Customer Reviews

Emerson iTone iC200S Clock Radio for iPod (Silver)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I got this product mainly because I needed an alarm clock that could play the music from my iPod and I am very satisfied. This alarm clock has two different slots to set times for alarms, which is great for me, because I tend to wake up at two different times (depending on the day) during the week. That way I just set "alarm 1" or "alarm 2" and I don't have to waste time resetting the time for the alarm every day. You can set the alarms to either the radio, the iPod, or an alarm buzz. It also comes with a remote control, so I can control it from anywhere in my room. It has a snooze censor that detects a different temperature other than the room temperature and will automatically snooze. That means you can usually just wave your hand in front of it and it'll snooze the alarm. I found it's a bit sensitive, though. If I happen to have my fan facing that general direction, the alarm will barely go off, it just snoozes almost automatically. I prefer using the button on the remote. The speakers are pretty good, considering their size. Also, it automatically sets itself for Daylight Savings Time, so you don't have to worry about changing it yourself.

It does have a few negatives that I will point out. First of all, it has a function that allows you to control the brightness of the clock display, but even in the dimmest setting, it's still pretty bright. It bothered me in the beginning, but I got used to it quickly. Also, recently, the lower horizontal bar on the number 3 has completely blacked out. It shows up for the 8, the 0, and the 2, but not the 3 or the 9. I have no idea why it does that. It just started doing it a few weeks ago. Again, not something that *really* bothers me, it's just a little bit annoying. Finally-- and this is just a con for me, it might not bother someone else-- when you dock the iPod on it, it charges it automatically. I usually prefer to let the battery drain almost completely before charging it, but I can't really control that on this clock radio. Other people do like that, and I haven't found a clock radio that doesn't charge it when it's docked, so that's really out of my control.

Overall, I think the good outweighs the bad and I would definately recommend this product to someone else. I like having an alarm clock and I like being able to wake up to my own iPod music every morning.

I lost track on how many times I forgot to set my alarm clock Sunday night to wake me up Monday morning. But not with this alarm clock, this is the only alarm clock radio/ipod system that I program once and never touch it again.
it's the year 2006 and there is no other real alarm programmable alarm clock on the market. I love it. Sounds great, good sturdy remote. the only draw back is that it is a bit bright.

I purchased 3 of these units and had to return each as they emitted a loud 60-cycle hum when turned on, with or without an iPod connected. Evidently Emerson doesn't check these things before they leave the factory. So: buyer beware!

Without the hum, this might have been an OK unit, except for the excessively bright digital display, with no way to turn it down.

There is an Automatic Snooze sensor in the front of this clock radio which automatically turns off the alarm and puts it in snooze mode if it senses ANY motion within 2 feet of the front of it, which is totally ridiculous. Just the motion of my body moving on the bed to the response of the alarm immediately turned off the alarm within seconds and put it in snooze mode. I exchanged the first one, thinking it was defective when this happened the first night I used it, then it immediately happened again on the second one, so I contacted Emerson customer service who confirmed that this a flaw in the design and is a known issue. I returned it, waste of money - I need the alarm to stay on for more than 5 SECONDS! I suggest you stay away from it, or be prepared to return it.

Device is chock-full of neat features, like the built in back up battery, the self-setting clock, the preset radio stations and digital tuner, and the heat-sensitive snooze button that lets you just wave your hand in front of the display rather than whacking random buttons until silence is restored.

The sound quality is respectable.

The greatest trouble I have is with getting a clear radio signal, AM or FM. You can the alarm at night and have excellent clarity while your hand is on the device, but when it goes off in the morning and you are two feet away, prepare for an earful of static. I should add that I live in a one-story single-family home - so I'm not in a huge metal building - other radios I own with external antennae have excellent reception.

I had been looking for an iPod based alarm clock with lit digits against a black background for a while before finding the iTone. (I have vision problems and black digits against a lit background is very difficult for me to read.) Unfortunatly, I have had to return both of the units I bought because of the awful hum that is heard whenever the playing music from any source (iPod/AM/FM all have it.)

Very cool unit with all the bells and whistles. Problem is that the buz that annoys when the Ipod is played negates all the great features of the machine. Too bad since iBlaster and the ilk don't have the functionality but at least don't hum.

I love everything about it, but the sound quality could be clipped up a bit. BUT, considering the price, I think it's great. Bought another version (not the same maker) from CostCo & wasn't as pleased. If I had to do over again, I'd buy this item again!

Looks great and sounds great and the remote is really nice, but sometimes the alarm does not go off. We haven't been able to determine why--it just doesn't go. I wouldn't rely on this as your primary alarm clock.

I bought this item and was pleased with it the first two weeks. Then I noticed the time was wrong one day. I thought maybe the power went out, but hey!! isn't this supposed to reset time itself? I ignored, changed it to correct time and about a week and a half later it did the same thing. It was about 45 minutes off. Changed the time back again, then a couple of weeks later, same thing, it was an hour behind. I am exchanging it today for an iHome which is what I wanted in the first place. If it can not keep time and wake me up at the right time for school, what good is it?