Go to Windows 7 Insider GuideBoston Acoustics Horizon Solo clock radio (midnight/gray)
Manufacturer: Boston Acoustics Inc. Part number: HSOLOMDNT
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Boston Acoustics Horizon Solo is a heavy-duty clock radio, but its bare-bones feature set will have shoppers trading up to the iPod-enabled step-up model.
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CNET editors' review
Boston Acoustics Horizon Solo clock radio (midnight/gray) price range: $89.00 - $99.99
- Reviewed by: John P. Falcone
- Reviewed on: 07/31/2008
- Released on: 04/01/2008
The good: The Boston Acoustics Horizon Solo AM/FM clock radio has robust build quality; display spins for vertical or horizontal orientation; easy access to unique snooze bar; interchangeable color grilles available; great sound quality.
The bad: No dedicated iPod dock; AC-only operation means no battery or charging option; rubberized finish attracts fingerprints and smudges.
The bottom line: The Boston Acoustics Horizon Solo is a heavy-duty clock radio, but its bare-bones feature set will have shoppers trading up to the iPod-enabled step-up model.
One of our favorite tabletop radios in recent years was the Boston Acoustics Recepter, which combined straightforward design with great sound. Flash forward a few years, and the Recepter's replacement is finally here. The Horizon Solo is the smallest of the three tabletop models in Boston's line. All three models make use of the Personal Options Plan, which means they can utilize one of nine interchangeable grilles--available separately--with colors ranging from chili pepper red to olive green. If that's not enough, the Solo can sit horizontally or vertically, depending on your preference. The radio retains the Recepter's $100 asking price.
The Horizon Solo is 5 inches tall by 8 inches wide by 6 inches deep when oriented horizontally, but you can flip it on its side to fit into the tight spaces of a nightstand or kitchen counter; and the circular control panel can rotate accordingly, so the knobs and LCD screen are always level. The design is a model of simplicity: just three knobs (mode, volume, and tuning) and two buttons to toggle the dual alarms. The snooze bar, meanwhile, is disguised as the silver trim that frames the front speaker grille. Just tap it anywhere to buy yourself 10 more minutes in the morning--a nice solution for groggy wake-ups.
Knob-based controls are always preferable to a sea of tiny buttons, and the Solo's rubberized controls have a nice, tactile feel. All three knobs can be depressed to access additional functions, such as toggling the radio band, setting presets, and powering on and off. The blue backlit LCD is one of the most clear and legible screens we've seen in a long time--it can be manually set to 20 levels of brightness, and automatically dims as the room darkens.
The features list is pretty bare-bones--this is, after all, just a clock radio, albeit one that's intended for the higher end of the shopping scale. The radio receives standard AM and FM broadcasts--but don't look for digital HD Radio reception or RDS text support (song and artist info). There's no iPod dock, but the 3.5mm auxiliary input lets you connect an Apple music player--or anything else with a headphone jack. The dual alarms can be set to wake to the radio (the last station played), an alarm tone, or a combination of both. Up to 20 station presets are available, and you can mix and match AM and FM choices to your heart's content. The sleep timer can be set in five-minute intervals up to 90 minutes.
In addition to the auxiliary input, the only jacks on the rear panel are the power connector and AM and FM antenna inputs. An FM wire antenna is included, and you pretty much need it attached to receive any stations whatsoever. A stereo headphone jack is on the radio's front face. There's no remote control--though that's not a big deal for this sort of product.
The Solo is available in midnight (gray) and mist (white), and--if you're looking for a color change--you can purchase one of 9 snap-on "Personal Options Plan" faceplates for about $15 each. The one thing we didn't like about the body (sides and rear) of the Solo was that the rubberized plastic was a magnet for fingerprints, smudges, and dust--a matte finish would've been an improvement.
