What is a Sonic Boom Alarm Clock?

Adam Kollin invented the sonic boom alarm clock in recent years for people who find regular alarm clocks ineffective. Though the clock is now used by many who need more than a gentle beep in the morning to remind them to get out of bed, Kollin’s initial inspiration was his hearing impaired grandmother. Now the sonic boom alarm clock is not just for the hard of hearing. Instead, the various types are used by a number of people who just won’t get out of bed without significant activity taking place in their bedroom.

The standard sonic boom alarm clock emits a blast of sound up to about 113 decibels. For comparison purposes, this sound would be roughly the same as a car horn being honked next to your bed. It’s definitely loud and designed to wake the sleeper who just won’t get up. You can adjust the sound to lower levels, and you may need to experiment to see which level of sound is right for you without waking up neighbors.

The clock doesn’t stop at merely creating sound. Part of the clock can be slipped in between your mattress and box spring to create a shaking effect, similar to a small earthquake. Another feature of the clock coupled with the shaking and sound is lighting. Some of the sonic boom alarm clocks feature bright flashing lights that won’t go off until you actually turn them off. Most clocks come with the ability to turn off any of the “wake-up” features. If a gentle shake of your bed gets you up in the morning, you may forgo flashing lights and loud sounds. Alternately, you may need all three to get you out of bed in the morning.

There are now numerous types of sonic boom alarm clock on the market, most made by the company Sonic Alert® started by Adam Kollin. These include analog clock versions, super macho black alarm clocks like the Sonic Bomb SBB500s®, and even clocks for the sleeping beauties in your house in bright pink heart shapes. Prices vary from about $30 US Dollars (USD) for analog clocks to slightly over $70 USD for versions with extra features like a lamp plug in the back of the clock.

If you do plan on using the vibrating feature of the Sonic Boom alarm clock, you’ll need a good extension cord. And if you already have a good alarm clock, you can buy bed vibrators alone for approximately $30 USD. There are even a few travel versions of the clock, and most feature back up batteries. If you lose power in the night, your clock will still wake you up on time.

The analog version of the sonic boom alarm clock may be excellent for use with seniors, or for anyone who has vision problems. The large numbers on the face and the ease of programming may make this a better choice. In all these clocks have earned rave reviews, though people who hate getting out of bed, may not be quite as enthused when the clocks actually blast or shake them awake in the morning.