Pure Chronos CD 2 Review 1

Pure Chronos CD Series II review: Digital radio and CD player

Pure Chronos CD 2 Review
Release Date
2009
Manufacturer
Pure
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Pure is one of the most popular and well-renowned radio companies in the UK.

Not only can you expect to get excellent sound quality and fantastic features with a Pure radio, but you know you’re going to get a charming design too. That’s why many people regard Pure radios to be some of the best DAB and FM products on the market.

So, what if you’re looking for a device from the Pure radio team that offers exceptional quality DAB, DAB+ and FM radio, as well as something extra? Maybe you want the option to listen to those piles of CDs that you’ve been collecting throughout the years too?

No problem, The Pure Chronos CD Series II has you covered. This CD player and radio comes with everything you need to explore music from a multitude of different environments. There’s even a USB port so you can keep the device next to your bed and use it to charge your phone.

Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

Pure Chronos CD Series II review: Design and build

The Pure Chronos Series 2 isn’t just your standard radio/CD player. This is a device that’s been designed from the ground up with impeccable attention to detail and passion. There’s something compelling about the Chronos II’s unique triangular shape and powerful dual speakers that makes us instantly want to own one permanently at the office.

Still, it’s worth noting that the Pure Chronos 2 was probably intended for use on your bedside table, rather than on an office desk. There are a number of features built-in that make it a perfect bedside companion, including the in-built USB charging port for your phone, and an intelligent light sensor. The sensor automatically adjusts your display brightness, so you aren’t distracted by the device during the night.

The top-loading CD player can easily play CD, CD-R, and CD-RW discs, and the design of the Pure Chronos means that the added CD functionality doesn’t add too much bulk to the kit. You can even control your Chronos with a remote control from anywhere in the room.

Available in black and white, the Pure Chronos CD Series II might be a little bulkier than some of the alternative FM and DAB radios on the market today, but its triangular shape also means that it can slot neatly into the corner of your room if you don’t have a lot of space. Just keep in mind that it’s not particularly portable – this is a radio that likes to stay put.

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Pure Chronos CD Series II review: Features

If the innovative design of the Pure Chronos CD isn’t enough to convince you that you should try it out yet – then the features just might sway you. Like many of the products in the Pure portfolio, the Chronos doesn’t rest on its laurels. You don’t just get DAB/DAB+ and FM radio combined with a CD player with this device. You’ll also have access to features like an auto-dimming display for nighttime listening, a mobile charging USB device, and a stereo sound system with customisation options available.

Features include:

  • Adjustable stereo sound from two speakers
  • sleep timer so you can listen while you drift off
  • Multiple alarm setting options
  • Remote control 
  • CD player (top loading)
  • USB power point
  • 30 station presets (DAB or FM) 
  • Aux-in cable to play your music from any device
  • Headphone socket
  • Automatic clock updates

As a bedside radio, the Pure Chronos Series 2 comes with four radio alarms, which you can set to weekends only, weekdays only, or as one-off alerts. Just keep in mind that you might have to navigate your way through some pretty complex instructions to figure out how to do everything with this device. Still, once you’ve gotten used to the Pure Chronos CD, you’ll be able to use it to access high-detail sound, plenty of stations, and even on-demand profile information.

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Pure Chronos CD Series II review: Performance

Performance-wise, we found the Pure Chronos relatively easy to use. If you’re new to the world of DAB radio, then you might have a slightly harder time figuring out how everything works. That tends to be the case with systems that include a lot of extra features, like the Pure Chronos 2.

Fortunately, there are a few features built-in to make your life a little easier. The fact that the clock automatically changes according to daylight savings time is useful, for instance. We also love the fact that you can save up to 30 pre-sets, to help you find your favourite channels more quickly. What’s more, the remote control is relatively easy to use too.

As is common from Pure radio, you can also expect a decent quality of audio from the Chronos Series 2 too, although that might not extend to class-leading. Whether you’re playing CDs or listening to the radio, you’ll get relatively high-quality sound, with bass and treble controls to suit your specific needs. The two speakers also offer quite a bit of power – so you don’t have to worry about limited volume.

The only real issue with the performance that we encountered was that the alarm functions were way too fiddly for our needs. Figuring out how to properly set your alarms for different days and routines could be harder work than it needs to be if you want to set more than one alert.

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Pure Chronos CD Series II review: Verdict
So, how does the Pure Chronos CD measure up overall? We think it’s a nifty piece of radio kit, particularly for those who don’t want to let their CD collection go-to-waste. While there are nicer CD players out there from Pure, like the Pure Evoke music system, the Chronos is more affordable, and great for fitting into compact spaces.

Unfortunately, there are aspects of the Pure Chronos CD Series II that let it down when it comes to functionality. The instructions can be difficult to follow, and setting an alarm is exhausting work. Still, as a radio and CD player (not an alarm clock), the Chronos will deliver good performance overall.
Sound
86
Design
91
Connectivity
90
Build quality
91
Positives
Relatively good sound quality
Intriguing compact design
Fantastic range of features
CD player included
USB charging
Negatives
Complicated instructions
Alarms are difficult to set up
90
Sweet
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