Despite housing only a single 3.5-inch driver, the Solo's audio performance was a worthy follow-up to the Recepter. Radio reception was excellent, with static non-existent on all but the most distant local stations. Flipping around the dial, we heard artists as diverse as Green Day, the Talking Heads, the Rolling Stones, and Lil Wayne all sounded good--sonics were rich and full, with clear definition. Turning to talk radio (NPR), we found the voices to be totally neutral--that's good--giving the feeling that the announcers were in the same room as we were. For the stations where the baseline sound didn't have quite enough presence, we appreciated the fact that we could manually adjust bass and treble settings to our liking.
So, the question becomes: does a unique design and above-average audio performance make the Boston Acoustics Horizon Solo worth $100? The answer, these days, feels like a "no"--and that's partially the fault of the companion products in the Boston Acoustics line. Spend just a bit more, and you can get either the Boston Acoustics Duo (a larger stereo version of the Solo) or the Duo-i (same as the Duo, but with an iPod dock built into the top).
Alternately, look at something like the iHome iH9. It doesn't feel nearly as well built as the beefy 5-pound Boston, but the identically priced clock radio includes an iPod dock, stereo speakers, and a variety of niceties not found in the Solo, such as independent alarm volume control and one-/five-/seven-day alarm toggles. Likewise, we would've loved to see a built-in rechargeable battery (like the Tivoli PAL/iPAL) that would've turned the Solo into a semiportable unit--for taking from room to room or out on the deck. (There is a small battery on board for retaining alarm and preset settings during power outages, but that's it.) The addition of any or all of those sorts of upgrades to the Boston would've helped enhance its value in an increasingly competitive market.
Still, if you're just looking for a solid--and solidly built--basic clock radio, there's a lot to like about the Boston Acoustics Horizon Solo. Just be sure to price the other models in Boston's line before you take the plunge--you may be able to get them for as little as $30 more.
Editors' note: The version of this product sold in Europe, the Solo XT, also includes the ability to receive DAB radio broadcasts.
User reviews
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Great sound, high-quality clock-radio
by jimmy4vb on July 9, 2009
Pros: Easy to set up, deep rich bass. Quick digital tuner. High-quality construction. Solid feel. Combined AM/FM presets.
Cons: Preset order is not under user control. Use of mode knob is confusing.
Summary: I have been in the market for a bathroom clock/radio to replace a unit we have used for over 10 years. My wife and children all listen to different ...
Summary: I have been in the market for a bathroom clock/radio to replace a unit we have used for over 10 years. My wife and children all listen to different stations, so a digital tuner is a must. I like a rich, full sound, so many of the clock/radios on the market don't measure up.
Many reviews claimed the Sony ICF-S79 to be what I wanted, but that unit has absolutely no low-end and we quickly returned it.
I have only had the Solo for a week, so I cannot report on its long-term operation. Upon receiving the unit, I was surprised by the weight (very solid) and size (a bit larger than expected). But once I turned it on, I was immediately impressed by its sound reproduction.
The radio is very easy to set up, although establishing the presets is non-intuitive and requires a quick scan of the user manual. Once understood, I had it programmed and running in less than two minutes. An unexpected plus is the ability to include both AM and FM presets in the same set (there is only ONE set of presets). A bit of an oddity is that the presets get assigned by the radio, not by you, and go in the order that they are saved. If you want your presets in a specific order and miss a station, adding it later will put it at the end. The only way to fix this is to remove All presets and start over. Since setting presets is relatively easy, this is not a show-stopper.
The unit includes a bass and treble control (+/-5) as well as brightness (0-20), which can be manually adjusted to an almost off condition. The flat tone settings are quite acceptable, especially in a room the size of a bathroom. However, experimenting with the bass control proved this unit can provide a powerful low end which gives it a richer sound than some Wave radios I have heard.
I'll admit to continued difficulty with the "mode" control among family members. The unit has three knobs that are twisted left or right and pushed to select. The largest is the on/off volume and its use is obvious. The tuning knob is also easy to use and understand. The mode knob continually causes my family to switch from "preset" mode to "AM" or "FM" manual tuning mode. When the unit is on, simply twisting the mode knob will spring it into action, moving through Presets, FM, AM, and configuration settings. I have found it too easy to accidentally change from "preset mode" to "manual FM tuning mode" without the user being aware of what they have done. This will likely disappear once the family becomes more familiar with it and stops touching that knob.
