iHome iH5 iPod dock/clock radio reviewed
The
iHome iH5 — a dock that merges an iPod with a clock radio
— seems like such an obvious idea that we're surprised nobody thought of it before. And now that iLounge has actually
reviewed it, we're hoping someone else will. It's not that iLounge didn't like it; they gave it an A minus, and liked
most of its features, including its "good sound quality for the dollar, AM/FM tuning, compatibility with all current
model iPods, and the ability to work with a remote control." But, for crying out loud, how hard would it have been for
iHome to add radio station presets, so you don't have to scroll through the whole spectrum just to get back to NPR? And
what about multiple alarms, a standard feature on most $100 clock radios? But the biggest bug, as far as we're
concerned, is that the Snooze button is just a thin strip. There are two big, honkin' round buttons on top of this
thing. One of those should be Snooze, so we can hit it and hit it hard, without having to flail around looking for it.
(That said, given that it's the only iPod dock/clock radio combo, we're gonna have to get one anyhow.)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
D @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
NPR. Silly commies.
Patrick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
this item is awesome in general! the only downside I've found to it is the INSANELY bright display! Even though it has 3 brightness settings, even the lowest setting lights up your room at night.. I've had to use something to block the front at night.. this is a terrible minus..
JL Jones @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
Now this is stupid...
Oh someone please save us from this iPod world
*sigh*
B @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
No, it's not the ONLY ipod clock-radio, just the only affordable one:
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000050050876/
Lee Gibson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
JL, nobody's going to come to your house in the middle of the night and replace your Mickey Mouse alarm clock with one of these.
Is there a reason that other people shouldn't be allowed to sell products that you, personally, disapprove of, or are you just being a dick?
Will @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
Jl,
Here is a way out: http://www.threadless.com/submission/43231/iKill
Donald Brown @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
I didn't find the snooze button to be an issue, it's still easy to find by feel, and the chance of hitting the wrong button by accident is low (and most importantly...the other buttons that can be pressed in the hunt won't change the time or alarm time. Those big honking buttons aren't buttons, they're scroll wheels.
Radio presets would be nice, though I'd expect you'd spend most of your time listening to music on the iPod. It does keep separate settings for AM and FM.
It has an audio in if you've got another type of audio player, though it won't charge the audio player nor will the play/pause button work (obviously).
Brad Ruiter @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
ok, I love mine if it didn't feel like I was looking at the sun with my eyes closed. I didn't know it was supposed to be a 75W Night Light either.
Other than that, it's sweeeet.
Tom Karches @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
The ipod has an alarm feature built in. Just plug in a pair of computer speakers and game over. What's the point of this?
For a more compact solution, get this :
http://www.pcmicrostore.com/PartDetail.aspx?q=p:10502796
and a 6 volt adapter.
Who needs the radio? That's why i have an iPod...
stencil @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
Patrick, my clock radio has the same problem. It's insanely bright on even the lowest setting. Luckily, you can choose the background color. The dimmest is amber, which makes it hard to see in the day but fine for sleeping. Does anyone test these things?
Jeremy Horwitz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
We were as concerned by those radio limitations as you guys, and that's why we mentioned them in the review and knocked the grade down to an A-. But it's hard to get around the fact that iH5 is one of the least expensive docking speaker systems we've seen for the iPod (under $100), sounds good, and looks good. The snooze button thing isn't an issue - it's as big as on most Sony clock radios, and as Donald pointed out, those are dials, not buttons on the left and right sides.
Mitch @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
I think this is a cool idea, probably would get it if i didnt have a new sony alarm clock that i just got as a gift and places cd's with 3 alarms so i can oversleep and have it keep harassing me
rjb @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
iThis iAdding "i" before iEverything is iGetting out of iHand.
pricewatcher @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
Reply to #1
"Linens 'n Things offers the IH5 iPod Alarm Clock Radio for $99.99. Add coupon code "881000000005" to your cart to slash it to $79.99, the lowest price we've seen for this item by $10."
"According to the site, this item is on backorder and is expected to ship within 30 days. Shipping adds around $11, or order it online for in-store pick-up. Coupon expires July 31."
From dealnews.com
ab3 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
this looks pretty cool, debating about getting it. TO ALL NON IPOD FANS STOP POSTING ON THIS SITE! YOUR SHOULD BE REVIEWING THE CLOCK RADIO NOT YOUR DISLIKE OF IPODS!!!!!!!!!
spiff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
ilounge reviews are mostly useless since they are always praising stuff based on their looks and not their functionality. for product overviews i trust Engadget 10 times more than them
take a look a those rotten FM transmiters ratings or the dumb remote controls analysis. in those reviews they distribute A's left and right and I am not mentioning their blatant apple fanboyism
rick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
I purchased one a week ago at target. On sale for 109. Nice radio and iPod feature, but heck you could light up your whole house with the thing. Had to move it to the other side of the room. I'm going out to buy some window tint and see if that will help.
