Sony DREAM MACHINE ICF-C253, ICF-C253L Clock Radio Manual

Overview

Safety

To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture.
To avoid electrical shock, do not open the cabinet. Refer servicing to qualified personnel only.
Do not install the appliance in a confined space, such as a bookcase or built-in cabinet.
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not place objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on the apparatus.

For the Customers in Canada

TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH WIDE BLADE OF PLUG TO WIDE SLOT, FULLY INSERT.

Before You Begin

Thank you for choosing the Sony Dream Machine. The Dream Machine will give you many hours of reliable service and listening pleasure.
Before operating your unit, please read these instructions thoroughly and retain them for future reference.

The instructions here are for models ICF-C253 and ICF-C253L.
Their difference is shown below:

Features

• Dual alarm FM/AM (ICF-C253) or FM/MW/LW (ICF-C253L) PLL (phase locked loop) synthesized clock radio.
• LCD with backlight, and brightness adjustmentfor the backlight.
• Date button to display the year, month andday.
• Easy radio preset—with the pressing of abutton.
• D.S.T. (Daylight Saving Time)—Summer timeadjustment (one-hour skip function).
• 5 random station presets.
• Radio and buzzer alarms.
• Extendable snooze—snooze time can beextended from 8 to 60 minutes in maximum every time you use.

Setting the Clock and Date

1. Set the alarm setting dial to ALARM MODE OFF.
2. Plug in the clock radio.
   The display will flash "AM 12:00" or "0:00".
3. Press CLOCK for a few seconds.
   You will hear a beep and the year will start to flash in the display.
4. Press CLOCK + or – until the correct year appears in the display.
5. Press CLOCK once.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 to set the month, day, hour, and minute.
   After setting the minute, press CLOCKto start the counting of the seconds, and you will hear two short beeps.

• To display the year and date, press SNOOZE/ DATE/SLEEP OFF once for the date, and within 2 seconds press it again for the year. The display shows the date or year for a few seconds and then changes back to the current time.
• To set the current time rapidly, hold down CLOCK + or –.
• The clock system varies depending on themodel you own.
  12-hour system: "AM 12:00" = midnight
  24-hour system: "0:00" = midnight
• In step 6, when you press CLOCK after the minute setting to activate the clock, the seconds start counting from zero.
• When the alarm setting dial is set to ALARM TIME SET A or B, the clock cannot be set.

To change the display to the daylight saving time (summer time) indication

Press D.S.T./SUMMER T.
" " is displayed and the time indication changes to summer time.
To deactivate the summer time function, press D.S.T./SUMMER T.again.

To set the brightness of the backlight

Set BRIGHTNESS for the display to H (high) or L (low) according to your preference.

Changing AM Channel Step

ICF-C253 only

The AM channel step of this unit is factory-set to 9 kHz. When in North or South America, however, the channel step of radio stations is 10 kHz, change the settings as shown below to be able to listen to the radio.

1. Plug in the clock radio.
   Press RADIO OFFto turn off the power.
2. While holding down RA DIO OFF, keep pressing BA NDfor more than 5 seconds. The AM channel step will be changed.
   If you proceed to step 2 again, the channel step changes again.

• When the AM channel step is changed, the preset stations will be erased.

Operating the Radio

Manual Tuning

1. Press RADIO ON to turn on the radio.
   The display shows the band and frequency for a few seconds and then changes back to the current time.
2. Press BAND repeatedly to select the desired band.
3. Use TUNING + or – to tune in to the desired station.
   The FM channel step is set to 0.1 MHz and the AM (MW) channel step is set to 10 kHz (North and South American model). The FM channel step is set to 0.05 MHz* and the AM (MW)/ LW channel step is set to 9 kHz (Other models).

* The FM frequency display is raised or lowered by a step of 0.1 MHz. For example, frequency 88.00 and 88.05 MHz is displayed as "88.0 MHz."

Two short beeps sound when the minimum frequency of each band is received during tuning.

