Customer Reviews

RCA RP5415 Clock Radio with Digital/Analog Display and Line-in for MP3 Players

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I had the same issue as one of the other reviewers where my volume knob did not work... so I returned to Amazon and ordered from another vendor believing Amazon received a bad lot. I was correct, second clock worked perfectly.

This is a "Great" little clock radio... easy to use and to set alarms. Separate dial knobs in the rear make setting the time and two alarms a breeze. My wife loves the ease of use as well. She never used the old clock ever though it was dual alarm (she did not want to learn the crazy process of setting the old clock) but now she is always using this one. Thing is so simple you barely need a manual but don't worry its there and fairly easy to follow. Lots of options on this clock, alarm from radio to buzzer that slow escalates in volume, radio has digital tuning. Line option for MP3 player and variable brightness for clock. Clock can be analog or digital. My wife likes this as well, she thinks its cute. Snooze and sleep timer are programmable and the alarm even works if power is out ... though have not tested this feature yet.

In short, the clock with its small footprint was exactly what we wanted... only reason why I did not give it highest rating was due to first unit with faulty volume knob.

Several other reviewers had a problem with the volume control on this clock radio. It looked like Amazon received a bad lot. Those reviews were all months old, so I figured that the bad stock would be gone by now. I was wrong.

I really like this clock radio, which is why it's so frustrating that the volume knob on mine spins freely and doesn't work, too. I like it so much that I've agreed to try another one from Amazon, hoping that they'll ship from a different warehouse.

Here's why I like it:
1) The entire top of the clock is the snooze button. If I'm so tired that I hit snooze, I really appreciate having a large target to aim for.
2) The clock is taller than it is wide (or deep, whatever.) It doesn't take up much space on my small nightstand.
3) I like the blue LCD. The brightness knob also doesn't seem to work, but the display is bright enough anyway.
4) Aux in will be nice to have when (if) I get a unit with a working volume button. When I'm working in the bedroom I'll be able to listen to my MP3 player.
5) The knobs on the back to set the time and alarm times are very easy to grip and use. That's not so important to me, but could matter to someone with arthritis in their hands.

The volume is set to zero on mine, so I have no idea how this thing sounds.

If I could start over I'd go up to the "(number) new & used" link at the top, and buy from another seller. My pick would be Adorama--I've been buying from them for years and they've been fantastic.

3/30/09 UPDATE: The new one is here, and it works. I really like it. I noticed that there was much more packaging inside the box and it was packaged more neatly, which makes me wonder if the first one I got was someone else's defective return.

I'd change my review to 5 stars if I could. The sound is about what you'd expect for this price range--it sounds a little tinny, but it's definitely good enough for the morning news and for podcasts. The LCD brightness can be turned up to bathe the room in gentle blue light, or turned down to let you sleep in near darkness. I like the style, and while I had it in the kitchen a friend walked in and commented that she really liked it.

If you can get a working radio, this is a good one.

Obviously, after reading about the broken volume and brightness knobs on some of these radios, I felt that I was taking my life in my hands to order one...but, mine works just great and I love it. I will order a second one today. One does need to read the instructions for turning on and off the AUX input feature when using it with the sleep switch... I really like having my audio books read to me when going to sleep -- both devices can be put on Sleep. This radio has above average tuning sensitivity. I have it in a spot in my home where 3 other radios or clock radios have either failed to tune in our station or have to have the tuning constantly adjusted, but this clock radio works well. I agree with some other reviewers that the clock is a bit bright, even on its dimmest setting, but one can always put something over it. For functionality at the price and attractive looks and geat tuning sensitivity I give it 5 stars.

I was pleasantly surprised by the alarm bell -- it's not one of those jarring screeching sounds that are usually associated with cheap alarm clock radios. I would even call it soothing, but loud enough to wake me up (I don't need to be hit over the head in the morning, so if you do maybe this is not for you). I really like the two display styles (analog and digital). I have to turn it away from my eyes at night because the face is still much too bright even on the lower setting. It's super easy to set and it's kind of stylish. Also, the size of the digital numbers is nice. So many clocks have such ENORMOUS numbers. These are a nice medium size. Overall, I am really very pleased with it.