Kapila Wimalaratne @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
What this thing desperately needs is a record button. Imagine if it allowed you to record MP3s (either to about 100MB of flash memory in the device, or directly to the iPod) and transfer these recordings to a computer/iPod (similar to Griffin's RadioShark, except it wouldn't require a computer to record).
They'd have sold millions of these things.
Kap
Kevin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
The light IS insanely bright. I'm going to put some window tint film over mine. Also, is there a remote control for this radio? I thought that it was a seperate item you could buy, but now I can't remember where I read it and can't find a place to buy one. Oh yea, the sound is great!
johnw @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
cool idea. good night ipod......zzzzz... good morning ipod! i luv you ipod... but what a boring conventional design. how about a round clock face to echo the round ipod thingy? and maybe a smaller footprint? old fashioned clocks rule, digital numbers suck. oh, and NPR rules.
BulkHedd @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
I think the only place to buy the remote is directly from iHome:
http://www.ihomeaudio.com/remote_control.asp
JL Jones @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
#6
Hey, if you iPod cultists can go over and trash every other DAP, I surely can express my opinion about a stupid perhipheral.
I'll stop when you all accept the fact that the DAP world is more than just the iPod.
Thank you.
JL Jones @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
#7
That was funny!! LOL
Mind you, I wouldn't do myself in with an iPod tho!
blamont @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
I would just like to say that all of these posts and indcluding the review comparing this with docking speakers is just a bit like apples and oranges. This units blessing is that it functions as an alarmclock. In fact I found this by doing a search for ipod alarm clock. If I were interested in just docking speakers thats what I'd look for and buy. The sleep timers and clock radio surely put this in a different category. This unit seems great and I'm going to spring for one soon. I just happened to be on the lookout for a new clock radio.
Jane D. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
Does anyone know WHERE TO BUY THE REMOTE??
Jeff Slater @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
Can anyone help out regarding instructions to change the numeral colors? I love the unit, but did not plan on getting sun tanned while I slept each night.
Lani @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
Was on sale for $79.79 at Meijers in Cincinnati on 8/9/05. Got one. Love it. Wish there were radio presets.
Lani @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
Was on sale for $79.79 at Meijers in Cincinnati on 8/9/05. Got one. Love it. Wish there were radio presets.
barb l. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
this little bright gem is on sale in san francisco bay area ,at mervyn's for$99.99, ( until 12/3).soooooo glad i was able to read all of above comments before buying it for grand daughter's 8th grade graduation gift. comments on ridiculously bright light: the combo of loudest setting plus searchlight bright light will make it easier for her to get to high school classes on time, wont work on her brother tho, or any other male in our clan.
!!.
ADog @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
Ok, I just got this for my birthday. Like iLounge says, it sounds pretty good. Actually alot better than I thought it would. Before you buy it though, here are some downsides, also mentioned in the comments section of the iLounge review.
Very loud wakeup-- No way to change the alarm volume, and it is not "gradual". If you're waking from your iPod, it goes from tolerable to VERY LOUD in about 3 seconds. NO way to change this. It will not remember the volume you had set when you went to sleep.
Every selection you make, setting the alarm, time makes a REALLY loud beep. It's freakin rediculous.
So I'm about to take this back. The alarm is intolerably loud, as many others have noted in other forums, and the super loud beeps are amazingly annoying. Just have to wait for another company to get it right. It really does work great for coming in from skating, pulling out your headphones, and setting the iPod in the dock, then boom, it's playing right where you were.
Rich @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
If you have a BJ's Warehouse near you, they have a $99 package which includes the remote and a hardcase for your iPod
Meredith @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
Right out of the box, the alarm setting for iPod is a gradual wake, with the volume increasing; but my problem is that it gets too loud! Ihave tried to change this, but to no avail. I turn the volume to zero and it still gradual wakes, maxing at 20!! This is too startling to wake up to, so if you know how to change this, please help!
Patrick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM
How do you change this display to amber???
ds @ Dec 25th 2005 11:56PM
just got one of these babies for christmas, and i love it....the display is bright, but i intend to use this one in my office, so that probably won't be an issue....the sound is pretty good, better than i expected from such a small device, and the fact that it charges the pod while it is attached is a bonus (a few of these types of products don't offer that feature)...and with the going rate of a pod doc around 40 or more bucks, for a bit more (if you can get a deal as mentioned above) you can have a doc that actually plays music! overall a great value! thanks, mom!
abraham @ Dec 26th 2005 3:16PM
i just got this for christmas. the main thing that i dislike is that there's no way to set "what song/playlist" i wake up to. it's just a shuffle of the 2500+ songs i've got. and some of the classical stuff wouldn't exactly wake me up. it'd put me to sleep!
but still cool nonetheless. esp. since it was a gift, i didn't have to pay for it! :-)