Grace star

I would have never thought that I would sometimes spend so much money for a clock radio.
But after not so good experience with DAB - cheap equipment I wanted to treat myself to something really good ...

When unpacking you get the first good impression aluminum instead of plastic.
Unfortunately, the quality of workmanship, one eighth left on the price range, something to be desired.
On closer inspection, we find burrs on the aluminum front panel and tiny scratches on the paintwork on the speaker cover.
In addition, the beautiful knobs are unfortunately only of plastic, which, although deceptively painted, strikes at the first touch immediately.
A pity for some real Aluknöpfe I would like to pay even a fiver more.

When you first turn pass the usual DAB things.
A quick scan (about 1 minute) and has been running the music.
The DAB - reception is clean and stable, even though I live in the countryside. However, I must also pull out the antenna fully. The FM reception is of medium quality. In good DAB -Reception you will not use this too often.
10 favorite channels can be assigned to the number keys of the remote control - for my claim that enough completely.

The sound is okay. There is absolutely no comparison to a small 50 euro whistle.
However, the first time the equalizer is set to 'neutral', allowing the device initially sounding a bit thin. So equalizer on 'ROCK' then rocking's the sound I like.
Unfortunately, the volume control does not work continuously. For my taste, the grading is too coarse and the first stage is already too loud for a gentle Einschlafberieselung.

The small remote control is indeed visually no screamer, but it works very well. One does not even come close destinations in the direction of the appliance. Even under a thin blanket she still works :-))

The display is quite nice and allows a relatively large angle. An automatic control of backlighting missing. You can adjust the backlight in unfortunately only three stages, the lowest level is likely to be too many bright.

At the function as an alarm clock, there is nothing to complain about. The two alarms are easy to adjust. In case of power failure the alarm but ar not working as an emergency supply with batteries is not provided.

Unfortunately there is no way to adjust the backlight in standby. If you turn off the radio, then the display goes dark and the time is invisible. This is great for backlight enemies, but really dead wrong for a clock radio.
You have to at night to be able to read the time, the dark screen with a flashlight illuminate how stupid this is because ....? Also during the day, the time can be read only from the vicinity.
It's not a bug it's a feature ..?

If you google something, you will find, however, on the FTP server of ALAN-Electronic a firmware update that will resolve this issue. Ok, I was curious ...

The firmware already drawn, I came in the update instructions on a real meanness.
Since the back is a non-standard USB A socket on the clock radio, a USB cable is needed with two A-plugs for the update. Luckily I have work-related such cables in the home, the average Joe consumer would now only once run into the stupid market and such a cable buy kopfschüttel ...

Ok, to overcome these obstacles I could then load the new firmware without any problems in the alarm clock.
After a successful update, I found in the System menu a three-stage adjustment for the backlight in standby so far, so good ...

And so from then lit the display very good even in standby, here too heavily tinted levels for sensitive sleepers missing.

For an unhealthy degree of insomnia now makes another offense, which was only established with the new firmware.
The alarm is in standby now a small voice by itself, which suggests that the amplifier electronics is no longer switched off in standby. If you (like me) lives in a very quiet area and the alarm has are relatively close to the bedside table, then the fun on this device is spoiled very quickly.
Due to the complete shutdown of the backlight, the whisper is indeed silent, but at this point we were before the update, but with the difference that with the old firmware is in standby could hear no noise.
Therefore I can only strongly advise against it to install the new firmware, there is no going back after the update! Since these new firmware is still very young, I have no expectation that the manufacturer fixes bugs in the foreseeable future.

Conclusion:
The beautiful to look at device leaves a very streaky impression. About small defects in the processing can perhaps see more time.
The mistake in the software, in particular, the dysregulation of the backlight, in my opinion are not acceptable in this price range! Likewise, the noise occurring after the firmware update is in standby are not acceptable.
The sound is above average for a unit of this size and the DAB reception performance is fully in order, even if not top marks achieved for FM reception.
A pity - would have the company Albrecht (ALAN Electronic) exercise a little more care in the development, the DR would have 900 a real top instrument can be.

Addendum:
Now also the second device showed same error, I have returned to the first device with the incorrect firmware.
When replacement unit I while retaining the old firmware on the display light to my fullest satisfaction can set under the menu item 'Irons'.