What's the best sounding vintage clock radio?

[AdamAnt316]

I'm looking for a single individual. Not two seperate things. I already have a GE 7-7150 TV/Radio and one of those new-ish bamboo analog clocks. Not sure of the brand or model.

The Proton 320 would do quite nicely for you, methinks. It has every feature I like in a clock radio, with the exception of digital tuning/presets, but I manage. If you need features like those, there's the RS-420 I mentioned earlier, plus they offered a follow-up later on called the RS-330, which appears to have been made for them by Sangean; it's basically a cross between the 320 and 420, with a matching extension speaker. I have a set of those, but they don't put out any sound for some reason.
-Adam

 

[Christian B]

Another vote for the Proton. I've been using one for years now. The gradual volume increase actually lets me wake up and turn it off before it wakes my wife up. An advantage on those days when I have to get out early, and she doesn't.

 

[twiiii]

Tandberg made some fantastic units.

 

[cnolanh]

The Proton 320 would do quite nicely for you, methinks. It has every feature I like in a clock radio, with the exception of digital tuning/presets, but I manage. If you need features like those, there's the RS-420 I mentioned earlier, plus they offered a follow-up later on called the RS-330, which appears to have been made for them by Sangean; it's basically a cross between the 320 and 420, with a matching extension speaker. I have a set of those, but they don't put out any sound for some reason.
-Adam

I've had that Sangean RS-330 set for decades. Still works nicely. Adding the extension speaker lets you program each side of the bed with a different alarm time. And of course you hear FM in stereo. Also has tuning presets, aux input and headphone output jacks, gently rising alarm volume, etc. Works great for us!

The smallish fullrange drivers of course have their limitations. I used to crank up the bass and treble knobs to get more frequency range out of the speakers, but I decided that sounded too unnatural (probably weird humps and troughs in the plot) so now I leave them about flat and just enjoy the midrange. I did set up another small stereo system in the bedroom for more serious music listening, while the Sangean is just fine for waking up and listening to news or casual music.

 

[AdamAnt316]

I've had that Sangean RS-330 set for decades. Still works nicely. Adding the extension speaker lets you program each side of the bed with a different alarm time. And of course you hear FM in stereo. Also has tuning presets, aux input and headphone output jacks, gently rising alarm volume, etc. Works great for us!

The smallish fullrange drivers of course have their limitations. I used to crank up the bass and treble knobs to get more frequency range out of the speakers, but I decided that sounded too unnatural (probably weird humps and troughs in the plot) so now I leave them about flat and just enjoy the midrange. I did set up another small stereo system in the bedroom for more serious music listening, while the Sangean is just fine for waking up and listening to news or casual music.

Interesting. The RS-420 was similar in concept, but in a slimmer enclosure. Proton offered at least two different styles of extension speaker for the 420: the RS-421, which is simply a speaker with alarm controls, and the RS-422, which also has a clock display and radio controls. I own examples of both extension speaker versions, along with two separate RS-420s. If I can get the sound in my RS-330 set working, I'll have to attempt a comparison between it and both the 320 and 420. With regards to tone controls, I've generally left them flat on my 320 and 420. It's not like I crank the volume control on them too often, anyway.
-Adam

 

[mgkfifty]

Proton 320 lots of features I like, volume ramp up is one of them, looks cool in an 80's kinda way and sounds great too. I had to buy a back up for the future because I like it too much to be without one.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Here, an awesome radio that you'll actually enjoy using and a simple clock...done

View attachment 1481762View attachment 1481765

That GE SuperRadio II will get stations a Bose Wave Radio doesn't know exist, and it's also one heck of an AM DX Machine as well as nice and sensitive on FM, has very good audio for a portable.

 

[Romeo Wolf]

That GE SuperRadio II will get stations a Bose Wave Radio doesn't know exist, and it's also one heck of an AM DX Machine as well as nice and sensitive on FM, has very good audio for a portable.

It's nice and chromy, but the surround on the woofer appears to be mad thin.

 

[Romeo Wolf]

Proton 320 lots of features I like, volume ramp up is one of them, looks cool in an 80's kinda way and sounds great too. I had to buy a back up for the future because I like it too much to be without one.

