HoMedics SS-4000 Sound Spa Classic Deluxe Clock Radio & Sound Machine with Time Projection
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HoMedics SS-4000 Sound Spa Classic Deluxe Clock Radio & Sound Machine with Time Projection Details
Manufacturer: HoMedicsBrand: HoMedics
Release Date: 2004-04-01
Model: SS-4000
Color: Black/silver
Product features:
- Lets you wake to natural sounds, music or alarm.
- AM/FM clock radio with LCD display with snooze function.
- Project the time on the ceiling with soothing blue light.
- Includes six natural sounds: Ocean, Waterfall, Summer Night, Rain Forest, and Rain.
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Customer Reviews of HoMedics SS-4000 Sound Spa Classic Deluxe Clock Radio & Sound Machine with Time Projection
Customer Review: Build Quality Poor, Sound Choices Good
Summary: 3 Stars
I purchased the HoMedics SS-4000 Sound Spa Classic Deluxe Clock Radio & Sound Machine for the purpose of creating a nighttime/daytime oasis (without tying up my stereo or iPod, which I reserve for music). First off, I am inclined to agree with others that this unit is, in fact, lightweight and potentially easy to knock out of place if used for its alarm clock functions. I paid $30 and while it has a nice selection of nature sounds to choose from, the build quality is only consistent with something roughly half the price. Example: There were sharp plastic nodules left over from the manufacturing process along the edge of the plastic housing along the bottom front. The tuner and volume knobs also feel flimsy, and the speaker a bit tinny. Radio reception on the SS-4000, however, was considerably better than that attained by the SS-7000 HoMedics Sound Spa Sound Machine Clock Radio with iPod Dock costing nearly three times as much. Still, the HoMedics was no match for the tuner on the Conair SU7 (an inexpensive soothing sounds infant product, also listed here on Amazon, which, ironically, offers more grownup functionality than the stripped-down model Conair apparently markets to adults under the name Obus Forme).
Focusing on the HoMedics SS-4000, I was first struck by the poorly balanced audio levels. If, for example, you set the volume and then switch from thunder (very faint) to rain (relatively loud) you may have to adjust the volume level again. In addition, one sound, in particular, is somewhat annoying when it shouldn't be. The rainfall sound has a foreground drip that sounds as if it is coming from a spout or drainpipe on an eve or roof. As a result, what one hears is not a pure rain sound, but the sort of sound you get from rain coming off a structure (remedied by turning the volume down lower to make it less noticeable). In other cases, the sounds lack realism. The "waterfall" sound, for example, sounds more like white noise than an actual waterfall. Also, as other reviewers pointed out, you cannot set the nature sounds to wake you independently of the sound level used for the buzzer/radio. Unfortunately, this appears to be a common oversight among products of this type, and is a flaw by no means unique to the HoMedics brand. Hence, the nature sounds may be too soft to wake you, while the radio level loud enough to wake the dead. (If you leave it on only one setting, you will be unlikely to experience a problem, however.)
The projection clock is advantageous insofar as it allows you to see what time it is without straining your neck. Having said that, however, it is far too easy to knock it out of focus given that the buttons you need to hit are set lower than the projection arm. Even while in focus, the readout is not nearly as crisp as, say, my La Crosse weather station projection in another room. In my opinion, the unit also puts off too much ambient blue light. If you are the type to sleep with a nightlight, you'll be able to unplug it after ordering this product. If you can't stand nightlights while you are sleeping, all bets may be off, however. Also, as other reviewers have pointed out, there is a slight ghosting effect of what should be non-projected LCD characters. (This appears to be normal, and not an indication of defect, however.) On the plus side, the bright green LCD characters are easy to read against the black background at all hours of the day and night. Unlike other clock manufacturers, who have erred in their assumption that black digits on a backlit blue or amber background are "cool" -- when, in fact, the backlighting makes it nearly impossible to read the time from any distance, even with 20/20 vision -- the HoMedics SS-4000 gets it right by sticking to the tried-and-true LCD display type.
The six nature sound choices -- ocean, thunder, rain, summer night, waterfall and rainforest -- are good in the sense that they do not leave anything out that is pleasant to hear. I particularly like the rainforest setting because none of the birds are too annoying. (I'm a bird owner but even I don't want to hear one bird steal the whole show.) Similarly, the ocean loop is not overkill where seagulls are concerned. (These are two sounds that I believe HoMedics implemented better when compared to the similarly priced Conair SU7 model, which features cuckoo birds in their rainforest loop, and pronounced gull sounds overlaying the ocean setting.) Overall, the HoMedics nature sounds are also presented in a relatively low pitch that blends well with background environmental noise. (The Conair sounds are higher pitched, but also somewhat more realistic and distinct from one another.) The tradeoff for HoMedics' use of blunted audio samples, however, is a lack of clarity and realism.
On the one hand, there is really no excuse for using anything short of CD-quality sound samples. In my post-purchase research, however, I have discovered that unless one moves up to the likes of Sharper Image or Brookstone sound machines -- at $100+ -- poor audio reproduction is seemingly par for the course. Moreover, when comparing HoMedics nature-sound alarm clocks against similarly priced Conair offerings, there is always some degree of white noise in the background of each sound sample no matter what the selection. The inexpensive nature of the speaker, and the fact that units in this price range rely on a single speaker, may explain why sound quality generates a less-than-satisfactory first impression (except, perhaps, at low background volume levels). On the other hand, there may be a slight advantage to inexpensive models such as the HoMedics SS-4000 Sound Spa Classic Deluxe Clock Radio & Sound Machine over pricier, CD-quality nature sound generators. What advantage, you ask? Ironically, less distinct sound samples against a flatter sound stage seemingly make for less noticeable looping (although the loops are still quite short). In effect, the pricey models are great for daytime ambiance -- as would be a far less expensive CD containing nature sounds -- whereas the relatively inexpensive department store brands, such as HoMedics and Conair sound machines, may be more conducive to sleep.
Bottom line? Nature sound CDs would be a better option if one prefers realistic audio or daytime use (and with "Echos of Nature", a five-disc CD set also sold here on Amazon, CDs would be the most cost-effective solution providing you have a CD player handy). Likewise, an air purifier -- which will further aid one's sleep by keeping the air circulating and fresh -- is a better choice if all one really desires is nighttime white noise.
More HoMedics SS-4000 Sound Spa Classic Deluxe Clock Radio & Sound Machine with Time Projection reviews:
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Description of HoMedics SS-4000 Sound Spa Classic Deluxe Clock Radio & Sound Machine with Time Projection
Model No. SS-4000. 6 Nature Sounds: Ocean; Summer Night; Rain; Rainforest; Thunder; Waterfall. Wake to nature sounds, radio or alarm. Time projects on ceiling in soothing blue light. Create the perfect sleep environment. Sound Spa Classic filters out background noise as you read, work or study. At night it helps you fall asleep faster and wake completely rested. Adjustable angle projection clock with 180 degree rotation. AM/FM Radio. Wake to nature sound, radio or alarm. Convenient snooze feature. Large digit green LED clock display. Due to continuous product improvements, the picture on the carton may differ slightly from the actual product. This product employs a UL listed adaptor. 1 Year Limited Warranty. Made in China.Health, Care, Beauty Products
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