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- Verified Buyer
I listen to the radio every day and enjoy the service.5/24/2018I really should have edited this review a year ago. Fact is, I bought another one from a walk-in store that has a "no questions asked" 30 day return policy, The program on it was different from what I originally described below. It worked much better, But it broke in exactly the same way after a year -- speaker went out. These things are not made to last, folks.You know, back when US products were actually MADE in the US, it wasn't uncommon for a radio to last 10-15-even 20 years! In fact, there's a Sony Dream machine that was manufactured in 1991, that you can still buy today at a fraction of the original MSRP, especially if you account for inflation. It's available here under model number ICFC303, though there should really be a dash between the C and the F.It was the first dream machine with PLL digital tuning, and it got stellar reviews, back in the day. Many raved that it was the best clock radio ever produced by Sony. It's still cheap because SO MANY are still out there! They don't break. I'm going to order a very, very used one today. How much ya wanna bet it lasts a few more years??Trump REALLY might have a point about China.----------------------------I've downgraded my rating to 3 stars because the radio flaked out after 6 months. It must be the solder that connects to the speaker. The clock, and all other functions, still work fine.I'm sorely disappointed. I guess I got 10 bucks use out of the thing, but I own several computers, dozens of calculators and half a dozen clock radios, and I've NEVER seen a digital product fail after working flawlessly for six months. I never jarred or dropped it -- not even ONCE! I read somewhere that GPX has good quality control, and RIGHT IN THE DESCRIPTION it says "GPX has built a solid reputation on excellent product quality, reliability..." Hah! I'm about ready to give up on anything made in China.If I could find something comparable made in Japan for $25-$30 I'd snap it up. I'd go to $35 for "made in the good ol' U.S.A."----------------------All the negative reviews but one center on how tough the GPXC224B is tO use. "A pain to program," they say. Problem is, the reviews for EVERY digital clock radio have this complaint!Let's get this straight: Windows doesn't come packaged with this device. There's no GUI whatsoever. It has 7 buttons -- that's it. THERE'S NO WAY IN THE WORLD to get all the advanced functions people want in a clock radio without assigning multiple functions to every button. That means modes. In this case, it means the buttons do different things depending on whether the radio is On or Off. The buttons also do different things depending on whether you push and hold them, or if you push and immediately release.Nobody except a computer programmer can learn to work any digital clock radio without reading the instructions. I happen to be a computer programmer. I read the instructions anyway, cause I'm NOT A MASOCHIST!! I figured out the principles underlying this interface:1) No dials or switches. (Buttons are cheaper and last forever.)2) No need to hold down two buttons at once (too hard when you're lying in bed).3) There are two modes -- radio on and radio off.4) That's it.With these three ideas and looking at the button labels, plus some trial and error, you can figure out how to do everything important. You can also figure out why some things CAN'T be done. I doubt I'll need to look at the instructions often in the future, but I'm no fool -- I'm putting the slip of paper in a little plastic bag and taping it to the bottom of my radio.Pros:1) It has all the features I want and none that I don't want -- which makes it easier to program, despite all the whiners.2) It's small, so it fits nicely on my bed stand, but it's flat and light, so it's hard to knock off and break.3) Plenty of presets -- 10 AM plus 10 FM. And yes I have all 20 presets programmed.4) Battery backup to hold time and presets when the power fails. No, the alarms don't work, and the display doesn't stay on when AC is removed.5) A nice, loud beeper that can wake an old man with failing hearing who sleeps with the covers over his head.6) Firm tactile feedback on the buttons.7) The buttons are all shaped differently. Easy to work in the dark.8) Good reception.Cons:1) A small speaker -- no bass.2) Poor quality control.3) May be difficult for some to program, because there are only 7 buttons. If this might be a problem, I suggest buying two separate devices -- a radio and an old fashioned analog alarm clock. It'll set you back a few bucks, but you can get a GREAT radio with GREAT reception and booming bass, and as loud or soft an alarm as you wish.Hint: I'm not one of those delicate souls who can't sleep with a small red LED in the room. But if that bothers you, "LightDims Customizable Edition" was made for you.Another hint: If you don't need 10 AM or 10 FM presets, you can double up on some stations, so you don't need to go all the way through P1-P10 to find your station.Okay...let me start by saying that overall this is a great product. I can't believe I'm saying that considering all that went into receiving this item. I won't belabor that other than to say that Amazon's reps are overall 5-star.That said, on first glance this radio feels lightweight. However, the GPX brand does not disappoint on sound. And, on further thought, the lightweight is a plus for bedside-alarm shut- offs. I recommend putting a non-slip liner underneath if in a place where it might fall.PROS:lightweightbold & bright red numbersgreat soundeasy to preset (set & hold station til clock time shows)CONS:had to use magnifying glass to read button descriptionsthe preset stations did not register (possibly why it was discounted?)Arrived in the box inside a Prime envelope(???)