iHome IH9 Alarm Clock for iPod
 | Average Customer Rating: Recommend Extend your relationship with your iPod. iHome is the leading manufacturer of clock radios with built-in iPod docks. iHome's iH9R Dual Alarm Clock Stereo Radio for your iPod has a built-in dock for your iPod so it can play through the radio's stereo speaker system. Listen to tunes any time, or fall asleep and rise to wakefulness with them too. There's also a digitally-tuned AM/FM radio. Adjustable controls let… Product details and pricing info |
|---|
36 Customer Reviews Posted
- SDI Technologies scores a winner (Almost--a shortcoming is exposed.)
- Although I'm still partial to the sound of a Tivoli Model 3 despite its primitive alarm features, there's so little worthwhile musical programming on FM or AM bands that an iPod clock radio makes more sense now than ever. If you've ever tried to doze off (let alone wake up) to jazz or the Great American Songbook (i.e. Pops or Duke, Miles or Getz, Sinatra or Ella, a Gershwin or Cole Porter tune), you've no doubt discovered that despite the appearance of media outlets for every taste, there's frequently nothing to listen to!
SDI Technologies, with its iHome IH9 model, has addressed this void with class, style, efficiency and, not least, affordability. The IH9 makes an impression from the moment you take it out of the box: shiny, compact, and exhibiting accurate date and time even before being plugged in. Plug it in, and it's soon apparent that time, station numbers, sound source, etc. are more clearly illuminated than on any comparable device. Moreover, the design is sleek and uncluttered, with volume and control dials and push buttons that don't protrude from the surface yet are easy to manipulate.
Although a sophisticated little machine--from tone and EQ settings to two highly flexible, adjustable alarm systems--the IH9 is so intuitive that even the digitally-challenged are apt to have it completely solved without reference to the instructions. The sound is pristine and crisp, especially at low to medium volume. Bass and treble controls along with the sonic "expander" serve to enhance (i.e. "spread") frequencies all the more (perhaps needless to say, the bass lacks the fullness of that reproduced by a Tivoli, BA Receptor, Sangean W-2, or Athena iVoice system, but it's "there"--and, when played at reasonable volume levels, is free of distortion).
In short, there's little not to like about this modestly priced system described as an "alarm clock for iPod." The style, sound, controls, remote (the only one I've seen at this price that accesses the iPod's menu system), and line-in/out jacks practically put it in the same company as expensive units claiming to be high fidelity systems for the iPod. If sound and battery operation are your priorities, you'll no doubt wish to look at the Altec im600, but the audio quality of the iHome is respectable (closer to the Altec than many may care to admit), the FM sensitivity and selectivity is about equal with the Altec (extended rod antennae are no guarantee of superior reception, as any Tivoli Model One owner will testify), and the alarm clock feature is superior not only to the Altec's but to any other iPod system currently on the market.
A few quibbles: Station pre-sets are minimal (6 for both bands), but who listens to more than 2-3 stations? I've noticed some exaggerated disparities in volume levels of tunes when played through the IH9, perhaps easily corrected through settings in the iPod. The unit is heavier than I had expected (more ounces than the im600), even without factoring in the power adaptor. The latter is almost a throw-back to wall-warts of years past, eating up an annoying amount of real estate on my overloaded power strip. It's also just about the only area where iHome has done any conspicuous cost-cutting. In short, this radio-alarm-dock-speaker is so well designed and executed it's difficult to get excited about it; it's merely the new standard-bearer in its category and price range.
[Caveat: Although the alarm system, as stated, is the most sophisticated this writer has seen for an "iPod alarm clock," it may not satisfy the more fastidious user. The benefactor of this gift previously had a clock radio that would permit its owner to have the radio alarm come on for the first hour, then remain on after the 2nd alarm had been activated for the second hour. Thus the slowly-waking sleeper could experience radio exclusively for the first hour, and radio PLUS buzzer for the second. At this point, I haven't discovered a way to realize this optimal state with the iHome. In other words, the iHome's two alarms are independent and mutually exclusive, requiring the user to select one or the other alarm, or both but in sequential, rather than synchronous, order. A more sophisticated unit would ensure that the alarms are interdependent, so that the user could enjoy radio from the first alarm while simultaneously experiencing a buzzer activated by the second. (Are you listening, iHome?)] - 2008-08-11, 1 of 1 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- I LUV this product!!
