Eton Sound 100 AM/FM Radio, Black

by Eton

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000OV4W3Q
• Item model number: Sound 100
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,025 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

The Etón Sound 100 is a small and stylish clock radio that is ideal for small spaces such as the office, workshop, kitchen, or bedside table. Its advantages over similar devices includes its retro/futuristic stylings and the powerful punch of distortion free music it delivers from its mono speaker and rear-directed subwoofer.

Setup and Control
We found the Etón 100 a snap to setup, relying on the included manual. Its functions are so simple and to the point, its controls so intuitive, that there is hardly any need for a manual.

The radio includes AM and FM, with five presets for each. AM ranges from 520 to 1710 KHz in 10 KHz increments, and FM RDS from 87.50 to 108.00 KHz in 0.05 KHz increments. The FM signal comes from an old school chromed, telescoping antenna that can be rotated to any needed angle, while the AM antenna is a built-in loop. Stations can be micro-tuned by quickly pressing the up or down tune buttons on the remote or the device itself. Holding the tune button down for a few seconds scans reliably to the next available station.

A small and stylish clock radio with a retro yet futuristic look.

While delivering standard clock radio features, it is also mp3- and ipod-ready. View larger.

Pick a color that's right for you.

Simple and intuitive controls, plus an included remote.

We found that the Etón 100's high-sensitivity, digital PLL tuner could pull in crystal clear FM and AM stations, even without extending the antenna. Two AA batteries provide backup of the settings in case of power failure, but the included power supply is needed to power the device.

The alarm wakes you with your choice of a chime or one of your preset radio stations, and features a five minute snooze button, if you can't yet face the day. Of course you can also connect your favorite MP3 player and use its alarm to wake you with via the radio's speaker. If you like falling asleep to music you can easily set the sleep timer in increments of 15 to 90 minutes.

Back to the Future
With the look of an old-time radio restyled for the 21st century, the Etón 100 draws attention to itself as a little work of art in its own right. The large silver volume knob and three-inch speaker dominate the face. Sleekly rounded corners give a contemporary and finished look. Rubber feet keep it from sliding or scratching your furniture. It is small enough to fit easily on a desk or night-stand, but not so tiny that it won't attract attention: 8.27 x 4.53 x 5.1 inches (W x H x D). The display is gently backlit in blue and gives all the information you need, including time, station, alarms, and sleep timer functions. Design-wise it's a statement of urban chic and modern style in a small and functional package.

Sound
Although the sound from its three inch, full-range, magnetically-shielded mono speaker is never going to compete with your home stereo system, or with more expensive and larger stereo radios, it delivers a surprising punch and range, in combination with its rear-firing subwoofer. What pleased us most about the Etón 100's sound is its crisp clarity. Plenty of small speaker systems rattle and buzz as soon as you turn the volume more than halfway up. We cranked this little box up to room-filling volumes without the slightest hint of a buzz. Although it allows no audio adjustments (such as bass and treble) subwoofer gain is calibrated with volume in order to maintain a constant balance of high and low dynamic range.

Along with a 3.5 millimeter jack for headphones, there is a mini-jack input for a CD or MP3 player. We got great sound from an iPod simply by setting it at full volume and letting the Etón 100 do the rest.

Pros

• Clear, powerful sound and modern styling in a small, inexpensive package
• Easy setup and intuitive interface
• Input for CD and MP3 players

Cons

• Mono sound only
• No audio adjustments

What's in the Box
Etón Sound 100 radio, remote control, AC adaptor, operation manual, warranty information

Product Description

Etón has updated the retro glamour of radios past with swooping, curved lines and today's in-demand colors. This little radio packs a wallop, making it ideal for home or office use. Go ahead¿pick your favorite color.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Eton's Sound 100 - For Eton Purists - check out the iPod version instead, October 28, 2007

By 

Mark "Technology, Music and Movies" (East Coast) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)   

This review is from: Eton Sound 100 AM/FM Radio, Silver (Electronics)

The Sound 100 is the latest in Eton's product family. As a stand-alone radio this device is average. The model with the iPod dock is a cut above and more worth consideration for only $30 to $50 more.
Eton Sound 100 iPod Dock, White
Etón Sound 100 iPod Dock, Black

The speaker is monaural, but optimized to prevent distortion. At the highest volume the sound gets tinny but doesn't hiss. If you like modern design, the Eton is one of the best looking. It is sleek, COMPACT and light.

