Philips Hf3470/60 Wake-up Light, White

Makes Waking Up In The Dark A Little More Bearable. - Brian G on Oct 21, 2010 I Like

I've had this Wake-up light for about a week now, and I am very satisfied. I get up very early and always have a hard time getting going. This light greatly helps ease the transition into wakefulness.

While using this wake-up light, I often gently wake up just a few minutes prior to the audio alarm sounds start, which gives me the luxury of lying in bed for a few more minutes as I think about the upcoming day before I need to get out of bed. I really enjoy the bird-chirping alarm sound as well as the beeping which actually sounds more like a steel drum. I haven't used the radio, so I cannot speak to its quality.

Additionally, I feel much better when waking up to a lighted room. I know longer have to fight the urge to hit the snooze button over and over again.

Final note: I decided on this model after reading the reviews of a similar model (the Philips Hf3480). The reviews of it were initially very good, but a disturbing number of reviewers had come back to edit their reviews. Apparently the light bulbs were burning out quickly and could not be replaced. On this model, light bulb is replaceable, so if it burns out quickly, it will not be too much of an inconvenience.

Edit (on April 11, 2011): After about 6 months of use, the light bulb is still going strong, and I still love waking up to the light.

Edit again (on December 20, 2011): The original light bulb is still going strong. I'm still extremely satisfied.

Best At This Price. If You Need Something Like This, It Does The Trick - Nelly J on Nov 2, 2010 I Like

Though it's expensive compared to many lamps (or alarm clocks), the Philips HF3470/60 is still at the lower end of the budget spectrum and offers excellent value for money.

Why it's great
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- Does what it says on the tin. Wakes you up in a state of near-perfect calm. I supplement the light function with the 'bird' alarm sound, which is delicate but assertive, and like the light builds from a low to more intense level. Haven't used the regular 'alarm' sound, or radio function

- The aesthetic quality of the light is very soothing. It's got a warm, buttery, heavenly glow.

- Feels solidly made (not cheap).

- Design is modern and clean - will probably work with most decor, apart from the most traditional. Light is emitted from its entire surface, which is probably a good way for it to get around. Still, it should be kept within about 1 - 1.5 feet of your head.

- Setting the time and alarm time is easy (but...)

One star taken off because:
--------------------------

- Though you can use this as a night light, whatever setting you use is automatically used as the intensity level for the morning `wake up' light function. I like a dim light at night, and a bright one in the morning. Also, you have to manually turn it off at night, there's no timed 'sleep' function.

- It's probable that you'll accidentally turn off the alarm if you're careless when you flick the 'snooze' lever in the a.m., which means it won't work the next day. That one lever means radically different mornings for you - it's both the 'snooze' and 'alarm off' control. Check its position before going to bed! (Note for designers: in your next version at this price point, please just make two levers and put them in different places. Or make a lever and a button. Something!)

Nevertheless, I couldn't find anything comparable at this price. Cheaper models use 60 watt bulbs, which isn't strong enough. More comprehensive ones are just too expensive (Philips does a song-and-dance version that's also used for SAD, at I think triple the cost!). I shipped this to Canada and it was still cheaper than the next one up, locally.

Overall, this thing takes a bit of getting used to (again: before sleeping, 1) turn off the lamp, and 2) make sure the lever position is at 'on') but once it's set, is great at what it does.

A+ Would Use Again - Aki on Nov 23, 2010 I Like

Recently I moved to Northern Europe and found myself affected by the late sunrise and early sunset (can you say: "sunrise at 8:50am?"). I have had problems with S.A.D. since high school, and after hearing a few people tell me how these 'wake up alarms' really work for them, decided to try it to see if it would help me with my (early) mornings.

I am completely satisfied with my purchase and would recommend my Philips Wake-up Light (3470) to anyone. A few reviews had the comments that the design of the alarm was ugly, but I actually like it. The light is bright enough to use as a reading light (and is actually a nice 'yellow sunrise colour' as opposed to the white in the display picture). The controls are incredibly intuitive and easy to use, and I always wake up on time, even if I am not facing the light or my blankets/pillows are blocking the light. (I keep my light setting as 15/20 and sound at 7/10). Sometimes I even lightly wake up before my alarm (due to the light coming on half an hour before my alarm). Previously, waking up before my alarm would make me grumpy and irritable with the feeling that I was wasting precious 'sleeping minutes', but now, waking up a bit early feels natural.

I wouldn't say that I have noticed a massive change in my mood after using this alarm (although I suppose I do feel a bit more positive about life in general in the mornings now- which is unusual), but waking up is incredibly easy now, and I feel far more alert in the mornings without the usual 'heaviness' I usually feel for an hour or so after I'm up. Now I am up and getting ready within about 5 minutes after my alarm going off, while before I had to lie around for about 15 minutes with all the lights in my room on before I would get up. As well, I do feel like this light helps regulate my sleep cycle, so I am waking up naturally, instead of being yanked out of dreaming by my old obnoxious alarm beeping.

