XtremeMac's Luna iPod alarm dock: a better mouse trap

Sure, we don't see many new types of iPod accessories as the market is saturated these days. However, we'll bite when a new take on an old design hits as fresh as the LUNA alarm clock / audio system does from XtremeMac. That white-on-black clock face shows the time, date, and dual-alarm settings and brings an iPod-like menu for navigating deep into the guts of the system. And those silver rings on top? They're not just for show, those are the manual controls for bass, treble, radio, and of course, volume. And those 2x full-range speakers are driven by a "powerful" two-channel amp which should provide ample fix to that morning audio jones. Rounding things out are a remote control, aux-in jack for other audio devices, and a fat set of bedroom-friendly options including an adjustable display brightness which can even be mapped to alarm and sleep modes, gradually increasing or decreasing volume options for wake or sleep, and customizable snooze from 1 minute to 60 or sleep from 1 to 90 minutes. Hitting December 18, but available for pre-order now for $150.

[Via iLounge]

[Alex @ Nov 23rd 2006 10:27AM]

It looks nice, but not for that price.

[Jonathan M. @ Nov 23rd 2006 11:00AM]

It follows the same design philosophy as the iPod: cool design, well thought out features (not the greatest feature set though), and high pricing. If you're the kind of person that buys iPods, it's a perfect match!

[jmchez @ Nov 23rd 2006 11:06AM]

The gradual increasing of volume for waking up or decreasing for sleep should be standard on every music alarm clock, whether Ipod or Radio. It's also nice to see an alarm clock maker finally ignoring the old Westbend tradition of a snooze lasting 9 minutes (not 10 or 15, 9). That was a mistake to begin with and everyone following it was rather stupid to say the least.

[Eric @ Nov 23rd 2006 11:13AM]

The only comment worth reading is jmchez's, why does everyone have to be so negative when something comes out. If you don't like it STFU and keep on going to something that you like.

[Scott @ Nov 23rd 2006 11:40AM]

Apple (like microsoft) wants to control your life, from morning till night. (that should be their new ad slogan) Apple: Give your life to us, it can't be that bad!

[Zadillo @ Nov 23rd 2006 11:47AM]

Definitely looking forward to reading the reviews of this. So far the various iPod alarm clocks have had one flaw or other that kept them from being a perfect solution...... i.e. I found the $99 iHome iH5 to be pretty solid overall, but the radio reception was pretty bad. With the JBL On Time, the main problems are probably the weird angle that the display is at, and a pretty high price (although the JBL On Time makes up for in sound quality and design). I've been really waiting to find an alarm clock to replace my old Timex CD/clock radio, and hope this one might be it. If this is a solid alarm clock and speaker system, $150 seems pretty reasonable to me, compared to the $99 for the iHome iH5.

[Dave95 @ Nov 23rd 2006 11:55AM]

This is one of the better looking well thought-out Alarm Clock Speaker system by my neighbor XtremeMac. Would be great if those large silver knobs were also sleep buttons.

[slazh @ Nov 23rd 2006 12:23PM]

This alarm clock looks alot better then the GEAR4 HouseParty 24/7. Now if only these things would be available in a dutch store!

[steve @ Nov 23rd 2006 12:33PM]

or instead of buying this you could go and buy a five dollar alarm clock and wake up to the mediocrity of normal radio or beep beep beep....
then you can go buy a decent set of speakers for $145
and plug you mp3 player into that

[Mike @ Nov 23rd 2006 12:43PM]

Monsoon PlanarMedia 14 speakers, anyone :D

[LordFarkward @ Nov 23rd 2006 8:49PM]

pls excuse my ignorance: i don't get the 'mouse trap' bit?

[starwxrwx @ Nov 23rd 2006 9:19PM]

Even though these things are impossible to get where I live, I hope some decent alarm clock docks come out. I think that they need to have great iPod support, but also just be good alarm clocks.

I looked at the iHome on a recent trip to Japan and, besdies the size, the thing that put me off was the buzzer. It was WAY too quiet - I need to be jolted awake! My current alarm clock plays the buzzer OVER the music after 10 minutes - genius!

Also in response to the 9-minute snooze - I like it, if only because your brain is so confused when you look at the clock that you have to wake up just in case it really is later than you think it is...

[Z @ Nov 24th 2006 11:44PM]

This is one of the nicest looking nightstand Ipod clocks I've seen, but they need to make one change and add one option:

- The need to make one of the big buttons in front a snooze button that you can slap to shut off the alarm. That is, if they haven't done this already... I guess I'm not sure how you hit the snooze.

- They also need to offer a version that's all black. I don't like the white. Not everybody has white Ipods. We don't. We have black. So we want something that matches.

[Tyler Ingram @ Apr 26th 2007 11:51AM]

They do have a snooze button on this. Its the left button nearest the front of the unit.

And I have a silver iPod, well I used to have the green one but that's another story.

The one I got (I received it for review purposes) did not come with the other dock attachments like I've seen in other reviews. Luckily I kept mine :)

[griff @ Dec 19th 2006 5:02PM]

Hilarious.
People are actually posting questioning whether one of the buttons is a snooze button.
It's an alarm clock people.
Think about it.

[Pete C @ Feb 16th 2007 5:41AM]

Lets not forget the biggest issue with this ipod dock......DELIVERY!

I ordered mine on 6/1/07 its now 16/2/07 and still no UK delivery!

Some sites are predicting a delivery date of 2/3/07!

I would love to be able to comment on how good I think it is, or how clear the sound is? But I haven't got one to listen to!

Someone please inform me of a supplier with one of these in stock!!!