Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I have searched hard to find the "perfect" iPod alarm clock. For me, the iHome iP9 comes closer than anything else I found, but it does have some very annoying flaws.
In my opinion, the best features are:
* The alarm can be set to wake to a random song on an "iHome" playlist on your iPod. Only Sanyo seems to have a product with a similar feature, but I think theirs looks REALLY ugly.
* The backlight dimmer has 7 levels of brightness and can even be turned off.
* You can adjust the snooze time from 1 to 29 minutes in 1-minute increments.
* The alarm volume (for radio and iPod) gradually increases for "gentle" waking.
* The sound quality is quite good for such a small unit.
The things that annoy me about the unit are:
* The alarm set buttons are located directly behind the snooze bar, and hitting one of these buttons resets the alarm when the alarm is sounding. While the snooze bar is very big and has a bump that you can feel with your fingers, I fear that I will accidentally turn off my alarm one morning when just trying to snooze for a few more minutes.
* There is a beep when setting the alarm. While this offers audio confirmation of your alarm setting actions, it can be annoying if you are trying to set the alarm when your significant other is sleeping.
* The dial controls are cool in theory/aesthetic but are not so great in practice. It can be more time-consuming to use these to set the alarm time and other settings when compared to conventional buttons and a system where one sets the hour and minute independently. Also, the dials are mechanical (unlike an iPod) and lack an indent or other means for providing traction. So, your finger can slip, making them not so easy to turn. For this, I found a simple work-around: I stuck on each dial a small, round, self-adhesive, clear plastic bumper (something you can find in any hardware store). This makes it much easier to turn the dials, but it does not get around the fact that dials are not always the best interface.
* Personally, I find only the dimmest and off settings for the backlight to be of any use. Perhaps, the other backlight settings would be needed if the unit is placed in direct sunlight. However, I find them too bright, and it is very slightly annoying that I need to press the dimmer button to cycle through the 6 other "on" settings each time I turn the backlight off. While definitely better than some competing units whose backlight is always way too bright (e.g. the Sony ICF-CD3iP), even the dimmest setting can be rather bright in a totally dark room.
For me, the positive outweighs the negative when evaluating this unit as an iPod alarm clock. While not my primary usage (and paling in comparison to a dedicated home stereo), I found the sound on this unit to be surprisingly good when using the unit as an iPod speaker system for casual listening in a small room.
Click Here to see more reviews about:
iHome iP9 Speaker Dock with Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone (Silver)The iP9 is an innovative clock radio for iPhone and iPod designed to shield annoying iPhone/mobile phone GSM noise. This way, the airplane mode is not required, and you'll never miss a call again when your iPhone is docked. The iP9 has several unique features, including a remote control, AM/FM presets, EQ controls, and even 3D sound for an enhanced audio experience. The iP9 also allows you to wake to your custom iPod playlist at different times on different days, with iHome's 7-5-2 feature and programmable snooze settings. You'll also enjoy great sound around the clock with their Reson8 stereo speaker chambers.
iPod, iPhone, Radio, or Buzzer Alarm Wake to your docked iPod, the radio, or--if you must--a classic buzzer alarm. Whichever you choose, a gradual alarm feature gently raises the alarm volume, so it's not too jarring. Dual alarm lets you set separate wake times.
You can set separate wake times for weekdays and weekends, and you can wake to the playlist or song of your choice.
Programmable Snooze The iP9's programmable snooze feature allows you to set snooze intervals of 1 to 29 minutes, so you can milk every last second of sleep before you're late for work.
Sleep Features Drift off to your iPod, iPhone, or radio, with programmable sleep times of 120, 90, 60, 30, or 15 minutes. Gentle Sleep gradually decreases the music volume as you drift off to dreamland.
What's more, an Adjustable Sleep volume solves an age-old alarm clock problem, allowing you to select a comfortable "sleep" volume level without affecting the "wake to" or listening volume levels.
Play and Charge Your iPod or iPhone The iP9's universal dock plays and charges most docking iPod models (in addition to using them for alarms), along with the iPhone. So when you do finally wake up, your device will have a full charge as you head out the door.
DST Switch Switch to daylight savings time at the flick of a switch, rather than pushing buttons for that whole extra hour.
AM/FM Radio The iP9 delivers solid radio listening, complete with an external AM antenna for better reception. Save your favorite stations on the AM/FM presets.
Big Sound, Small Package The iP9 delivers powerful audio with stereo drivers in specially designed Reson8 speaker chambers.
Reson8 is iHome's through-body ported speaker chamber technology. Porting speakers gives better bass response characteristics and helps the iP9 deliver sound beyond its size.
Bass, treble, 3D, and balance controls let you further adjust the sound to your liking.
Auxiliary Input Connect external devices like MP3 or CD players to the rear auxiliary input for your enjoyment.
Full-Function Remote Control Enjoy convenient control from a distance with the included remote--control both radio and iPod functions.
What's in the Box iP9 Clock Radio and Audio System (Silver), remote control, docking inserts, AC power adapter, AM antenna and stand, and owner's manual.
Get 15% OFF
Click here for more information about iHome iP9 Speaker Dock with Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone (Silver)
