BOYNQ WAKE-UP iPod Speaker and Alarm Clock (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Reviews of the Boynq Wake-Up are few and far between, I risked buying mine sight unseen with some hesitation. I'd fiddled with the iHome, Sony and iLuv models in stores and wasn't especially impressed with any of them. My decision came down between this one and the Cygnett GrooveNeo, which is also lacking in reviews.
Build quality of the Wake-Up seems better (with the exception of the remote) than the others, and sound quality seems marginally improved. My bedroom is pretty big and it fills the space with sound. The design looks good and the function buttons have a solid action. I like the rotary dials for adjusting volume, bass and treble. The footprint is nice and compact.
What I don't like. . . some of the ergonomics leave room for improvement. Setting the duration for the sleep function is a crapshoot. Sometimes it remembers the setting from last time, other times not, and when setting the duration for sleep again, by pressing the hour & minute buttons, it knocks you back out of sleep mode. It seems inconsistent and frustrating, although I am getting better at it, noting I can more easily adjsut the duration if I wait a couple of seconds first. Similarly, every time I turn the alarm mode on, I need to select the radio as my source. Not a huge issue, but I wish the user interface was more consistent. It is fairly easy to set alarm times when needed. Note that this provides only one alarm time, that's not an issue for me.
The time display is pretty small, like many of the competitors, and could be present some challenge reading it from a distance. Brightness levels are adjustable.
The greatest failing of the Wake-Up is the remote. It feels cheap. There's a rocker switch under a rubber cover that's intended to mimic the action of an iPod, but doesn't really come close. Remote functions are limited to on / off, volume up / down, and next / previous track (or station memory). The remote also does not seem to work well over a distance, not an issue for me but not really confidence inspiring. The remote is powered is powered by a flat lithium battery, it would be ideal if it was instead charged by the iPod connection.
Note I am using mine with a first generation iPhone. I get the compatibility warning but that's not really a problem. I sometimes hear some signal interference through the speakers, curiously these do not seem associated with incoming calls or texts, and they are pretty minimal in volume. Overall I'm satisfied with this purchase, although I wonder if the Cygnett would have been the better buy.
EDIT: I would drop my rating to three stars and am on the threshold of returning my Boynq. The sleep issue persists where it is erratic about letting me set the duration of sleep. I think this is a logic issue with the unit, as the hour and minute buttons work fine for changing the time and alarm.

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Compatible with most iPod models (iPod video 30/60/80 GB; iPod nano 1st generation 1/2/4 GB; iPod nano 2nd generation 2/4/8 GB; iPod photo; iPod mini 4/ 6 GB; iPod with dock connector [10/15/20 GB only]; iPod nano 3rd generation; iPod Classic 80/160 GB; iPod touch 8/16 GB), the Boynq WakeUp iPod speaker system features three beautifully integrated LCDs and enhanced speakers for improved clarity and bass response.
Designed as a creative and stylish speaker system, docking station, FM radio receiver, and alarm clock for your iPod, the WakeUp is a hip and functional complement to any room in the house. The three integrated LCDs help you keep tabs on the time, radio station, and input channels. You can adjust the intensity of the backlit LCDs to suit your personal tastes and moods.
Use the WakeUP unit's powerful 3-inch built-in speakers to wake up your way, or use it to keep everyone awake at a party. The included stereo speakers feature pure analog amplification for crisp and clear, distortion-free, high-quality audio playback. The enhanced speakers feature a frequency range of 20Hz to 20KHz for improved clarity and bass response. A bass and treble equalizer is provided for optimal sound control.
Some of the WakeUp's easy-to-use functions include an adjustable alarm volume level and an adjustable sleep function. A remote control with a snooze button is included for added convenience.
And with line-in and line-out features, the WakeUp's robust built-in iPod dock can charge and synchronize your iPod while it's docked. Also, a stereo line in connects the WakeUp to other audio devices without dock connectors, such as an iPod shuffle. A stereo line out is included for connection to any home theater speaker system.
What's in the Box WakeUp speaker system, remote control, six docking inserts (iPod video 30 GB; iPod video 60/80 GB; iPod nano first and second generation; iPod 10/15/20 GB; iPod mini), line-in cable (45 cm, 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm jack), line-out cable (100 cm, 3.5 mm jack to double cinch), FM antenna, power adapter, and instruction manual.

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