Sony ICF-C1IPMK2 Speaker System and Clock Radio with iPod Dock (Black)
by Sony
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List Price: Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sony ICF-C1IPMK2 Speaker System and Clock Radio with iPod Dock (Black)
Customer Review: I'm pretty happy with it.
Summary: 4 Stars
I got this thing yesterday and played with it for a while. I always find choosing a product like this difficult because there are so many specifics of operation that are never listed in the description. Thus, here are some things I have learned that may be relevant to your decision:
Basic Operation:
The unit operates the iPod exactly as you would operate it yourself. That is, when the alarm goes off, it just wakes up the iPod and pushes play. This means that you can create a special wakeup playlist, or browse to a certain artist - whatever - and it will obey all the usual iPod rules you would expect. The downside is that you cannot program the unit to play the same wakeup playlist every morning. Rather, it just wakes up and pushes play, thereby playing whatever was left on pause the night before. (So you have to queue it each night, is my point.)
Now, on to the value judgments:
Pros:
1. The volume of the unit is independent of the volume setting on the iPod itself. So no matter where you leave the volume slider on your iPod, the unit will always play at its own volume.
2. Each of the two alarms is set with its own independent volume. Thus, no matter where you left the slider on your iPod, or what volume you had the unit set to just before bed, the alarm song will always play at the correct volume.
3. If you have a recurring alarm set to play a song from your iPod, and then forget to plug your iPod in one night, it will play the buzzer instead.
4. The unit comes with a backup battery built in, in case of power failures.
5. As mentioned above, each of the two alarms is set with its own independent volume. Also, if one of the alarms goes off while the other is still active, the second will interrupt the first. Practical application: If you set Alarm A for 7:00am at volume 10, and then set Alarm B for 7:05am at volume 15, then at 7:00 your alarm begins playing whatever song you had queued up, and at 7:05 the volume simply jumps 50%, right in the middle of the song. (I tested this; it works.) Cool, eh?
6. Although the iPod screen goes dark 30 seconds after the alarm goes off, when just using the unit to listen to music, the iPod display remains on, displaying the artwork for whatever song is playing at the time.
Cons:
1. My iPod Touch sticks up about a quarter of an inch above the clock controls. This means that if I violently slap at the snooze button, I may violently smack my iPod.
2. If you sync your iPod with iTunes immediately before plugging it into the alarm clock -- and neglect to queue up a song -- then when your alarm goes off, no song will play AND NO ALARM WILL SOUND. None. Nada. Nothing happens, except you're late for work. (When I first tested this, it actually picked songs at random, which I thought was pretty cool. But after playing with different settings, that stopped happening and I am unable to make it happen again. I have no idea what made it happen in the first place.)*
3. Because the alarm time is set with the same button that switches it on and off, it is possible to absent-mindedly turn the alarm off while setting it. Care must be taken to avoid unexpected lateness.
Neutrals:
1. It sounds adequate. It is not a Bose wave radio, but it is more than sufficient for (my) alarm clock purposes and casual bedroom listening. But don't expect to rock out to it. The mids and the highs a pretty strong, but the bass is lacking.
2. Mega-Xpand addds no value. That is, it sounds better with Mega-Xpand switched off. Switched on, it just sort of sounds processed.
3. Though many people have complained about the brightness of the display, it is not a problem for me at all. Yes, it is kinda bright, but not nearly enough to keep me awake.
*UPDATE Added 12/30/2008 - I figured this out. After it syncs, if you select "Music" from the main menu (I have an iPod Touch - YMMV), it will then choose a track at random when the alarm sounds. However, it does not allow you to drill down further as you might expect, and have it select at random from a playlist. Even if you choose a playlist before tucking in for the night, the alarm still uses your entire collection as its source in the morning. The way I found to trick it into randomly selecting from a pre-defined list of good wake-up songs is that I created the playlist, and included a single 5 second track of silence. Now I can just queue up that silent track at night, and make sure that shuffle is on; when the alarm triggers it plays the silence for 5 seconds and then shuffles to one of the other songs on the list. Perfect.
Customer Review: Geek's "Dream Machine" for iPhone 3G
Summary: 4 Stars
While getting ready for work and getting ready for bed, I like to listen to podcasts downloaded into iTunes. Prior to buying the Sony Speaker Dock and Clock Radio, I had a cluttered setup on my nightstand, including:
* a clock radio,
* laptop,
* the excellent JBL On Tour Portable Speaker System ( Black ), and
* Apple USB Power Adapter for iPod (White) for my iPhone.