But there are shortcomings. The internal AM antenna is below average. You can use an external one, and most users will need to.

There are only 10 programmable station presets. The RDS broadcast data is only 8 characters at a time. The screen is hard to read; you have to be right in front of it. There are no external RCA, speaker or subwoofer jacks, only line out. There is no EQ, treble or bass control and no way to adjust the backlight.

Why only 10 presets? Why no speaker or subwoofer jacks? Why didn't they add Short Wave or HD capability?

If you only need an alarm clock radio, there are other options. This unit is above average on FM but below average on AM. Products by Sangean, BA and others have higher ratings at this price.
Sangean WR-2 Digital AM/FM Tabletop Radio, Black
Sangean WR-3 AM/FM Digital Table Top Radio
Boston Acoustics Receptor Clock Radio (Platinum)

If you are VERY picky about sound and want a nice compact radio alarm clock, this unit will mostly appeal to Eton purists who prefer this design. Definitely compare before you buy. Enjoy!

Pros
+ Very nice iPod serial interface for optional Dock
+ Line-in and auxiliary jacks for MP3 players and other devices
+ Good speaker sound with surprising bass
+ Shielding protects the radio from interference
+ Battery backup possible for power outages
+ Nice alarm clock function
+ Nice looking design in a small and LIGHT form factor

Cons
- No equalizer; no treble or bass control
- Requires external antennae for good radio reception
- No RCA jacks or stereo connections for external speakers
- No Subwoofer connector - only standard stereo line out
- RDS only displays 8 characters at a time
- Backlight is not adjustable; you must be close to it to read it

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Eton vs. Tivoli, November 5, 2007

By 

Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eton Sound 100 AM/FM Radio, Black (Electronics)

As a satisfied owner of a Tivoli Model One and Three, I needed a good excuse to purchase the Eton Sound 100. One of Amazon's "Lightning Deals" and the coming of Christmas gave me the excuse. I didn't even plan on trying the radio out since it's a gift, and the objections of some of the reviewers--to an illuminated display or a "plastic-looking" cabinet-- struck me as of little to no consequence. But curiosity got the best of me, so I did the side by side, Eton Sound 100 vs. Tivoli Model One and Three comparison. My findings--

Sensitivity: The Tivoli pulled in my favorite fringe FM stations (60 miles out) more effectively than the Eton--clear, no static, no fiddling with the radio or its little "hang-tail" antenna required. The Eton definitely required extension of the antenna to get an equally clear signal. Also, I noticed that it was extremely sensitive to my physical touch, using my body as a kind of antenna. When I walked away from the radio, the static resumed. AM was another story. The Eton out-scored the Tivoli in selecting and holding on to the AM stations in the Chicago-Milwaukee area.

Sound: I experimented with speaking voice from FM broadcasts and music from a Panasonic CD player. The Eton has more bass "volume" than the Tivoli (which isn't exactly lacking in that department), registering a pronounced, even dramatic resonance when the bass player suddenly dropped to his lowest string. It's also a slightly more "mellow" sound, reducing by a slight margin the hissing of sibilant consonants or the highs of sizzling ride cymbals. But suddenly making the switch to the Tivoli Model One made me realize why I'm so fond of this radio, which is practically the identical size of the Eton 100. The sound of the Tivoli is simply more natural, with greater life and presence. (On both the Eton and Model One, I could advance the gain all the way and achieve ample loudness with no distortion, rattles, buzzes.)

Clock-radio: My wife's pet peeve with the Model Three is that she can't set two alarms, the first to radio and the second to a buzzer; my problem with the Model Three is that it's on a 12-hour cycle, and beeps every afternoon when I'm the only person in the house. Hence, a decided advantage in this department to the Eton Sound 100 (though my wife's problem is probably best addressed by a Boston Acoustics Receptor, which I have yet to try).