I am very impressed with the speed at which the radio changes stations when using the tuning knob in preset mode. I have 16 presets, and spinning the tuning knob quickly through them allows for a very rapid scan of what's playing on all stations.
The radio has a sleep mode and dual-alarm function, but since we use it in the bathroom, I cannot report on the those functions.
As you can probably tell, I am an early fan of this radio. It appears very well constructed and its rich audio would be suited to most any room in the house. If it provides the longevity I expect from a Boston Acoustic product, this radio is a sure winner.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Decent bathroom radio.
by jsarajian on November 25, 2009
Pros: Great sound quality. Great reception.
Cons: The second alarm does not function the same as the first alarm (no snooze). Further, if you oversleep the first alarm, the volume resets at 0.
Summary: Alarm functionality not as expected, but otherwise a nice-sounding compact radio.
Summary: Alarm functionality not as expected, but otherwise a nice-sounding compact radio.
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Great sound, lousy at keeping time.
by dstefonek on March 8, 2009
Pros: I think for the money paid at $100.00 this radio has a great sound.
Cons: This product cannot keep time. Do not buy if you are a stickler for accurate time keeping. 1st one I returned because of inability to keep time within 3 weeks. The 2nd one I'm stuck with at about the 18 month point. Does not maintain accurate time.
Summary: I like the tuning sensitivity very well. The sound of this unit is quite respectable. I am a retired radio broadcastor and perhaps because of that, the inability of this ...
Summary: I like the tuning sensitivity very well. The sound of this unit is quite respectable. I am a retired radio broadcastor and perhaps because of that, the inability of this clock radio to keep time just irritates me to no end. I will get rid of this radio probably as a give away, and replace it with something that sounds at least as good but will keep accurate time.
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best sounding bedside radio, best function set as well
by messagefromamsterdam on November 4, 2008
Pros: Pleasing aesthetics, many grill colour options
Solid look and feel, enclosure as well as knobs and dials
Well chosen functionalty
Very good soundCons: Possibility to play mp3's from a usb stick or CF card.
Summary: Well, I recently was on a quest for the perfect birthday gift for my spouse. Her portable bedside JVC ghetto blaster had finally deceased, the foam cone surrounds a fine ...
Summary: Well, I recently was on a quest for the perfect birthday gift for my spouse. Her portable bedside JVC ghetto blaster had finally deceased, the foam cone surrounds a fine example of biblical dust-to-dust, controls and knobs (if not missing) producing squeaks and hissing noises. So, a befitting gift would be the audiophile interpretation of a retro design mono radio combined with clock, alarm and sleep timer.
Anno 2008 the following products fit that description in price-descending order: Tivoli Model Three, Vita Audio R1, Tangent Audio Duo, Boston Acoustics Horizon Solo. They all share the same size and basic concept but achieve this using different means. The Tivolo was there first and basically created this niche.
The Tivoli is very retro (and classy) looking with its real wooden enclosure. Although the controls feel a bit lighter and less solid than you would expect. It sounds very well, although a bit bass heavy. No audio controls, so what you hear is what you get. A second (stereo) speaker is available. Just a few colour options. In the US this already is a pricy gift: $ 200. In Europe, the external power supply is replaced by an internal transformer, and price jumps to ? 325 (!). The clock is a large analogue affair, the alarms of which are kind of fiddly to set up.
The Vita is more neutral sounding, not surprising if you take into account that this is actually designed and build by Ruark a well known audiophile UK loudspeaker brand. List price is a hefty ? 275. Online it?s available for ?220. The Vita sports a very clean design, a mix of modern and retro, a unique and very well designed and laid-out rotary control. Many modern colours are available for an additional ? 30. Here sound has prevailed above all other functions. As good as it sounds, as basic are the clock/alarm/timer functions. RDS is present but doesn?t work well, nor does the clock synchronize time and date correctly. And manual adjustments are not possible, a function probably deemed unnecessary. Bye the way, the digital time display is so small that anyone with a dioptre > +2 won?t be able to see the digits sharply. This in spite of the fact that at night the Vita is perfectly capable of illuminating your sleeping room, also one of the non-adjustable features. The Vita sports an small external power supply and is the only one that must be placed upright, in portrait mode so to speak.
