Choosing Your Alarm clock

It is not always easy to leave the arms of Morpheus. A large majority of French households, 70% according to GfK, uses an alarm clock. From the simplest to the most elaborate, today's models offer various features.

Radio, classic alarm sounds or borrowed from nature, dual programming, time display on the ceiling, a thermal sensor to display the outside temperature or dawn simulator for a progressive wake up light, manufacturers do not miss imagination to hit their target. Digital tuners are gradually replacing analog tuners. But the real strong trend of the moment is connected awakenings, which are based on biological rhythms to wake sleepers at the best time. The French brand Withings was one of the first to embark on this adventure.

KEY POINTS

Convenience of use

 In addition to the appearance and functions offered, the alarm clock must be easy to use and offer easy and intuitive programming. Some models are radio-controlled for automatic time setting.

Consumption

Clocks are energy efficient. Nevertheless, whether for ecological or economic reasons, a consumption contained in electricity remains an important point to consider.

Audio quality

Most alarm clocks have loudspeakers for broadcasting radio, sounds or music from an external audio player. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of progress to be made in terms of audio quality.

Additional features

Some alarms such as a smart alarm clock include more or less elaborate functions: radio, digital tuner, double alarm, programmable standby, Snooze function, time display on the ceiling, outdoor temperature, dawn simulator ...

OUR TESTING PROCEDURES

We use the alarm clock in a situation for a week, the time necessary to evaluate the convenience of use, test the various modes of adjustment, measure the different levels of intensity of illumination of the screen, an intensity which can prove troublesome as can sometimes be, the ceiling display. The sound quality is assessed by the editors of the sound lab.