiss, but some occasional interference remains. However, this is to be expected in such a situation and is no worse than my old Aiwa. Don't bother with am radio on a train- it just doesn't work.
To sum up then, a good quality, compact, completely old-school analogue, personal radio at a very good price. And cheap to run, using just one AA battery.

Just what I was looking for, 11 Nov 2003
As I travel a lot and like to listen to world service I was looking for a small portable radio, with a built in alarm clock but which also rec