Bear in mind that comparing high-end radios so close in quality and price is necessarily a highly subjective, personal experience, with variables ranging from the individual's musical preferences to the weather outside to the end of the room or side of the bed the radio is on, and even two comparable radios can disagree about which side best accommodates their needs.

These aren't recommendations--just one reviewer's conclusions: If you don't care about the clock radio, remote control and absence of pre-sets, it's the Tivoli Model One for my money--decisively. If you want a good-sounding, high-end clock radio with remote, presets, and at 50-100 bucks less than the Tivol Model Three with its problematic alarm, it's the Eton 100. And if AM is still part of your life, it's the Eton 100. A final detail worth mentioning: both the Eton 100 and Model Three come with fairly generous-sized wall warts (AC adaptors); the spartan Model One does not.

Addendum: At the risk of offending the Eton fans (or maybe it's my breath), I've had a chance to spend some time with the Boston Acoustics Receptor clock radio and found it preferable to both the Tivoli 3 and Eton 100. More compact than either (no wall wart accompanying it), 2 truly independent alarms, a beautifully conceived tuning dial (no poking at little buttons or hunting with a manual tuner), and competitive (at the least) sound and reception. I still have the Eton Sound 100 and a recipient who would prefer the Eton Ipod Dock model (priced considerably higher than what I paid for the Sound 100). The answer, I'm hoping, will be a universal iPod dock made by Belkin and going for about 40 bucks. Admittedly it's not a stylistic or color match, but if it's functional, close enough.)

36 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Best Looking Radio with Excellent Reception, February 27, 2007

By 

M. JEFFREY MCMAHON "herculodge" (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

I just received my black Eton Sound 100, which I put in my computer room, five feet away from the computer so as to avoid computer interference. Take my word for it, a nearby computer really compromises reception and signal strength on ANY RADIO. So for your computer office, I recommend a radio with a remote so you can keep your radio several feet from your computer. The Eton's remote works fine from several feet. Lucky for me, the Eton has proven to be my best choice for my office here in Los Angeles. With the telescopic FM antenna positioned slightly right, all my FM stations, including the weak 89.3, come in loud and clear. Better yet, I don't have to get up and move the radio (its internal AM antenna) to find the sweet spot for AM stations. 640, 790, 710, 1150 and others all come in loud and clear. I have to give the Eton a grade "A" for reception.

The Eton is my best looking radio. Part modern, part retro, with a polished black shine, it is sleek and attractive, my favorite radio in terms of pure looks, even better looking than my Tivoli Songbook. At this price point, the Eton Sound 100 must be compared to the Tivoli Songbook, the Sangean WR-2, and the Boston Acoustics Receptor, all more or less priced the same, depending on sales. As a radio hobbiest, I have all 4 radios. Ranking them, I'd give the Eton a slight edge over the WR-2 because its telescopic antenna brings in better FM while AM is equally strong on both. The Sangean has a slight advantage in that it has manual tuning; in contrast, the Eton must be either toggled (a very slow process going from one band width extreme to the other) or tuned with digital memory presets. You will want to put in the 2 double-A batteries so you don't lose your presets as the Eton's most glaring weakness is how slow it takes to tune with the toggle buttons. On balance, I think the Eton beats the Sangean WR-2 for the following reasons: Slightly better FM, telescopic antenna (the Sangean has a pigtail FM antenna), better looking, sleeker and smaller footprint. I'd say the sound is deep and rich on both radios' monoaural speakers.

Comparing the Eton Sound 100 to the Boston Acoustics Receptor is really hard for me because of the 4 radios mentioned, I love these 2 the most. I think I like the bright sound of the BAR the best but it has no remote or telescopic antenna. Nor does it have a headphone jack. So it is relegated to the kitchen where it does an excellent job. If you can pick one up on sale for 100 dollars or so I think the BAR is great for a room in which you don't need a remote or headphones.

I must say the Tivoli Songbook takes a distant fourth place. Slightly weaker reception and the fact that its design is such that it easily flips over puts it in last place.

For an attractive bedside or kitchen radio with remote control, presets, unique retro design, and strong AM/FM reception, go for the Eton Sound 100.

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