Editorial Review

Designed to maximize your counter space and blend with virtually any decor, this under cabinet CD clock radio is the perfect addition to any kitchen. Boasting deep bass and powerful sound quality, this unit lets you enjoy your favorite tunes while you cook, clean, or just relax with a cup of coffee. The built-in audio cable lets you connect your digital music player, while the CD player accepts burned CD-R/RWs. An AM/FM radio is also included with 15 preset stations. For the ultimate convenience, a remote control is included for changing tracks, radio stations, adjusting volume and more. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Add the ICF-C7IP clock radio to your bedside and enjoy its multiple wake-up features. It packs a wide variety of functions into one compact and appealing design. Thanks to a hidden sliding dock tray, you can easily dock your compatible iPhone or iPod MP3 player. A dual alarm lets you set two separate wake-up times with the option of waking up to the music stored on your iPhone, iPod, or favorite radio station. Additional features include an AM/FM tuner with 30 presets, a large and easy-to-read LCD and an included remote control that lets you manage your tunes from around the room. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power, and Cell Phone Charger ... Read more

Editorial Review

You'll no longer need to squint to see the digits on your clock radio with the CKS3528 projector clock radio by Emerson. The integrated LCD projector allows you to project the time in large numerals on your wall or ceiling. Choose between three different projector colors: red, green or blue, and use the rotate button to project the image 180-degrees without needing to turn the radio. With Emerson's award-winning and patented SmartSet technology, the flashing "12:00" display is a thing of the past. The CKS3528 rotary tuning clock radio automatically sets itself on the first use to the correct year, month, date, day, and time. The dual alarm can be programmed to operate on weekdays only, weekends only, or all seven days of the week. Set the alarm to wake you to your favorite AM/FM music or news station, or to the buzzer. The clock radio adjusts itself automatically for Daylight Savings Time and Leap Year, as well as maintains the correct time when the power returns after power outages. Getting out of bed will no longer be a chore with the help of the CKS3528. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Logitech Squeezebox Radio brings a world of music—free Internet radio, subscription services, or your personal digital music collection—to any space in your home, over your Wi-Fi network. ... Read more

Reviews

Great functionality and sound but needs some work, November 1, 2009
I am studying German and have been told that it helps if you listen to German radio so I ordered the Squeezebox Radio on the recommendation of my friend Scott. I find the Squeezebox Radio to be perfect for the night stand, where I will be listening to the radio before I got to bed.

I set the presets with Berlin radio stations and linked via Wi-Fi and it sounds great in both spoken word and also music.

PRO: The set up was so easy and it even made the WPA/WEP key entry for my Verizon FIOS Internet.

I was also able to easily find all the stations I listened to in Berlin when I lived there and I was also able to find local stations and I could easily "install" BBC and CBC and even a Facebook and a Flickr applet. I am very pleased. I got a red one.

The date and time is awesome because it is updated via Internet so I didn't even need to set the date or time -- so I also have myself an atomic clock, I guess.

There are multiple alarms and also a line in so I can run my iPod and my iPod shuffle through the device, too, which is great for my German homework (a CD I burnt to MP3).

CON: A little expensive but you get a lot more than just a radio. It doesn't come with a rechargeable battery pack or the remote -- an additional $50.

BOTTOM-LINE: Small and deceptively powerful -- it is basically a little Linux box in a small boom box/Internet clock radio -- and it is the most modern of the Squeezebox line so you can do very cool stuff with the device. Easy to set up and to start using.

It can work as simply as a clock radio with presets or you can get all geeky and install apps and podcasts and you can connect to SIRIUS and all those other paid streaming services. I love it. It is my new favorite thing.

Great But Needs A Few Features Tweaked, November 19, 2009
Having owned numerous Logitech (formerly Slim Devices) Squeezeboxes and a Duet, I can highly recommend this newest radio in the Squeezebox family. I purchased the bright red version and found it is relatively easy to setup and the WiFi range is surprisingly strong and far-ranging. This little radio has its own good mono speaker, and it is perfect for those who want a standalone radio. For those who listen exclusively to Internet radio (there is no broadcast radio on this device)and do not want to add streaming to their larger music systems, this new radio is absolutely perfect for a kitchen, bathroom or bedroom nightstand. It also has six preset buttons on the front like a car radio. There are wake-up alarm and sleep features although I have not used them yet. You can use the Squeezebox Radio in conjunction with easily downloaded software. However, by setting up a free Mysqueezebox account, you can program your own list of favorite stations, podcasts, and browse for others throughout the world, all while your computer is turned off. You can also use the radio in conjunction with your Pandora account. This setup is also quite easy. I have always been impressed with the excellent tech support provided by the company as well as the reassurance of a knowledgeable, loyal and highly active community forum for these devices. This is the best Internet radio I have seen in terms of design, ease of use and sound quality. Five stars!

Great functionality and sound but needs some work, November 1, 2009
I am a long time owner of Squeezebox products and was pretty excited to find out about the little table top Squeezebox Radio model. I picked one up and thought I would share my thoughts.

