iHome iH9 Alarm Clock Speaker System with Dock for iPod (Black) by iHome
|
List Price: Our Price: $65.00 You Save: $14.99 (19%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Network Media Player See more digital camera details and other models |
|---|
Digital camera reviews of iHome iH9 Alarm Clock Speaker System with Dock for iPod (Black)
Digital camera Review: Beware faulty device
Summary: 1 Stars
Please beware buying this product. My husband wanted to surprise me with an iHome for my 30GB Zune. He didn't purchase it through amazon, so I cannot say that buying it through this site will actually help, but when I received my now belated Christmas present and plugged it in the wall - it didn't work. The friendly customer service immediately sent us a new device, but this one worked for 20 minutes and then gave up the LCD screen (I guess when you have a Alarm Clock, you want to see the time).
Make sure, if you buy this alarm clock to test it out immediately.
Digital camera Review: Beware if you have a Tivo -- You can't use this in the same room!
Summary: 2 Stars
I really wanted to like this device, but every time I use my Series 3 Tivo remote control, the IH9's input changes (i.e. goes from AM to FM to Line In, to IPOD, etc). I don't think an alarm clock particularly needs a remote control, but having a remote control alarm clock that responds to my Tivo's remote just won't work for me.Digital camera Review: Brick for your buck
Summary: 3 Stars
iHome has the budget iPod alarm clock market fairly secured. This was a gift a couple of years ago, so I've put it through it's paces. I'll start with the pros...
1. Best sounding alarm clock/iPod alarm clock. Loud enough for use while showering 5m away.
2. Dual alarm with 2/5/7 program is great (assuming you work weekdays), especially given this price-point.
3. Snooze button easy to find.
4. Lots of dim levels for display.
5. DST adjust with a simple switch on the back.
6. Battery backup works better than most clocks I have owned, and we have lots of brief midnight outages each winter.
And now the cons...
1. Not the easist clock to set and/or operate if you don't do it all the time (like my wife when I am out of town) especially if you mix your use of iH9 and iPod controls.
2. Remote layout is terrible for iPod. Push the logical (for iPod device) button and who knows what you will get. No "home" bump to find your way around the remote in the dark. Takes forever to scroll one-button-press at a time. (You have to be close enough to the iPod to see anyway, easier to just use the iPod's click-wheel.
3. Remote uses same codes as my Toshiba TV. Pressing VOL-UP for my TV turns alarm-2 on/off. You have to be listening for the "beep" or you could be in for a surprise in the morning. So many remote issues, I don't even use it any longer.
4. Things get out of whack if you use a combo of iH9 buttons and iPod buttons, making it necessary to undock/redock to make things right again.
5. Now can only use the buttons on the iPod itself (using 4G, classic160 or nano5G) for iPod functions. Only play/pause work on the iH9 or remote. Still charges and plays.
6. AM radio worthless, which is bad, because I like to hear local weather and traffic while I'm getting ready for work. (Good thing I have that TV).
7. The 1800mA AC adapter weights about three pounds! I don't see how it passed UL, because it can fall out of a wall socket and has no support screw. I have to use a short extension cord, which isn't a big deal, but maybe have the transformer brick on a pigtail, like every laptop on earth (with smaller supplies).
8. Huge footprint, about 3x the sq-cm of a traditional clock radio (and twice as tall, but that is ok). Nice that it doesn't slip around, but nightstand real-estate is limited along with lamp, house-phone, cell-phone charger and anything like a book or glass.
Bottom line, if you don't need hi-fi sound and x-10 interface, this isn't bad, but it is complex and buggy enough to make it a pain. I'm now shopping for an iPod clock/charger for my daughter and I think I am going to look beyond iHome products this time.
Digital camera Review: Carefully read the model name
Summary: 4 Stars
I've bought this item (black one) couple of days ago in TJ Maxx for 69,99 + sales tax. There are more iH9xxx models, so don't be pissed if you buy the one without remote (plain iH9). I didn't need remote so desperately, so I'm satisfied with this model. Using it with iPod Video, had no problem connecting it, although I didn't like US centricism in Time Zones settings (doesn't offer outside-US time zones). Clock can be set manualy, so this is not such a big issue for me. Let's list pros and cons (IMHO):
pros
* great loudness for such a small box, and also the distribution of tones is well balanced
* sounds great on the silent end, which I'll use more often
* quite easy to set up and use
* display can be dimmed thgrough more levels then I'll ever need
* has audio line-in
cons
* not as easy to handle (memorize and tune) radio stations
* if you want to skip to next song, you have to do it by pressing on iPod, rather then having the control on the station itself
All together, this is a good product for what I needed, but I don't think it's worth 90 $. Trj some local stores for better price.
Digital camera Review: Cheaply made, lasted one year
Summary: 2 Stars
The product was ok when it worked, but it is very cheaply constructed and broke after one year. The volume and tuner dials are the problem. Also, the tuner dial is extremely annoying. If you want to set your alarm 12 hours from the currently set time, you have to spin this dial several hundred times. While it might burn calories, it's not quite my preference for exercise. In fact, you may get a repetitive stress injury setting your alarm. I am now going to buy another alarm clock (obviously a different kind). I should have spent more money on a quality alarm clock the first time around.