UPDATE - baaaad product. Big, clear display, easy controls, atomic time, good sound
Pros:
Big multi-purpose display, digital radio tuning, excellent price, auto-dimmer, easy to reach controls
Cons:
Poor quality, makes noises when radio is off, easily broken
The Bottom Line:
Not recommended
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
Update: After using this product for a year, I have found that it makes "crackling" noises constantly during the night. It appears to be a design flaw, because I got a deal on an identical unit (refurbished) and unfortunately it makes and "identical" noise. Warranty repair requires shipping to Long Island, which from Canada costs as much as a new radio. A poor product, a poor purchase for me. AVOID THIS PRODUCT.
My cheap little GE clock radio was starting to go off at random times in the middle of the night, so I was on the hunt for a replacement. I wasn't looking for hi-fi sound or cd players, just a good clock radio that works. I initially looked at the rp5430 because it was one of the cheapest at Future Shop. I have to say I am thoroughly content with this little thing. It's got a big blue display that is very easy to read from the pillow or across the room. The auto dimmer is a VERY nice feature, keeping the illumination down when the lights are out (a peeve I had with the old GE). The best part is that EVERYTHING this radio does is made visible on the huge front display; you turn on the radio, and the display briefly becomes a big digital radio tuner - you turn one of the dual alarms to wake to music, and the alarm 1 icon displays on the front with a musical note, change the alarm to wake to alarm sound and the icon changes, turn the alarm off and the icon goes away. Common controls are easily reached from the bed at the top of this slender device. It has a small footprint on the night table, sounds pretty decent for it's size, offers a simple switch around the back that enables daylight savings time and allows you to set various North American time zones (oddly the manual asks that you don't play with these switches after setting the time - not sure why??)
This clock radio has clearly been well thought out, is attractive in brushed aluminum, and functions very easily as a clock radio, without trying to be an MP3 player, cd player, etc (although is does have a stereo mini input for a n external MP3 or cd player)