4. Adjust volume using VOL.

• To turn off the radio, press RADIO OFF.
• To listen with an earphone, connect theearphone to the v (earphone) jack. The speaker is deactivated when an earphone is connected (ICF-C253 for European model only)
• To improve reception

FM: Extend the FM wire antenna fully to increase reception sensitivity.

AM(MW)/LW: Rotate the unit horizontally for optimum reception. A ferrite bar is built in to the unit.

Do not operate the unit over a steel desk or metal surface, as this may lead to interference of reception.

• To check the station being received, press TUNING + or – lightly. The display shows the band and frequency for a few seconds and then changes back to the current time.
• If the radio alarm comes on while the radio ison, the unit switches to the station on WAKE UP STATION (preset 1 button).

Preset Tuning

You can preset up to five stations for one-touch tuning; one for each of the preset buttons 1 to 5.

Presetting a station

Example: To preset AM 1 260 kHz onto preset 2 button.

1. Press RADIO ON to turn on the radio.
2. Tune in to the station you want to preset.
   (See "Manual Tuning".)
3. Hold down the desired
   STATION•SELECT/PRESET button (in this case, 2) until you hear two short beeps.
   
   The display shows the frequency for a few seconds and then changes back to the current time.

For the radio alarm, preset the station to be used as the alarm onto preset 1 button.

To change a preset station

Tune in manually to the station you want to store and hold down the preset button until you hear two short beeps. The previously stored station will be replaced by the new one.

Tuning into a preset station

1. Press RADIO ON to turn on the radio.
2. Press STATION•SELECT/PRESET where the desired station is stored.
3. Adjust volume using VOL.
   After a few seconds, the display will return to the current time but the preset button number will remain.

Setting the Alarm

You can choose from two types of alarm, Radio (A) or Buzzer (B).
The alarm will come on at the same time everyday.
The factory setting alarm time for the radio (A) and buzzer (B) is 12:00am or 0:00.

Note

• Set the current time before setting the alarm.
• Radio reception is interrupted while the alarmtime is being set.

To Use the Radio Alarm

You can use the station preset onto the "Preset 1 button" (WAKE UP STATION) as the alarm (see "Preset Tuning").
Preset a station onto preset 1 button.

1. Set the alarm setting dial to ALARM TIME SET A . After one beep, indicator flashes.
2. Press CLOCK + or – to select the desired time.
   When CLOCK +or –is held down, the displayed time initially changes in oneminute steps, then after a few seconds switches to ten-minute steps.
3. Set the alarm setting dial to ALARM MODE RADIO A .
   Indicator lights up.

When the alarm comes on at the preset time, indicator flashes and the radio station that is preset with the preset 1 button comes on.
The unit switches off automatically after about 60 minutes.

To Use the Buzzer Alarm

1. Set the alarm setting dial to ALARM TIME SET B.
   After one beep, indicator flashes.
2. Press CLOCK + or – to select the desired time.
   When CLOCK +or –is held down, the displayed time initially changes in oneminute steps, then after a few seconds switches to ten-minute steps.
3. Set the alarm setting dial to ALARM MODE BUZZER B.
   Indicator lights up.

When the alarm comes on at the preset time, indicator flashes and the beep sounds. The beeping becomes more rapid after every few seconds in five progressive stages. The unit switches off automatically after about 60 minutes.

To Use the Radio and Buzzer Alarm

1. Set both alarm times for ALARM TIME SET A /B (see above).
2. Set the alarm setting dial to ALARM MODE A +B.
   Indicators and light up.

If the same alarm time is set for both (A) and (B), (A) takes priority.

To Check the Alarm Time

Press ALARM TIME CHECK.
The display shows the alarm time for a few seconds and then returns to show the current time. When the alarm setting dial is set to either ALARM MODE OFF or A + B, the alarm time in RADIO A and then BUZZER B appears in the display.