The first thing you notice is how much heft this little player has. It is really well built and the fit and finish is superb. It has plenty of weight and solid rubber feet so that it won't skid around on your night stand or table top. The screen looks great and all of the buttons have a nice solid tactile feel. Compared to many other cheap wireless network streaming radios, this device feels an entire order of magnitude better in its construction quality. The only disappointment here is the lack of back lit buttons, for using the radio in low lighting. It's also worth noting that the entire radio has a high gloss finish that will be a magnet for fingerprints. Looks great though!

The biggest challenge for most consumers with this device will be the initial set up. You need to create an account at [...] in order to set up your new Squeezebox Radio. The device uses this connection to play free internet music services as well as download software updates, etc, to the Radio. I already had a Squeezebox account so this was not a huge challenge for me, but it might be for some people who might be confused that they need to set up an account before they can use the device. There is an option to set up the account from the device itself. Don't do this (it is slow and tedious)! Go to the website and set it up in a few seconds and then just type your login and password on the device.

Other than the laborious task of entering my full email and password for [...] the rest of the setup is very easy. The Squeezebox Radio supports push to connect wi-fi set up which is common on many newer model wireless routers. It's similar to programming a garage door opener. Simply point the Squeezebox Radio at your wireless network and for 120 seconds it will try to connect with the push to connect functionality. Then just push the connect button on your router and it's automagically all set up.

Once set up the Radio will update its firmware and reboot, a process that takes a few extra minutes. After that you are good to go.

In addition to the many built in free online services, you can also play your own music through the Squeezebox Server application. I run the Squeezebox Server application on my HP EX495 Windows Home Server but you can also run Squeezebox Server on any Mac, Windows PC or even Linux box (there are even installable distributions for many Network Attached Storage units). This allows the Squeezebox Radio (and any other Squeeze players) to access all of the music on my home network. It's absolutely wonderful to be able to take the little table top radio anywhere in the home and listen to your entire music collection.

Sound quality is very good, easily enough to fill a small to medium sized room. It gets quite loud with little to no distortion and the controls are easy to use to change tracks, change volume, etc. Wireless strength is superb. I get a full signal anywhere within about 40 feet of my router, and the radio works anywhere on my suburban property with no audio hiccups or dropouts.

In addition to the intuitive controls such as "home", "play", "stop", "back", etc, the unit also features six programmable "preset" buttons similar to what you have on a car radio. Setting these up is a bit more of a challenge than you would expect. You are supposed to be able to hold these down on any song, album, playlist, etc, that is being displayed in the radio menu and have it added as a preset. Unfortunately some items don't add correctly and must first be programmed as a "favorite". It turns out that you can only add favorites for some items (such as playlists) from the Squeezebox Server web based menu, which is quite inconvenient. I don't doubt that Slim Devices (the arm of Logitech that makes these devices) will fix this soon enough.

Other minor glitches include some weird alarm behavior (it will show the time of the alarm when it is going off but strangely won't show the current time, which is annoying if you have hit the snooze button a few times and need to know what time it is), some auto dimming issues (the auto dimming works great but gets almost TOO dim in a dark room to see the radio) and a few other very minor nits.

Slim Devices have a long history of enhancement and improvement of device firmware, so I would expect a lot of these issues to be worked out in the coming months. Additionally there will soon be a battery pack and small infrared remote for the Squeezebox Radio available as a $[...] add on purchase. Personally I think at $[...] the Radio should include these items, but considering the great sound of the radio, the high quality screen and the superb fit and finish it is justified that this device costs as much as it does.

Also worth noting is that if you have an iPod Touch or iPhone you can get the iPeng application $[...] from the Apple App Store which makes controlling and programming your Squeezebox Radio an absolute breeze. iPeng is really a must have if you have these devices and want a wonderful pocket control that works from anywhere in your home. Beats the pants off of what Sonus has to offer!

//Update 1 (Nov 2nd 2009)

Yesterday my SB Radio lost all of the preset buttons which is most annoying. It also turns out that many of the requests for fixes around the alarms functionality have not been addressed and don't appear to be scheduled to be addressed in the next release or two of the software. If your primary use will be a night stand alarm clock I would recommend holding off for now until Logitech addresses alarm functionality issues. If the issues are not resolved I will reconsider my four star rating as it should then be a three star product.

//Update 2 (May 13 2010)

Logitech has not only not fixed many of the initial annoyances with the SB Radio, but newer firmware has in fact made the product less stable and reliable. It still does an admirable job of playing your local music library if you run the SB Server on a PC or Mac in your home, but the network streaming functionality seems to be having issues and I've found the alarm to be terribly unreliable. I would now under the current circumstances rate this only 3 out of 5 stars. It's really a shame too, as the "Slim Devices" that originally brought us these problems was very open and communicative about issues and what was being done to fix them. Logitech has little interest in relaying useful information to its beta testers, err, customers and instead gives us the run around with if and when issues will ever be remedied.

