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The Pure Chronos-CD is a maximum of 19x19 at the front and 10cm tall, at the rear it's only 4cm wide and that is why I found it best to call it a wedge. It is black with grey grills covering the speakers that start at the front and mould around the edges. The buttons are all silver.

The top has the CD under a manual open and close lid and four buttons along the front edge that can control it. The top front edge has a 9cm long snooze button so opening the eyes to get that extra few minutes is not essential.

See also: DAB Radios

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A 6.5x3.5cm LED display dominates the top of the front with 14 bar buttons (all well labelled) below it and inputs for earbuds and 'Aux' completing the front. Nothing on either side or the rounded rear. The bottom has three small rubber feet and two channels cut into the base for the power lead and wire aerial the latter is hard wired.

Plug in the power adapter and extend the 90cm wire antenna then switch on. It will autotune in my case it finds 53 DAB stations and despite it being only a wire antenna the DAB reception was perfect.

The display has three main line from the bottom it displays now playing, the station and the centre of the top line - equivalent to two lines - displays a large digital clock. However the edges of this area have a number of small icons that in theory are three lines on the left and four lines on the right. While most functions can be controlled from the unit switching back and forward with tracks when in CD mode can only be done from the nine key remote.

I found FM reception slightly impaired still listenable but not 100% perfect. The 'Aux' enables you to connect something like an MP3 player and use the units speakers for output.

It is possible to store up to thirty preset stations but this list is both DAB and FM however even if I put twenty FM stations in it and ten DAB I could always quickly access any other DAB stations from the list on the display.

You have no less than four alarms that can be set to go off on different days, at different times and even with choice of sound, this can be a tone, a DAB or FM station or even track 1 from a loaded CD. The snooze button defaults to nine minutes but you can change this to other figures.

A sleep timer enables the unit to shut down after a variable set period to enable you to fall off to sleep to your favourite sounds.

Although not huge the speakers give a good clear sound in an enclosed area such as a bedroom and would probably also work reasonable in a small lounge.

I enjoyed using this unit and the range of what to wake up and go to sleep to means you should always be suited. When the unit is off (but still connected to the mains) a clock shows but with a much dimmed display.

Doing my Internet searches found the Pure Chronos CD at a best price of £89.90 from the first link below.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000KX0FCU

http://www.pure-digital.com/Products/Product.asp?Product=VL-60801