The only real issues I have with it is that when the light is on, it can sometimes be difficult to read the display numbers and the light gets quite warm when it's on, which makes me a bit wary about leaving it on for long periods of time. Some reviews have people complaining about a 'buzzing' noise when the light is on, and while you can hear a slight hum, it does not affect me at all. Some people have also complained about the fact that the light stays on even after you hit the snooze button, but I find this very useful at getting me up. I like how the light in the alarm can be pretty easily replaced, and although I wish there were more noises to choose from, I like the bird song to wake me up. Obviously I wish the price was lower, but now that I have used this product, I think it was worth it.

Awesome Wakeup Experience, For The First Time In A Lifetime - Theo on Jan 17, 2011 I Like

I'm giving this alarm five stars for the wake-up experience alone. Yes, the clockface could be a little brighter, the controls a little better or more intuitive, the sounds with more variety. But who cares? For the first time in my life I enjoy waking up! I have never, I repeat NEVER, been a morning person, the bane of my life due to living in a morning world. Have always struggled awake to the blaring, jarring sound of an alarm clock, hit the snooze a jillion times, dragged myself out of bed feeling like mud and only a couple of hours later really started to feel awake. And those first few jarring moments, when the alarm first goes off, are the worst.

Now, I can enjoy waking up. The very gradual gentle light (30 minutes of transition from dark to light) combined with, once the light has come up, the gradually increasing gentle sound of birdsong or rhythmic marimba (I haven't bothered with the radio yet, the marimba is great), has made waking up a gentle pleasure instead a harsh wake up call. I can still hit the snooze a few times if I want. But when my eyes first open, I feel good - not like I've just been hit with a dentist's drill. I like it so much I'm thinking of getting one for the guest room, too. I just wish they'd make a small travel version - now that would be sweet! Wake up gently and pleasantly, no matter where I am!

UPDATE: I've been using this for several months now, and am completely happy. Gotten used to the controls (I do wish they were larger and easier, but the positive wakeup experience more than offsets this one negative), set it to radio, and find that with the gradual wake-up light can keep the radio on fairly low volume, usually wake up just by the light before the radio even comes on, and then can lie there and enjoy the soft radio for a bit before getting up. Like it so much I went ahead and got a second unit for the guest bedroom. It is a winner.

Almost Perfect, But Not Quite. - Jeff S on Oct 19, 2010 I Like

I bought this alarm clock because I was consistently hitting 'snooze' on my regular alarm clock about 5 or 6 times before actually waking up. If you think waking up at 5:30am is bad, imagine waking up at 5:30am to a loud, crass alarm and a pitch black room. Snooze just 4 more times? Yeah that sounds good.

After getting over the initial sticker shock, I was pretty psyched to give the unit a shot. Unboxing and set up were a piece of cake, and I had the clock/alarm set up and ready to go in about 5 minutes or so.

The unit itself is attractive enough, but somewhat resembles a trash can with a clock embedded in it.

But I don't really care *that* much about aesthetics if it can do its job. I opted for the bird chirping noises for the audio portion of the alarm, as I there is no way I'm going to choose the beep option and I'd rather stab myself repeatedly in the ear with a rusty fork than wake up to the radio.

As lame as it sounds, I was excited to see how things turned out, so I woke up numerous times throughout the night waiting for the light to start coming on. And sure enough, it began to get brighter 30 minutes prior to my alarm time. Once it hit full intensity (and the birds started chirping), I decided to snooze once.

Unfortunately, it seems that you can only snooze the audio portion. In my less-than-awake state, I managed to not only turn off the light, but the alarm itself. Woke up at 6:38am. Was supposed to leave for work at 6:30am.

Oops.

Thankfully, after some trial and error, I've had nothing but success with this alarm clock. It is a million times nicer to wake up to light and some birds than an alarm clock that makes me want to keep a sledgehammer next to my nightstand in order to turn it off every morning.

My only gripes about the unit are that the light is not 'snoozeable' and that there aren't more nature sounds included to wake up to.

Beyond the hefty price tag, this alarm clock rocks.

Depended On The Phillips Reputation - scrambled eggs on Dec 28, 2010 I Like

I have had a number of Phillips products over the years. I depended on their name to give me a good product. Three weeks after I purchased it, the clock's light burned out so I replaced it. It also burned out on week 3. Later I looked at reviews and saw that the clock light is prone to burn out. The clock is quite difficult to set. I liked the nature sounds. Phillips needs to re-vamp this lamp.

