Customer Reviews

Sangean RS-330 Digital AM/FM Clock Radio

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

While Amazon lists this as a Sangean unit, it is actually boxedand labelled as the more familiar and highly reputable Proton brand,model RS-330. (The name Sangean is nowhere to be found.)

This radio is the perfect solution for those who don't want to spend hundreds more on a Bose Wave, but find very little satisfaction from "plasticky" clock radios with horrible sound, analog tuners, and controls unusable by humans. I looked at lots of "junk" before I bought this. Add the companion RS-332 amplified speaker and you have an integrated stereo clock radio "system" with independent alarms and controls for two sleepers. (Each sleeper is awakened by sound from the component on his or her own side, but in normal listening you have stereo.) In my opinion, the extra speaker is a must; without it, you have one speaker monaural sound.

The radio and companion RS-332 each contain a four watt amplifier and 5 inch speaker, together offering great fidelity. The case and controls are extremely well crafted with excellent look, materials, and feel.

Headphone out, power backup (not via battery but deep capacitor), ramp wake volume, light sensitive auto dim, digital tuning, auxilliary inputs, displayed wake time for two sleepers, sleep timer... etc. etc. etc.

FM reception is exceptional with the wire dipole antenna included. In summary, this thing works and sounds GREAT (especially with the RS-332 attached in stereo) as long as you do not expect to blow the walls out at high volume.

I like the sound of the radio and the FM reception is very good but that is all that I like about it. I have also found that my 330 hums, this is most annoying in a quiet bedroom. The super capacitor memory backup isn't super at all! Living in a rural setting where power outages are frequent has revealed a serious flaw in this radio, power failures of less than a minute cause the RS330 to forget all tuner presets and clock settings. When power returns the radio tunes itself to whatever station it feels like and comes on loud, not a pleasant experience in the middle of the night. This radio can not be depended upon for reliable alarms and is an annoying product to live with.

I rec'd the radio last week. It was boxed and branded as Sangean (not Proton). I did not purchase the second/slave unit. The second unit looks just like the first, functions like another separate clock radio alarm, but it adds stereo sound. The idea is that you can put one on each side of the bed, one for each of two people).

My unit DOES NOT HUM in any way. Based on all the reviewer's comments, I suspect the humming is a defect that occurs randomly in some units, not in others.

Packaging was good. The unit is weighty, feels solidly constructed. The sound is SUPERB compared to most alarm clock radios -- solid sound, it is only 'tinny' if you max the treble AND min the bass. Overall, I already prefer this unit to most that I have owned.

The major flaw I see is the dimmer control on the bottom of the unit. One reviewer mentioned it was flimsy and easy to break. Too bad I didn't read that before I tried to adjust it. The dimmer control knob has a slit to accommodate a screwdriver for turning it ... and the knob is mounted on a L-shaped piece of metal welded to the circuit board inside. When I barely pushed on it with the screwdriver, the metal bent and the knob dropped into the body of the radio, out of reach. I spent about an hour disassembling the radio--every single screw, ribbon cable--and the "motherboard" had to be removed--to get access to the knob to bend it back into the right place. I adjusted it to maximum brightness (where I want it) and resolved to never touch it again. Even with the knob `out of the box,' it wasn't easy to turn. There is not a reason in the world why this design defect could not engineered out of the product at little cost.

I also see the lack of battery backup as another significant flaw. Power outages exceeding a few minutes are simply too common to justify the "short-term memory chip" approach that Sangean has installed.

I agree with one of the earlier reviewers about the backlit buttons on the front of the unit. They are not really backlit, but have a halo-like glow around them. You would have to remember which button is which ... and have the unit close and at eye-level for the backlighting to be much help. If the radio were at eye level and bedside, this backlighting probably WOULD be useful. I do think the backlighting adds some esthetics ... but more utility could be added were the buttons themselves actually lit. Automobiles routinely illuminate the characters on buttons by allowing backlight to leak through characters embedded into them with translucent plastic, surely the buttons on this radio could be re-designed to do the same ... again probably without any significant cost.