To Doze for a Few More Minutes

Press SNOOZE/DA TE/SLEEP OFF.
The radio or buzzer turns off but will automatically come on again after about 8 minutes. Every time you press SNOOZE/DATE/SLEEP OFF, the snooze time changes as follows:

The display shows the snooze time for a few seconds and returns to show the current time.
When you press SNOOZE/DATE/SLEEP OFFafter the current time appeared, the snooze time starts from 8 minutes again.

• The maximum length of the snooze time is 60 minutes.

To Stop the Alarm

Press ALARM RESETto turn off the alarm.
The alarm will come on again at the same time the next day.

To Deactivate the Alarm

Set the alarm setting dial to ALARM MODE OFF.

Setting the Sleep Timer

You can enjoy falling asleep to the radio using the built-in sleep timer that turns off the radio automatically after a preset duration.

Press SLEEP.
The radio turns on. You can set the sleep timer to durations of 90, 60, 30, or 15 minutes. Every push changes the display as follows:

Two short beeps sound when the display returns to " ".
"SLEEP" will appear in the display when the duration time is set.
The radio will play for the time you set, then shut off:

• To turn off the radio before the preset time, press SNOOZE/DATE/SLEEP OFF.

To Use Both Sleep Timer and Alarm

You can fall asleep to the radio and also be awakened by the radio or buzzer alarm at the preset time.

1. Set the alarm. (See "Setting the Alarm".)
2. Set the sleep timer. (See "Setting the Sleep Timer".)

Troubleshooting

Should any problem occur with the unit, make the following simple checks to determine whether or not servicing is required.
If the problem persists, consult your nearest Sony dealer.

The clock does not show the correct time

• Has an electrical power outage lasting morethan 1 minute occurred?

The radio or buzzer alarm does not sound at the preset alarm time.

• Has the desired radio or buzzer alarm beenactivated? (i.e. Is the indicator A or B lit?)

The radio alarm is activated but no sound comes on at the preset alarm time.

• Has a station been preset onto WAKE UP STATION (preset 1 button)?
• Has VOL been adjusted?

No sound comes from the speakers

• Hasn't the alarm setting dial been remainedsetting to ALARM TIME SET ?

Precautions

• Operate the unit on the power sourcesspecified in "Specifications".
• The nameplate indicating voltage, etc. islocated at the bottom of the unit.
• To disconnect the power cord (mains lead),pull it out the plug, not by the cord.
• Do not leave the unit in a location near a heatsource such as a radiator or airduct, or in a place subject to direct sunlight, excessive dust, mechanical vibration, or shock.
• Do not place the unit on surfaces (rugs, blankets, etc.) or near materials (curtains, draperies) that block the ventilation holes.
• Should any liquid or solid object fall into theunit, unplug the unit and have it checked by qualified personnel before operating it further.
• When the casing becomes soiled, clean it with asoft cloth dampened with a mild detergent solution. Never use abrasive cleaners or chemical solvents, as they may mar the casing.
• The unit is not disconnected from the ACpower source (mains) as long as it is connected to the wall outlet, even if the unit itself has been turned off.
• Do not connect the antenna lead to an externalantenna.

If you have any questions, please consult your nearest Sony dealer.

Specifications

Speaker
Approx. 6.6 cm (2 5/ 8in.) dia.

Output
(earphone) jack (ø 3.5 mm minijack)
(ICF-C253 for European model only)

Power output
200 mW (at 10% harmonic distortion)

Power requirements
North and South American model: 120 V AC, 60 Hz
Australian model: 240 V AC, 50 Hz
Other model: 220–230 V AC, 50 Hz

Dimensions
Approx. 180.5 ×55 ×140 mm (w/ h/ d)
(7 ¹/₈ × 2 ¹/₄ × 5 ⁵/₈ in.) incl. projecting parts and controls

Mass
Approx. 640 g (1 lb 7 oz)
ICF-C253L (UK model)
Approx. 660 g (1 lb 8 oz)

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Documents / Resources

Download manual

Here you can download full pdf version of manual, it may contain additional safety instructions, warranty information, FCC rules, etc.

Download Sony DREAM MACHINE ICF-C253, ICF-C253L Clock Radio Manual