Great Wake-Up Light For The Light Sensitive Sleeper!!! - thegreatpretender "L on Sep 19, 2011 I Like

I usually put various different comparable products through a very extensive and excruciating comparison and contrast regimen before I make my final purchase because I simply cannot bare the equally excruciating process of returning an item, especially online. Finally I decided to go with this cheaper sibling of the full featured Philips Wake-Up Light - as of Summer 2011, I believe this kind of product still needs tweaking across the board (as in - any brand of wake up lights) before one splurges on a full featured product, I figure since I like being up to date with my tech-toys I might eventually want a newer feature updated product so why pour out the cash. I read so many articles about the benefits of a "Wake-Up" type light and after comparing brands, prices, and features I ordered away! Beware for those of you who are heavy sleepers and are not sensitive to light (like my younger sister, who can remain asleep after I physically try to shake her and talk her awake) it simply won't work for you; however, The bird noises do help a little bit. Also - note that this won't work if the sun is already up, so really this product shines the best for someone striving to be an early morning riser (no pun intended - and when I say early morning rising, for me and my sister - its 5:30am, right before the sun is officially up. It tricked a rooster and is definitely tricking me into being a morning person) The extra features as I expected are not quite necessary although - this thing was replacing my Ipod alarm clock, and especially when I'm doing chores in my bedroom I miss being able to listen to my Ipod on a good set of speakers. After over a month of using this product I firmly believe this thing is improving my lifestyle! I always had trouble waking up in the morning even though I've sincerely been striving to be a morning person - especially now that I am taking care of my little sister and bringing her to school. I don't think I could ever go back to my cell phone alarm clock no matter how convenient it is. I am enjoying my mornings much better without being jarred awake by some truly alarming wake up devices.

IN LOVE - E. Dawkins on Nov 30, 2010 I Like

I am IN LOVE with this product.

Waking up has never been so enjoyable. It's nice to wake up gradually instead of by a blaring/jarring BEEP. It gets really bright and it's nice having the feature of the bird/music/radio sounds when the actual alarm time is reached.

It's really easy to use right out of the box, had no trouble setting the time or the alarm. It is fairly large, but that's not really an issue for me.

It's really bright. The light on my side of the room went out a week ago, but I haven't bothered changing it out. I just turn this bad boy on and I'm good to go. It does get REALLY hot. I left my cell phone on the top one time (I have NO idea why I put it there in the first place) and thankfully the phone started beeping at me that it was overheating - I had NO idea that was even a feature.

Eventually I'll post a video review of it (hopefully).

A Much More Pleasant Way To Greet The Day - Celestialfrog on Jan 11, 2011 I Like

Living in New England, it is even harder to get up in the morning when winter hits. The waking up in darkness, leaving work in darkness schedule, with the added loveliness of snow does not make me anymore ready to go face the day with cheerfulness and enthusiasm (I can only imagine what it is like to live in Alaska with their crazy schedule...). I have tried a lot of different types of alarm clocks over the years to try and find a less abrasive way of waking up, and nothing has worked. After hearing rave reviews from a friend about "wake-up lights" I decided to try it for myself. I have never been happier. I don't believe this will entirely change your life, but you will most likely wake up in a much better mood than you normally would. The reason is that instead of the annoying, rage-inducing beep beep beep of your normal alarm clock, and the seven angry slaps of the snooze button that follow- the wake up light slowly brings you to wakefulness with no noise. I don't wake up feeling anymore refreshed necessarily, but I do wake up feeling far less hostile and irritated. The birdsong if the light doesn't manage to wake you (though if you have it set to the max brightness and you don't wake up, you must be able to sleep on the surface of the sun) is pleasant, and still better than anything else I've heard. After the first few days, I rarely woke up to the birdsong. I usually wake up about halfway through the increasing light cycle, which has the added benefit of waking me up slightly earlier than I have to be up, and I have more time in the morning to get ready without rushing around.

The controls are very easy to use, and it works well as a bedside lamp. I like being able to turn it on low right before I go to bed and the room gets a nice glow quality that's relaxing. The one caveat is that it doesn't work perfectly for two people. It is most effective for the person who is closest to it. I would suggest getting two if you need to get up at a completely different time than your partner.

Overall, I have been extremely pleased with the Philips Wake-up Light, and I would purchase the item again.

Early Sunrise In Winter - DesertGardenDiva on Nov 13, 2010 I Like

After changing jobs, I had a terrible time waking up and being motivated to get up in complete darkness, so I gave this clock a shot. The Philips Wake-Up Light HF3470 gently begins lighting the room 30 minutes before you set alarm time. The alarm choices are radio, morning songbirds, and what has been described as "a lazy kettledrum band." The radio is functional, the kettledrums are a fantastic alternative to the digital screeching of an average alarm clock. The birds are great - they remind me of my second-story bedroom as a kid, waking up to noisy mockingbirds in trees right outside my window! The volume of the alarm increases gently over 2 minutes, and is loud enough for me, even across the room. The gentle bird calls appear to become "angry" due to the volume increase - makes me smile every morning! I'm sensitive enough to the brightening room that I will wake up long before the alarm goes off - but the light brightness in adjustable. I found that a max brightness of 9 (out of 20) at alarm time is the best for me and my "good morning" attitude.