Buggy!, November 14, 2009
I've had the Squeezebox Radio for just over a week but that's long enough to decide what I like and what still needs some work. First, set-up was a snap. The radio found my wireless network instantly and I was able to enter the password and connect quickly. The radio them updated its own software so I was working with the newest release.
What do I like? The radio seems solid. It's heavy enough that you can press the buttons with the radio on a nightstand and not have it slide. The front is angled back which helps even more. I'd call the sound quality - though not stereo - excellent. There's no comparison between how this radio sounds and the Sony clock radio I replaced it with. It has a very clear, crisp sound.
What don't I like? I had the radio only three days when it lost all it's presets. I re-entered them and all has been well since. This is a well known bug. I am using [...] and NOT using my PC so the problem is likely there. Presets should be stored locally, not on a server. I saved all my presets as favorites so they MIGHT be there the next time this happens (then again, maybe the favorites list will be erased, too). I'd like to see an easier way to set the sleep timer. You have to use the menu and it should be a simple button press. Why not use the power button and cycle through sleep settings? i.e. ON ... 45 ... 30 ... 15 ... OFF? There also needs to be a simple way to snooze. Maybe the big button in the middle?
The auto-dimming setting gets awfully dark at night! I should be able to set a minimum brightness level that suits me.
And I'd love to see the apps include weather radar. Yes, this is a radio but it's got a great color display and being able to watch live weather radar on the screen would be super. A general weather app that makes use of this display would be a plus! Come on Logitech, get with it! This radio has more possibilities than, well, radio!

Later: I've had the radio for a month now and am no longer quite so excited. I reduced my initial 4 stars to just 2 stars. This radio is buggy! My initial loss of the presets has now been followed by a loss of the volume control. There was absolutely no way to get it back besides a "factory reset" which removes every setting I so carefully made. You should be able to simply sit down and enjoy a radio, not beta test a product.
I am returning it within Amazon's 30 day window. I've had enough.

Better than expected, October 14, 2009
When the Boom came out, I wanted to purchase it right away, but the $300 price tag and the inability to truely make it wireless detered me. Now that the Radio is out with a lower price tag, battery capability and a color LCD, I was totally sold. I've had the Radio for about a week now, and I simply love it. Even the wife was jamming to it when I got home from work the day after I bought it.

So far I have only had one issue with it...I can not find a setting to set the Album Art size to full screen on the Now Playing screen. It says in the manual that it is under the Screensaver settings, but when I go there it doesn't exist. I sent an email to Logitech support, but have not heard back from them yet. [Updated] Logitech just released a new software version that will correct this issue.

Another cool feature that I didn't realize existed, was the ability to control the Radio from the web.

As far as sound quality goes, it is far better than expected. There is virtually no distortion even at maximum volume. I even plugged a set of Computer Speakers into the Headphone Jack and it didn't make that much of a difference. The Base levels aren't that deep, but they are there. I can put it in my livingroom and pump it up near max volume and hear it clearly throughout the house.

I haven't tested the Wireless strength extensively yet, but I was able to hook it up in the garage (1 Floor below and 50 feet from the router) and the signal strength was near full.

Overall, I am very satisfied with my purchase and can't wait to get the battery pack so I can just carry this thing around anywhere.

Concept good but server and firmware are unstable and unreliable, July 13, 2010
This radio has lots of good things going for it - when it works. Unfortunately it does so at best half the time - at other times it loses the connection to [...] (which you need for almost all functions except streaming music off your PC), powers down randomly, stops playing for no obvious reason, the screen freezes and shows details of a previous show, etc. (We have one desktop PC and two laptops hanging off the same wireless network at home, so are sure that the network itself is fine.) The support forums at logitech and slimdevices have been awash with complaints about this - apparently caused by firmware updates in combination with changes at [...] - but the problem remains unsolved. What is especially maddening is that the radio worked just fine from Jan to Mar 2010, so it's also clear that this is not a hardware problem! It is possible to roll back to an older firmware version (by installing the appropriate older version of the squeezebox server on a PC, and asking the radio to connect to it using "My Music"), but even the pre-April firmware version (4.2) now has the same problems as the more recent ones.

Radio Ga Ga, some other features, November 29, 2009

I am connected to the world through Squeezebox Radio, October 29, 2009
I am studying German and have been told that it helps if you listen to German radio so I ordered the Squeezebox Radio on the recommendation of my friend Scott. I find the Squeezebox Radio to be perfect for the night stand, where I will be listening to the radio before I got to bed.

I set the presets with Berlin radio stations and linked via Wi-Fi and it sounds great in both spoken word and also music.

PRO: The set up was so easy and it even made the WPA/WEP key entry for my Verizon FIOS Internet.

I was also able to easily find all the stations I listened to in Berlin when I lived there and I was also able to find local stations and I could easily "install" BBC and CBC and even a Facebook and a Flickr applet. I am very pleased. I got a red one.

The date and time is awesome because it is updated via Internet so I didn't even need to set the date or time -- so I also have myself an atomic clock, I guess.

There are multiple alarms and also a line in so I can run my iPod and my iPod shuffle through the device, too, which is great for my German homework (a CD I burnt to MP3).

CON: A little expensive but you get a lot more than just a radio. It doesn't come with a rechargeable battery pack or the remote -- an additional $50.

BOTTOM-LINE: Small and deceptively powerful -- it is basically a little Linux box in a small boom box/Internet clock radio -- and it is the most modern of the Squeezebox line so you can do very cool stuff with the device. Easy to set up and to start using.

It can work as simply as a clock radio with presets or you can get all geeky and install apps and podcasts and you can connect to SIRIUS and all those other paid streaming services. I love it. It is my new favorite thing.

