A Two Alarmer
Written: Nov 23 '08
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Pros: Two alarms. Radio. Cool blue light
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: So far this has been a great alarm clock. It keeps good time and wakes me up like clock work.
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| nagels's Full Review: Emerson CKS3030 Clock Radio |
“I can get one for you too,” he suggested while opening and examining his latest acquisition.
She considered his offer for a couple seconds until she saw the label on the box, the remanufactured by the factory label he had failed to notice.
“Take it back. It’s been used and returned already. Why would you want it?”
Weighing her words momentarily, he quickly dismissed them as virago sour grapes. How could one go wrong with a radio alarm clock that sets itself, has two alarms, and even has a little red light to indicate the day of the week? All these features and more for seven dollars! He had scored another Ollie’s Bargain Store bonanza. This same model was on sale at the nearby BJ’s for 18 dollars, presumably a brand new one, but the price differential made up for that minor circumstance.
“This new alarm clock is a keeper,” he decided.
The Emerson Research SmartSet Dual Alarm Clock Radio
And a keeper it is. This multi-featured device with the unique blue light number display is even more than I bargained for. A 22 page, English only owner’s guide is included with the clock. This helpful guide is full of information, though most of the features and controls on this alarm clock are intuitive
Features:
Two alarms
Jumbo 1.3” display (jumbo is relative and subjective)
Clock “sets itself”
Keeps time, day, date, month, and year
Wide range 2 ¼” dynamic speaker ( doesn’t sound so dynamic to these ears)
Battery backup system with lithium battery included
Wake to radio or buzzer
Multiple time zone settings
Program for weekdays, weekend, or all week
Sleep to music timer
Almost 7 inches long and 3 inches deep
Limited warranty
Meets all FCC requirements
Made in CHINA
Getting Alarmed
“…as soon as you plug it in, SmartSet® knows the time.” Not wanting to wait until I got home to try out my new toy, I plugged it in at Ollie’s where I discovered the radio feature. It was a little disconcerting when the clock set itself forty-five minutes fast, but I figured I must have done something wrong and unplugged it. At home the same thing happened; the clock set itself forty-five minutes fast. I manually set the clock to the correct time and was left to ponder the 45-minute advance mystery. I wondered if it had something to do with refurbishment, and then I found something pertinent in the owner’s manual – “If you manually adjust the time, your new setting is entered into the SmartSet® memory. If the power is interrupted, the display will return to your new setting, not the original setting when the power is restored.”
That explained it. When the SmartSet was unplugged again and plugged back in, it set itself to the correct time. Nice!
Spud Thoughts
I really like the blue display. It’s easy to see, but is actually too bright sitting on the nightstand a few inches from my head. You can almost read by this light. To get some sleep, I had to flip the switch to the dim setting.
The radio works well and picks up all the stations I care to hear. The sound coming from the little speaker is good, but certainly not dynamic by any stretch of the imagination.
The cord is long enough to satisfy most situations. Since it contains a radio antenna, it’s suggested that the cord be fully extended for best reception.
The two-alarm set up is very handy. You can set the alarm for two different times, in case you don’t hear the first alarm or fall back to sleep after shutting off the first alarm. You could also set the alarms for two different people or for different situations, weekend vs. weekday, for example.
There are lots of button controls on the unit’s top making it very easy to accidentally press the wrong button. Be careful.
I like that the buzzer initially sounds at low volume and gets gradually louder if not shut off by an awakened sleeper. This is great for me, since I usually hear it right away and can turn off the alarm before waking Mrs. Spudman at 6 AM on Saturday morning.
Finally
I’m very pleased so far with my Emerson Research SmartSet® clock radio. Mrs. Spudman, eat your heart out. You could’ve had one too.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 7
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