I probably would have preferred the new "Plus" model, which has a winding-down to sleep mode, but for the price, I couldn't justify it. The new model has all of the features that this one lacks (customizable wake up tones, night sleep mode), but this model fits the bill for me. My only complaints would be that the clock face is a bit small to be seen across the room and the price is still excessive for a light and a clock on a timed dimmer. Overall, it's a good solid product that provides a more soothing way to wake up in winter - at least until the harsh reality of a frozen windshield and a dark commute sets in. :)

How Did I Function Without This Thing Before? - M. Ballagh on Jan 6, 2011 I Like

I've seen several reviews stating that this isn't as easy to use as it could be and that the directions are fairly useless. I did not find that to be the case at all. It seemed fairly simple to me, but I suppose that all depends on your standard technological level.

Anywho... I absolutely love this thing, and my boyfriend does too. Gone are the days where I am jarred awake by that terrible alarm noise and hitting snooze three times because I am so annoyed by the thing. I truly do wake up more easily and comfortably. It isn't a miracle device that makes 6 a.m. any less crummy... but it makes it a bit more peaceful. We use the drums sound vs. the birds... the cats and dog were NOT having any of that bird noise. I have the light set to high because I have literally slept through a hurricane before... but my boyfriend is a light sleeper so I sleep closest to it and he is on the other side.

We really were struggling once the mornings were dark to actually get out of bed on time, but now we rise and shine... and let the coffee do the rest.

We chose this model over the others because frankly we wouldn't use the sunset function to go to sleep and I didn't think the MP3 one was worth the additional cost, as I would rather wake up to something peaceful like the drums.

I highly recommend this product.

I Like It! - Mazzy on Nov 3, 2010 I Like

Well, I have only had the light for a few days, so take this for what it's worth.

When I received the light, I turned it on, but the light did not come on. I fiddled and fiddled with the buttons, but the light still did not come on. All other functions worked, and it seemed to program okay - it was pretty intuitive, no issues with programming. I figured it was probably the bulb - probably got shifted during shipment. Because of the bulb, I did have a bit of a hassle, so I can't make this a perfect rating. Perhaps there is some way for Philips to better package the bulb.

I called Philips directly, and the customer support there was nothing short of surprisingly wonderful - professional and courteous and detailed, very easy to understand. I assume their customer support does not outsource to another country. I would add back in the missing star for this support, if not for the slight inconvenience of having to call in the first place.

Although they did not have any bulbs in stock, they quickly re-shipped an entire unit to me free of charge. It came within days and it worked perfectly. I then had to re-package the other light and ship it back to them. I just dropped it off this morning with Fedex, so let's hope it gets to them and does not get lost or incur any additional charges to my account.

For the past 2 or 3 days I have woken up to daylight in my bedroom. The light starts out, much like the sun, a burning orange - like an early sunrise - and eventually fills the room with a bright white light. (It is set at its highest setting - I have found that works best for me as I am very stubborn in the morning and do not want to get out of bed) The birds are kinda cool, but a little too manic. This is the other reason why I docked it part of a star. I think this is a minor improvement Philips could make with the unit - the manic overlaying of bird voices with something a little less obnoxious and more natural. Fortunately, I can turn the volume down and it seems to help. I like the bird sounds, just not so forced together, and prefer them still to the radio or the drums, because they are meant to be natural and remind me of the spring.

Overall, this is what I wanted and what I'd hope for. I like the design and the functionality and would recommend it to others.

So Glad I Purchased! - ljbarnes05 on Oct 14, 2011 I Like

I received the Philips Hf3470/60 Wake-up light yesterday and waking up this morning was wonderful! I've always been one who can never really sleep past sun up, however when its dark outside getting up in the morning is a real chore. You can look up the sunrise time and bet that I'll be up exactly then every morning, not a minute earlier! Because I was having difficulty getting up when it was still dark out I decided to give this a shot after seeing it on the Dr. Oz show.

I read reviews about it being hard to set up, but I didn't find that to be the case. 3 or 4 minutes reading the manual and I had it figured out. It looks just fine on my night stand and the best part is.....IT WORKED!

I set the alarm for 5:30 am and I had naturally woken up at 5:14. It was like the sun was rising! I was gently waking up for the next 15 minutes and by the time the birds started chirping and the light was fully bright I was awake and alert and ready to hit the treadmill!

This was the best morning I've had in a long time! Just like naturally waking up on the weekend. I didn't start my day off wrong by hitting snooze for an hour and a half. I was naturally ready to start my day at 5:30 a.m. I think this will make it much easier when I have to get up at 3 or 4 to make it to the airport for an early flight too.

I highly recomend this product!

