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iHome iH5 Clock Radio for iPod (White) | 
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| Brand: iHome
Category: CE
List Price: $99.99
Buy Used: $42.95
You Save: $57.04 (57%)
New (3) from $89.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  282 reviews
Color: White
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries: 2
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 5
Dimensions (in): 10 x 6 x 3
MPN: iH5
Model: iH5
UPC: 680988420603
EAN: 0832680013670
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Sleep or wake to iPod, AM/FM radio, or buzzer; auto-setting time and date even self-adjusts for Daylight Savings | | • | Sleep or wake to iPod, AM/FM radio, or buzzer | | • | Gradual Wake and Gradual Sleep gently increase (alarm) and decrease (sleep) the system volume | | • | Clean, contemporary design complements your iPod; stereo speaker drivers in special chambers offer surprisingly good sound | | • | Compatibility: iPod nano (1G only), iPod mini, 3G iPod, 4G iPod with click wheel, iPod Color, iPod Video |
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| Accessories:
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| Similar Items:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Product Description
With its built-in docking station and clean, contemporary design, the iHome iH5 clock radio is the perfect complement for your Apple iPod digital music player. Not only does the iH5 let you listen to your iPod music free from cumbersome headphones, it also lets you fall asleep or wake to music you've loaded into your iPod. You can also wake or sleep to FM/AM radio or wake to a traditional buzzer. The compact unit measures roughly 9 x 3 x 6 inches (W x H x D) yet comes complete with stereo speakers, drift-free digital FM/AM radio tuning, a multifunction LCD with adjustable backlighting, and the ability to charge your docking iPod's battery right from its center seat. (The iH5 includes handy inserts to accommodate any type of docking iPod: gen 3, gen 4, iPod mini, or iPod photo.) Immediately upon plugging it in and the clock will set itself, drawing on its factory-installed 100-year calendar (year/month/day, 2000 to 2099). The clock will maintain accuracy all on its own, even self-adjusting for Daylight Savings time and leap years. Fall asleep to your favorite station or a carefully chosen iPod playlist using the unit's programmable sleep timer (15 to 120 minutes in 15-minute increments). Gradual Wake and Gradual Sleep features will increase (with on wake-up) or decrease (on sleep) the system volume so as not to startle you. Adjustable sleep volume lets you select a comfortable "sleep" volume level without affecting the wake-to or listening volume levels. A supplied analog audio interconnect affords hookups with non-docking iPods, other MP3 players, cassette players, or other audio devices. Other features include automatic frequency control (AFC) for enhanced FM reception, an amber backlight on all primary buttons, and optical knobs for precise volume/tuning. For extra security, if you've selected iPod as your wake-to source and your iPod isn't docked, a buzzer will sound instead. The clock also comes with Sure Alarm battery backup--just install 2 AA batteries to activate the feature. In the event of a power failure, or if you disconnect the AC power cord to move it, the Sure Alarm system will maintain your clock and alarm setting for the life of the batteries, ensuring that the alarm will sound at the set time. The iH5 is "Made for iPod"-certified by Apple. What's in the Box
Clock radio, a stereo analog audio interconnect, dock inserts for any type of docking iPod (gen 3, gen 4, iPod mini, iPod photo, iPod nano), an AC power adapter, and a user's manual with warranty information.
Product Description
Finally the Home System iH5 for your iPod that lets you sleep and wake to your favorite tunes!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 277 more reviews...
 A pretty decent gadget August 2, 2005
406 out of 410 found this review helpful
I've been long needing a new alarm clock/radio for my bedroom now and luck has it that SDI Tech just put out on the market something that I was looking for. The iHome is essentially an alarm clock radio with a docking station for the iPod. The unit is no bigger than a regular clock radio, measuring 9.2 in [234mm] width, 2.7in [69mm] height and 5.5in [141mm] depth so it can comfortably fit even on a small nightstand. Packaging contains the unit itself, instructions manual, removable docking station to fit the different kinds of iPods, back-up batteries for when power goes out [we all hate to see the flashing 12:00 when this happens], power adapter and an external radio antenna. No remote control though! You have to purchase it separately and it comes free if you buy one of their hard iPod cases for around $40 if I remember right. A smart marketing move, but deplorable. Just include the remote!
Sound quality is what to be expected of speakers of that size. SDI claims to be using an innovative "tunnel sound" system called Reason8 [resonate, how cool :/]. They're pretty loud at full blast but I was hoping they would offer a deeper, stronger sounding bass. I have a similar sized pair of computer desktop speakers that came with one of my old Hewlett Packard computers that offer better sounding bass. For those that don't listen to a lot of techno, I suppose it's no biggie. Reason8 does sound better than most other competitors out there tough, but doesn't quite touch Bose or Altec Lansing.
