It's a wind-up (Sony ICF B01)

Member Name: JJJJ

Product:	Sony ICF B01
Date:	11/08/08 (159 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: No batteries needed! Great for the environment

Disadvantages: No Long Wave

Sony's imaginatively titled 'ICF-B01' wind-up radio is a well-designed product. The silver version (shown above) looks a little dull, but the orange version is very cool indeed. Offering both AM and FM, a soft light and a flashlight, it's great for a camping trip.

Although there are no settings for adjusting the sound (apart from volume), the quality is by no means bad, with music and speech being transmitted clearly.

When I first used the Sony, it ran for about three days without being wound, and I was very impressed. However, when wound for the first time, it only lasted for 5 minutes. I fully discharged it and wound it again - this time for longer - but again, it only gave me around 7 minutes listening time. I've now found that winding for 3 minutes will produce twenty minutes of sound - which isn't at all bad. However, all that winding can be tiresome - I suppose it's good for the environment and the exercise is good for me! If cranking the power generator is not for you, then there is the option to use 2 AAA batteries instead - but where's the fun in that...?

Overall, a very well designed product that looks good too. The soft light and flash light are handy additions, but will require further winding to keep them running. It would have been good if the ICF-B01 had featured longwave, but you can't have everything.

Summary: Great for camping, BBQ's etc

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