HoMedics SS-4000 Sound Spa Classic Deluxe Clock Radio & Sound Machine with Time Projection
From HoMedics
Awaken gently with the Homedics Sound Spa Clock Radio. This smart, sleek clock radio helps you create an optimal resting environment by allowing you to wake to music, natural sounds or an alarm. Natural sounds include the ocean, a rainforest, a summer night, rain, a waterfall or thunder; make your choice with the touch of a button. The snooze function and AM/FM clock radio with LCD display offers practicality and the traditional options you've come to rely upon. A soothing light projects the time onto the ceiling so you don't have to adjust your sleeping position to see the clock. Imported. 9Hx11W".
- Amazon Sales Rank: #31696 in Health and Beauty
- Color: Black/silver
- Brand: HoMedics
- Model: SS-4000
- Released on: 2004-04-01
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 4.00 pounds
Great White Noise Producer And The Ultimate Lazy Man's Snooze Button
The HoMedics SS-4000 Sound Spa Classic Deluxe Clock Radio and Sound Machine is a handy little device to have around. It features a pretty good radio and six natural sound settings. The nature settings are Ocean, Summer Night, Rain, Rainforest, Thunder, and Waterfall. Of these settings, Ocean and Rainforest are my personal favorites. Rain and Waterfall are pretty good as well. Since I live in Louisiana, I only have to open my window at night to hear the real Summer Night setting. Thunder falls short due to the fact that it really doesn't sound much like thunder. It's more like a constant roar.
The clock is very easy to set up and use. Like another reviewer, I found no need to use the instructions to set up the time, alarm, projection focus and placement or any of the sound settings. I did double check myself by reading the instructions after I set up the clock, but I had everything covered.
The time projector is great for folks like myself who don't even want to turn over in the morning. When the alarm goes off, all you need to do in order to see the time is swing your left or right arm (depending on the location of your clock in relation to the bed) to the snooze button, press it and look up. The projector will display the time for five seconds on the ceiling. That's long enough for you to decide whether or not to get up. You also have the option of keeping the projector on at all times. It gives off a nice warm blue glow in a darkened room.
A sleep timer is also provided on the clock. If you need some soothing sounds to block out reality in order to get to sleep, this feature is really nice.
The only shortcomings I find with this clock radio are that the radio reception is iffy at times (but then again, most clock radios are) and the alarm isn't very loud even though I have the volume cranked up. I need a very loud alarm to wake me in the morning. The buzzer on this clock just doesn't wake me very well. You can also choose the radio or nature sounds to wake up to, but I need an annoying and loud sound to get me going.
Overall, this is an excellent purchase for folks who need white noise in the background in order to get to sleep, do a little work, or just to relax. It's also pretty handy in getting and keeping the kids asleep at night. If you need a loud buzzer to wake to in the morning like I do, you might want a different clock. However, I think the positives outweigh the negatives with this clock radio. I like it and recommend it.
Projection is great - but not useful as an alarm clock.
I hate having to roll over at night to see what time it is. I bought this clock so that I could just glance at the ceiling to see the time.
Pros:
The projection is truly top quality. I love the manual focus which allows me to achieve a sharp display customized for my ceiling height. Furthermore, the display is visible and sharp without creating extra light in the room at night.
Cons: It doesn't function well as an alarm clock. First, the radio quality is definitely subpar. But most importantly, the machine itself is reasonably lightweight, and if you roll over to hit the snooze, you are very likely to knock the projection mechanism. Then you will have to readjust it if you want the display to appear at a specific spot on your ceiling.
In sum: If you are looking for projection, this is a wonderful product. But use it as a secondary machine to your alarm clock or you will have to continually adjust the projection. I keep this on a shelf and continue to use a different machine as my actual alarm clock.
Beautiful, Blue Light with Tranquil Sounds
I bought the HoMedics Sound Spa Clock Radio for use as a travel alarm-clock and sound machine. It works well for both purposes. The six different soothing-sounds come through a good-size speaker, given the unit's light weight, and ensure a restful sleep in a hotel room or other noisy location. The rain sound is particularly pleasing.
I like the radio because the manual volume and frequency dials are easy to operate compared to more cumbersome digital controls on other clock radios. The buttons on the radio are also easy to use. The sound quality is acceptable for music and fine for talk radio.
The clock projection feature is useful and aesthetically pleasing though a bit bright for my eyes in a totally dark sleeping area. It also works as a night-light casting a beautiful, blue glow over the room. The power adapter is small with ample cord length. The unit packs easily and I take it with me almost everywhere I travel.
(Dr. Simeon Hein is the author of OPENING MINDS: A Journey of Extraordinary Encounters, Crop Circles, and Resonance and PLANETARY INTELLIGENCE.)