Who Would Have Thought? - Olga C. Tagle "Cat58 on Oct 4, 2011 I Like

Who would have thought that a light slowly turning on and lovely chirping birds on a dreary autum morning would make it so much easier to wake up? I absolutely hate getting up and seeing darkness - you stumble through your room to the shower and even the hot water streaming down your face doesn't seem to help you get out of that darkened funk. I was so surprised this morning to get up feeling rested and cheerful as I woke up to birds chirping and what seemed like sunlight streaming in my room at 5:30 in the morning on a dreary, rainy, dark October morning. So far, I'm thrilled with my wake-up light.

Best Invention Ever :) - Wanne on Sep 10, 2011 I Like

I am so thankful for finding this item and going the extra mile and purchasing it as well. I had read up on it before buying it and it had received a lot of positive reviews. I suffer from clinical depression and also seasonal depression.

This light starts turning on real slow about 1/2 hour before you've set your alarm. It is very low light at first. It's very similar to waking up to the rising sun. As it gets closer to the time your alarm is going to go off, the light gets brighter and brighter. You can adjust the brightness when you set your alarm. The alarm can be set to music or birds chirping which I thought would be annoying but I actually enjoy the birds. They sound like real birds outside my window waking me up for the day:) I was so desperate for something to work, that I also paid the extra shipping to have it sent over night. It has been a godsend!! I don't regret this purchase at all! I bought this at the end of March and it's now September and I'm not worrying about the upcoming winter.

Thanks for reading. I hope I've helped you make a decision.

Excellent Buy! - Chris Weigel on Aug 23, 2011 I Like

After 3 months of use I'm excited to write this review. Where to start. I purchased the wake-up light because I don't have windows or adequate light in my bedroom, and it's impossible for my body to determine if its 2am or 2pm, also have been sleeping in late a lot due to this and it was affecting my workout schedule and workplace status. I saw this product on here and decided to give it a try. I received my light and it was very simple to program. It comes with the option of a standard alarm or to wake up to singing birds. Since I cant sleep when birds are chirping I chose that since I can sleep through a fire alarm. The product did exactly as it said, starting to light up to the intensity I chose a half hour before the alarm/birds started chirping. after 3 months of waking up to this everyday I have my body trained to wake up in-between the half hour of lighting without any alarms. This is the most PEACEFUL method of awakening I've ever had and I don't think I will be going back to standard alarm clocks anytime soon. Overall I give this product a 5 star rating because of its durability and simplicity.

Wish I Could Give 4.5 Stars... - M. Garrett on Jun 10, 2011 I Like

I really like this alarm clock. I'm one of those people who will hit snooze for over an hour... and I also hate being scared awake by by alarm from a deep cycle, then I'm tired for the rest of the day. This alarm clock has definitely helped with that. Most mornings, I am able to wake up by the light alone before it even reaches the full brightness level. I also like how not only does the light gradually get brighter, but once it reaches the brightest level the radio (I've not tried the other wake up sounds, I like waking up to the news) starts low and gradually gets louder too. Both of these functions make waking up a slow and easy process. Obviously this alarm doesn't help you wake up easy if you're not getting the right amount of sleep to begin with, but it makes the process much more pleasant for those who wake up before the sun does. I wanted to give 4.5 stars for two reasons: 1) the brightness level it comes to in the morning is the same level it was at night, which I sometimes don't want it on the highest level when I'm reading before bed - just a slight nuisance to turn it all the way up before off, but you can also tell which button does what by feel, which is nice 2)It gets hot, really hot and it can heat up your room which is unpleasant when you live in an extremely hot climate in the summer; I wouldn't leave it on for too terribly long at the brightest level.

A Little Love - Matthew C. Preston on Mar 30, 2011 I Like

You hate your alarm. It may be the most hated electronic device in your house, and unlike your scale you are pretty sure that it is neither lying nor judging. Your alarm clock never has good news, its either time to get up to the sound that a nuclear plant makes before a meltdown or it stares at you with a neon glow reminding you that you can't fall asleep still and the nuclear meltdown is imminent. It never delivers emails, plays blue ray dics or even delivers text messages from drunk people at 2 am. Well in spite of that I love this alarm. I wake up refreshed. I don't stumble in the dark, I can adjust the brightness of display and light (read sensual mood lighting... when was the last time your alarm helped in that area). And it plays bird noises which I love. Give it a try.

The World's Heaviest Sleeper Weighs In - Jeddy 3 on Feb 6, 2011 I Like

I must be the heaviest sleeper in the world. I'm not proud of it, but there it is. My last alarm clock was this Clarity Wake Assure alarm clock for the deaf, which shakes the bed violently while it flashes lamps and emits a piercing alarm. Eh, it kinda worked for a while before I learned to shut it off in my sleep. (NB: My hearing is fine. It's my sleep patterns that are messed up.) Since I learn, in my sleep, how to circumvent alarms, I figured the only way to really wake up is to wake myself up by stealth. And this alarm does that! It sort of sneaks my body awake before it jars me with loud bird songs (my fault they're loud -- I've set them that way). It really works! I'm only giving it 4 stars because I wish the bird songs were similar to the light -- I wish they slowly got louder and more frequent, instead of suddenly starting. I also wish the light were even brighter -- think sky-sweeping Klieg lights at a 1955 Hollywood premiere. But all in all, it's the best I've found. I recommend it if you too tend to disable alarms in your sleep and wake up late, and full of remorse for something you didn't realize you did.

