Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony ICFC233 Dream Machine Clock Radio (Green)

I couldn't believe how much time it took me to set up a clock radio! The "control panel" is far from intuitive. After so many years of setting up digital watches, car radios, stereos, vcrs etc., I rarely use a manual. Not with the "Dream Machine" ,however. I can't believe sony would make this so difficult.

Once in use, you will NOT be positively impressed with the sound quality or the brightness of the LCD screen. It's a nice green color tho...

You can find better for less money. Keep looking!

If you don't like the color get a different color, mine is black. I'm only 13 years old and I never once had to look at the directions, for the most part it's self-explanatory. My stereo can't even pick up radio stations but my Dream Machine picks them up clear as a bell.

I've had this clock/radio for about 2 years now. I had never had any trouble with it. It's taken much abuse because of numerous falls on the floor from my high table. I got it in black, not the Forest Green they have here.

The setup is really easy, I never once opened the manual to figure out how to setup the clock and preset the radio stations. Once I had to do it in pitch dark because my college dorm room mate was sleeping and I didn't want to turn on the lights. It doesn't take a 'rocket scientist' to figure out how to use the thing. It just takes common sense from using other electronic devices.

The backlid screen is very convenient, unlike those other clocks with LCD lights, you can still see the time when the sunlight or any other bright light shines onto the display. Although the backlid screen does get annoying when it can brighten the whole entire room at 3 in the morning.

One serious drawback behind this device is that a lot of interference from other electronic devices can seriously degrade reception of radio frequencies. This makes the radio an hassle to use whenever I turned on my older computer and my older electronic devices, whenever I have newer ones around it turned on, it worked just fine. So I'm guessing that the older electronics don't comply with the newer FCC regualations towards radio interference. So if you have older electronics around and plan on putting a clock/radio nearby it, this isn't the product you should get.

my brother bought me this as a gift. the color is hideous and the reception stinks

Although the FM does not come in that well, I love this radio because it gets the best AM reception I have ever had. It is easy to use and you can find all the right buttons in the dark.