The radio IS laden with buttons and knobs, which might intimidate some people. When I took it out of the box, they were a bit intimidating. So I worked through the manual once, trying each button, knob, function, etc. Now the design seems quite simple. I think that most people will find the unit is not complicated to operate if they take the time to look at the description for each knob/button in the manual.

This unit is designed to nicely accommodate two people in the bedroom when used with the second/slave unit, one on each side of the bed. It has a "Page1/Page 2" button (which really means `User 1' and `User 2.') Each person need merely set his/her unit to their own "page" and they will have their own set of preset stations. Done once for this purpose, this button is never needed again. This seems intuitive to me since my car radio also accommodates two drivers, each with their own pre-sets in a similar fashion ... the car knows the driver by which keyfob is used.

I do agree with one earlier reviewer in that the section of the manual about how to program the radio pre-set is not as readable as it might be. But the fact is that the actual presetting itself is not complicated. Hit the "MEMO" button, then hold down the whichever numbered button you wish to save the station on. (The user must start out the pre-set process with the unit set for their own "page," of course; a single user can just use the second page for storing additional stations.)

It appears that some reviewers found this Page1/Page2 button a needless complication in the pre-setting process, but if unless a single user tries to use "both sides" of the radio for additional presets, this `extra' button can be totally ignored.

I disagree with one reviewer who did said the time-set approach made it easy to reset the time by accident. There is a big button on the back of the radio to enter the time-setting mode. The button is big so you can easily find it though you can't see it ... and it is on the back so you won't hit it accidentally in day-to-day use. I see that as good design. As the reviewer said, each time you hit it, it cycles through changing the clock time, alarm 1 time and alarm 2 time. You can't get them mixed up. The time is displayed much larger than the alarm times ... and the one that is ready to be set flashes. And the alarms and the time all display in different locations. I just don't see how you could change the wrong one ... and be looking at the face of the clock at the same time.

One reviewer pointed out that the "Alarm 1 Off" and "Alarm 2 Off" buttons are pretty close together. They are close, but separated by one other button. Indeed, the first riser could accidentally turn off the second riser's alarm (before turning off their own alarm). This is probably true of any two-user alarm clock unit. If the unit comes up for a redesign, Sangean might consider relocating the buttons, one on each side of the unit-that would put the buttons 11 inches apart ... and difficult for even the sleepiest user to confuse.

I didn't like the fact that, when the alarm is set, that the unit constantly displays both the clock time and the alarm time. I would prefer the alarm time black out when not being set ... on the other hand, other people might like it that way. As long as the unit is loaded with buttons and knobs anyway, perhaps one little tiny switch for that option wouldn't be awfully unwelcome.

In terms of reception, it appears that the radio is really designed to require the use of external antennas for good reception ... just like "the old days." Sangean supplies an FM antenna, but you are on your own regarding AM. (I don't use AM so it doesn't matter to me.) I would suggest you hook up your antenna(s) BEFORE plugging in the radio-since, as soon as it powers up, it searches for signals and starts your pre-sets out with the strongest signals it can find. Without the FM antenna, mine preset some of the buttons on a lot of loud static. (Since Sangean is `into' automatic pre-set functionality, I wondered why they didn't add that little chip that picks up that atomic clock signal to pre-set the time.)

This radio overall is a very desirable unit. The sound is excellent, even in mono, it has a stylish look that would fit on a office desk or on a kitchen counter as well as in the bedroom.

With the second unit, this would make for an excellent student dorm room solution-the radio's sound could only get even better in stereo ... and the radio has an auxiliary function where (I presume) the student could plug their portable CD player and or iPod ... AND it can serve as the roommate's alarm and radio, need be. The fact that it won't take up space and has a small footprint is also a plus for dorm room users. (Plus Mom and Dad can buy this system ... and skip paying for one of those `big box' CD systems plus an alarm clock.) I bet if Sangean would try to direct market the system to students, they'd sell more than a few.

