Hi Matt
I bought the Sony about 4 years ago as a travel radio and am very happy with it! I always bring it with me when ever I go travelling.

In the past it has accompanied me on a three month backpacking/cycling trip from Tierra del Fuego to Toronto. It worked in very low temperatures and put up with a few knocks. Also a few trips to Thailand and Mexico in my rucksack which I don't hesitate to sit on/throw around. More recently it came in very useful when I cycled 2400 km across the Nullarbor plain in Australia - I was camping alone for the first time so it was excellent company and (nearly) drowned out the sound of Dingoes scratching around the tent! Survived in my panniers on some pretty bumpy roads.

My radio came in a stout cardboard box that is still in one piece and very protective. The flip up panel has not become loose or wobbly. The alarm is loud and useful. The best part is the speaker - Sony really went for it and installed a top quality unit that makes the radio sound much bigger than it really is - not just loud but excellent reproduction. When tuned in it is not tinny or scratchy at all.

The two AA batteries it runs on last for ages. The only slight drawback to the Sony is that the LCD is powered by a separate coin cell that lives in the flip up bit, if it goes you lose the clock and alarm.

I paid about £60 ($90-ish?) four years ago. Expensive but worth it. I have seen a more up to date version with an LCD tuner (like the Grundig). More of a power drain IMHO.

Sorry to go on but I really like my Sony!

Hope this helps;)