The Tangent Duo is a lot cheaper at ? 199 (list) or from ?130 online. But the materials used feel and look a lot cheaper too. Limited available colours, classic as well as modern. Tangent Audio is an up-market sub brand of the Danish budget speaker manufacturer Eltax. The sound is still very appreciable, but can?t match the more expensive competition. The Tangent has an analogue clock which is easier to set up than Tivoli's. The external power supply is bulky and ugly. If you like the looks and sound and are looking for an analogue clock this is probably the best buy.
The latest competitor to arrive on the scene is the Boston Horizon Solo. An American product, manufactured in China (where else) that takes a different approach. Same size, no classic wooden enclosure, but ABS, some sort of heavy plastic. It can be used in portrait or landscape mode, thanks to the rotating dial cluster. No classic colours either. The base unit is available in black or white. The front grill is interchangeable and comes in many pastel and modern colours. If retro at all, this is more a sixties than a fifties design. Build quality is very good, controls feel solid, are well laid out are easy to use. The digital clock is large enough to be read meters away from the unit, and has adjustable illumination that adapts automatically to lighting conditions. Tuning can be done in automatic, manual or preset mode while signal reception is very sensitive, no match for the competition either. Nice surprise is the sound: better than the competition, a fuller sound with the right kind of bass tuning. Goes loud enough without distortion. Second surprise: US price is $ 100. In Europe ? 149. Still too big a difference, but very competitive.
It?s amazing to find so many competitors in this niche segment. I wonder if more is on its way. But in the mean time the Boston gets you the rich full sound of a sixties radio cabinet in chocolate box size at a silly price. Although the gift season may have only just begun, you might already have found the perfect gift. All you?re left with is choosing the right colour?.which may proof to be a more challenging task altogether. -
Please waste your money on this product!!
by HarryD112 on August 24, 2009
Pros: Cute, very small
Cons: You will get better reception from a portable $9.00 radio.
Summary: I would never recommend this radio, unless someone wanted something cute on their shelve.
Summary: I would never recommend this radio, unless someone wanted something cute on their shelve.
0 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Boston Acoustics Inc.
- Part number: HSOLOMDNT
- Description: Solo has been designed to look great - and engineered to sound even better. A precision tuner locks in distant radio stations. And an advanced full range driver with Boston?s patented BassTrac audio processing delivers rich, clean bass at all listening levels.
General
- Product type Clock radio
- Color Midnight
- Depth 6.3 in
- Height 5.3 in
- Width 8.3 in
Audio Features
- Timer Wake, Sleep, Snooze
- Built-in clock Alarm, Digital clock
- Alarm qty 2
- Alarm wake-up modes Radio, Buzzer
Built-in Display
- Audio system built-in display LCD
Speaker System
- Speaker(s) 1 x Speaker Built-in
- Driver details Speaker . 1 Full-range driver 3.5 in
Radio
- Tuner type Digital Radio tuner
- Station preset qty 20
- Tuner bands AM/FM
- Tuning display LCD display
Connectivity
- Connector type 1 x Audio line-in Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Headphones Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
Battery / Power
- Power device type Power supply
Product series
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Boston Acoustics Horizon Solo clock radio (midnight/gray)
Manufacturer: Boston Acoustics Inc.
Specs: Clock radio, AM/FM, Midnight, LCD
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Boston Acoustics Horizon Solo clock radio (mist/white)
Manufacturer: Boston Acoustics Inc.
Specs: Clock radio, AM/FM, Mist, LCD
Manufacturer info
- Boston Acoustics Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Boston Acoustics Inc. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.bostonacoustics.com/
- Address:
300 Jubilee Dr.
Peabody, MA 01960 - Phone: 978-538-5000
- Email: support@bostonacoustics.com
- Fax: 978-538-5199
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