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Clock radios combine the functions of an alarm clock with a radio. They allow you to either wake up to a regular alarm sound or use a radio station as an alarm clock, so you can wake up to music or the news.
Lots of clock radios also have a sleep timer, which allows you to fall asleep with the radio on knowing that the radio will turn itself off after a set amount of time.
One of the top manufacturers of clock radios is Sony, who produce a range of highly-praised DAB and AM/FM radios. Some of these radios also have a useful time projector function, which projects the clock display onto the wall so you can see the time easily while you’re in bed.
Sony offer quite a large selection of clock radios, so it can be difficult to decide which to pick. We’ve listed them in order of which we think are the best.
Best Sony Clock Radios
1. Sony ICFC1PJ Clock Radio with Time Projector
The Sony ICFC1PJ (also known as the ICFC1PJ.CEK) is an AM/FM radio with a clock projection feature that projects the time onto the wall or ceiling. It also has a large clock display on the radio itself, which can be completely dimmed so it won’t keep you awake at night.
Features
- AM/FM radio
- Dual alarm clock
- Time projector
- USB port for charging a smartphone
- Dimmable display
- Backup battery to keep clock and alarm accurate
- Nature sounds to help you sleep
- 5 dedicated preset buttons
Dimensions: 11.5 x 10.4 x 10.1 cm
Weight: 626 g
Pros
- Attractive cube design
- Useful time projector function
- Large, easy-to-read clock display
- Display can be turned off so it doesn’t keep you awake at night
- Gradual-wake alarm clock
Cons
- No DAB—only AM and FM
- Lots of buttons—can be a bit fiddly
Verdict
Even though it only offers AM and FM and not DAB, we think the Sony ICFC1PJ is the best Sony clock radio on the market at the moment. The time projector function is very useful, and this radio works well overall.
If you want DAB, the Sony XDR-C1DBP is essentially the same radio as the ICFC1PJ just with added DAB/DAB+, and a correspondingly higher price.
2. Sony XDR-V1BTD Portable DAB/DAB+ Clock Radio with Bluetooth
The Sony XDR-V1BTD is quite a different kind of radio to the ICFC1PJ reviewed above. For starters, it’s a digital radio with DAB and DAB+, so you will have more radio stations to choose from. It’s also a larger radio, with stereo sound.
Features
- FM/DAB/DAB+ radio
- Alarm clock
- Bluetooth
- Built-in rechargeable battery
- Sleep timer
Dimensions: 17.2 x 11.7 x 10.2 cm
Weight: 862 cm
Pros
- Lowest volume is very low—good for listening at night
- Features Bluetooth
- Easy to use
- Good sound quality
- Built-in battery
Cons
- Relatively expensive
Verdict
The Sony XDR-V1BTD is a very well-made radio with some useful features such as Bluetooth and a built-in rechargeable battery. It doesn’t have the clock projection feature found on some other Sony clock radios and is relatively pricey, but apart from that it’s a great choice.
If you’re interested in this radio but don’t need Bluetooth radio, you should consider the Sony XDR-V20D, which is essentially the same radio just without Bluetooth.
3. Sony XDR-S61D Portable DAB/DAB+/FM Digital Radio
The Sony XDR-S61D is a mid-priced clock radio with DAB/DAB+ as well as FM. It has a generic-looking design and comes in either black or white.
Features
- FM/DAB/DAB+ radio
- Alarm clock
- Sleep timer
- 5 dedicated preset buttons
- Saves 10 preset stations (5 on FM and 5 on DAB/DAB+)
- Mains or battery powered (4 x AA)
- Headphone jack
Dimensions: 22.7 cm wide x 13.9 cm high x 9.5 cm deep
Pros
- Easy to use—especially presets
- Good sound quality
- Buttons are well laid out
- Good battery life
Cons
- Limited volume
- No Bluetooth
Verdict
The Sony XDR-S61D is well designed and easy to use. The buttons are laid out well, making it easy to use this radio in the dark, so it would be a good bedside clock radio.
These days, you might expect to have some more advanced features such as Bluetooth given the XDR-S61D’s price, but if you only need the most essential radio and clock features, it’s a good choice.
Read our full review of the Sony XDR-S61D here.
4. Sony ICF-C1 FM/AM Clock Radio
The Sony ICF-C1 is similar to the Sony ICFC1PJ reviewed above. It’s an AM/FM radio with a cube-shaped design and time projector feature that projects the time onto the wall or ceiling.
This radio is few years older than the Sony ICFC1PJ and has less features, but it’s worth considering as it’s cheaper.
Features
- AM/FM radio
- Snooze
- Clock projector function
- 3 brightness settings
- Battery backup to keep clock accurate
Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 10 cm
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Attractive design
Cons
- No DAB
- Radio reception can be poor
- Clock can become inaccurate over time
Verdict
This is one of Sony’s cheapest clock radios, so it’s not surprising that it’s also one of the least well made. While the Sony ICF-C1 has a nice-looking cube design, it has several serious flaws.
The wire antenna isn’t great and as a result the radio reception can be poor. Also, several buyers have found that the clock became inaccurate over time, so after a few months the clock would be a few minutes faster or slower than it should have been.
Read our full review of the Sony ICF-C1 here.
Conclusion
If we had to pick one Sony clock radio to recommend it would be the Sony ICFC1PJ as it is very well designed, with a useful clock projection feature and an attractive cube-shaped design. The ICFC1PJ is only an AM/FM radio though, so you may want to consider the Sony XDR-C1DBP instead, which is the DAB equivalent.
For some more options to consder, see our roundup of the best clock radios.