The alarm clock radio from Sonoro is a solid device that sounds great. Users can use the device to listen to AM/FM, CD tracks, or even music streamed from an MP3 player. Unfortunately, its asking price is what may set users back, especially since this clock radio does not support digital radio in any way.

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Quality is not a question with the Cubo as the company uses veneers made of genuine wood. It is heavy (3.7kg), has a working dimension of 210mm x 137mm x 230mm, and sports a black, high gloss lacquered-finish exterior (also comes in silver, white, yellow, red, pink, green, as well as cherry, maple, and walnut natural wood finishes).

An amber-coloured LCD dimmable display along with the unit’s tuning, volume, CD control (Previous, Pause, Play, Stop, Next, Open), mode, menu, and standby buttons are found up front. Six preset radio station buttons, two alarm buttons, a snooze button, and the speakers are found on top of the unit, while the headphone jack, AUX in, Kensington lock, FM antennae port, and power supply connector are located at the unit’s rear.

The unit does not come with a remote control, forcing users to go on the device just to change stations or tracks (when playing an audio CD).

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The Cubo is easy to operate since all the necessary buttons are placed in front and on top of the unit. For example, to store a station, all a user needs to do is to press and hold a number until a beep is heard. In addition, shifting from one function to another (FM to AM to CD to AUX) will only take a few seconds, with the unit displaying the current mode it is on.

Waking up to your favourite music is also possible with its alarm clock feature. Besides being able to set two alarms at different times, users can choose to be woken up by the radio, the buzzer, or by your favourite CD (you can choose what track to play).

Compared to other clock radios out there that sound tinny, the Sonoro Cubo is quite the performer. Music played from the main sources (radio, CD, and iPod) sounded fantastic, with vocals being clear and bass being felt. The unit’s treble and bass settings can be adjusted, which allowed us to customise the speaker output.

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The unit comes with a 3.5mm jack and an acrylic cradle to dock your MP3 player. This audio jack is useful if you want to listen to music from your iPod or notebook.

Now for the bad news: the Cubo did not have any DAB+ chip, making it impossible for the unit to get digital radio when hits in a couple of months. The RRP is also an issue – at $699, it is not exactly your ‘average’ radio alarm clock.

Overall, the Sonoro Cubo looks and sounds great. It can play your CDs, can let you listen to FM stations, and can play music from an external source. If you want a classy unit to complement your decor, then go for this device. But if the asking price is just too much for you, then better look elsewhere.

Update: The guys over at Ordio are selling a Cubo which comes with a DAB+ chip.

See page over for product specifications and final rating.

Sonoro Cubo Product Specifications:

Technology

• FM radio with PLL tuner
• AM radio
• 6 FM preset stations
• Full-range, high-quality speaker with integrated bass-reflex tube
• Internal FM antenna
• Digital clock with dual alarm function
• Wake up to a CD, the radio or beep signal
• Snooze function
• Slot-in CD-player (CD, CD-R, CD-RW, CDA)
• 20 programmable tracks
• One or all tracks repeat mode
• Random and programmed playback

Input/Output

• Power supply 230V, 50 Hz
• 75-Ohm FM antenna jack
• 3.5 mm AUX-IN jack for use with iPods and MP3 players
• Stereo output jack

Dimensions

• Compact design: 210mm x 137 mm x 230 mm (8.27″ x 5.39″ x 9.06″)
• Weight: approximately 3700 grams (8.16 lbs)

Accessories (included in box):

• Acrylic design cradle for MP3 player
• 3.5 mm audio cable
• External FM antenna

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Sonoro Cubo AU-1300 | $599 |  | www.ordio.com.au

For: Solid build; CD player; Accessible buttons; Dual alarm; FM tuner; AUX in port; Sound Quality
Against: No DAB+; Price a bit steep; No remote control
Conclusion: A classy clock radio for your bedroom.