I have try live with this alarm clock for 4 month . I can not . in fact , I have just order a new alarm clock to replace it , because I can not stand it anymore . this be why : 1 . no radio . you have to wake up to its preprogrammed `` relaxing '' sound . 2 . many of the sound track be on a noticeable loop , especially the `` highway '' and `` wind chime '' one . 3 . the ambient light be SO bright , even when it be on the `` dimmer '' mode . it be so intense in a darkened room that I have to buy some tinted tape to put over the lead number , just so I could sleep at night . -lrb- I be one of those people that be highly sensitive to ambient light in my room at night . probably more so than other -rrb- . I also notice that the ambient light seep out of the seam of the plastic on the top and back . 4 . even on the quietest setting , it be still too loud for I to fall asleep to . I have to put duct tape over the speaker to make it quieter . 5 . once you set you sound and volume level to fall asleep to , you have to wake up to that sound level , too . for example , I may want to fall asleep to the gentle sound of `` rainforest '' on Level 1 -lrb- nice and gentle sound lull I to sleep -rrb- . well , my only choice be to wake up to a select sound on level 1 as well - which be WAY too quiet to rouse I from sleep ! the only other option be to select `` buzzer '' which I hate . -lrb- I do not do buzzer alarm - much too aggressive way to wake up . -rrb- in short , I do not recommend this clock as a alarm . it would be great in a office as a quiet background noise maker . but then , why would you pay $ 30 + for that , when you can buy something much cheaper that do the same thing ?? I wish I would have have the option to return it , but I do not buy it directly from sharper image ; and frankly , I be determine to enjoy this fancy alarm clock . one and only positive : very easy to set the clock time and alarm time . bottom line : not recommend .