...could hear the inside parts rattling...a box inside a box with airbags prolly better...Jmho.Recommendations:*Buy this item new. The few extra dollars spent is worth the warranty. If you don't need or preset your stations a used item in good condition will prolly be okay.Lastly, if you're on the fence about getting Prime, I highly recommend. Be sure to inquire about senior and income discounts.You get what you pay for here. I purchased this not expecting stunning or even good sound. This is a direct replacement for this models older brother that I had purchased probably 5+ years ago and kept in the bathroom so I could listen to the news in the morning while getting ready for work. I am happy to see that they've upgraded the buttons for this device, as in the older model the buttons were not separated by any physical space so over time when you wanted to adjust the time lets say by pressing the hour button, you would usually change the minutes, where in the newer model they have physically spaced the buttons apart which I hope keeps the problem from repeating itself. The audio is as bearable as a mono speaker can be, the volume doesn't get that loud as I have have it turned all the way up to hear it over the shower in the morning, but the older model that I replaced for this had identical audio quality. I would say if you want a sub $6 digital radio with clock and you don't care about the overall quality of the sound then this is just fine.I have managed to make the clocks function well for me, but I still don't know how to turn off the radio: so I just turn the volume down to zero. The instructions don't tell how to turn off the radio, other than when you set an alarm.The instructions are not detailed enough and they don't cover all questions.But I like the clock and the radio overall.I have no use for the preprogramming of radio stations, and it seems to be a function that this clock radio emphasizes.Very good value for the price so far, though.Great product for the price that was paidConfusing Instructions. Easy to screw up and hit the wrong button and have to start programming all over.I spent way too much time researching radio alarm clocks to finally find what I was looking for. This is the best I can find and it works great. Back in the 1980s, we could just walk into any store and pick up a radio alarm clock without having to put any thought into it, and it would work. Nowadays, it's hard to find a "wake to radio" - it seems that even alarm clocks that are equipped with radios will only let you wake to a buzzer. Then there's the volume issue - I found one that I thought might work but the reviewers complained that they couldn't adjust the volume. Well, that's sort of an issue with this one. When I wake to radio, I think it's automatically turned on max volume. Instead of hitting snooze, I reach for the volume switch. But it works fine and is just what I was looking for. Hubby absolutely loves it! Now, it's not going to rock the house with the volume, but if you want a little music in the room, it'll do.El producto es fácil de usar y a mi esposo le encanto por que asi ya puede ver la hora en la recámara, yo andaba buscando uno de estos, por que ya no quiero depender del celular para ver la hora y poner las alarmas, y pues a mi me sirvió mucho por que ya me forzo q levantarme y no volverme a acostar, por que parezco oso, el precio se ne hizo accesible, sin embargo el único pero que le pongo es que no funciona con pilas, simplemente no las detecta o no se que pase y en varias reseñas lo mencionan, no devolvimos el producto por que pues todo el tiempo lo tenemos conectado para no estar comprando ni usando tantas pilas aunque sean recargables, solo que en su públicación del producto hiciera mención de ese detalle, que no funciona con pilas pero de ahi en fuera todo bien.En los detalles venia las caracteristicas tal cual tiene el producto.La funcion del Radio, tiene muy buena recepcion, no desenrolle el cable y capta bastante bien. Asi lo dejareNo trae pilas AAA incluidas(ocupa 2 para funcionar de reserva por si se va la luz ya que se desconfigura al perder la energia, se restaura todo.)El empaque protege bien al reloj.Envio rapido antes de lo esperado .PRECIO excelente vale lo pagado.Solo un detalle, no detecto las pilas tuve que regresarlo pero sin problemas.I am very please with this clock. The led light is fantastic. Can tell the time from a fair distance. This was a replacement clock for another order. Thank you to the Seller for making this sale a great experience.Had low sensitivity on AM band, so could not use it for what I wanted. Also woke me up in the middle of the night as the instructions for the alarm were very poor.and the thing just went off!This Product did not work with batteries. The adapter was with 110 v. SO it will not work in INdia. The product was defective, and i am trying to return it for the last week and a half and i am not receiving a return address.