Some reviewers complained about longer-term quality issues; for me that remains to be seen. For the moment, though, I give it a pretty hefty thumbs-up compared to the many other (often cheap) radio alarm clock units I looked at. For now, I see it as a very desirable product. I am using this one in the living room, but I now plan to buy the two-unit system for the bedroom.

If this radio sounds like something you'd like and looks like something you would like, I bet you probably WILL like it ... but be warned, don't even think about touching that dimmer control on the bottom of the unit !!

* * *

Even better with the stereo slave unit ..., January 19, 2005
Reviewer: Tony Polito (Greenville, North Carolina) - See all my reviews

I stated in my earlier review I planned to purchase another unit ... with the stereo slave unit (RS-332) ... and I did. The RS-332 was not available direct from Amazon, but only through J&R as a third party vendor. Other reviewers stated that some of their "Sangean" radios arrived as "Proton." I didn't want them to not match, so this time I ordered both through the J&R link.

Everything I said before pretty much applies here as well. I am very happy with the purchase after about 3 months of usage. It does sound even better in stereo.

The slave unit DOES have the dreaded hum others have spoke of ... but not the main unit. On mine, at least, it is very low. Were it any louder, I would indeed be frustrated. So, again, this is a quality issue that varies from unit to unit.

This time, I used some small needle-nosed pliers to CAREFULLY turn the dimmer switch at bottom ... and it STILL almost bent inside the unit. I simultaneously supported it from doing so by bolstering it on one side with a small flat-head screwdriver. You've been warned !!

UPDATE: [ 01/2008 ] Still love 'em. Working fine. The best sounding clock alarm/radio you'll find anywhere. I thought one was busted because the alarm played so low. But I had forgotten there's a separate small button on the back for setting the ALARM volume separate from the big regular volume knob on the side.

I own both this radio and its predecessor. Overall, this is one of the finer radios available (and I did a considerable amount of research.) The advantages:

(1) LED, not LCD, display for nighttime viewing

(2) earplug port tp listen in bed

(3) 6 presets for easy switching of stations day or night

(4) does not require battery backup as it has a capacitor to save memory in case of brief power outage (see disadvantages below)

(5) Great Sound. No buzz. (the buzz referred to in another review was probably fromplacing radio too close to a computer, or alarm panel, or similar).

(6) EASY time adjustment. has up and down. No need to go all the way around if you miss your alarm or time setting.

(7) Fairly well built. Takes a knocking.

(8) Plus all the usual other features like sleep timers, snooze, etc...

The disadvantages:

(1) the little buried adjustment knob for brightness is buried underneath and can EASILY be damaged when adjusting

(2) the former model had a better power backup capacitor. It could be unplugged or power lost for an hour and it would remember time and presets. New one is a minute or two.

(3) Actually there are 12 presets for AM and 12 for FM, but there is an additional key that needs to be pressed to switch to those modes. Should have been more straightforward, like pressing the preset twice to activate the second preset for that button. (Proton take note!)

Well, that's about it. Good luck.

I also purchased the 330 and 332 which were Proton brand and are now Sangean brand. I experienced a VERY loud hum from my units and wrote the company. Here is their official response.

"it is unfortunate but true, this radio does have a hum. I have not heard of it being very loud,, but perhaps yours may have a louder hum. If you would like to send it in for us to look at we can do this for you."

I did send the units back and they quickly sent me new ones. While the new ones do not hum as loud as the ones that were replaced, they still hum. It should be noted that I sleep in a very quite room and I'm very sensitive to sound. But, please be aware that the units do hum

Besides the hum, they are built great. I love the sound they produce and I would purchase them again. Also note that Sangean's customer service is top notch. I've been very happy with the response the company has given me.

Hope this helps.

... I've gone through two units and both have had a broken volume control knob. The volume dial will sporadically fail to go lower than a certain volume. It's as if the variable resistor controlling the volume shorts out halfway through its travel. For the first few days/weeks I had each they behaved normally, but then they started to fail occasionally until they eventually stopped working correctly altogether.

