Clock Radio Buying Guide

A clock radio helps to make waking up in the morning a more pleasant experience and, with the sophisticated models available today, you can often wake up to whatever type of music you choose.

Here are some useful hints and tips to help you choose a suitable clock radio from the wide range available from online retailers.

How to Choose a Clock Radio: Types

Here are the main types of clock radio:

Radio alarm clocks: Wake up to the sounds of the radio.
CD/radio alarm clocks: These give you the choice of waking up to the alarm, the radio or your own choice of music in the form of a CD.
DAB clock radios: Go digital for excellent sound quality and an amazing selection of radio stations.
Docking clock radios: These have a station or connection for your MP3 player, so you can wake up to your favourite track.

Clock radios come with a range of features that differ with each model, but there's something for all budgets in the large selection of available styles and brands.

Features to Look For When You Buy a Clock Radio

When choosing a clock radio it's important to decide which specifications and features will best suit your needs.

Key features to look out for when buying a clock radio include:

Alarms: Many clock radios now offer you the chance to set two or more alarms, and some allow you to set the alarm to go off at different times on week days and weekends. You can wake up to a traditional buzzer, your favourite radio station or - if the model allows it - a CD or MP3 track.
Battery back up: This feature ensures that you won't miss your wake up call should the power go off for any reason.
Display: LED and LCD displays are available in different colours. In addition to the time, these displays may include other information such as the temperature, calendars, radios stations, music tracks, alarms and am-pm lights. Large displays are also available, and you can choose from a 12 or 24-hour clock display.
Features: Radio alarm clocks can come with a host of great functions. These include snooze and adjustable snooze settings, lower display lighting for night time, a headphone port, summertime settings and sleep timers.
Music players: Get great versatility from your clock radio by choosing one that acts as a music player. You can then listen to your CDs or MP3 player in your bedroom, program your favourite tracks and operate it using a remote control.

Choosing Clock Radio Accessories

Accessories to look out for when choosing a clock radio include:

Batteries: Some clock radios come with a back up battery in case of power failure.
Remote control: Allows you to access your clock radio from across the room.

Do I Need to Buy an Extended Clock Radio Warranty

Remember to look out for special offers or discounts when shopping for a new clock radio, as buying online means you can often find the model you're looking for at a cheaper price. You may also be able to upgrade to a better model than your budget would normally allow for. Make sure that you compare clock radio prices between different online retailers to get the best deal.

Warranties vary between manufacturers, so check how long the cover will last before buying.