Great But Needs A Few Features Tweaked, November 19, 2009
Over the years I've purchased several streaming music products, each of which had it's limitations, some were just junk. This gives you good sound, no major setup headaches, and there seem to be a wide array of optional plugins to allow you to customize and build your music sources. Setup was fairly simple although typing in any text whether it's your login credentials for a music service or your wireless network information is tedious on any device that doesn't have a keyboard so just deal with it, hopefully you won't have to enter this information more than once.

First, let me be a bit negative, this thing should really ship with a rechargable battery already installed. It should also ship with a remote control. I called customer support this mornng and I've been told that the accessory pack with the battery and remote will not be available until February 2010. It seems like they rushed to get the radio out before Christmas yet these accessories aren't available yet. When I first read about the radio and its battery backup functionality I'd assumed that the battery was already installed.

Secondly, I attempted several times to set this up using WEP encryption. While a 26 character passcode is a hassle to enter anytime it was a real pain to attempt to enter it four or five times only to be told that the password didn't work. I've entered it into enough other devices in my home (printers, laptops, PSP) that I know the code was correct. I've been needing to change over to WPA anyway as it's more secure, once I changed to WPA and entered the passphrase it connected to the network in just a few seconds.

Now the positives, the audio is above average considering the size of the radio, it found my music collection and scanned all of the titles into it's library, since it's just streaming the audio it only took a few minutes to scan about 4000 songs. There are some opportunities with the album art, many tracks just show some arbitrary image of a CD.

As far as the plugins, Pandora works very well. I may even upgrade my pandora account to a paid account since I can skip more than six tracks an hour (once I have a remote anyway). The XMOnline plugin works very well too although it doesn't seem to update the PAD data with the song names and artist info.

The Mediafly may or may not work, I created an account and linked it and picked a few podcasts out on Mediafly but they never appeared on my radio so it may just be me.

I'd buy this for anyone thinking about getting an XM Boombox or portable radio, just pay XM for an online account and this works as well as a boombox and given that a boombox has to have an antenna near a window all you need with this is access to your wireless network (or wired if you want to run a cable to it from your router).

I'm very happy with this product.

Excellent new Internet radio. Compact, attractive design with good sound, October 30, 2009
Having owned numerous Logitech (formerly Slim Devices) Squeezeboxes and a Duet, I can highly recommend this newest radio in the Squeezebox family. I purchased the bright red version and found it is relatively easy to setup and the WiFi range is surprisingly strong and far-ranging. This little radio has its own good mono speaker, and it is perfect for those who want a standalone radio. For those who listen exclusively to Internet radio (there is no broadcast radio on this device)and do not want to add streaming to their larger music systems, this new radio is absolutely perfect for a kitchen, bathroom or bedroom nightstand. It also has six preset buttons on the front like a car radio. There are wake-up alarm and sleep features although I have not used them yet. You can use the Squeezebox Radio in conjunction with easily downloaded software. However, by setting up a free Mysqueezebox account, you can program your own list of favorite stations, podcasts, and browse for others throughout the world, all while your computer is turned off. You can also use the radio in conjunction with your Pandora account. This setup is also quite easy. I have always been impressed with the excellent tech support provided by the company as well as the reassurance of a knowledgeable, loyal and highly active community forum for these devices. This is the best Internet radio I have seen in terms of design, ease of use and sound quality. Five stars!

A New Experience, March 22, 2010
I bought the Squeezebox on a bit of a whim because I was thoroughly tired of the local radio stations. I also lived abroad for a long time, so the temptation to listen to my old "home" stations was big. I was contemplating a HD radio, but that really would have just brought the local junk stations in clearer...

All in all I am extremely happy with the Squeezebox. I read some reviews here before I bought it, so I already opened a account with Logitech. Start-up was easy, plug it in, find your wireless network, enter the password. It did do a firmware update and then I was ready to play.

The choices of stations are really overwhelming. I didn't know what to listen to at first. And this was only the "Internet Radio" option.

I then added Pandora which was very simple. Highly recommended. Even more music choices and no commercials.

I know there are even more things you can do with it, but right now I'm happy with the thousands of stations already available to me.

I hooked the Squeezebox into my big stereo via a 3.5mm-RCA cable from the headphone jack in the Squeezebox to the AUX input in my stereo. The sound from the Squeezebox alone is very nice, through the stereo it's amazing.

I never tried the Alarm Clock functions of the Squeezebox, so I can't comment on those.

The Squeezebox looks very nice. No complaints there. I also like the fact that the display dims and gets really dark when the room is dark, which I really like. Most alarm clocks still light up the room at night, the Squeezebox does not.

Reception around the house is great. In my living room which is about 40 feet and two walls from the router, it reports full signal strength, better than my laptops. Never had any reception problems. Of course, it does take a little hit on the available internet bandwidth, but not enough to really notice or be bothersome.

My biggest issue is that the Squeezebox only has 6 actual station memory buttons. With the ability to have so many choices, they should have really tried to add some more buttons for simplicity. It's not a deal killer though. Also the whole search process (entering the letters via the wheel controller) can be tedious. But again, I enjoy the new radio experience enough to overlook all that.

If there was a Squeezebox II, I would like to see maybe a small pull out keyboard or a remote with a little keyboard. That would be fantastic.

But as for now, if you are contemplating getting a internet radio, you should really give this one a shot. I am having way more fun with it than I thought I would.

