iHome iH9 Alarm Clock Speaker System with Dock for iPod (Black) by iHome
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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 |
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Digital camera reviews of iHome iH9 Alarm Clock Speaker System with Dock for iPod (Black)
Digital camera Review: Good features, perfomance and package
Summary: 4 Stars
The iPod function is excellent. The tiny remote will probably get lost, but it works well until you lose it. The radio works with recent iPods and with iPhones. The iPhone 3G displays a message when you first plug it in saying that the device (the iH9) isn't designed for iPhones, but the phone charges and the iPod features work perfectly. Just one thing doesn't work: you can't leave the phone function on because the GSM signal causes interference. So if you rely on your cell phone for home or office phone service you'll need the iH99 model, which has shielding that prevents the interference -- but that model costs almost 3/4ths more. Since we don't get cell phone reception in this house, the iH9 is just fine.
The radio is surpsrisingly good. We're in using it in a house in rural NH with a standing seam metal roof. AM reception for most radios consists of static, broken occasionally by louder static. With the supplied external AM antenna plugged in, the iH9 picks up a few nearby stations during the day and pulls in stations in Hartford and Boston at night, when AM reception is always better. (Without the external AM antenna, we got the static we do with other AM radios.) The FM antenna works well if you take the time to orient it properly for the signal
We've been using a Sangean CCR radio that is designed for fringe reception areas and the iH9 works almost as well on FM and better on AM.
The design is clean looking and the controls are labeled well, including the clock radio functions. The glossy black plastic case shows finger prints easily. White would probably be better. The "dials" for tuning and volume are flat discs designed to look like iPod click wheels. Theys have a matte finish that makes them easy enough to turn, but real raised dials would be easier to use.
We expected that there would be adapters for multiple iPods in the package, but the radio we got has only one, already installed. Apparently you can get additional adapters from iHome. Having the right size adapter makes the iPod more secure and makes it less likely that you'll knock it off the connector by mistake. Fortunately the adapter that came with our radio fits large iPods and the iPhone OK. The package also included the exteranl AM antenna and a little stand for it, a connector to plug into MP3 players that don't fit the built-in iPod connector, the remote control and a reasonably clear instruction leaflet. For the price, it's a good unit with reasonable sound and good features.
Digital camera Review: Good radio
Summary: 5 Stars
My son likes this alot. He can dock his ipod and listen to his music. works well and sound is really good for the price of the item.Digital camera Review: Good sound easy to use
Summary: 5 Stars
I love listening to audio books and the ihome ih9 works great on my desk top. the remote makes it handy to pause quickly when the need arises. I like the sound. My musican boyfriend even said "nice sound". I am happy with my purchase.Digital camera Review: Good sound, but not for the long haul
Summary: 3 Stars
I was given this as a gift a couple of years ago. At first, I was madly in love with it. As other reviewers have said, the iPod dock is a bit fragile. This made me nervous at first. After about six months, the dock just plain stopped working. I don't know if maybe one of the teeny weeny wires in the exposed dock got bent, I don't know what happened. It doesn't recognize the iPod. This is really a shame, because its little speakers aren't bad. Particularly for small home dwellers, this is a great alternative to having a full stereo. I always feel the sound quality is good.
As a clock radio, it is really good. It has three brightness settings, a readout visible from some distance, date and time, and- LOVE THIS- a switch on the back to easily set from Daylight Savings to Standard Time and back. No more rolling all the way around the dial to set the clock back one hour.
After frequent use, the button for setting the alarm became worn out. It required holding it down and wiggling it around to get it to make contact so the clock would go to the mode to set the alarm. Now it's just plain dead.
As a clock and as a radio, I would definitely purchase this product again. For the price, I don't know if I would purchase this again as an alarm clock, and I would not purchase this as a listening device for my iPod.
Digital camera Review: Good sound, cheap parts
Summary: 3 Stars
Sound Rating : 4 out of 5 stars.
Quality Rating : 2 out of 5 stars.
I recieved this as a gift a couple years ago. This thing puts out some decent sound! And it gets pretty darn loud for the size! There are a few flaws with it. The buttons on top are very cheap. One of them broke after very little use. Now, if you want it to turn off, you have to sit there and jiggle the button and hope it shuts off. Unfortunately, now the ipod function doesn't work (but I've had it almost 3 years now). It won't even recognize that the ipod is there but when I plug my Ipod into my dock, it recognizes it right away so it's not my ipod that's broken. It won't even charge it now. The radio isn't very good on it but it's great if you only use the Ipod. I'm now shopping for a new set of speakers for my Ipod though. I would recommend this for the sound, but I would not recommend it for it's durability.