Expensive but worth every penny!
The sound of the Wave is excellent by any objective standard. No, it does not sound like a system with a receiver and separate speakers strategically placed for optimal stereo separation. If you want that, that's what you need to buy. But for a very small one-piece with a clock, the sound is outstanding.
The controls on the remote are very intuitive and clearly marked, without the usual crowded and confusing array of buttons, most of which you'll never use. Setting up the Wave consists of getting it out of the box, plugging it in, setting the time, and turning it on. You can also connect an external audio source using a mini-jack input on the back of the Wave. I have an iPod connected to the Wave using the mini-jack, and the sound is just as good as the FM.
Some reviewers have also complained about the lack of tone controls. You definitely should listen to the Wave before buying one, and if you do not like the sound, don't buy it. If you do like the sound, you will not want to adjust the tone. If you cannot listen to your music without constantly adjusting the tone, do not buy the Wave.
The things I like most about the Wave besides the sound quality are the design and the ease of use. The remote and the display are simple and logical, the way they should be. The user's guide is thorough, direct, and concise, and you won't need to keep referring to it. The focus here is not on pushing a lot of buttons, it's on listening to the music. The Wave has the features most people will want, without a lot of extras that very few people would ever use. The Wave is small and will fit just about anywhere you want to put it, without drawing attention to itself. For me, it was worth every penny.
Verified purchase: Yes