Not Your Daddy's Squeezebox!, December 1, 2009

Editorial Review

Sony's ICF-S10MK2 Pocket AM/FM Radio will fit easily into your shirt or jacket pocket for convenience and easy portability. The AM/FM tuner lets you choose from the wide range of radio talk shows and music programming. The built-in Speaker enables convenient listening anywhere, and the earphone jack permits private listening enjoyment and improved sound clarity in noisy environments. Additional features include an LED tuning indicator, a telescopic antenna, and a carry strap. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Perfect for the garage, porch, or anywhere around the house, this handy portable radio delivers crisp sound and simplified controls. The built-in carrying handle makes it convenient to carry and the illuminated LED tuner makes finding the right station fast and easy--even in low light. ... Read more

Reviews

Well Designed/Good Performance, October 16, 2009
I'm a big time radio guy, and have used many models over the years. There are two things that really make any radio stand out, and this one has both of them.
The ICF-38 is an excellent performer as far as reception of both AM and FM signals go. Weak signal pick up on both bands is markedly better here than with almost all small portable radios I've used, and even more importantly, selectivity (ability to seperate stations cleanly) is better as well. The tone switch (which some radios don't even have) cuts the treble when desired, if you want a less harsh sounding AM signal. The dial has no clock or light, but an LED for indicating if a station is tuned in. Battery life is excellent if alkalines are used (it takes 4 AA batteries). Output volume is listed as 4 watts, quite loud for a radio of this size, with little distortion at top level.
The other ingredient for a good radio is ease of use and a well thought out design. There are little things here which most people won't notice that actually make this radio a joy to use. Many radios today that run off both internal batteries and AC require a seperate wall-wart that plugs into the radio and the outlet, but the ICF-38 has the power cord built in so you won't have to search for it when needed. Also, the battery cover is hinged, which is great as battery covers can disappear as easily as wall-warts (and you can't just go to Wal-mart to buy a new battery cover). The carry handle flips up when needed, and there is an indentation in the cabinet which allows you to slip in a finger to raise it easily, and you'll find out how nice this is when your hands are full and you need to bring the radio with you as well. Both slide switches for band selection and power have a raised bump in the middle which makes it easier to change bands or turn it on. Finally, The shape makes it easy to place in most locations and it is very stable, making it unlikely to get knocked over.
If there were no markings on this radio to indicate the manufacturer, I would have easily guessed that it was a Sony product. It has the great performance and clever design that I associate with Sony.

A Fine Little Radio, August 14, 2008
This radio brings in distant stations, sounds good, and takes up little space. The controls are easy for me to use. These were the qualities I was looking for so I am pleased I made the choice to buy Sony ICF38.

great radio, July 9, 2008
This radio has great sound and bring in the stations clearly especially when I use it on the beach.

simple and functional, August 7, 2008
Just what I was looking for--a quality desktop radio with nothing fancy-- just a radio. The sound quality is very good and the reception is excellent with a telescoping adjustable attenna. Great value for the price.

functional, August 3, 2008
batteries run forever. this is replacing the older version of this model which had the tv band and emergency weather, never the less this one works great I use this for the yard and beach and it is also fairly sturdy.

Sony Portable radio, August 27, 2008
Sony ICF38 Portable AM/FM Radio
Very happy with quality of this product. Searched high and low for an "old fashioned" radio, not a boom box type. Found it on Amazon and am quite happy with product.

Might as well buy this for backyard, July 10, 2008
I don't know how to review radios as I live 25 miles frm NYC so everything will work, but we have a mountain in between and somne stations are hard to tune. Anyway, this is fine for listening to Yankees games and tells when the signal is as good as can be. Also durable, can be thrown aroundn and still work.

An Excellent Value, August 25, 2008
With the hurricane season approaching, we needed to replace our old portable radio. This Sony AM/FM met all the requirements: reasonable price, great sound, battery or plug-in operation. When my husband saw the radio, he asked how much it was and guessed it was at least $50. He was very surprised and pleased with the actual cost. A really excellent value, and a Sony!

The Faithful ICF-38, March 7, 2009
Having been a radio nut for years, and using this radio for about five months now, this review is not given casually. Probably could stock my own radio store.

If you're looking for a basic AM/FM portable radio with excellent reception, sound, portability, quality and brand, you've come to the right place. And there's even a Tone High/Low switch which gives a nice variety of sound choices.

Rather than going into the specifics of the antenna, carry handle, aesthetic appeal, speaker size and quality, functionality of the knobs, battery life, suffice it to say, for $25 you can't go wrong! Try it - you'll like it.
(and no, I'm not a Sony nor Amazon representative)

Poor Reception, May 30, 2009
We don't know why this radio gets such good reviews ... the reception is horrible ... it doesn't pick up many of the stations in our area.

Opened the box ... tried it out ... applied for an Amazon RMA immediately.