I Am Now A Morning Person! - J. Hoekstra on Dec 30, 2011 I Like

I have (had) a lot of trouble getting up early (5:30), even with enough sleep. Loud alarms barely worked and if they did, the jarring awake is really annoying. This light works like a dream. It slowly lightens over about 15 minutes and then the noise setting you choose starts (I love the birds). Most mornings I am awake halfway through the light cycle! It is so pleasant and such a nice low stress way to start the day. I am very very pleased with this purchase. WORTH EVERY PENNY!

What A Gentle Way To Become Awake! - Martin on Dec 26, 2011 I Like

First of all, if you like to wake up in the most gentle way possible, this is worth the price! I've seen reviews complaining about the price, and it is steep, but considering the results, it is worth it.

OLD WAY OF WAKING UP: Alarm goes off. Dogs bark. I sit bolt upright in bed and am jarred into sudden awareness. My nerves jangle with urgency. I am groggy. I am irritable.

NEW WAY OF WAKING UP: I find myself awake. I wonder at how calm and gentle this feeling is. Dogs don't even realize I am awake. About a minute later, a bird chirps lightly in my ear. I decide to get up. I have become awake. I am calm.

This is like the difference between being shaken awake and being gently caressed into awareness. This is a priceless experience! For the improvement in my mental health, the cost is about that of a single therapy session, but you get to re-experience it every morning.

No More Morning Groans - djkcdunn on Dec 9, 2011 I Like

We recieved our Phillips Wake-up Light yesterday, and set it up to wake up at 6 AM, with bird chirps. For the first morning in over a month, we woke up easily. This time of year is a struggle for us to get up. It is dark. It is cold. Who wants to get out of bed? This morning I woke up ten minutes before the alarm....because of the brightening light. And instead of the glaring beeps of our regular alarm clock, the birds started chirping. It actually took a minute to realize that it was the alarm clock. Getting out of bed was so much easier. Love it!! I highly recommend this if you too have trouble getting out of bed in the winter time when the days get shorter, and the darkness makes morning seem to come too soon.

The Best Purchase I've Ever Made - K. Kristensen on Nov 24, 2011 I Like

I love this! For someone that has never been a morning person but now has to get up between 3am-4am, this wake-up light is perfect. The light calmly wakes me every morning and the birds sound is a good reminder to get up when I start adjusting to the light and falling back asleep. The radio would do the same thing, I just prefer the birds singing. Worth every penny!

Great For Wake-up Only - Lisa T on Nov 21, 2011 I Like

This product is exactly as the title would have you believe. It slowly starts glowing about thirty minutes before your alarm goes off. I love the alarm options. The bird sounds are pleasant and gentle in the morning. The digital display has plenty of options so you don't need to sleep with a blinding clock. After using it for about a week, I am noticably more alert in the morning, just as I am in the summer months when the sun rises early.

My only two minor issues are: The light is of no help to someone who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder. This light is strictly for someone who has trouble getting up in the morning, and likely suffers from Circadian Rhythm issues. Would have been nice to have a lamp do both. My second complaint is the light has no automatic control for the brightness of the lamp. Basically whatever level you turned it off at before you go to bed,is the level it will reach as it turns on in the morning. I would have preferred an automatic setting,just like the one they have on the display. That way a person could read by it in a lower peaceful setting at night, and have it come on brighter in the morning.

Not So Good - Shannon Sprague on Nov 16, 2011 I Like

Love the light. Hate the birds. 5 second loop so you hear the same thing over and over and over. Also, the clock kept losing time. Sending it back after a month.

I Love This Light!!! - scubagirl on Sep 26, 2011 I Like

I don't rave about a product easily- but this light has literally changed my life. For decades I've had a hard time waking up in the dark. All alarms- even music- woke me up abruptly so that I was 'startled' awake. O.K. I woke up- but woke up way more cranky than I wanted. Enter the Philips wake up light- where the light gradually turns on. It causes a gradual sense of alertness- which is gentle and natural. While the alarm will come on after 30 minutes of increasing light, I'm often up and out of bed because I want to be-- before then. And- I picked the chirping birds for the alarm sound which are delightful.

I actually look forward to the early morning now-- I love this light!!!

