iHome iH8BR Clock Radio for iPod

Other products by iHome

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6 x 3 inches ; 3.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000NDA4J6
• Item model number: IH8BR
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (97 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description The iH8 is an inspired take on the iPod alarm clock, with clean, contemporary design and features galore. Charge and play most docking iPod models, and use the alarm to wake to your iPod, radio, or buzzer. Enjoy advanced sleep features like an adjustable volume and gradual volume decrease. Connect external devices with the included auxiliary input, and enjoy great sound, thanks to iHome's speaker chamber design. An extra-large, backlit custom LCD with dimmer and backlit buttons make control a snap, and the included remote just adds to the convenience.

A feature-packed clock radio and audio system for iPod. Click to enlarge.

iPod, Radio, or Buzzer Alarm
Wake to your docked iPod, the radio, or--if you must--a classic buzzer alarm. Whichever you choose, a gradual alarm feature gently raises the alarm volume, so it's not too jarring.

The alarm is easy to set, and boasts a number of features to ensure you get up in the morning. Battery backup means you'll still get up in the event of a power failure, and Alarm Reset turns off the alarm and automatically resets it for the same time the following day. If you select to wake to iPod but no iPod is docked, you're still covered--the iH8BR will sound the buzzer instead.

Sleep Features
In designing the iH8BR, iHome paid special attention to the other end of the alarm clock equation--going to bed. Sleep to iPod or radio, with programmable sleep times of 120, 90, 60, 30, or 15 minutes. Gentle Sleep gradually decreases the music volume as you drift off to dreamland.

What's more, an Adjustable Sleep volume solves an old alarm clock problem, allowing you to select a comfortable "sleep" volume level without affecting the "wake to" or listening volume levels.

Play and Charge Your iPod
The iH-8BR's Universal dock plays and charges most docking iPod models (in addition to using them for alarms). So when you do finally wake up, your iPod will have a full charge as you head out the door.

Quick Time Zone and DST Switch
Traveling or moving with your iH8BR? Adjust the preset time to any of seven different time zones at the touch of a button. Ditto on that pesky Daylight Savings Time.

Includes full-function remote. Click to enlarge.

Extra-large, backlit custom LCD with dimmer. Click to enlarge.

AM/FM Radio
The iH8BR delivers solid radio listening with PLL digital tuning, an external AM antenna for better reception, and built-in Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) for enhanced FM reception.

Save your favorite stations on the four AM, four FM1, and four FM2 presets.

Big Sound, Small Package
The iH8BR delivers 6 watts of great sound, thanks to its high-fidelity stereo speakers in specially designed isolated speaker chambers. Dial in the EQ controls to get just the sound you want.

Need more? The included speaker jack lets you add separate speakers.

Auxiliary Input
Connect external devices like MP3 or CD players to the rear auxiliary input for your enjoyment.

Full-Function Remote Control
Enjoy convenient control from a distance with the included remote--control radio and iPod functions, plus EQ and volume. You also can control snooze and reset alarm functions, in case the device isn't by your bedside.

What's in the Box
iH8BR Clock Radio and Audio System, Remote control, Docking inserts, AC power adapter, AM antenna and stand, Owner's manual.

Product Description

iHome Dual Alarm Clock Radio for iPod with Remote Control and AM/FM Presets

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great product, but has glitches when used with nano 3g, November 1, 2007

By	Karl - See all my reviews

Overall, I'm very happy with the unit. The sound quality was much better than I expected for such a low priced system. I think it is easy to use and programming was intuitive and simple. As usual, I never read the directions before setting it up, but was able to set up all the alarms with no problem. The design is fine with me since I'm more concerned with function. On that score, I think the layout of buttons makes it very easy to use, especially when one is sleepy in the morning.

If you are using the 2g nano, you'll get an adapter in the box that you can use in the docking port, but if you have the 3g nano there is no adapter included. Course, most 3g nano's come with an docking insert at purchase, but if you don't have one, you'll have to get one. You'll still be able to use the 3g without the dock insert but it won't be supported and could be easily broken if you're not careful.

