Little Sony Radio (Sony ICF 703LB)

Member Name: thespurs

Product:	Sony ICF 703LB
Date:	25/10/04 (309 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Stylish, Sony, Cheap

Disadvantages: None

--Introduction--

It was my Dad's birthday last weekend and he had asked me to buy him a portable radio for his birthday. This was a fairly easy mission for me as I think that I can spot a good radio when I see one. He does a lot of decorating and renovation of house and flat interiors and he needs something to keep him a little distrated whilst he works. Like myself, Dad hates to do any sort of work in complete silence so he will listen to a bit of gentle music to keep him, in a word motivated. I remembered a little Sony radio that was in a shop and its price had been reduced, so I went out and bought, I got a bargain really.


--Radio--

The radio is pretty good, but you would expect that with a Sony product. The tuner and aerial seem to be pretty powerful and you can pick up a huge number of stations. The actual quality is pretty remarkable, it's is primarily crackle and interference free if you are in a well built up location. Dad left his car stereo at home one day last week and he said that he used this radio on the go. The quality was still as good as when he was stationary. This radio would be good for long car or train journeys that you may have to make. I don't really know how to describe this in words, but the tuner button is very easy to use and make it stay on the frequency that you want it. On some radios you can't quite fully tune in to a station which leaves you with crackles and dips and rises in the volume level. The stations do also tend to have a range for which you can fully be tuned into them.


--Sound and Volume--

The sound is very clear and crisp, which is vitally important in any sort of audio device. The sound output is only Mono but it is still more than acceptable. Any sort of music isn't compromised by this and you get the full enjoyment out of it. The speaker itself is very wide and the sound is directed in many directions. It is a very powerful little radio because you can turn it up pretty loud so that you can hear it wherever you are in the room. Unlike most portable radios, the sound quality doesn't decrease as the volume is turned up. On maximum volume the quality of the sound output is very good.


--Features--

The features are pretty limited to what you would expect on a portable radio. It has the three bands; FM, MW and LW. There is a socket for earphones when you use the radio for personal use. The radio can be operated using 4 x AA batteries or using a mains adapter. There is a button that allows you to adjust the tone if you feel it to be necessary. A red LED indicates which frequency the radio is tuned to. The most unique feature is the carry handle which is handy for moving it about. There is no need for a stand on the back of the radio, because this free-standing.


--Durability--

This radio is very well put together with some very strong and sturdy materials. It looks and feels very compact, as though it can take a few knocks and bashes. As I will mention, the digital revolution is taking hold but I think this radio will be good for many years use as long as it is well looked after. I expect that it will have a long life time, the fact that it is a Sony.


--Aesthetics--

If I may say so myself, I think that this is a very attractive looking portable radio. I did have the styling and looks of the radio as one of the things I wanted and I feel I achieved that in purchasing this radio. The main material itself, is a matt grey plastic, although some radios come in black. The whole of the front is the meshing that covers the speaker and on the top edge is the tuning indicator. The buttons down the side come in black and are circular which maintains that organic feel about the radio. There are no straight lines to be seen on the radio. Overall, I think that this a fantastic looking radio, wherever you may want to use it.


--Instruction Manual--

The overwhelming impression that I get, when reading through the manual is one of simplicity. The layout of the text makes reading easy. The text is set out into clearly defined points and sections. This then allows you to scan through the information and indentify the solution to whatever your problem is. The diagrams are very clear and well annotated which I found to be very handy. A lot of diagrams in other manuals aren't well annotated which can make life very difficult. I find the contents to be very helpful, because it clearly defines each section of the manual. I was able to find what I was looking for very quickly and managed to resolve the situation.


--Analogue or Digital?--

I did think about getting a digital radio for my Dad because in a few years the will be pretty much standard. So that would then mean that this radio only got a few years use before being replaced whilst it was still in full working order. However, this radio does pick up stations very well and the quality is very clear, you tend to get very crackles. The fact that my Dad will be using the radio whilst he is doing work, leaves it vulnerable to damage whether it is dropped or liquid gets inside it. Therefore, the cost of it breaking would be far less because it can be replaced cheaply. The digital radios also don't tend to have the most 'workman-like' of styling about them and they seem to be rather fragile. There are also more chances of a fault occuring and they are far more expensive, although prices have come down.


--Conclusion--

I paid £22 for this radio and his has a reccomended retail price of £35. I think that this a cracking little radio and it is very well priced indeed. It looks great and should last for many years to come. It would be ideal for the bedroom, to put in the kitchen, use whilst travelling and when you are working. It is a great gift, my Dad really appreciated it. I would suggest that you don't give in to the digital revolution just yet and that you buy one of these.

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