Philips Wake-up Light - gannyof4 on Sep 15, 2011 I Like

I have been using this alarm for about a year and I love it. It is amazing how all of sudden your eyes open and you are awake, it is so natural. I bought this because the starling sound of my old alarm clock would make my heart pound and scare the crap out of me and it would make me angry that would set my mood for the day. I got tired of feeling that way and knew I needed something to help me feel better that is when I found this light alarm. I can honestly say that I wake up feeling better and refreshed. I have only awakened to the birds chirpping once because the light always wakes me up first. I recommend this light to everyone I know.

I Am A Morning Person Year Round Now! - Nicole on Sep 13, 2011 I Like

I can't believe that I lived without this for the last 32 years, and I don't know why everyone wouldn't want to wake up this way. I have energy, I wake up easily (not just in the summer anymore.) It makes for a great reading light at night as I am winding down the day. The numbers on the display aren't burning my retinas all through the night (like other horrible clocks I have had in the past.) It is worth it's weight in gold. I don't even care that it's a tad difficult to set. It's worth it!

I Like It - TS on May 12, 2011 I Like

I have a hard time waking up so I decided to try the whole waking-up-by-light thing. I read a ton on reviews & decided on this model. So far I really like it - i've had it about a month.
I have the light set to the brightest setting (20) & the birds chirping sound.
But, If I am not facing the lamp when it starts the 30-minute light cycle, I don't actually wake up until the birds start chirping, which is at the actual alarm time that I set it for. But even so, it is easier to wake up, so my brain must be sensing the light at least before I wake up.
I decided to purchase a 2nd lamp to put on the other side of the bed, with the same alarm time set, so no matter which way I face when sleeping I am facing light. Works great - I now wake up about 15 minutes into the 30 minute lighting cycle. Soo much easier to get up this way.

Shouldn't Have Waited So Long Before Trying This. - A. Farrington on May 7, 2011 I Like

I was skeptical about this and didn't want to pay the price, but finally decided to give this a try. I am so glad I did, because it is great! I enjoy waking up to the light and bird sounds instead of the beeping that used to startle me awake. It is a lot more like the kick in the movie "Inception" and less like a kick in the head each morning!

Good, But A Few Things Annoy Me. - Joey on Apr 30, 2011 I Like

Pretty good, but I wish there were some more options with the settings.

The four main issues I have had are as followed: (which aren't really that big a deal, but it would have been nice)

1. After it starts its alarm it will only remain on for another 1.5 hours, it would be good if you could set how long you wished it to remain.

2. Also, the L.E.D brightness on the clock display should be dark at night (or have to option to turn off), but then automatically bright in the morning. However, If you leave it on the darker LED setting it is impossible to see what time it is when you wake up because the lamp is so bright.

3. Another annoying feature is that when you leave the lamp on a particular brightness setting, it will only go up to that setting maximum when you wake up. So, if you are using it as a darker light at night and want to wake up to the maximum brightness setting, you need to manually set it again before you go to sleep.

4. It would have been nice to have an AM setting on the radio too

Other than that I'd definitely recommend it, it adequately does the job that I require it to do. I also think it looks aesthetically pleasing, probably the nicest looking lamp I've ever owned.

Pretty Good But Not Quite As Advertised - Robert on Apr 3, 2011 I Like

The light works as advertised, except for one thing. It does a poor job of simulating a natural sunrise. It is more of the same effect you'll experience with slowing turning up a regular light using a dimmer switch. Things to keep in mind. If you don't get your full complement of sleep this wake-up light will not cause you to wake up more refreshed. In fact, as it takes 30 minutes to reach full brightness you might find yourself losing up to 30 minutes of sleep and feeling more groggy. If you do get the proper amount of sleep on your regular schedule and must wake up in the dark this wake up light will ease the transition to a lighted room. I do agree it is more gentle than a loud alarm clock. Previously, I woke to music set to a low volume. Around the second song or so I'd wake and by the third song get out of bed. I tend to do the same with this light. I sense the light, roll over, sense it again, wake up, and a couple of minutes later get up. It works best and you'll feel the best if you get your full complement of sleep on a regular schedule. And, in case your curious, the bird chirping does not start until the light is close to full brightness.
Update: I've been using this wake up light now for about a month. I have it set to full brightness and tend to wake up about 10 minutes after it starts to brighten. I have it set for a 5 a.m. alarm. I wake up about 4:40 a.m. The bird chirping begins right at 5 a.m. I'm usually coming out of the bathroom by then. An easy movement of the arm up and down resets it. Pushing the arm down puts it is "snooze" mode. The light is turned off separately by pressing the middle of a vertical plastic strip. While the literature says the light may be used for reading I suggest you don't give up on your reading lamp just yet. The best aspect of using the wake-up light is that it is easy on your pupils. There is no sudden blindness from a switched on light. The downside is the cost. If I were to name my own price I'm thinking it would be a good deal around $59.95. Nevertheless, I like it and intend to keep using it.