- I really love my new iHome9. It has great sound, great sound options, and a very easy to use remote and clock. When I got my iHome, the time was a few minutes off of my other electronics, and it was very easy to reset. you click a total of two buttons. Plus, my remote works pretty well from across my large room, where my computer is. It says in the instructions not to use the iHome9 without an insert, but my iPod (nano, 2nd generation) doesn't fit any of the inserts, so I just use it without one. So far, I haven't had any problems with it. I really like this, and I would definetly advise you to buy one. Many of the other reviews say that their FM reception was bad, but mine is great. Maybe it's because I'm at the top of my house, but I get great reception on FM radio. I haven't tried AM radio, because I don't listen to it at all, but it comes with a 'special' AM reciever. All in all, I really like my iHome9, and I haven't spotted any problems with it yet. Hope this was helpful!
~~scotland_ace - 2008-07-23, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Great clock radio for your iPod, but don't get it if you have an iPhone
- I bought one of these for my son, who has an iPod Nano. It looks and sounds great! You can wake up to an alarm, the radio, or your iPod. If you choose to wake to your iPod, you can create a special iHome playlist if you like. My son loves it!
However, I also purchased one of these for my husband, who has an iPhone. Big Mistake. I based my purchase decision on info I found on the iHome website which states, "The iHome iH9 is compatible with all the latest iPod models, and includes inserts for the 3rd generation Nano, iPod Touch and iPhone." But when I received his box in the mail, a big "red flag" went up when I saw that the outside of the box doesn't mention the iPhone at all. Before opening it, I researched online some more and found that you must dock the iPhone in "airplane mode", meaning that you'll miss every call. That's simply unacceptable, so I returned the iH9 (with no reimbursement of my shipping costs because I didn't buy it direct from Amazon) and bought the IP99 direct from iHome for a lot more money.
The upshot? This is a very good clock radio for your iPod, but don't get it for your iPhone. - 2008-07-16, 1 of 1 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- My husband loves his new iHome IH9!!
- I gave this to my husband for fathers day to replace a less expensive one that never worked properly. He LOVES it! After reading the instructions, he was able to create an iHome playlist that he can select to play either preselected or random tunes for wakeup. We both love the way it gently fades out for sleep and fades in for wakeup. Its a wonderful and a great value for the money.
I shopped alot of products before buying this and am extremely happy with this choice. My husband says its a fantastic gift.... - 2008-07-15, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- LOVE it!
- I have to admit that I was hesitant in buying an iHome because I've read so many negative reviews. The main thing I wanted was the brightness control on the LCD screen. That was the biggest thing for me. When I saw the the iHome 9 had it (and I think the iHome 8 does as well..) I decided to go for it.
I will admit, however, that the lowest brightness setting basically completely shuts off the backlighting of the LCD screen, and while that is perfect for sleeping, you can't see the time very well on the clock during the night. In fact, you can't see it at all in the dark. For me, however, it's better like that than really bright. The next brightest setting is still too bright for me. What I've been doing is putting it on the lowest setting at night, and then making it brighter when I wake up so that I can see it during the day. It's not hard to adjust the brightness setting, all you have to do is literally hit the dimmer button a few times and that's it.
Other than that, I LOVE this product. I bought it because of the alarm clock. I wanted to be able to wake up to my iPod. It was very easy to set up and it's very easy to use. Everything works beautifully! I woke up this morning on time to my iPod! There are two alarms, and as it says above, you can wake to the buzzer, the radio, the ipod, or a specific ipod playlist that you create yourself. It also comes with a remote control. It's very easy to move the iHome around so I've been using it in different rooms when I'm doing something and want a little background music from my iPod. It's great! It also of course charges your ipod while it is docked.
I love the sleek design of it too. I think it's a very attractive alarm clock.
Basically, I love this product, and I don't find the brightness of the LCD screen to be a problem, especially when you put it on the lowest setting which is basically no backlighting at all. The price of the item is a little steep, but I think it was worth it. I'm very pleased with my purchase and I love the iHome! - 2008-07-12, 0 of 0 people found this review helpful, Rated:
