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Nov/093
Nov/093
iHome iP9BR Clock Radio for iPod, iPhone
The iP9 is an innovative clock radio for iPhone & iPod designed to shield annoying iPhone/mobile phone GSM noise. This way the airplane mode is not required and youll never miss a call again when your iPhone is docked.The iP9 has several unique features, including a full function remote control with menu navigation, AM/FM presets, EQ controls, and even 3D sound for an enhanced audio experience. The iP9 also allows you to wake to your custom iPod playlist at different times on …
Buy iHome iP9BR Clock Radio for iPod, iPhone at Amazon
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12:38 pm on November 23rd, 2009
I had been reading about the IP99 for months but was unwilling to pay well over $120 for it. When I happened across the new IP9 for $79.99 in a local warehouse that starts with “Cost” and ends with “co”, I thought I would give it a try.
The sound is slightly improved over my older IH5 and IH6 radios — which is to say excellent for the money — and so far I haven’t heard the slightest GSM buzz. The iP9’s 3D effect is richer than the Sony ICF-C1iPMK2’s “Mega Xpand” feature. The overall sound of the iP9 is slightly warmer than that of the Sony but otherwise comparable. The Eq option is a big plus.
The one advantage the Sony has is that it supports an iPhone from the back via and adustable block. That somewhat negates the need for a dock insert. This is a nice convenience for people with an iPhone shell that is small enough to fit in a universal dock as you may not have to remove the shell to dock the iPhone securely. You NEED an insert on the iP9 as you would on any device with a universal dock on top and nothing substantial behind the dock. Fortunately, the iPhone insert iHome includes seems to work as well as an iPhone 3G Universal Dock Insert from Apple… and it’s black! The iHome website currently states that the IP9 does not ship with an iPhone 3G insert but perhaps iHome wised-up.
The dual alarms work in a similar manner to the Sony. The 2-5-7 day setting is a plus. I have not used the snooze feature though it is supposed to be configurable. Our dogs do not allow us to snooze, in case you were wondering. At night, one big advantage for the iP9 is that the dimmer allows you to turn off the backlighting entirely. As anyone with a Sony will tell you, their dimmest setting is way too bright. The iHome’s numbers are also a little larger.
I have read about some quality problems with the IP99 and am hoping that the IP9 is as solid as the IH5 and IH6 clocks I have had for a few years without any problems. The iP9 seems to be built more solidly than the Sony, particularly with respect the buttons. The dials take a little getting used to, but if you’re tying to adjust the volume in a dark room they are much easier to adjust than the tiny Sony volume buttons, which have an annoyingly loud click. I also give the iP9’s remote an edge because it includes a few more functions.
In summary, the iHome iP9 is a solid performer with an excellent attention to detail that puts it ahead of the Sony ICF-C1iPMK2, despite its more iPhone shell-friendly design.
1:38 pm on November 23rd, 2009
First of all, THIS IS THE ONE TO BUY IF YOU HAVE AN iPHONE, because the other model just doesn’t have sufficient shielding to work with the iPhone. You will have constant buzzing and interference due to the iPhone constantly polling.
Now to the review. The product comes nicely packaged and protected, and with good instructions. Set up is simple, even setting the time, which is just a selection of a time zone if needed. Mine came perfectly timed (it has a battery backup for it’s internal clock) and so I just selected my time zone and I was done. Most of the setting are intuitive, except perhaps turning off the alarms if you don’t want them to ring the next day… But, read the instructions (I had to finally turn to them as I couldn’t work it out… and you know, turning to instructions is the last thing any man wants to do!:-)))))
In function the unit deliver acceptable sound for what is basically a clock radio. And being able to access all your favorite music on the iPod or iPhone, with a remote control no less, is great. Even the alarm works well, with a gradually increasing volume (and irritation… exactly what is required to pierce my slumbering brain…). And being able to wake to radio, MP3, or buzzer is great. The dual alarms can be set for 5 or 7 day setting, so that if you don’t have to get up quite so early on the weekend, you can…
FM & AM reception are acceptable, and the tuner has pretty good lock and definition (stays on station, and doesn’t pick up much “bleed through” of stations that are close to each other on the dial…). Finding a place to hang/hide the antenna cables can be challenging…
Answering the phone while in the cradle works fine, but isn’t the greatest sound.
So, great sound, great time keeping, great access to favorite tunes, great that it charges the phone whilst in the cradle, and it looks good too. So why do I say “almost” does everything? Well, the one think I would change would be to fit a small light sensor, and have it maintain one illumination setting for day and one for night (illumination level of my choice of course). It does have plenty of graduations of light intensity, but it seems I am forever adjusting the illumination, from the bright setting for day, and one of the night… Setting them once as a preference and having it automatically set to that selection as needed would be wonderful…
Anyway, it’s a nice solution to keeping your iPhone by the bed, and charging it without cables everywhere. And it does it all whilst looking good, and performing other tasks… Pretty good value if you ask me…
BrianB.
2:29 pm on November 23rd, 2009
I have been wanting a radio / i pod docking stereo ever since I was in Las Vegas and the hotel I was staying in had one. This one is priced more aggressively than a few others and offers that same quality (so I have heard) minus the blue tooth.
We have this in our bedroom. Don’t use the alarm clock option….but it is nice that the LED display can be turned down so that you do not feel as though you have a light on while you are sleeping.
VERY happy with this product.