Sony ICF-CD853V AM/FM/TV/Weather Clock Radio/CD Player

by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [222kb PDF]

• Item Weight: 5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000068EAM
• Item model number: ICF-CD853V
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,406 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: December 30, 2002

Product Description

Clock Radio with 4-Band Digitally Tuned Radio and CD Player / 3 Alarm Modes / Full-range Speaker / Digital Clock lets you hear CD tracks in multiple modes: in sequence as recorded, all tracks in random (Shuffle), repeat of all tracks in random order, a single track over and over or all tracks over and over.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good, January 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Sony ICF-CD853V AM/FM/TV/Weather Clock Radio/CD Player (Electronics)

Very nice clock. Although sound is a little thin (but what do you expect from a clock radio), it's very clean and detailed. CD transport works very well, plays all my CD-Rs and RWs without a hitch. Pros: Big display (easy to read), digital tuner, nice button layout, very easy to set the alarms, brightness control (although manual.) Cons: cannot set alarms separately for weekdays/weekends, no gentle wake, very brights not-dimmable LEDs that shine brigther that the LCD screen itself, need a longer FM antenna for better reception.

I'm returning it to get the next model in line (ICF-CD863V), which has automatic dimmer control, gentle wake, and slightly better sound.

68 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Consumer Warning !!, May 26, 2003

By 

John Doe (Oregon, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony ICF-CD853V AM/FM/TV/Weather Clock Radio/CD Player (Electronics)

I've owned the "Liv" version of this alarm clock, same model just different color, for about 6 months now. I initially liked the digital tuner, CD-RW play ability, 3 alarms, and 3 Tuner function. Also I liked the compactness of it and it's small "footprint".
I'm afraid I must rate it unacceptable however, I'll explain why. First I have a problem with seeing the time on the LCD, being backlit makes it hard to read the numbers- even being placed directly across from my bed, it's also difficult to see at certain angles too (it completely disappears) I believe if just the numbers themselves (not the whole screen) were lit then this would be a solution. Secondly, I think the "buzzer" is way too polite or cute and could easily see someone sleeping thru it. It's not volume adjustable either. Lastly, and probably most important, this thing has only a 1 min internal back-up if the power fails. That is a critical design flaw in my opinion. In other words, if the power happens to go out for anytime longer than just 1 minute while you're sleeping count on oversleeping, being late, and seeing a flashing "12:00" to greet you when you wake. Like I said, this is simply unacceptable. I really don't understand why sony didn't just incorporate a 9V back-up like other alarm clocks use. In closing, I wish I never bought it, but oh well, I've learned my lesson. Please steer clear of sony alarm clocks until they improve these sort of design flaws.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Sony , save yourself, stop making alarm clocks, May 17, 2003

By 

"[e-mail]" (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony ICF-CD853V AM/FM/TV/Weather Clock Radio/CD Player (Electronics)

I read all the reviews and figured this had the least things I hated (I was pretty discouraged at what was out there, especially since my #1 requirement is a digital tuner, this being the only one Sony makes; I can't stand playing with a dial trying to lock in). I didn't mind so much that I would probably have to prop up the back or leave it on the floor to see the time (you really have to look straight (or down) at it, so with your head on pillow, you have to get up) or that there was no battery back up, but decided its going back when I overslept cause I didn't hear the alarm for 45min. It's soft and puts u in a trance. I tried the radio the next day and I swear it never went off(I used a backup).
I think I'll take my chances with a RCA or Timex and be happy with just a radio when the CDplayer breaks. I guess I've been spoiled by my old one, where I could flick a switch and the alarm would come back on same time, and the volume would get louder in case you had it down the night before.