Longtime readers know that I believe a clock radio is almost as important as one of your organs because you depend on it so heavily day in and day out. In recent years, the selection of clock radios has been dismal, not even close to what was available 20 years ago. This year's crop, though, features a couple that break through the clutter and are worth considering again.
The TunePro from Macally and the RCA RP5500i have a lot of features in common. They both have two alarms and built in AM/FM radios. They both allow you to plug in various types of iPods, other types of MP3 players and wake to either of them -- or to your radio or standard noise-maker alarm. Beyond that though, they are quite different.
The TunePro is not marketed as a clock radio but as an accessory for your iPod, with emphasis on its flat panel stereo speaker and iPod charger. It is slim, visually appealing and will allow you to preset your five favorite AM and five favorite FM stations. Although it features a clock on a striking mirrored finish, the clock is too small to be useful in a dark bedroom and seems better oriented as a clock and sound system for a family room or, due to its slim profile, in a kitchen. With sound enhancement features such as SRS WOW Stereo Surround Sound and a bass boost, it also sounds better than most $100 radios.
The designers of the RCA RP5500i put their emphasis on providing a better alarm clock and left gaping holes in the sound system and radio. Unlike most of the clock radio and iPod clock docks on the market, the RCA provides a large LED display that features a calming amber hue that can be adequately adjusted for dim or dark rooms, making it easy on the eyes -- even bleary eyes that are barely ready for the day. They even move the clock display so the iPod doesn't obscure it from you whenever the iPod is sitting in its dock (on a sliding tray sticking out of the front).
The radio portion is about average in sound for inexpensive radios -- sounding a bit tinny, with no way to adjust the sound -- but it is missing key elements, such as the ability to preset your favorite stations. So you can set two alarms to wake to radio, but they both need to be the same station. And when you want to move from one station to another, you need to retune the tuner using an overly sensitive thumb-wheel. Its readout is digital but still difficult to tune precisely, as if it had analog tuning.
I can see where a family might have the RCA in the bedroom and the Macally in the kitchen, making it easy to move your iPod music back and forth, and making sure that you're within reach of your favorite stations in both rooms.
But if you want to have only one in your house, your choice comes down to whether you are more concerned about a pleasing display on your clock or better sound. If the clock is your most important factor, the RCA is a standout in its class, with a display that knocks the socks off anything else I've seen.
For better sound (although still not audiophile quality), the Macally device is a better choice.
The RCA RP5500i (www.rcaaudiovideo.com) is available in white or black and lists for $79.99, although it can be purchased for less than $60. The TunePro (www.macally.com) is available in black and can be found online for $96 to $127.
First Published: December 8, 2007, 5:00 a.m.