I'm not a feature freak. I just prefer actual retro/vintage clock radios. Besides that I'm buying the GE 7-4691 Fidelity clock radio. Awesome full range sound and it's legit retro.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

It's nice and chromy, but the surround on the woofer appears to be mad thin.

All the woofer in the world won't work, if the reception is deaf, or the audio is narrow and horrible. GE in this case, lets you choose narrow IF if you need it, wide if you can make do and the audio be better.

 

[Romeo Wolf]

All the woofer in the world won't work, if the reception is deaf, or the audio is narrow and horrible. GE in this case, lets you choose narrow IF if you need it, wide if you can make do and the audio be better.

Interesting for a mono radio.

 

[AdamAnt316]

Interesting for a mono radio.

He's referring to the 'bandwidth' of the reception. The narrow setting is good for zeroing in on a particular weak signal on a crowded band, while the wide setting is good for listening to a stronger signal which is more out in the open and not subject to interference from nearby stations, allowing for higher fidelity. As far as I know, the Superadio II (or its predecessor, which doesn't actually say 'Superadio' on it) doesn't expressly offer a narrow bandwidth function, though it does include tone controls to give a similar effect; only the last version, the Superadio III offers that. However, all of the Superadio models are still excellent AM receivers, and work decently well on FM. Here is a picture of one of my three Superadio Is:

I don't have one of those sitting next to my bed, but I do have a Drake SSR-1 shortwave receiver on the opposite side of the bed from my Proton 320. It lacks some of the features of other shortwave receivers I have, like the Collins/EAC R-390A or the National NC-183D, but it still performs quite well, and (most importantly) won't cause my bedside table to collapse. Here is a picture of my SSR-1:

 

[tanker 200]

I've been using a Panasonic RC-6130 since 1981, it's not the best sounding but It's never failed to wake me up

On my girlfriends side of the bed is a Proton 320 that needed a speaker but works and sounds great since being repaired. I just found a 330 that I had in storage and forgot about along with an extension speaker in another location that I think goes with it (I'll have to dig them out and see).
I also have a Panasonic flip clock in a spare bedroom, it seems to go with the 70's system in there. I honestly have no idea how it sounds.

 

[AdamAnt316]

Almost anything made by GE or Zenith in the '70s and '80s sounds great, but the 1980s GE 7-4691A "Fidelity I" clock radio really is king, with its huge 5"x7" oval speaker. It has outstanding AM and FM reception, too.

Interesting! Bet it sounds better than pretty much every other clock radio they ever made. I've owned a few GE clock radios; while a couple of them sounded sorta-decent, while the rest sounded like the speaker was made of pressed cardboard. Would be interesting to see a shoot-out between one of those and a Proton 320, to see which one is the king of the clock radios...........

Well, what should I track down at a hamfest this past weekend:

Got it for ten bucks! Should be interesting to see how it compares to my Proton clock radios once I have a chance to perform a proper 'shoot-out'...
-Adam

 

[Romeo Wolf]

Well, what should I track down at a hamfest this past weekend:

Got it for ten bucks! Should be interesting to see how it compares to my Proton clock radios once I have a chance to perform a proper 'shoot-out'...
-Adam

Tell me how it sounds since you've posted this comment!

 

[bluesky]

1970 Sony clock radios sound really nice.

 

[Romeo Wolf]

1970 Sony clock radios sound really nice.

No, no no. I mean the GE clock radio you have in that image.

Edit: Wrong person. Apologies!

 

[Grenadeslio]

Let's face it, most sound like crap, at least my little Sony is stereo. I've never used it for anything other than a clock, have real equipment in the bedroom for music.

 

[AdamAnt316]

Tell me how it sounds since you've posted this comment!

I've only tested it briefly, but it does sound rather nice. Haven't yet done a 'proper' side-by-side comparison between it and my beloved Proton 320, but I believe the GE could give it a run for its money fidelity-wise. Unfortunately, the alarm function doesn't work properly, at least with regards to the "Auto/Alarm" setting. Not sure if it's the function switch, or something within the circuitry.
-Adam

 

[E-Stat]

That's a question I've never asked before.