A Necessity For The Winter Months! - SKK on Nov 21, 2010 I Like

I don't consider myself to have a sleep disorder, but when winter comes (which means light for only about 10 hours a day where I live) it's a struggle for me to get out of bed because it's still dark outside. I ordered this alarm clock/light (hesitantly, since it costs $100) to give it a try, knowing I could return it if it wasn't for me.

The alarm clock is easy to use, and the light is very gradual and steady - so far I find that I wake up around 20 minutes after it's started to illuminate. I have more energy when I do wake up, and I also find that this is a very peaceful way to wake up.

It does get a bit warm, but so far it hasn't been an issue. Despite the price, this is a great buy and I'd highly recommend for anyone who wants to start their morning by feeling awake and ready to face the (still dark) day!

It Works! - Phillip Holmstrand on Nov 19, 2010 I Like

I live in the pacific northwest where its dark and rainy in the winter, getting up before 7am for work is really hard when its so dark. You have no idea if its 2am or 6:30am.

This thing is great, it keeps tricking me to thinking I am waking up to a sunny morning. You know when you can see the light through your eyelids, its a really nice feeling.

It is a little spendy for an alarm clock but in my mind worth every penny!

The one comment I would have is that the color of the light is more of a warm incandescent bulb, not a bright white light like in the photos on Amazon. I actually prefer the halogen light to a white light as it looks more like real sunlight.

Good But Can't Say I'd Purchase Again - M. Rotenberg "FunMar on Dec 29, 2011 I Like

So living in an apartment that faces a courtyard and doesn't get much light I figured I would give something like this a try. Some of the reviews on it looked good and seemed to really help people getting up in the morning. First off let me say that it does work and does wake you up naturally in the morning. I set it for 7:15 and when I open my eyes my room is lit up and its a few minutes before. So it does work...and does wake up me up as promised (most of the time). And even just using it as a regular light works since it is very bright.

I can't say after it does wake me up that I'm springing out of bed ready for the day or feeling refreshed. The good news is my heart isn't racing like when my regular alarm went off suddenly in the morning. I always set a secondary alarm though because I don't always trust the light. If you are in a deep sleep, or just exhausted, I don't care how much light is in your room, it won't wake you up. I've slept right through to my second alarm before because the light didn't wake me up in those instances.

This is a good light and yes, it does usually work. Would I have paid the same 100 bucks I did for it again? Probably not. And you are still going to need your coffee in the morning.

I Didn't Think It Would Work... - Angela Oas on Dec 19, 2011 I Like

I didn't think it would work...but it did. This lamp is bright as all get-out, and waking up to it every morning is like waking up to the sun. I'm in a much better mood every morning, and I haven't hit the snooze button even once. I wake up, get up and get going. I wish I had purchased this years ago. I'd find this especially useful if I was doing shift work.

Great Choice - Poipoi on Dec 13, 2011 I Like

I've had this lamp for a little over a month now and I am so happy I bought it. I originally wanted it to have something wake me up gently when it was dark - it worked for that. Then daylight savings rolled back and the light didn't matter so much, but the gentle awakening of natural sounds progressively getting louder was a wonderful way to wake up. I use it as a desk lamp at night (supplemented by other lamps), and it's just this gentle, peaceful light in my room that makes me happy when I look at it.
I know it's expensive, but it's worth it! Especially if you can use an extra lamp.

Really Well Done Piece Of Equipment - Phiz on Dec 11, 2011 I Like

i have woken up without the use of my audio alarm since receiving this product. i recommend to anyone trying to improve their sleeping habits and seek a more fulfilling night's sleep. it definitely does acclimate the body as though it were waking up to a natural sunrise. i feel, although a bit pricey for the product, it is the best lamp i've ever bought for myself and a worthy investment. it has many dimmer levels for all sorts of occasions and can be a great ambient light, reading lamp, or night light.

So Good I Had To Write A Review. - Kimberly A Sarff on Dec 9, 2011 I Like

My husband has been having trouble waking up in a bedroom that does not have any eastern window exposure. With this light, he's back to normal. I didn't realize how much I missed the "sunrise" too. I recommend this light for anyone who has difficulty waking in the mornings.
I think the price should be closer to $60.00, but I am not unhappy that I paid Amazon's going price.
The controls are OK, but I had to read the manual to set it.

It Makes Me Smile - Will on Dec 8, 2011 I Like

After at first being skeptical, we plugged it in and went through the easy setup process. Once that was done, all we had to do is wait. We went to bed in anticipation of what it would be like waking up to it. We awoke the following morning to the "sunlight" as it was dawning, followed by the music of the alarm gradually increasing in volume to the value we preset the night before. We have had the product for a couple of months now and still love it!

Works....still Don't Like Waking Up...but It Works - Myra Crowell on Nov 28, 2011 I Like

This is a gentle, non-jarring way to awaken. I still like to wake with the sun and winter waking is tough for me but this is nicer and more reliable than the noise of an alarm.

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