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Advice - High-tech Clock Radio

Discussion in 'Tilted Gear' started by genuinemommy, Apr 9, 2012.

  1. genuinemommy

    genuinemommy Moderator Staff Member

    What's the latest, best, and most exciting in nightstand-ready audio systems? I'm on the lookout for what I'm going to call a "Clock Radio." But I don't want it to be your average run-of-the-mill radio. I want it to have some exciting bells and whistles like...
    Atomic clock
    Temperature
    AM/FM radio
    Alarm - set radio to turn on and off at certain times
    Wireless/bluetooth enabled (send audio files from computer/iPhone)
    Able to play mp3
    Headphone jack
    Excellent audio quality
    Easy-to-see readout
    It needs to fit on a nightstand (~1'x 1')
    Somewhere around $500 budget

    Is there anything out there that's like this? What other bells and whistles should I expect from a modern alarm clock radio?
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2012
    genuinemommy, Apr 9, 2012
    #1
  2. martian

    martian Server Monkey Staff Member

    Location:
    Mars
    I don't think I've ever seen anything that does all of those things -- my suspicion is that alarm clocks in general are in decline, as many/most people seem to use their smartphones for the purpose.

    The biggest, baddest alarm clock I've ever seen is the Neverlate Executive Alarm Clock. Doesn't do everything you want, but it's got AM/FM radio, multiple customizable alarms, can play audio from an ipod or other device, and has a headphone jack. There's even a powered USB port that can run a light or fan.
     
    martian, Apr 9, 2012
    #2
  3. Pixel

    Pixel Getting Tilted

    Location:
    Missoura
    Yeah, sounds like a smartphone and maybe a speaker dock would be a good fit for you. My iPhone does all that and also functions as a white-noise machine for sleepy time.
     
    Pixel, Apr 9, 2012
    #3
  4. genuinemommy

    genuinemommy Moderator Staff Member

    The problem with a smartphone is its mobile nature. My husband has a bad habit of leaving his phone at work, then he relies on my smart phone to serve as his alarm clock. If we had something awesome but stationary, which could also fill the role of a standard wall clock - that would be ideal.
     
    genuinemommy, Apr 9, 2012
    #4
  5. Pixel

    Pixel Getting Tilted

    Location:
    Missoura
    Pixel, Apr 9, 2012
    #5
  6. genuinemommy

    genuinemommy Moderator Staff Member

    Great idea, Pixel!
     
    genuinemommy, Apr 9, 2012
    #6
  7. Hektore

    Hektore Slightly Tilted

    Hektore, Apr 9, 2012
    #7
    • Like Like x 1
  8. Stan

    Stan Resident Dumbass

    Location:
    Colorado
    I use a Yamaha TSX-130. It's a few years old and doesn't have all of the features you are looking for; but it has considerably better than average sound for a clock radio.
     
    Stan, Apr 9, 2012
    #8
  9. Hektore

    Hektore Slightly Tilted

    Two things I though of:

    Battery backup: Super important for the obvious reason, you need to know you're still going to get up even if the power goes out (or even blinks and resets the time).
    Digital radio tuner: Some set-ups have an analog dial that I think they throw on mostly as an after thought. A digital tuner is so much nicer for getting the best sound if you're actually going to use the AM/FM.
     
    Hektore, Apr 9, 2012
    #9
    • Like Like x 1
  10. Shadowex3

    Shadowex3 Very Tilted

    I think the only way you're going to get everything you want is to grab an arduino with an integrated chronodot and make your own.
     
    Shadowex3, Apr 12, 2012
    #10
    • Like Like x 2
  11. Pixel

    Pixel Getting Tilted

    Location:
    Missoura
    ooooo, yeah then you could do something funky like a nixie tube clock.
    [​IMG]
     
    Pixel, Apr 12, 2012
    #11
    • Like Like x 1
  12. genuinemommy

    genuinemommy Moderator Staff Member

    Shadow, I really hadn't considered making my own. I know you just said this as a joke, but it might be super fun to piece it all together from scratch. Ok, not from scratch, I really don't want to have to refine sand for silica...
     
    genuinemommy, Apr 12, 2012
    #12
  13. ASU2003

    ASU2003 Very Tilted

    Location:
    Where ever I roam
    A Review of the Philips HF3490 iPod Dock + Light Alarm | Spot Cool Stuff: Tech

    I have something like this. I had an iPod Touch I wasn't using much, so now it is dedicated to this. Also, I can use it to run the Find iPhone app when I can't find my iPhone.

    The only other alarm clock I am interested in is the ZEO sleep tracker.
    Welcome to Zeo Sleep Manager | Zeo Sleep Manager

    I know that there is a big difference if I wake up at 7:20 or 8:20am, so I wonder if this could actually tell what stage of sleep I was in.
     
    ASU2003, Apr 12, 2012
    #13
    • Like Like x 1
  14. Shadowex3

    Shadowex3 Very Tilted

    You don't know me very well then, I'm a genuine real life mad scientist. The motto goes that if you can't open it you don't own it.
     
    Shadowex3, Apr 13, 2012
    #14
    • Like Like x 1
  15. Bear Cub

    Bear Cub Goes down smooth.

    Location:
    At the bar, eyeing the pretty one.
    Two stand-alone devices that aren't tied to the iSomething are the Sony Dash, and the Chumby One. The Chumby One tends to get the better reviews of the two. Both are pretty dated devices by now though, as the market has really shifted towards the smart phone/touch pad devices.
     
    Bear Cub, Apr 13, 2012
    #15
    • Like Like x 1
  16. martian

    martian Server Monkey Staff Member

    Location:
    Mars
    Wouldn't the sort of guy who builds his own alarm clocks be a genuine real life mad engineer?

    And, in fact, I'm not sure how mad that really is. Does the alarm clock incorporate a death ray, or a weather control device?

    Both of those are using cheesy little mono speakers. If you want good sound quality you'll need a set of external speakers to plug into them.
     
    martian, Apr 13, 2012
    #16
    • Like Like x 1