After applying a bit of creative thinking, the Sony Speaker Dock and Clock Radio has replaced all of these as a single device on my nightstand that does all of the above.
How did this replace having a laptop on my nightstand? The solution involves Apple Airport Express base station. I connected the base station's audio output to the Sony's audio input.
Using Apple's free Remote software for iPhone, I can control iTunes audio on any computer on my home network. Since iTunes can redirect audio to the Airport Express, I can listen to podcasts on this device that were downloaded to a computer in another room. If you don't have an Airport Express, you can do the same thing by syncing your iPhone with your computer before bedtime each night.
From the dock, I can even use my iPhone to peek at my email if I'm lying awake at night.
The sound quality on this device is good for a product in this price range. Mid-tones are clear and full. Low bass notes have some slight distortion, and higher frequencies don't have the oomph that they do on my JBL. But as a bedroom entertainment hub, this provides a very good audio experience. Previously I had bought and returned an iHome because of its horrible audio quality, but by comparison the Sony provides a greatly superior audio experience.
Each of the dual alarms allows the choice of buzzer, iPod audio or radio audio at an adjustable preset volume. I configured one alarm for audio at a relatively low volume and the second alarm for buzzer to activate a few minutes later. This combination gives me the opportunity to wake up gradually. (As someone who is not a morning person, I'm grateful for that feature!)
By default, the clock automatically sets the time (provided you enter the correct timezone), and the included button cell battery provides backup for the timekeeping and buzzer functions.
In summary, this product is full of features that are practical and well thought out. If you think about the fact that this produce frees up your USB iPhone/iPod charger for something else, that may help justify the expense.
Be warned that most models of alarm clock/speaker docks for iPod (including the older version of this product) do not work with the iPhone 3G. (Older iPods could charge at either 12V or 5V, but the iPhone 3G charges only at 5V.) If you're interested in another product, be sure it's compatible with iPhone 3G.
Pros
* Good sound quality compared to similar products in this price range
* Digital AM/FM tuner (with 5 and 10 presets, respectively)
* Auxiliary audio input (in addition to iPod dock)
* Compatible with Apple Universal dock inserts
* Allows content playback and charging of iPhone 3G
* Dual alarms can be used in tandem to gradually wake up
Cons
* Fairly large footprint takes up a lot of nightstand space
* Display too bright, even at dimmest setting
Customer Review: Great iphone clock & speaker, some reviewers are confused.
Summary: 4 Stars
There seems to be some confusion, Sony had a previous model of this that was very similar but was NOT iphone compatible. This new model IS iphone compatible. Make sure the box says "iphone" and not just ipod on it or make sure you order this unit (from this review.) Sony really should have changed the name or the look more. I suppose they will replace the old one with this one ultimately.
I found a great review of this also in ilounge.com where they gave it an A- and they are pretty stingy with their A's so I knew it had to be good. This is in fact a GREAT iphone / ipod clock radio / speaker system. I was pretty blown away by it and the price. They called it Sony's BEST iphone / ipod accessory ever and I agree.
Pro's:
First, most iphone systems like this start at $150, so this is a great deal at under $100. The unit is pretty small really and sets up instantly. Nothing like a great product for less than what you expect to pay.
Amazing sound! I was unprepared for the quality of the sound and even the "mega-xpand" really does seem to give you a larger, more separated sound. I don't know how this stacks up to say a $300 Bose ipod speaker system but I am more than happy for a bed side / desk side speaker. I have had it for 4 days and I have not heard any noticeable cell phone noise or interference also.
There is a very nice adjustable knob in the back that you turn to adjust the position of the dock for the ipod. Hard to explain but this solves the issue of different ipods being thicker or thinner than others. You adjust it once and it stays put - impressive. Should make it compatible with many different ipods.
The Remote! It comes with a tiny infrared remote that lets you control ALL of the ipod's music controls. Very slick. You can menu up to all the playlists, album, songs, artists etc.. and then drill down and play. Also very impressive! It will even turn on the ipod its its off / asleep. This is extremely useful!
The clock functions are ok, I can't say much good or bad really here. 2 alarms, adjustable display on the clock, programmable radio stations buttons, an AM and FM antenna. I usually just use my iphone's alarm to wake me up but I assume the clock stuff is also good. Its a pretty basic alarm system, buzzer, radio etc.. no multi day alarms or such. Also has sleep mode that you can set on the remote. No nature sounds or any of that. Just 2 alarms and snooze, etc. More than enough for me.
