Sony ICF-CD863V Clock Radio

Pros: Useful features, very readable, display adjusts to light levels
Cons: Beefy size, small buttons, display may seem bright to some people

This is a very sharp little machine. It does everything that it claims to do, and it does it all well. My partner and I use the sleep feature all the time; whenever one of us is having trouble going to sleep, we just turn on the CD music for a set number...

Pros: Tons of features, can customize everything.
Cons: Power Back-up unsatisfactory.

This Sony was close to a perfect clock radio, but it had one HUGE flaw. Instead of having the option to slap in a couple AA (or a 9-volt) batteries for back-up power (which will enable the alarm to wake you up even after a full 8-hour power outage), it h ...

Pros: Great sound. Tons of features, small footprint
Cons: Expensive, no battery backup

I bought the Sony ICF-CD863V for my cubical at the office. In this environment the radio excels. It has a ton of nifty features. FM stereo sound is great. The small footprint unit manages to squeeze out a surprising amount of bass that you can ...

Pros: alarm time visible;TV/weather option;earphone jack;snooze options
Cons: none

I paid $99 for a Sony CD clock radio several years ago and have been so pleased with it that I researched the Sony's again before adding this one to another bedroom. I have been so pleased with it that I can't resist writing a review. In addition to ...

Pros: able to change alarm time forward and backward; digital tuning w/presets; rich sound
Cons: not able to view how many minutes remain while in "sleep" mode; no battery back-up

After reading the "Thrilled With This Clock Radio" and other reviews, I decided that my next clock-radio would be this model. I am a local truck driver, and I wake up at different times each morning, depending on where I need to be for that day. I was ...

Pros: Styling,ease of use,alarm features,sound quality
Cons: Price,size,no battery backup

The business of combining a full featured alarm clock, multiband radio and CD player into one box is a challenge for electronics manufacturers. But it makes for a supremely convenient and enjoyable bedside piece of equipment. This is my seventh (yes, ...

Pros: 4 radio bands, OK sound, and decent CD player
Cons: Too difficult to figure out in setting alarm and time. No battery backup.

Before starting this I went to see if there were any other reviews (to see if I needed to have this added to the Epinions database). Yes! Several reviews all rating this very highly. Well, why not? The clock radio contraption is more than a just a ...

Pros: Tons of cool features.
Cons: Every time the power goes out, everything has to be reprogrammed. Very time consuming.

I would not buy this if i had it to do again. It is a fine radio with tons of features but why they did not put a battery back-up to hold the settings in memory I'll never know.

Pros: Heavy/sturdy, rich sound, good display, great reception.
Cons: Needs multiple alarms, battery backup, and every day/weekday/weekend alarm settings

Through my extensive review of clock radios, I settled on this one. It has a full, rich sound, great AM and FM reception, placement of the snooze button is perfect (important when you're asleep!), and nice features. BUT...this is a $100 radio, and for this price they should have allowed for multiple alarms and some way of setting an alarm to fire every day, weekdays only, or weekends only. Also, there's no battery backup! Other than these omissions, a great radio.

Pros: excellent radio/CD sound. Other people figured out how to use it.
Cons: I couldn't set the alarm rendering the whole point of having an alarm clock pointless.

I purchased this radio/CD alarm for two reasons: (1) I wanted a quality-sounding unit; and (2) I needed an alarm clock. I ended-up with a high quality radio/CD player but not an alarm clock. I lost the instructional manual and could not intuitively figure out how to set the alarm. This frustrated me to the point that I couldn't fall asleep and then overslept missing my wedding (okay, not my wedding - but I was late for a meeting at work). This is much too difficult and one should not need a masters in electronics to operate. With a law degree and masters in taxation I didn't think I was incapable of setting an alarm clock but apparently I am. It will feel good to smash this alarm clock on my driveway and then buy a nice simple alarm.

Pros: Works great. Impressed by the sound clarity and volume projected.
Cons: The CD spinning before play can be loud before song starts

Had this clock for a year now. I really have no complaints. I love having the choice to wake up to a CD, radio or a beep. Easy to figure out if you read the directions. I wouldn't recommend trying to figure this clock out on your own.

Pros: it's small
Cons: no gentle-wake for CD/RADIO alarm

I bought this item for one thing only: the Gentle Wake feature. I dreamed of being waked up with my favorite cd track and with the volume increasing gently. I thought I found the right product. From Sony website:
"Gentle Wake gradually increases alarm volume until it reaches the maximum level you set."

HOWEVER, the gentle wake feature is applicable to the buzzer alarm ONLY, not to the CD alarm nor to the RADIO alarm. Hours of discussion with Sony technical support, during which they made me try impossible combination of settings hoping I would give up, and they eventually confirm me this: there is no Gentle Wake for the CD/Radio alarm. Also, you cannot set the wake-up level for the buzzer alarm, so the Sony website is completely lying.

Now if you just want a normal CD reader, there are plenty which are cheaper. If you are looking for the Gentle Wake, be advised that's a rip-off.

Pros: Aesthetics, workmanship, sound quality
Cons: Cannot read the black numbers-against-dark-yellow background! Does NOT play mp3 files off a CD.

I bought this unit for the wake-to-CD capability, dual alarms, and Sony reputation. I found the sound quality to be good (it should be, for the price tag!), and the design and workmanship very good.
Unfortunately, for the reasons stated below, the cons outweighed their more-positive cousins. It's going back.