Customer Reviews

Aiwa FRAP77 Fashion Design Clock Radio

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My old late 80's Sony Dream Machine cube-shaped analog clock radio died after 14 years of use and I was convinced I'd never again find a battery-operated, analog clock radio that was as small or cute. I was so thrilled to come across this Aiwa model!

Its small enough to not dominate your nightstand, but large enough to tell the time. The controls are super easy to use (no reading the manual) and the alarm on/off switch is easy to flip off even when you're bleary eyed. The big snooze button is also easy to hit and will allow you 5 more minutes of sleep. The AM/FM radio works well, although the FM sound is good but not great, but what do you expect from a single speaker? You have a choice to wake up to the alarm buzz (loud!) or the radio. I love how the alarm is set by the blue ring around the face of the clock--just turn it to point to the desired time....no more fumbling around for that little knob on the back of the clock. This unit takes four AA batteries--two for the clock, two for the radio. A set of batteries lasts me almost a year (I use the alarm 5x a week).

I've had this clock for 4 years now, no problems--and still going strong!

This clock radio is so low-tech, it's laughable. And that it's strength: it works flawlessly, including in pitch-black dark and without a manual, or both.

If you do not want a programmable ipod-dock to wake you, nor an electrical item on standby on your nightstand, nor the glow of LED lights illuminating your bedroom, the Aiwa (one of two clocks like these still in production, as far as I know) is the ticket.

How it works: you set the wake-up time by rotating the blue bezel around the dial, you set alarm to "on", you select radio or buzzer, you're done. And in the middle of night, when you want to check the time, you hit the big "light & snooze" button on the top, very simple. No programming, no wifi, no glow, no usb-connection. I love it; I have enough routers, screens and cables in my life already.

Pro:
- low-tech
- extremely reliable, no failure in over two years of use
- runs on 4 AA-batteries (forever, it seems; three for radio, one for clock), or 3v-adapter
- excellent volume, pretty good sound for a small radio clock
- big light-button impossible to miss
- no manual necessary
- very good built-quality
- very quiet clockwork

Contra:
- not shamefully ugly, but not exactly designed by Dieter Rams either