Sigh ... ... Read more

Editorial Review

Splash Resistant1 Multi-Band Shower Radio --- makes this an ideal radio to have in the bathroom, and in the shower, spa or sauna. AM/FM/Weather Band Reception --- provides easy tuning of all available AM and FM radio stations, plus audio up to the minute weather. 20 Memory Random Presets (5AM/5FM1/5FM2/5Weather) --- offer convenient one-button memory tuning to 5 AM and 10 of your favorite FM radio stations along with 5 weather frequencies. Easy One Button Weather Band Select --- gives you weather information at the press of a single button. Supplied Hanging Strap --- loops over a door knob or on the shower head extension. Built-In Digital Clock --- with large high-contrast display that shows current time and number of pre-set radio station. ... Read more

Reviews

Simply perfect, September 22, 2008
I very rarely write reviews but I love this radio so much I felt inspired. (Actually I own the S79V, but it seems to be identical to this one.) It is simply the perfect shower radio. Reception is excellent and better than some of the more expensive radios in my house. It has a clever suction cup aerial that sticks to shower tile well. The controls are simple and I particularly like the timer function, so I don't need to worry about turning it off. It goes forever on a set of batteries. I also like that this isn't equipped with a CD player, which would add bulk for a questionable extra function.

The white plastic has yellowed over time (four years?), and the top control panel membrane has deteriorated slightly, but it's still going strong. I purchased a replacement just to have a spare handy should I need one and find that Sony has stopped making these gems.

Sony S79W AM/FM/Weather Shower Radio - Great Performer In An Empty Field, November 16, 2008
The Sony ICFS79W AM/FM/Weather Band Digital Tuner Shower Radio is really well designed for its purpose. I spent a long time trying to find a shower radio that had more than just AM/FM, like a CD player for example. I eventually gave up that quest and gave this a try. Perhaps there are just too few options in radios designed for use in the shower.

Quite frankly, I am kicking myself in disbelief over this product. I was open minded but skeptical when I got this. The strong reception is really the best feature, and the weather band and auto on / off timers are nice extras.

This guy is probably a 5 star product for most people, but I do tend to be picky. For me, it would be almost perfect if not for a few cons. Still, it's hard to find alternatives so it's difficult to know if there is a better alternative.

PROS
+ Absolutely GREAT reception; it's actually really surprising how good it is
+ Nice simple controls that are mostly intuitive
+ Nice extras, like the Weather band
+ Convenient timer to get you going
+ Nice Auto-Off feature for easy morning operation

CONS
- Analog volume adjustment provides little control at lower volumes
- Still requires large C batteries, that are less convenient than AA when using rechargeables
- List price is quite high
- Wire Antenna is difficult to stick up and often comes loose
- Weather band has more static than AM or FM

Granted, the last two cons are minor. Still, this guy could use some improvements. It's hard to believe that for this price only AM / FM and Weather bands are included. Still, while the weather band has static from time to time, the AM and FM are some of the strongest I have heard in a radio of any kind. I am not sure what kind of internal antennae and supporting electronics they have to compliment the standard external wire antenna. But whatever they did, the reception is surprisingly strong and clear.

Having to worry about replacing those large batteries is also a throw-back to 1989, and it would have been nicer if they could have used four AA batteries or some such more standard configuration instead. Most people with lots of electronics already have rechargeable AAs, but few people have rechargeable C batteries on hand. Better yet, if possible perhaps a rechargeable battery might have been an option given the size. Still, perhaps the extra juice of the batteries helps the strong signal. While I have only tested this guy for a few weeks, I have also heard that the batteries last a really long time in it. I will update my review after the first batch run out of power.

Still, if you need a shower radio, this is one of the better options. There are some that offer more features, like a CD player, but most have low satisfaction numbers. I will continue looking for other models. For the time being, it seems like despite a rather high price this might be the one to go with.

Enjoy.

UPDATE: September 2010

After using this unit regularly for more than 2 years, the only negative comment I can add is that the plastic covering the buttons on top has worn away over time. This creates the risk that water might be able to get in and damage the unit. However, even with all the humidity that goes along with being used in the bathroom, that hasn't happened yet. It's still going strong.

I will also say that some of the comments have been very helpful. The batteries have indeed lasted forever. Given the fact that over 2 years I've only had to change them once, perhaps the larger cell batteries were an appropriate choice for this design.

I hope this extra information helps you. Happy shoppping!

Best portable radio ever, August 25, 2008
I love this radio! We own 2, and I'm about to buy 2 more - one more for our home and one for a gift. I keep one with my gardening tools and carry it around with me and listen while gardening. The others travel between the bathrooms and bedrooms. Good sound quality, takes dirt and water abuse, and the preset buttons are great for a portable radio. No playing around trying to tune in favorite stations. The batteries seem to last forever (I don't even know what kind they take, since I've never changed them and we've had our 2 units for years). So the time is always right, even with the occasional power outs we have in our area, which messes up all the plug in radio times. The best portable radio ever!

Good, not great., November 29, 2008
This sony radio is a good shower radio and clock. It has an external antenna that suction cups to the wall.

There are a few parts of this design to note that make this a good product, not a great one. First, the radio has a strap that clips on the back and while hanging, it does not lay completely flat. Second, it takes C batteries and three of them. They are generally sold in packs on two or four and they are not included. Third, the buttons are on top. Style-wise this is a good decision, but because the radio needs to be high enough to see the clock, it makes it more difficult to see the buttons. There is a sleep timer built in to the on button. It would be great if I did not have to push the button five times to get the radio to turn off after 10 minutes. Lastly the volume control; it is well designed and simple to grip, but has only one purpose, unlike all the other pieces on the radio. It stands out as odd.

I wish there were another sleeker option for a clock radio for the shower, but until this one breaks it is good not great.

