Good Gear Guide
14/01/11
The Sony XDR-C706DBP DAB+ is a bedside digital clock radio with good audio quality given its petite size and lack of stereo sound. It's considerably smaller than the $199 Sony XDR-S16DBP DAB+ digital radio, though not much cheaper at $149. We think that considering the XDR-C706DBP's feature-set, its price seems a tad steep.
The Sony XDR-C706DBP DAB+ digital clock radio doesn't offer great bang for your buck, but it has good audio given its size. Its unobtrusive design makes it a good choice for someone with limited space.
Measuring 192.5x92.6x87.7mm, the Sony XDR-C706DBP DAB+ digital radio won't take up much room wherever you decide to put it — it's perfect for a bedside table, the office or your kitchen counter. The left half of the front panel features a blue-on-black LCD screen that shows the time; its brightness can be adjusted. On the right side of the front panel sits the 6cm, 0.4 Watt mono speaker. The rear of the Sony XDR-C706DBP DAB+ clock radio has a glossy white finish, while the top panel houses the navigational controls.
The navigational controls are simple to use, although the angle of the panel they sit on means that you won't be able to see them if you're trying to use the radio while lying in bed.
The Sony XDR-C706DBP DAB+ clock radio offers digital and FM radio reception and up to four alarms can be programmed — you can choose from FM, digital radio or an irritating beep as your preferred mode of wake-up call. Unfortunately, the radio doesn't have an auxiliary input port for plugging in an MP3 player, nor does it have a headphone jack. It also doesn't have a USB port for upgrading its firmware, but this isn't much of a drawback.
Taking into consideration that the Sony XDR-C706DBP DAB+ has a single speaker, it handles audio quite well. In our tests, we found the audio to be crisp and clear, albeit slightly tinny — but this is unavoidable, given the sole speaker has to handle all frequencies on its own. When the volume was at its maximum setting of 30, there was little to no distortion in the audio quality and it could easily fill a room with music. As a bedside alarm clock radio it ought to do the trick, but don't expect the XDR-C706DBP to be anything more than that. It can store up to 20 radio station presets: 10 for FM stations and 10 for digital stations.
Become a fan of GoodGearGuide on Facebook
Follow GoodGearGuide on Twitter: @GoodGearGuide
Stay up to date with the latest reviews. Sign up to GoodGearGuide’s Gear Daily newsletters
1
The sound quality was not sufficiently better than an AM/FM clock radio to justify the price.
A headphone jack would have been nice. If not for the lack of space on our bedside table I'd have gone for the Philips DCB291 which looks and sounds fantastic.
Advertise with us Editorial Contacts
With over 25 years of brand awareness and credibility, PCWorld Australia consistently delivers editorial excellence through award-winning content and trusted product reviews.
Be the first to comment.