- Good radio reception
- Transmitter remains stable set, you will not be woken in the morning by noise or interference.
- The time is running stably and accurately, or better still arises automatically.
- The points of the alarm time is easily possible.
- The time and alarm survive a power failure.
- The volume can be fine-tune, either analog via potentiometer or digitally with enough stages.
- Brightness of the display is dimmed and even at night not too bright.
- The clock display is large enough to be seen well at night.
- The device / power supply are at night no disturbing noises such as whistling, humming or buzzing of itself.
At the time I bought a Philips device that seemed suitable, the admittedly in a different price class (cheaper) is located as this alarm clock. The price, however, was even then not the decisive criterion. My review on the purchased time clock can be, if desired, there read "Philips Clock Radio AJ3115".
But now with this device:
The alarm clock is small and has an easy to read at close range display. The packaging is simple, but functional.
At the device has a small, permanently mounted power supply.
The first thing that struck me was the "User's Guide" that came in the form of the miniature giant folded sheet. The German text can be found on one side right at the edge, the writing has fallen very small, but with a little good will still be readable. In practice this is not. With Philips, you can download the manual in PDF format, after all.
The device offers DAB + and FM radio, both quite strong reception. At the same place the other clock radio has completely "failed". The device has a wire antenna.
DAB +: I can receive all broadcast in my region Programs and without error. The sound quality is, according to the device and speaker size, rather modest. It can be set fairly loud without distorting. As a clock radio for a few minutes in the morning to hear news and some music, it's enough for me just fine.
You can switch through the DAB additional information such as information text for program reception strength, bit rate over an "Info" button, etc.
FM: tuning via UP / DOWN keys, but you can probably also save stations. I have not been made since DAB covers all requirements with me. The radio has RDS, you can also inform the Info button for a few RDS to retrieve additional information. The radio is receiving strong and has no problems with the selectivity.
I copy the list of my "basics" again with a short comment:
- Good radio reception (yes, with me very well)
- Transmitter remains stable set, you will not wake in the morning with noise or interference (optimal because of good DAB reception)
- The time is running stably and accurately, or better still arises automatically. (Turns in two seconds automatically after switching on. During commissioning, only after the first tuning).
- The points of the alarm time is easily possible. (Yes, even internalize how to do it, then easily and quickly)
- Time and alarm survive a power failure. (Yes, the time is immediately set automatically, alarm remains)
- The volume can be fine-tune, either analog via potentiometer or digitally with enough stages. (Very good, equipment can be divided into 32 stages also set very low).
- Brightness of the display is dimmed and even at night not too light (backlight is white and dimmable in three steps at night, the room lit up a bit.)..
- The clock display is large enough to be seen well at night. (Display is small, the individual segments of the figure are to even narrow and therefore not easy to see).
- The device / power supply are at night no disturbing noises such as whistling, humming or buzzing of itself. (To hear nothing, ok).
The only downsides I could find, refer to the built-up display. The brightness of the display is, in my view at night at the lowest level to light and the (lack of) size of the digits. We sleep in a completely darkened room, because the display already acts as a certain room lighting. The view of what is too light or not is, of course, subjective, but I wanted to mention. I think the problem is you have with virtually any device with LCD display. And the devices with LED display, you can often forget other reasons ... See my review of AJ3115 :)
The size of the numbers is quite small and, as already written, the segments are narrow. The display can be read without an accident only at close range. When the alarm clock is a little further away, the display can barely read you. If still does not sit a needed visual aid on your nose, going little ... If you are used, sometimes short to read at night with a quick glance at the clock, the current time, will have to change. On this point, units are equipped with highly visible red LED display clearly at an advantage.
The number of stars I've been thinking well, due to the display weakness it has become just three. If Philips nachbessert again at a follow-up device in this point, the device would be top. For example, the display invert (Bright numerals on a black background) and switch the backlight on as red.