Terrific shower radio!, August 3, 2008
I love this shower radio! It's got great sound quality and reception and the digital tuner makes it very easy to use. The preset buttons are great. I use this radio about 20 minutes a day, and since I bought it in December I have not yet had to change the battery. I highly recommend this shower radio!

THE BEST, August 22, 2008
I've been using this radio since 2000 for the house, never in the shower. I keep one in the bathroom and that travels with me to my bedroom while getting dressed, and I keep one in my kitchen that goes back and forth between kitchen and office. Fabulous sound. Very sturdy. A great gift, too. 5 presets for AM and 10 presets for FM. I wish it were the other way around.

TIP: after a few years the plastic covering that you press on to switch stations and turn on and off will start showing signs of age, as in with enough years of use, the plastic will start to deteriorate. For me, it was the on and off buttons on one of my radios. I let it go and the plastic ate right through. The button won't work without the plastic over it, and I had to throw it out! If not for the plastic eating through, who knows how many years I would have gotten out of that radio.

My other radio had less deterioration of the plastic but a little so I covered the on and off buttons with one layer of clear packing scotch tape. It does not interfere at all with the operation of the radio at all. The clear tape just protects the plastic covering.

I am now ordering 3 more, one for a gift and two to have on hand as gifts or a possible replacement for me. I'm worried that Sony will discontinue this radio (or maybe they have already and there's some inventory being sold).

If you love radio, don't just listen in the car. Listen at home too. This is an attractive and great radio!

Shower Radio, September 17, 2008
A shower radio that actually gets great reception! The design is a little clutzy, especially the hanger clips, but the number of stations that I can listen to makes up for a few external design issues.

Great cordless radio, September 16, 2008
We purchased this Sony Shower radio for our bath because of lack of a convenient power outlet and do not actually use it in the shower. It has great reception and though battery powered, it does not use batteries quickly. We have had it for 6 weeks and are still on the first set of batteries. It was a little more expensive than other shower radios but well worth it.

I bought two!, October 13, 2008
I saw the 5 star rating on Amazon and thought "really?" So I bought one for my shower and I loved it. Easy digital tuning and 5 AM presets and 10 FM presets. Then I bought a second one for my office. Amazon warned me I had already bought one, but I soldiered through their thoughtful warnings. My office is in the vicinity of a very weak but entertaining local university station that now comes through like a champ. My office is also a radio frequency nightmare due to the 1950's wire wall plaster. (H-Bomb proof, but hard on AM reception) This radio comes with a foot long wire antennae and a small suction cup that I plastered to my office window. In my opinion the Sony ICFS79W is the post-nuclear dream radio of the year!

Expensive, doesn't sound all that great, but meets my needs just fine, April 25, 2009
I bought this radio to replace a 20+ year old GE shower radio that stopped working. It serves the purpose just fine; however, there are 3 things I don't like about it:

1) The sound isn't that great - too much treble, not enough bass. The GE radio I had previously sounded much better and back in the 80's that radio only cost somewhere around $20.
2) The buttons are on the top. I keep the radio up high on top of the acrylic shower/tub. Reaching the buttons is not easy even for me (at 6' tall). It's impossible for my wife without standing on the side of the tub. The GE radio I've mentioned twice already had the buttons on the front, so it was much easier to use.
3) It was a little pricey. I was really looking for something about half this price.

Other that that, the quality of this unit seems good, it has more features than I will ever need, and it seems to work fine for the shower. If it lasts as long as that GE radio I keep mentioning, I'll be happy. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power, and Cell Phone Charger ... Read more

Editorial Review

Midland WR-300 Weather Radio with Civil Emergency Monitor. Get local weather reports when you need them most: Digital PLL tuning for clear reception; S.A.M.E. localized reception; 30 programmable county codes so you can receive alerts about one county or many counties... from your home, to your cabin and where your kids go to college; Full function alarm clock; Built-in AM / FM radio; 10 memory alerts... easily add, edit and remove unwanted ads Powered by included AC wall adapter and 4 AA batteries (not included). Order Now! Midland WR-300 Weather Radio with Civil Emergency Monitor ... Read more

Editorial Review

Whether you like music or sports, you can have hours of listening pleasure with this portable AM/FM radio from Sony. The compact design is lightweight and unobtrusive so you can take it anywhere, and the provided belt clip is handy when youM-^Rre exercising. The local/distant (DX) switch allows for optimal reception in most areas and it achieves all this with a single M-^SAAM-^T battery! ... Read more

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People often ask, What makes Sangean better than the rest? This radio is the answer. Stylish design, clean features and station reception to rival any other. But we took it one step further by making it so water resistant it is almost submersible! Meeting water proofing standards that are equal to marine radios. Look, listen, and try for yourself. Uses 2 'D' batteries or an AC power adapter (neither included). Includes. Wall mounting bracket, shoulder style carrying strap, and double sided adhesive squares by 3M. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The PR-D7 is a lightweight and convenient portable AM/FM radio with very good performance. You can power it with the included AC Adapter, or six "AA" size batteries (not included). If you use it with rechargeable batteries, you can charge them right in the radio. The PR-D7 conveniently displays radio frequency and time of day at the same time. Features: 5 memory presets per band, alarm clock, and stereo headphone jack. Weight: 1.3 lbs. Size: 8.5 W x 4.5 H x 1.6 D inches. ... Read more