It's unfortunate because otherwise it's the perfect radio. The dimmer on the illuminated display is essential now that I've been introduced to it, the sound quality is good and the design is well thought out. There's a separate volume control for the alarm and for listening to the radio (incidentally, the alarm can be as quiet as I want, it's the volume for the radio that breaks).

Other customers complained about buzzing noises coming from the radio. While it's true that both of mine did have a faint buzzing noise, it was very difficult to notice in general. I sleep with the radio about 6 inches above my head and tend to be fairly picky about ambient noise, but neither radio bothered me in the least.

I don't know where I'll find another radio as well-designed as this, but I can't recommend it based on my experiences.


UPDATE 11/13/2005
You may want to check out the Boston Acoustics Recepter radio, also available on Amazon. I also tried the Cambridge Soundsworks 730 and found it lacking.

My goal was this: I wanted a quality digital alarm clock that would provide 2 alarms, battery backup and a clean appearance.

Functionally, the 330 meets and exceeds those criteria in it's solid construction, unexpected warmth of sound, digital tuning (I live in a suburban area and had to use the antenna to recieve all of my stations), and handsome appearance. The built-in capactitor precludes the need for a battery and eliminates that maintenance issue. The quality of the sound also means that I can actually listen to the 330 as a radio - something I've never done with tinny-sounding clock radios. Independant volume adjustement for the alarms enhances this functionality, because the alarm volumes stay constant irrespective of the volume setting used for regular listening.

I've found the display to have good visibility characteristics, displaying both current time and wake up time. The blue on black looks great and is an improvement of the RED of my last unit. Self adjusting to the relative light in the room, the output is never overpowering, but can be adjusted for those wanting a brighter output.

The snooze bar is nice and wide, and sits away from all the other buttons. I would like to have seen a user-programmable snooze duration, but alas, not. The snooze duration is 5 minutes.

There are a couple of features that I do not like. First, the alarm radio automatically defaults to preset#1 of the last band (AM or FM) listened to - meaning that I have to change the presets if I want to change the wake-up station - so there's a minor flexibility issue. Second, the Antenna is a long wirey thingies that I had to route down beneath my baseboard heater to conceal it - not a major problem but a minor bummer. I have not experienced any problem with hum, as reported by some others reviews, and overall I'm real pleased with the 330 and reccomend it strongly.

Bought this clock radio and the companion unit for the sound, and are happy with that aspect of it. Living with the radio has several major ergonomic annoyances:
1) the snooze and the alarm off buttons are both on the top of the unit, albeit at opposite ends. When I'm waking from a deep sleep there's about a 33% chance I'll turn off the alarm for the rest of the morning when all I meant to do was hit snooze -- my mind does not process which button is on which side that early!
2) similarly, the on/off buttons for alarms 1 and 2 are on the top as well. When fumbling for the snooze (or 'your' off button), it's easy to turn off the other alarm (only a tap, not a hard push, is needed) -- resulting in your significant other being late to work.
3) less common, but reflective of the poor interface design, is that to change the alarm time you cycle through changing the display time, alarm 1 wake time, and alarm 2 wake time. Every time you do this, there is a real chance you could accidentally change the main time -- when you should only have to worry about that twice a year.

After a long search for the perfect clock radio I stumbled upon the Sangean RS-330 AM/FM Clock Radio. The digital controls make this radio the perfect bedside companion. It was a perfect match for my habit of sleeping with the earphone plugged into my ear. The preset buttons make searching for my favorite radio stations in the middle of the night a breeze.

The sound is very good considering there is just one speaker.

The FM antenna that comes with the radio must be installed to receive most local FM stations. The AM reception is good but not great. Distance AM stations are harder to bring in.

I've always wanted one of these upscale alarm clocks, looking at the Proton and the Nakamichi for years. The idea of something that would look good, sound good and be durable was the attraction. The Proton is all that and a bit more. When you unpack it, you know right away from the feel of it that it is well-made. The knobs and adjustments are all precise. The FM tuning is above average (but not 5 star), and the sound on any reasonably strong station is excellent. The built-in backup for power failures does not require a battery, which for me is a big plus. I can't imagine anyone buying one of these and being anything but delighted.