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What's the best sounding vintage clock radio?

Decided to resurrect this thread with a clock radio I just bought...saw this at my local antique store and couldn't pass it up.

It's the same thing that I have had for the past few years, except it's newer so it's got the LED clock (looks great in person!), and it's certainly got some power to it. Works flawlessly and is in amazing condition! Price was $18 (and a 30% discount so I paid even less for it). I'm really pleased with it, so I'm gonna put it to good use when my senior year of HS rolls around :)
20210621_200126.jpg
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Pictures don't do it justice ;)
 
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Romeo Wolf said:
Decided to resurrect this thread with a clock radio I just bought...saw this at my local antique store and couldn't pass it up.

It's the same thing that I have had for the past few years, except it's newer so it's got the LED clock (looks great in person!), and it's certainly got some power to it. Works flawlessly and is in amazing condition! Price was $18 (and a 30% discount so I paid even less for it). I'm really pleased with it, so I'm gonna put it to good use when my senior year of HS rolls around :)
View attachment 2265317
View attachment 2265318
Pictures don't do it justice ;)
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I've had at least one of those, possibly two. They're decent sounding clock radios (and with a better clock than the awful 'tape scroll' mechanism used in the first generation CoS models), but most of the ones I've come across have had issues with the alarm function. Not sure if it could be fixed by replacing capacitors, or of it's something else. I've also had a later R476 digital clock radio which looked kinda like a Circle of Sound, but just had the speaker firing downwards onto a slightly curved 'shelf' below it. That one had issues as well, even after I removed the corroded battery backup pack. The Proton 320 I mentioned on page 1 of this thread continues to occupy my bedside table.
-Adam
 
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Hajidub said:
This thread reminds me of "which Chevette is the fastest?"
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Not everything needs to be a Ferrari. :rolleyes: Besides, the Proton 320 I listed above sounds better than the vast majority of table radios I've heard, never mind ones with clocks in them. Might not sound as good as a high dollar audio system, but it still hits above its weight.
-Adam
 
pch300 said:
Have you heard of Tivoli Audio? They have single box units and two-speaker units too. These sound better than the ordinary "clock radio". However, it takes a little more $$$.

https://tivoliaudio.com

IIRC, the original model of AM-FM radio was designed by Henry Kloss.
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Most of Tivoli's offerings, including the Kloss-designed Model One and the stereo Model Two, were just radios. The Model Three did have an alarm clock function, but it was fairly rudimentary, and added too much to the price of a standard Model One for my liking. I did end up buying a Model One, and had it on my bedside table for a long time (alongside a separate alarm clock, of course).
-Adam
 
one of these:
510dxf96NRL._AC_SL1000_.jpg



sitting on top of one of these

Model 88.jpg

Cambridge Sound Works Model 88 I bought in 1998 or so. Best sounding table radio i've heard.

plus, that little clocks allows me to charge my phone.
 
the skipper said:
one of these:
510dxf96NRL._AC_SL1000_.jpg



sitting on top of one of these

View attachment 2267650

Cambridge Sound Works Model 88 I bought in 1998 or so. Best sounding table radio i've heard.

plus, that little clocks allows me to charge my phone.
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The original Cambridge Soundworks 88 did not have a built-in clock. Instead, you had to rely on the external Control Clock:
Cambridge-Soundworks-Control-Clock-88-by-HENRY-KLOSS.jpg Henry-Kloss-Model-88-Radio-Control-Clock-Module.jpg
Hard to see, but on top is a little turret with two IR emitters in it. You put the Control Clock on your bedside table, aimed the IR turret at the 88, and it would operate it as a somewhat awkward clock radio. The later 88CD model did have a built-in clock.
-Adam
 
AdamAnt316 said:
The original Cambridge Soundworks 88 did not have a built-in clock. Instead, you had to rely on the external Control Clock:
View attachment 2267824 View attachment 2267827
Hard to see, but on top is a little turret with two IR emitters in it. You put the Control Clock on your bedside table, aimed the IR turret at the 88, and it would operate it as a somewhat awkward clock radio. The later 88CD model did have a built-in clock.
-Adam
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the clock version was a horror show to operate
 
flip-clock-sony.jpg

Used to have a 1970-1971 Sony 'flip time' type digimatic clock, AM-FM, laminated wood case, looked beautiful - like a 'work of art /design'... that I bought new in the Navy Exchange in Yokosuka, Japan. It functioned absolutely perfectly and Sounded Wonderful for 35 years.

I loved that clock radio. It wasn't cheap. $75, (plus shipping) in 1971 dollars - ($483.87 in 2019 dollars).

Super Fine Clock Radio!!! Sounded outrageous. What a great way to wake up!

Wish I had another 'brand new one' right now. :thumbsup: But... I wouldn't want to pay $483.87 for it. LOL
 
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AdamAnt316 said:
The best sounding semi-vintage clock radio I've had experience with is the mighty Proton 320...
75420719_614.jpg
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I've used one of these since I bought new in the 1980's, still going strong (although some damage due to being dropped in some house moves).
Good sound, two alarms (switchable between radio and buzzer), volume ramps up when turned on, light sensor that dims the display at night, battery backup.

After these were discontinued, Sangean made what is often called a copy of this Proton (they do look different), but I've never had an opportunity to compare them.
 
Bought this Nakamichi "Clock Radio-1" today, and I can definitely say it has some of the best bass I've heard on a clock radio the size of a tissue box :)

Although it's a bit sticky to the touch in general, one of the sides is really sticky compared to the rest of the unit. Anyone know how to resolve this?

20211009_175229.jpg
 
The Nakamichi "Clock Radio-1" looks very nice.

Try isopropyl alcholol or metho spirits. I had some LED torches a few years old that the rubbery paint finish became sticky. And/or try some cirtus-based cleaner (useful for removing sticky label adhesive). It will take some time but eventually work. The alcohol removed the sticky finish to reveal the shiny smooth plastic underneath. You could plastic prime and paint the area with a matt black spray paint afterwards if the finish is important to you.
 
Regarding the Proton RS-420 and RS-421 here is a video I took 11 years ago, gives you a decent idea of the sound quality which I like a lot. Can't crank up the volume too high as it starts distorting, specially with FM probably due to too much bass on their equalization, it's much better with CD or phone via cable to the CD port. It is great as a radio in an office or bedroom where you don't need it to be loud, can be set to mono if you can only have the RS-420 (I have not seen an RS-421 for sale either by itself or paired) much better than other clock radios I have found, specially if you listen to it for longer periods. I use the RS-420 alone it in my home office having sold the previous set years ago.

Has digital tuning/presets, 2 headphone ports, a CD port and antenna posts for external FM tuning though I get most stations fine without one.

 
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Romeo Wolf said:
Decided to resurrect this thread with a clock radio I just bought...saw this at my local antique store and couldn't pass it up.

It's the same thing that I have had for the past few years, except it's newer so it's got the LED clock (looks great in person!), and it's certainly got some power to it. Works flawlessly and is in amazing condition! Price was $18 (and a 30% discount so I paid even less for it). I'm really pleased with it, so I'm gonna put it to good use when my senior year of HS rolls around :)
View attachment 2265317
View attachment 2265318
Pictures don't do it justice ;)
Click to expand...
A nice clock radio. Very late model. Zenith made good ones.
 
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