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1.4" Large LED Display, Stylish Floating Design, Auto Time Set, Auto Daylight Savings Time, No Power No Problem Alarm System, Dual Alarm ... Read more

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Experience more choices, crystal clear sound, and no subscription fees. Enjoy music the way it was meant to be heard with AM stations that can deliver FM sound quality and FM stations that sound like your favorite CDs. With static-free sound and an easy-to-read dot matrix LCD for viewing important information, the XDR-F1HD receiver is the perfect choice for adding HD radio reception to a home audio system. Includes remote control. ... Read more

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CD music system ... Read more

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It's more fun showering with a partner, especially if that partner is a Conair SR11 shower radio. With AM and FM reception, you can hear your favorite music, listen to talk shows, and catch up on the news. And you can hang it in the shower for clear, beautiful sound even while shampooing your hair. The SR11 adds new dimension to your shower experience. Stylish design, clean features and station reception make the Conair SR11 ashower radio to rival any other. Not only does this radio look great, but it is so water resistant it is almost submersible. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Sangean DT210 Pocket Radio - Keep up-to-date on the latest news, weather, traffic, sports scores, & much much more with this ultra-portable pocket radio from Sangean! This radio is so portable, it can fit into your shirt pocket! Built-in Speaker Low Battery Indicator Stereo/Mono Switch DBB (Deep Bass Boost) Includes -removable belt clip, stereo earbud headphones, & trailing antenna Size - 2.4 x 1 x 4 Weight - 3.85 oz. ... Read more

Editorial Review

It's more fun showering with a partner, especially if that partner is a Conair SR10 shower radio. With AM and FM reception, you can hear your favorite music, listen to talk shows, and catch up on the news. And you can hang it in the shower for clear, beautiful sound even while shampooing your hair. The SR10 adds new dimension to your shower experience. Stylish design, clean features and station reception make the Conair SR10 ashower radio to rival any other. Not only does this radio look great, but it is so water resistant it is almost submersible. Includes 4 AAA batteries. ... Read more

Reviews

Excellent shower radio, April 4, 2009
I've only had this radio for a few days, but so far it looks really good. The sound quality is very good, especially for a $10 radio. You will not have any problems hearing this radio in the shower. Half volume is more than enough and full volume is ridiculously loud. The dials are nice and big and easy to turn. The tuner is very sensitive and it's easy to find the station you want. The push button power switch is also a nice touch. The only drawback is that it takes 4 AAA batteries. I would definitely buy this radio again.

Update July 1st, 2009:
Just changed the batteries after about three months and the radio still works very well.

Works better than shower radios 10x its price, February 5, 2009
I've gone through a number of shower radios, this is the best sounding, most compact one I've used. I've bought some that are WAY over priced, and they did not perform nearly as well. I only wish it had a clock on it. That's the only reason I did not give it 5 Stars

Conair SR9 Shower Radio, August 16, 2009
This radio is a great deal. It has worked wonderfully, and it is super easy to tune between stations. The radio also has a large volume range, so it should fit anyone's showering needs.

Great Radio, May 7, 2009
I was looking for a small radio that I could use in the shower and this radio fit the bill. I have been using it for several weeks and have had no problems. The stations are clear and sound fine. I would recommend this shower radio to others.

Good, March 22, 2009
This product is great, has clear sound. Works good, I've had it for 5 months now and it has no problems. Works as advertised.

don't buy, December 2, 2009
This item doesn't get good reception on any am stations. I have had other shower radios that worked fine for years in the same location. The dials are poorly made and are the reason for the bad tuning.

Absolutely love my radio!, January 1, 2010
I really love my radio! It gets every station and clearly. The volume range is fantastic. I love it and have already bought a second in orange. I read some bad reviews but decided to try it anyway and it has been great. People that have experienced issues receiving stations should consider their location not the actual unit. This radio works the same if not better than an expensive sony radio I have used before.

Trash, October 27, 2009
The reception is poor to nonexistent. Volume is minimal. Sound quality is pathetic. Do not waste your time or money on this product. You will be very disappointed.

it works!, February 12, 2009
past radios have died real fast...water somehow gets in, but these guys have protected the batteries really well

Piece of Junk, November 7, 2010
This thing is a complete waste of money. If it's going to claim to be a shower radio, it should have enough power to pick up a signal say, inside your house. Literally could not get one station, even standing next to a window. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Compact Footprint CD Shower Radio --- vertical design takes up minimal space 20 Station Presets (10FM/5AM/5Weather) --- provides convenient one-button tuning to your choice of AM/FM/Weather Bands Splash Resistant --- makes this an ideal radio to have in the bathroom, shower, spa, or sauna. Battery Operation Allows Portable Use (up to 15 Hours Continuous Playback)2 --- 4 "C" batteries will allow true portability when using this CD radio. (batteries not included) CD-R/RW Playback3 --- Plays all CD-R/RW discs burned either in a PC or a home recording deck. Create custom mixes from your existing music collection and always have the right music at hand. 5 Direct AccessButtons --- lets you access your favorite radio stations with the touch of a button. Shuttle Dial Operation --- speeds tuning of radio frequency as well as time and alarm settings.LCD Display --- is highly visible even in darkness. ... Read more