seeking easy-to-set alarm clock radio iPhone dock with dim glowing numbers

April 5, 2011 8:58 PM

If this iHome and this clock with big dim red numbers had a baby I might be willing to pay $150 for it.

I'm on my second from-the-store clock radio. The first had a backlit display; even on its dimmest setting I had to put black pantyhose over it, and then I couldn't see the numbers from across the room.

Currently, I'm trying out the iHome linked above, but the numbers are a) still too bright, so I think I need to abandon backlighting entirely, and b) way too small for me to see across the room. Thus the big red display demonstrated through the second link, although I don't think it needs to be quite that big.

I love that I can just stick my iPhone on top and have it play as the alarm, though.

I also really want the alarm to be easy to set -- I reset my alarm frequently as my schedule is irregular and I sometimes have to nap at random times.

A small footprint, like the iHome linked above, would be very nice.

I saw a previous AskMe about dim alarm clock radios, but it was a few years old and none of the linked clocks had iPod connectivity (not even aux in, as far as I could tell -- and would aux in make the iPod/iPhone start playing at the alarmed time?)

[Clock #1 was a pain in this regard; every alarm setting required six clicky button pushes (hold down for setting, increment hour, increment minutes, increment volume, increment buzzer/radio/iPhone as alarm, select weekday/weekend/7-day alarm - not worth it.]

(Note to clock designers out there: make the buttons quiet, because loud buttons are jarring for the wakee and worse for he-who-may-continue-sleeping.)

posted by amtho to shopping (13 answers total)

What's the question exactly?
posted by taff at 9:02 PM on April 5, 2011

How about one of those clocks that projects the numerals onto the ceiling? When I had one, I seem to recall that it gave off way less light than the traditional style. You can also change the size of the display.
posted by Madamina at 9:03 PM on April 5, 2011

Apologies for being unclear.

I would like to know how to obtain a clock/radio/iPod dock with large red numbers, a small footprint, and an easy-to-set alarm.
posted by amtho at 9:04 PM on April 5, 2011

Like this?
posted by holgate at 9:26 PM on April 5, 2011

For what it's worth, you can dim any clock that has a flat surface with stick-on window tint from Home Depot, and you can choose the amount of light transmission you want (10,20,50,90%).
posted by fake at 9:42 PM on April 5, 2011

In my experience, clocks with green numbers are less jarring than ones with red or blue (or god forbid blue backlit like that first clock you linked to--the blue backlit clocks are awful). I don't know if they're actually dimmer, but the green is, for me, a much gentler option. (I've got one of these little guys; can't help you on a fancy ipod docking one.)
posted by phunniemee at 9:58 PM on April 5, 2011

How about an iHome iPad dock on which you run an LED clock app?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:46 PM on April 5, 2011

Good job, holgate! That looks promising.

I thought about using a clock app on the phone, Mr. Pileon, but I want the clock to be visible in the bedroom even if the phone isn't there. Good idea, though.

Considered applying a colored film, but I want the numbers to be much brighter than the background. The film would solve the problem of too much brightness (as did my application of black pantyhose on the first clock I tried), but probably would compromise the readability of the numbers; with backlighting, there isn't as great a contrast between the numbers and the background as one would want.

I have no objection to green numbers, but I haven't tried them yet. I'd prefer that if it works!

(Thanks to whomever fixed the link in my question!)
posted by amtho at 12:04 AM on April 6, 2011

There's also a Coby red-LED dock/alarm, but the reviews fit the brand. (See the archive of Brendan Koerner's "Low End Theory" on Gizmodo.) It's one of those situations where the mass-market end may serve you better than higher-end products, because old-school LED alarm tech with a bolted-on dock should mean dimmability and fairly straightforward controls.

This Memorex model, sold at Target for around $80, might also fit: it's reverse-backlit LCD instead of LED, but with fairly flexible dimming levels.
posted by holgate at 12:25 AM on April 6, 2011

Hilarious review of the Coby clock on Amazon (by which I mean the design sounds kind of hilarious, but I don't think I'd want to live there):

The item includes a blue lamp, but it cannot be controlled separately from the red time display. There are three settings: lamp very bright and time normal; lamp dim and time almost too dim to read; and lamp and time both completely off. Since this is a -clock- I'd like to be able to read the -time- with

Thanks again, holgate, but I think your first suggestion was the best so far... still haven't given up, though!
posted by amtho at 1:27 AM on April 6, 2011

I have this. The actual face of the clock is small but it projects the time onto a wall or ceiling for easy reading. The projection is pretty dim (I can only see it with the lights off) and you can turn off or dim all the lights on the actual face of the clock. It's also an iPod and you can set your iPod as the alarm.
You can have 2 alarm presets and I find them relatively easy to set. Could be easier though.
It also has a motion censor to use as a snooze button. I love it. The snooze button itself is large but a wave of my arm is so much easier than feeling around for everything.

A few negatives: it's a bit on the large size and very not sexy. I feel like it's a bit cheaply made. Sometimes parts of numbers are missing in the projections, but, a shake or a whack turns them back on.
I can still play my iPod on the radio and use it as an alarm but for some reason it no longer charges.
The radio antenna is actually in the power cord--in order to get a decent signal on some stations I have to run the cord on top of a lamp. On the plus side it somehow knows what time it is once you plug it in. Like, it sets the time itself. I'm assuming it has to do with the radio antenna.
posted by simplethings at 2:46 AM on April 6, 2011

The Memorex model that holgate listed last is what we have and I think it would work for you. I've recommended it before. It's only $56 on Amazon with free shipping.
posted by soelo at 9:19 AM on April 6, 2011

Seconding Madamina and Simplethings. I searched everywhere for a clock with big enough numbers that I could read it across the room. Even on the dimmest setting, the one I bought was as bright as a nightlight. Thankfully it also had a projection clock (not this model) that I could point at the wall next to my head. Perfect.
posted by Gable Oak at 9:36 AM on April 6, 2011