I bought this radio for my dog to have some noise while I'm at work. I bought it because it was a good price and it claimed the radio was digital.

Yes, the radio has a digital DISPLAY, but the dial is completely analog. I was expecting a button, similar to what's in your car, that will just move to the next frequency, instead you have the same uncertainty with this dial as you had with any analog radio except you have the digital display to tell you "right" where you're dialed into. Of course, more often than not I'm finding that to get a station, say 99.5, I have to set it to 99.4 to get good reception.

The clock is retro in look if you turn on the digital "analog" clock. The cool blue is nice and the alarm functionality is nice. Being able to adjust the brightness of the display is a bonus.


With all this said, my parents ordered the same radio for their puppy as I did for mine, however they had to go through THREE returns to get one that worked properly. The first the volume dial did nothing and the volume was blaringly loud. The second the radio dial wouldn't adjust frequencies. On the third, the volume dial dial was again broken; it would just slide without any resistance and wouldn't adjust the volume.

I wouldn't really recommend this clock if you don't purchase from somewhere with a liberal return policy given the number of issues my family has experienced with this radio.

I feel slightly foolish b/c I read the reviews prior to ordering and saw that people had a problem w/the volume dial...but I ordered it anyway. It looked like a nice alarm clock that I could connect my Zune or any MP3 device; all I wanted.

It just arrived today and just like the other reviews say, the volume dial is non-operational! Everything else appears to work...this could have been a 5 star rvw, I can't understand why Amazon hasn't addressed this issue yet, unless they don't pay attention to the reviews....bad business

Update:
Amazon exchanged this for me. The replacement did come with a functional volume dial but it is still a flimsy design. It felt like it could break but it hasn't. So, it works.

I specifically wanted an analog display that could be read at the bedside in the middle of the night but that could be dimmed down so as not to disturb sleep. I hoped this clock would serve this purpose. Although the brightness of the display can be adjusted, it cannot be turned off completely and the lowest level of light is still too bright to sit on a bedside table in a darkened room. It kept me awake so I returned it. I did not keep it long enough to be able to review any other attributes of this clock.

I needed to replace an old GE clock radio that still worked fine except it was difficult to set the time without it racing through the numbers. I had this clock for years as had my mother before me. It seemed a shame to replace it for just that but as I frequently need to change the wake up time, I decided to look for something else. I also wanted something smaller. I read the mixed reviews on this clock radio and was ambivalent about purchasing it, but as it was the smallest I could find and small is what I needed, I decided to go for it. Upon first look, I could see that it is not built with the same quality as that old GE--the materials seem cheaper, the knobs flimsier. The sound from the radio is fair. The light up dial even on its dimmest is too bright but I am getting used to it--but then I have to turn the face of the clock at an angle so it doesn't shine right in my face. If you like having a night light, this might work well for you. I have not plugged my MP3 player into it so cannot say how that function performs. It is easy to set the time and I like that. I also like that the snooze button covers the top of the radio so it is easy to get to. I was going to take my old GE to the thrift store but I have decided to hang on to it. I may need it again some day. They don't make like they used to.

Love the look, but volume button doesn't work, as another rewiew already mentionned, on both alarms clock I got.
The brightness button doesn't work on one of the clocks, but even on the one it works, I find that it lights up the room a bit too much.

1. Product looks great with a white backlight, not very blue but the item came with a volume knob that doesnt adjust. Will return for one that hopefully actully works properly.
2. The replacement radio doesnt have any volume as the knob just spins. I will exchange one last time for one that hopefully works. I have no problem trying as amazon is paying the freight on the defective items!

RCA is garbage and i am even suprised that amazon is even selling this item. How does this product even get past the company test phase.