PC World and Currys have several brand names exclusive to them and one of these is Sandstrom. Here I am looking at a DAB and FM radio that also accepts MP3 input as well as having an iPod dock built into the unit.
click image to enlarge
It is 24x13x9cm but you will need to add another 2cm to the second figure the depth for the D/C lead to be inserted. This includes the eight piece rod aerial that expands to 70cm when fully extended for optimum sound.
My unit was shiny black except for the front that was matt black, surely the whole thing in matt black would look better as the matt black does not show finger marks to the same extent so it will look cleaner to the casual glance.
The controls are on the top near the iPod dock and in a column down the front of the unit. The sides are covered in a black fabric over the stereo speakers. The rear has an input for a 3.5mm jack (Aux In) as used by MP3 players and the D/C power input.
On the top in the central area is the iPod or iPhone dock, in front of this are two lines of buttons, the top line is Standby, Mode, Scan and Presets. The second line is Back, Snooze/Sleep and Forward, with the snooze/sleep being double width.
The front has a 9.5x2.4cm two line display, each line can show up to 16 characters and the display is white on grey. The vertical line of buttons is Volume+, Volume-, Alarm 1, Alarm2, Info and finally Enter with two functions.
There is an A5 twenty eight page Instruction Manual. This is very comprehensive and covers all the functions in detail.
It comes with a small remote control with a total of 18 buttons and a circular clock type battery, this duplicates the controls on the unit itself and for the times you misplace it all features are still operateable from the unit.
The Mode button works sequentially DAB, FM, iPod and Aux. All the time the unit has power (in standby) it will display the current time. However if you disconnect the power even for a couple of seconds the time is lost.
Press the mode button and the display says Switch to ‘xxxx’ whatever the next choice in the sequential list is. It then tunes to whatever station you last listened to if the choice is DAB or FM for iPod it continues from the point last played.
There are two separate alarms instruction on setting them are in the instructions you can be woken by DAB, FM, iPod or a choice of two beep types. Remember however you will possibly be in trouble after a power cut.
There is a sleep timer with options for 15-3-45-60 or 90minutes. The snooze timer can give you 5 minutes extra to come back into this world.
There are ten presets for DAB and also for FM, once tuned the station name shows on the display this applies to both DAB and FM although you initially need to know the frequency of the FM station to do the initial tuning.
The speakers are 1.2 watt but for a bedroom or small lounge there is plenty of sound and the quality is quite acceptable.
It is prices at £39.95and available from PC World or Currys shops or online via the link below.
http://www.dixons.co.uk/gbuk/sandstrom-s66idab10-ipod-docking-station-piano-black-04534222-pdt.html
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