Choosing a Radio

How to Choose and Buy a Clock Radio

Here are some hints and tips on what to look for when you’re choosing a buying a clock radio:

Types of Clock Radio

The first thing that you’ll need to think about when choosing a new clock radio is the type of clock radio that you want.

If you want a cheap and functional model just to use as an alarm, then a standard clock radio may suit you. However, if you want to use it as the main source of music in your bedroom, you might want to think about buying a DAB digital clock radio, as this will give you a better sound quality with reduced hiss and a wider choice of radio stations to choose from.

If you want to have more control over the music that wakes you up every morning, you might be better to go for a CD clock radio, so that you can set it to play a favourite CD or individual track as the alarm.

Sound Quality

Although clock radios are compact pieces of audio equipment, they can produce excellent sound. The quality is likely to be better if you choose a model with larger speakers, but if sound quality is important to you, it may be worth considering a DAB digital clock radio.

Features of Clock radios

Different models of clock radio have different features, so check the product descriptions carefully to make sure that any model you are considering has the features that you want. Features may include:

Choice of alarms: Many models allow you to use the radio as an alarm or use a buzzer or beeper alarm. If you choose a model with a built-in CD player, you will also be able to set it to play a CD to wake you up. Some clock radio alarms can be programmed to start softly and become progressively louder so that you don’t wake up with a shock!
Dual alarms: It’s worth looking for a model that allows you to set more than one alarm, so that you can use a second alarm as a safeguard in case you go back to sleep again or set alarms for you and your partner at different times. Some models will allow you to set an alarm which goes off on weekdays but doesn’t go off at weekends, so you can have a lie-in.
Pre-set Stations: It’s handy to have the ability to preset your favourite radio stations so that you can switch between them easily.
Sleep Button: If you like to listen to the radio when you are settling down to go to sleep, a sleep button is a handy feature. You can use it to set your radio to switch off after a certain amount of time so that you can fall asleep listening to it.
Snooze Button: This is an ideal feature for anyone who doesn’t like to get out of bed as soon as the alarm sounds! You can simply hit the snooze button and switch off the alarm, and it will go off again in five or ten minutes (depending on what you have programmed it to do)
Seasonal Time Adjusters: Some models of clock radio will automatically reset the time when the clocks go back and forward, so you won’t have to remember to do it.

CD Clock Radios

If you are buying a CD clock radio, it’s worth looking for a model that has a programmable memory so that you can set it to play certain tracks on your CD rather than playing the entire CD from start to finish. It’s also important to check the product description carefully before buying to ensure that your chosen model can play formats such as CD-Rs and CD-RWs if you are likely to want to play these.

Battery Backup

It’s well worth choosing a model with a battery back-up function. This means that although you can use it plugged into the mains, you can also put batteries in it, and if there is a power-cut during the night, the clock will automatically switch to battery power and won’t reset the time, so you won’t be in danger of oversleeping because the power has failed.

Design

Clock radios are available in many different colours or styles, so you should be able to find one that matches your bedroom.

Some clock radios have analogue tuners in the form of a dial, whilst others have digital tuners, so you’ll need to decide what sort you’d like.

It’s also worth thinking about what type of display screen you’d like your clock radio to have. You’ll need to ensure that it’s large enough and bright enough for you to see, and it might be worth investing in a model that has a dimmer switch so that you can adjust the light to suit you.

Warranty

Although clock radios are relatively cheap, it’s worth checking the terms of the warranty offered before buying one, as guarantee lengths can vary from brand to brand.

Budget

Most clock radios are reasonably priced, but it’s worth shopping around online as you can get some great deals. Visit our Where to Buy section for details of some of the top online suppliers.

Further Information

To learn more about some of the leading clock radio manufacturers and models, take a look at our Brands and Top Models sections

To find out where you can get some great deals on clock radios by shopping online, visit our Where to Buy section.

You can find out about other types of radio in our Types section.