I've been using the Horizon Solo in a rather unremarkable hotel room for the last couple of months on an out-of-town assignment, so anything new and shiny might prompt me to leave a favorable review. But after buying and returning no less than 4 other clock radios, including a popular RCA model, an iHome, and two Sony's, this just wins it hands down. I would love to have bought the
Boston Acoustics HDUOMIST Horizon Duo Speaker System (Mist)
(white) or the
Boston Acoustics HDUOIMDNT Horizon Duo-I System For Ipod(R) With Am/Fm Radio (Midnight)
(black), but for portability the final choice really had to be smaller. Though not perfect as some reviews might have indicated, there's just too much to like, especially when compared to the alternatives:
Benefits:
* Terrific sound quality - even if mono, and perhaps a bit tubby, but you can adjust bass and treble settings.
* Beautiful display - very easy to read, even across a room. Auto-dimmer works very well.
* Build quality - rubber coated, nice weight to it.
* Audio input jack - great for iPod, computer or whatever device. 1/8" stereo jack (yes, the input jack retains left and right channels.
* Head phone jack on front - also stereo.
Demerits:
* No weekend alarm setting. You must go through a short menu with the left-hand knob to change alarm settings.
* Gradual wake-up reaches full, pre-set volume in just a few seconds. Perhaps it's just me, but I just assumed it might take a few minutes (or better yet, would be a user-adjustable period) for the radio alarm to reach full volume...are you listening BA??
* Full volume might not be quite loud enough for some. Without the radio reset performed (see BA website or certain Amazon reviews if you are having problems), my radio reaches a volume number of 50. If the input on the AUX is at a high level, the volume is very good, but if the input level somewhat low, the output on the radio's speaker might be a little disappointing if you cannot increase the input level any further (in fairness though, the sound is not distorted at high volume levels, so at least you're getting some quality sound).
It would be easy to put too much into the 'negative' points above. As noted already, no other radio even came close with the sound quality/looks/durability combination, and certainly not for the $100 incl S/H I paid. I am seriously considering a Duo for home. At the current price of $80+shipping on Amazon, I am also wondering about wiring a Y-cable and getting a second Solo to use with my existing one as left and right stereo, but with the ability to provide a few feet of separation, which might sound better than a Duo (in effect, use two Solos as separate, amplified speakers). I will update the review should I tackle that project. I haven't customized the grill color as I had thought I might, but that's also an interesting option, esp if you were to give one as a gift.
It's also worth noting the AM/FM radio was an important feature to me, moreso than iPod docking as I like to listen to local stations wherever I am. The reception is very good, although believe it or not, some of the el-cheapo, bad-sound-quality clock radios I checked out had about the same sensitivity. The difference, of course, was in all the other points mentioned above. If you'd prefer a CD player ala a Bose Wave Radio alternative, you might also want to check the
Boston Acoustics Horizon Trio Clock Radio w/ CD Player (Midnight)
, although for more than $300, that might cater to a little different market segment.
UPDATE: Aug 17, 2009 I noticed earlier reviews said the radio gets hot -- mine doesn't. You can just slightly notice some warmth, but it's very mild. I ordered mine through Amazon, fulfilled by Target, and had to wait for delivery, which tells me it was ordered from the factory recently. Perhaps newer ones were redesigned to not get as warm? I also later bought a Horizon Duo -- wow, wonderful sound. I use it in the bedroom, and the Solo in the kitchen when I'm home. As I walk from bedroom to kitchen, the mono-speaker Solo sounds noticeably flat in comparison! Naturally, it has one less speaker, but if you can spare the space, I actually think the Duo (or Duo-i which has an iPod dock -- check your generation of iPod to ensure it's supported if buying) are a better choice for sound quality, and worth the difference in price. I will write a review for the Duo separately under that radio's listing, but I found the backlit display too bright, even when the auto-brightness circuit reduces it to minimum. It may help someone to read here that there is a workaround for display brightness:
- unplug power cord
- while pressing the Alarm 2 button, plug the power cord back in
- use the smaller, right knob to adjust the minimum or maximum display brightness (00 thru 255).
- press the smaller, right knob to program the default brightness.
Note this is not the same thing as the normal, auto-brightness-circuit, but rather, this adjustment actually changes the minimum or maximum brightness level down to, and including, zero. My Solo default brightness was 200, while the Duo was 98. I reduced the Duo way down to 9. Not sure what BA didn't put this in the owner's manual. I don't really consider this any kind of special hack or secret procedure -- it's simple and easy to do and I noticed a few other people had problems with the brightness, and assumed they couldn't do anything about it. If you find your radio's display too bright or dim, try it out.
Although the BA adjustments are a bit inconvenient as other reviews say (such as the need to always rotate-through menu options just to make a quick alarm-time change), I still think the radio's solid quality and sound outweigh any such objections for me. Both my Solo and Duo do not suffer any of the strange quirks that others have unfortunately experienced -- odor, weak sensitivity, 'hospitality mode' volume level, etc. Knock on wood, but I have had no such problem with either radio, and I would have to say that anyone experiencing them should probably consider their radio faulty (although I would think that any reception issue should be verified first with another good radio, should you have one nearby). Still 5/5.
UPDATE: SEPT 10, 2009
In another review, someone mentioned that it's too bad when the alarm goes off in radio mode, you do not see the time...only the radio station...once you've adjusted the volume or put the radio into sleep-mode. I thought the same thing, until I read the manual a bit more. If, after making whatever other alarm or radio settings you want, then go to the INFO setting and change it to TIME. Now, when the alarm goes off, you will always see the time, even after changing the volume. It's confusing...I can see why someone would be ticked off with this and not think there's anything more to it. But again, now that I've made this adjustment, the radio just gets better.
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