Dot or Kleine?
Two sage cuckoo clocks from the same studio. One sings, one counts. Here is everything that sets them apart, so you can pick the right one the first time.
The biggest difference is the sound
Both birds come out every hour. What they do when they get there is completely different.
The Dot sings. Once an hour, the bird appears and plays a short, pretty birdsong. It sounds like a songbird outside the window, not a clock. It does not count the hour: at 3 o’clock and at 11 o’clock you hear the same single song.
The Kleine cuckoos. It behaves like a traditional cuckoo clock and calls out the time. One “cuckoo” at one o’clock, two at two, all the way to twelve at noon. If you want to know the hour without looking, this is your clock.
So which sound suits you? The Dot’s song is gentle and a little playful, a nice fit for a kitchen or a home office where you hear it all day. The Kleine’s cuckoo is the classic sound, and it is the one for anyone who grew up with a cuckoo clock and misses the counting.
The size, drawn to scale
The most common surprise in our reviews is “it’s bigger than I expected” about the Dot. So here they are next to each other, at true proportion.
Dot: 10.3" (26 cm) across, 3.1" (8 cm) deep, about 12.6" (32 cm) tall on its stand. Think of a dinner plate standing on its edge. It is a statement piece and reads well from across a room.
Kleine: 5.1" wide, 8.7" tall, 3.1" deep (13 × 22 × 8 cm). Roughly the footprint of a paperback book standing up. It fits the places a full-size clock can’t: a bedside table, a bookshelf, a narrow windowsill, a desk.
Tip: before you order, cut a piece of paper to size and tape it where you plan to put the clock. Ten seconds, no surprises.
Side by side
| Dot Sage | Kleine Sage | |
| Price | $130 | $80 |
| Shape | Round | Little house |
| Hourly sound | One birdsong | Counts the hour: 1 to 12 cuckoos |
| Size | 10.3" across, 3.1" deep, 12.6" tall on stand | 5.1" × 8.7" × 3.1" |
| Weight | About 2.9 lb (1.3 kg) | About 2.2 lb (1 kg) |
| Wall or shelf | Both. Removable stand included, keyhole on the back for the wall | Both. Flat base stands on its own, keyhole on the back for the wall |
| Night silence | Automatic, 10pm to 6am | Automatic, 10pm to 6am |
| Volume | Adjustable, with mute | Adjustable, with mute |
| Power | 3 × AA (not included) | 3 × AA (not included) |
| Frame and face | Natural wood frame, matte sage face | Natural wood frame, matte sage face, yellow bird |
| Other colors | White, Taupe, Yellow | Sage only |
| Design | Renée Vendrig, Netherlands | Renée Vendrig, Netherlands |
Which one is yours?
Choose the Dot if
You want one clear piece on a wall or console. You prefer a soft birdsong over counting. You like the option of another color later (White, Taupe, Yellow). It is also the one most people give as a gift.
Choose the Kleine if
Space is tight. You want the classic cuckoo that tells you the hour. It is going on a nightstand, a bookshelf or a desk. Or you already own a Dot and want a small companion for another room.
What owners tell us
“The bird sounds are so pleasant and calming to me. I wished I had this years ago.”Kenneth, on the Dot Sage
“Makes me smile every time the little bird comes out and sings. Not too loud, which I was worried about.”Verified buyer, on the Dot Sage
“I bought the big one for my daughter, then bought the smaller one for me.”Sheila, on the Kleine Sage
“Fits perfectly on my bedside stand.”Jennifer, on the Kleine Sage
Setting it up right, the first time
Almost every “the bird is off” message we get has the same cause, so it is worth two minutes here. Both clocks run on a 24-hour cycle inside. That is how they know when it is night and when to stay quiet. The bird needs to be in step with the hands, and it needs to know morning from evening.
Three rules for both clocks:
- Only turn the time-setting knob on the back, and only clockwise.
- Never push the hour hand on its own. Moving a hand by finger is what knocks the bird out of step.
- Turn slowly, and pause about one second at every full hour so the bird can catch up.
Syncing the Kleine:
- Turn the clock around and set the knob to 5:50.
- Insert 3 AA batteries.
- Slowly turn clockwise to 6:00. The bird will sound.
- Keep turning clockwise to the current time, pausing at each full hour. If it is afternoon or evening, go all the way round past noon, so the clock knows it is PM.
- Pick your volume.
Prefer to watch? Here is the one-minute setup video.
Questions we hear most
Does the Dot count the hours?
No. The Dot plays one birdsong every hour, the same song at every hour. If you want the bird to count, choose the Kleine.
Does the Kleine count the hours?
Yes. One cuckoo at one o’clock, two at two, up to twelve at noon. If it calls the wrong number (for example 18 or 24 times), the bird has lost step with the hands. Follow the sync steps above and it will line up again.
Will it wake me up at night?
No. Both clocks go quiet on their own from 10pm to 6am. This depends on the clock knowing AM from PM, so if you hear it at night, re-sync it and make sure you went past noon when setting an afternoon or evening time.
Can I turn the sound down or off?
Yes, on both. There is a volume control with a mute setting. You never need to take the batteries out to silence it.
Wall or shelf?
Either, for both. The Dot comes with a removable stand for a shelf or desk; take it off and hang the clock from the keyhole on the back. The Kleine stands on its flat base, and also has a keyhole on the back for the wall.
How big is the Dot, really?
10.3" (26 cm) across, about the size of a dinner plate, and around 12.6" tall on the stand. If you want something smaller, that is exactly what the Kleine is for.
Do they sound the same?
No, and that is on purpose. The Dot sings a birdsong. The Kleine makes the traditional “cuckoo” call. If you love the Dot’s song, keep in mind the Kleine will sound different.
What batteries do I need?
Three AA batteries for either clock, not included. A good set lasts around a year.
Do they look good together?
Yes. Same designer, same sage, same natural wood. Plenty of people keep a Dot in the living room and a Kleine in the bedroom or office.
Which colors are available?
The Dot comes in Sage, White, Taupe and Yellow. The Kleine is available in Sage.
Still unsure? Reply to any of our emails and ask. We read everything.
— Ch
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