It also has an audio in port on the back which is very nice for watching movies or such on the ipod & playing thru the speakers. I won't use it much but its a killer feature.
It also has some sort of auto time set function, works ok but I had to set my time zone. I think it comes with a built in lithium battery to keep the clock function set in case of a power outage, also nice feature.
Con's:
Not many really. The unit seems a tad unstable on my desk, like its top heavy but it hasn't fallen over or anything. I might try and put something under the back to make it more stable.
The alarm display is very cluttered, even if you have the alarms off, it still displays one of the alarm times and such. The time display is very large so thats not an issue but it be nice to turn off some of the extra display stuff.
Even with the knob adjusted, I still have to carefully position the iphone on the dock and slide it in, I wish it would slide it more easily. Also not a huge detractor.
Customer Review: Good, but not Ideal
Summary: 4 Stars
Sony, a well known producer of radios makes a decent attempt into the iPod speaker business essentially cornered by cheaply made but expensively priced iHomes. Sony has some great successes with this model, but also some things do fall flat.
Radio
Yes, I understand that by the nature of this item, radio is mostly an afterthought; however, the inclusion of FM 1 and 2 does little to help the weak antenna, which requires great care to get to pick up signals. Also, the MegaXpand sounds horrific on radio, but it sounds rather good on iPod based sound.
Alarm
This system is amazing for allowing two entirely independent alarms to be set; however, it really requires an older iPod (or at least not an iPhone, I can't attest for any others) to make the most use of it for the playlist automatic playing in the morning (I personally prefer to have an escalating in BPM playlist over the course of about thirty minutes). The alarms are harsh, and the speakers are loud.
Backlight
The backlight is extremely annoying, even on the lowest level. However, I find that it is easy to block with a book, and then it does not bother me much.
Presets
Sony has done a superb job of making the presets very easy to select; however, the only caveat is that they don't hold true for both FM's. I don't know if there is a legitimate reason for this, but it serves only as a nuisance to me.
iPod Sound
Sony has a reputation for producing high fidelity sound, and this clock radio does not blatantly disappoint. Compared to the iHome which I had for years, this thing sounds like a choir of angels; however, the speakers do leave some frequencies to be desired, and they are not always pronouncing subtle nuances of the music as strongly as needed; however, they give an overall decent sound.
Backup batteries
Since I live in an area with a very poor power consistency, I have grown to appreciate the usefulness of the backup batteries. The clock keeps time even during blackouts, which saves the hassle of reprogramming it.
Specific Cons:
-Lack of weather band
-MegaXpand makes some music sound terrible
-Distortion occurs in the Aux input
Specific Pros
-Good sound for sub-$100 iPod speakers
-iPhone compatibility
-the presence of an Aux input
-Heaphones output
Overall this artfully designed product is an excellent bedside addition, with the bedside book to block its beam.
Customer Review: Good product, a few minor flaws
Summary: 4 Stars
This is very close to a 5-star product, but a few things hold it back.
Pros: Good sound for the price and size, good iPod integration, fully functional remote control with tactile dots, big display, dual alarms, adjustable backstop for various sizes of iPods. Accepts the standard brackets that Nanos come with.
Cons (nit-picky):
1) The back light for the display is BRIGHT. I mean so bright that it will keep you awake. It casts shadows on a wall 10' away. I scoured the instructions for a way to turn it down, but couldn't find it. I stumbled on it accidentally when I pressed the snooze bar when the alarm wasn't going off. But even the lowest setting is so bright that I have to put the remote in front of the clock face before I can get to sleep.
2) [edited: This flaw seemed to work itself out, so maybe I was doing something wrong. The dual alarms work fine now.]
3) Radio reception is only average, even with the included wire antennae. Strong stations come in great, but I can only receive one of my two local public radio stations more than half the time, whereas my old clock could get both about 90% of the time. [update: I finally found the sweet spot for the antenna where I can get NPR all the time. It just took a month of fooling around with it]
So, I would definitely recommend this product to pretty much anyone who wants to wake to a playlist, or fall asleep to one like I do. Even without the iPod functionality it's a pretty decent clock radio. The cons above are my only real complaints, and they will only bother some people. If you can live with them, then you will be very happy with this unit.