The iHome has some very cool features. Even without a docked iPod it can still offer quite good functionality: alarm clock, radio. On the back of the unit there is aline in on the back so you can connect pretty much any audio device and listen through the speakers. The Snooze button also adjusts the display brightness, offering 3 different settings. Also found on the back of the unit there is a small button for daylight savings time, sleep volume adjustment and clock set-up.
Dock an iPod and things get interesting. While charging it, you can listen to music directly through it, you can set it so it automatically shuts off at intervals ranging from 120 minutes to 60 to 30 to 15. As the timer approaches zero, volume slowly and subtly turns itself down.
You can set it so when it's time to wake up, you will be awaken to the sound of music coming from your little mp3 player.
Gripes:
Remote control not included. What gives? Smart marketing move, as I've mentioned above, but it would have been nice to have it included, given the unit's price.
Even on the lowest brightness setting I still find the unit too bright for my taste. The blue hue lights up my whole room. I sent an e-mail to SDI tech support inquiring about ways to make it dimmer, no response yet. If this is to be an alarm clock radio, why didn't they offer more than just 3 brightness settings? If nothing else, I think I'll find some translucent duct tape and put it over the front display, trying my best to make it blend with the design.
Buttons on the top have a different color than the front display. The front is a warm blue, the buttons are orange. I personally think from a design standpoint the unit would have looked more ballanced if it was in a single color.
Speaking of buttons, they seem rigid to the touch, giving off a loud click when pressed. The round turn buttons for volume and settings are a bit tricky to use. It may be just my unit but I found both to be sometimes unresponsive and when they finally do work, they are too touchy. I think it would have been a very nice feature if, for the price claimed on such a unit, the buttons would have been replaced with tactile wheels, just like the iPod.
Radio antenna cable has a plug that's actually in the middle of the cable itself. It would have been nice if the thing actually plugged in the very back of the unit, so if it wasn't needed [like in my case], one wouldn't have to worry about ducking away 3 inches of useless tangle.
Another nice feature would be the ability to select exactly what song on the iPod to wake up to. Presently, the thing just picks up where it left off playing the night before.
My Samsung cellphone is at fault for the following gripe, having spoiled me rotten. My phone has 3 settings for alarms: daily, Monday through Friday or Saturday and Sunday. Would be nice if the iHome had a similar feature, so if you go to bed late on a Friday and forget to turn off the alarm, you won't be awaken Saturday morning.
Final Thoughts:
I purchased this unit primarily because I wanted a system that allowed me to listen to my tunes as I read a book before going to sleep. I also needed a new, functional alarm clock. The SDI iHome paired these two needs into one nice option. I had $100 worth of gift certificates at Best Buy so I figured why not. If it wasn't for my abovementioned "overdue" needs, I probably would have waited. Wait and see what the competition comes out with. Wait for the price to go down a bit because as it stands right now, it's a bit high. If you end up purchasing it, rest assured that it's a nice gadget that will surely serve you well. Nice features, good sound quality, best suited to be used in a bedroom.
Pretty Good September 2, 2005
107 out of 114 found this review helpful
First off
this is the best integration I've seen of a speaker/alarm/iPod trio!
The iPod plugs in real easily, and it is charged while in cradle ---- from there, the music, for the most part, sounds great, and all the functions are very easy to use
I was also impressed that it came with batteries, so if the power goes out, the batteries will serve as a backup
and of course, the alarm is loud as heck!
The reason I purchased the iHome though is because of its 'gentle wake' feature, which plays music at a low volume, and slowly increases to wake the person up
Phillips was the first to introduce this feature into their alarm clocks, and I loved it! --- I hate waking up to a jarring sound, first thing in the morning
however, the gentle wake functions on this alarm are not as solid ----- don't get me wrong, the music does start out at its lowest setting and gradually increases
the music, even at its low setting, starts out too loud, and then gradually increases way too quickly
compared to regular alarms though, this is a HUGE difference, and I don't find the iHome's alarm to be 'jarring' in any way, but it can definitely be improved upon
for the most part though, I'm pretty happy --- its great waking up to one's favorite iPod songs and playing them while getting ready in the morning ---- in addition, every alarm, on this clock, automatically uses Gentle Wake, in comparison to the Phillips, which had to be set manually within this feature
if the 'gentle-wake' feature is more important though, then I suggest going with Phillips
HAPPY BUYING!!!!!
