Alarm clocks are excellent inventions, and advances in their technology make them even more functional. I do have a personal favorite though, and that is the Sony ICF-C318 clock radio. It is a simple but very functional device, easy to use and remarkable not only in quality but also in durability. To find out more about this baby, here are some quick facts.

Design

The ICF-C318 has a stylish white gloss finish and its compact design is beautifully designed to blend in with any interior without taking up too much space. It’s super handy and easy to use, and with dimensions of 155 x 82.8 x 151.5mm, you’ll have no problem placing it on your bedside table with the lamp, a bottle of wine and your favorite paperback. It’s also extremely lightweight at just 1.2 pounds, easy enough to carry around to different rooms and even different places if you’re on the go. However, it depends on a power source, but the backup lithium battery is excellent to save power outages and plug problems.

Video

The clear 0.9” green LED display makes it easy to check the time, even if you are in different areas of the room. It is very easy to see the time even from a distance, which makes it convenient to use in any room. I like to shower with the bathroom door open and just look at the clock to check the time and stay on schedule.

The time format of the clock is 12 hours, and on the LCD you will see an indicator if it is AM or PM, and also if it is daylight saving time. There are also indicators on the LCD screen if you have set one alarm and if you have only set one or two as the device has dual alarm settings.

Audio

I think the alarm has a correct volume, but there are those who prefer it louder. But with the size of the speakers, just 6.6 cm, I would not doubt that it would have sound problems. Sounds good to me though. The radio has excellent reception and the alarm sounds are clear and loud enough for you to hear.

You can also choose between an audible alarm or a radio alarm. I prefer radio because I’m more likely to be woken up by songs and DJs. However, the radio tuner is analog only, so if you don’t know the frequency of your favorite radio station, you may have a hard time tuning it. Otherwise the radio and alarm work perfectly.

Clock

The wake up setting of this device is excellent. There are two different alarms that you can set for different days, easily fitting into your schedule. It also has a calendar that allows you to see the current date on your clock radio. The lithium battery inside the device makes it easy to operate even without power. You can save your watch settings despite power outages. You also don’t need to worry about not waking up on time the next day.

The snooze function allows you to sleep an extra hour, as it has intervals of 10 minutes up to an hour before the alarm stops. You can sleep a little longer and don’t worry about being too late for work. The built-in calendar also sets the proper daylight saving time each spring and fall, so you don’t have to worry about getting it wrong.

Other features

The ICF-C318’s automatic time setting is made possible by the lithium battery inside the device. Despite power outages, the battery saves the time settings you manually adjusted, and the clock is also preset to the correct Eastern Standard Time or EST, allowing you to easily set your own time zone. In the event of a power outage, the backup battery automatically sets the clock to the proper time zone you set, and you no longer have to reset or adjust the clock.

conclusion

What I like about this device is that I get the functions of a great alarm clock along with a good radio. I recommend the Sony ICF-C318 Alarm Clock Radio for all those who want to buy an alarm clock but can’t decide which one to buy. With this model, you will definitely be satisfied.