Model Refresh fixes alarm volume problem December 13, 2005
53 out of 54 found this review helpful
I spoke to someone at SDI this morning, manufacturer of the IHome iPod alarm clock about the problem of the alarm volume being too high. He said that they have made a running production change to the product which fixes the problem. In the current shipping model, the lowest alarm volume is "20". It can be raised higher than that, but that is the lowest. In the revised model, the lowest alarm volume is "10" and it can be raised from there.
The only way to determine if it is the new model is to look at the box. Next to the bar code is a date code embossed into the cardboard. If the next-to-the-last character is an "R" you have the new revised version. If it is not an "R" you have the original version. It sounds like the change was just made in the last week, so there is still lots of original inventory in the channel.
Workaround for the alarm volume control November 1, 2005
49 out of 51 found this review helpful
I brought home the iH5 and mostly just loved it! I was delighted to be able to listen to music and podcasts by my bedside, and the unit is, for the most part, well-designed and easy to use.
I was annoyed at the same things as most of the other reviewers. The display is awfully bright, even on the lowest of the three settings, and I can't move the clock farther away due to the size of my bedroom. But that wasn't a huge factor--it can always be temporarily covered. And the control buttons do make nasty, shrill beeps, but again, that was not a deal-breaker for me.
The thing that broke my heart and almost led me to return the iH5 to the store, was the ridiculously loud and totally uncontrollable volume for the alarm. Even though the manual tells you to be sure to adjust the volume to a comfortable level, there is just no way I could work out to adjust it at all. It goes from silent to level 20 in a few seconds, and just absolutely blasts you out of bed. So much for the "gentle wake."
I truly did not want to return the unit, and finally came up with an easy workaround that DOES allow you to control the wake-up volume. Here's what to do:
1) Set the alarm time on your iPod itself, using its own internal Alarm Clock function. Do not turn on the alarm of the iH5.
2) Put the iPod in the cradle of the iH5.
3) Press the "iPod Play" button on the iH5 unit and play a song.
4) Adjust the volume on the iH5 unit to your desired wake-up level.
5) DO NOT press "Pause" or "Power Off" on the iH5 unit!
6) Shut off your iPod by pressing "Play/Pause" on the iPod itself (the bottom of the click wheel).
It really works! Test it to make sure, but with my iPod Photo, this technique allows me to wake up with my songs at volume level 3 or 4. There is no "gentle wake" gradual increase in volume, but at this point I don't care!
Now that I have fixed the beastly alarm problem, I am back to loving my iH5.
Really pretty good July 31, 2005
36 out of 37 found this review helpful
I just bought this a few days ago at a local superstore, and it is a pretty decent product. I went through four different models of other comparable clock radios about eight months ago, and this is as good as any of them. There's no reason that many people out there won't get everything they want out of this clock radio - especially as they'll presumably want the iPod feature, and this is the only alarm clock I've seen like that. I only have a few little annoyances with it.
The sound quality was good. Not fantastic, good. I unfortunately bought into the marketing hype they're using and was expecting Bose-like quality, which was ridiculous on my part. The sound quality is exactly what you'd expect from a $100 clock radio: comparable to the Sony DreamMachine, and better in fact than what I was currently using, which is an RCA product.
The fact that the numbers are difficult to read at night compared to some other alarm clocks probably won't affect many people: I'm horribly blind without glasses on. I'd imagine most people won't have any difficulty. The remote comes separately, but if you're willing, you can just spend the extra $20. It might have been nice to know that up front, but on the other hand I didn't even think about having a remote for my alarm clock until I found out I could buy it for this one.
The only real annoyance was that there aren't dual alarms. That's a feature that virtually every alarm clock over $40 has, and I really enjoy being able to wake up listening to music for a few minutes before the actual alarm goes off with its horrendous bleeping to get me out of bed. Not all dual alarm (or even triple alarm) clocks do that, by the way, which is why I settled on the one I had been using until now. But to not have dual alarms at all on a clock this expensive is just strange. Fortunately, my two-year-old has started waking me up every morning anyway, so the alarm features aren't much of a deal-breaker anymore.
Obviously most people who buy this will be buying it for the iPod connectivity. There's not much to review about that: it works. Once you've put the correct insert in it, you can walk up, pop in the iPod, and push the iPod button. It plays whatever you've already selected on the iPod. No control of the playlist from the clock radio, although the iPod itself is easily accessible. The remote will add the ability to change tracks without touching the iPod, of course. And it charges while it's connected, which is nice but expected.
Overall, I'm satisfied. There was a scary moment when I thought I might be forced to use it as a reading lamp, but thankfully you can dim the display easily down to something more conducive to sleeping. Until someone else comes out with one that has dual alarms and even better sound, this is my alarm clock.
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