People have remarked about the backlighting being too strong. You can select 4 different setting for backlighting... off, very soft, soft, and bright. The soft backlight setting works fine for me. I think you'd have to be pretty sensitive to light if this setting keeps you awake, but then I'm the sort that takes an earthquake to wake up so I may not be a good judge.

As for differences between functionality in using the 2g and 3g nano on this unit, so far, it seems the system works flawlessly with the 2g nano. On the other hand, the 3g will sometimes shut off within a few minutes (about 3 or 4) of selecting the 'sleep setting'. It doesn't happen with each setting or each time you try to use it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Go figure. Anyway, not good! And I'm not noticing any gradual decrease in volume over time as advertised. Also, not good!

Someone mentioned that the 3g nano 'pauses' when you set it up as your alarm. That doesn't happen with my 3g. It works very well as the wake up alarm. I love waking up to classical music that gradually grows in volume. Ahhhh!!!! So much nicer than being jolted out of bed by the blaring claxon that was my old alarm clock. Also nice is the dual alarm capability, so now my wife can wake up later than me without my having to reset the alarm every morning for her. I do wish that the 2nd alarm would allow you to choose the ipod instead of the radio as your alarm, but that isn't a huge problem.

Some have mentioned that the remote is flimsy. I didn't notice it to be flimsy. It is small though, which is fine by me. I get tired of having all these big as a brick remotes lying around.

So, in conclusion, the system is really nice and surpassed my expectations in sound quality, functionality, and ease of use. It does have some glitches though if you want to use it with a nano 3g. And if the sleep feature is important to you, that glitch may be something to consider before you purchase the system.

Update Nov 7 - Liked this so much I went out and got a second one.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great product for the price!, July 12, 2007

By	Allison Jennings (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the first review that I have ever written, but I felt compelled to do so beacuse of the surprising quality of this product.

I actually work as an event technician specializing in live audio mixing. I feel like I have a fairly good grasp on sound qualtiy. The quality of this machine was astonishing for the price. Granted I'm saving my money for a JBL Radial (Bose is over-rated and over-priced, and JBL has excellent customer support) for entertaining and when I want to fill my entire apartment with music, but this works great for other things. It is perfect for sitting in my room alone writing papers (also a college student) and for a clock radio and alarm. I even surprised my boss (a much more experienced sound technician) with the sound quality.

While all of this is great, the point at which I felt compelled to write this review was when I almost ruined the machine. I leave it on the window-sill behind my bed and one night spilled an entire glass of water on and into the machine. It was so filled with water it literally poured out when I flipped it over. I could see lines of water on the digital screen as well. I figured I had ruined it, but deceided to wait a day and see what would happen. After letting it dry out for about a day and a half, I noticed the lines of water in the screen were gone and figured I'd give it another try. To my surprise, it is back to working as good as new! I had to reset the date and time but other than that it is still in perfect condition!

I cannot say enough good things about this incredibly sturdy and resilient product! It has great sound for the price and withstood more than I ever could have expected from any electronic device.

59 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Must LOVE the first song on your iPod, November 6, 2007

By	misternoodley (Arlington, VA United States) - See all my reviews

There's something important you need to know about this clock radio that the product description won't tell you. If you're buying this so you can wake to your iPod (as I did), know that you will ALWAYS wake to the first song on your iPod - NOT to where you set it the night before. This isn't technically the fault of the product because it's the iPod reverting to the main menu when it goes to sleep, but unless you feel like waking to Take On Me by A-ha for the rest of your life, it's kind of pointless. A call to iHome customer service and I found out this is "normal". If you're not really interested in that function and want it for others, the short story is that it does everything else it says it will do and the sound is actually very good for its size. I could delve into other pros and cons, but since the main reason I bought it is a bust, I'm not going to bother. This item is going back. UPDATE: someone else told me they didn't think this happened to them with their iHome Clock Radio (how could you not be sure?) so now I just don't know anymore, but like I said, iHome support said my experience was "normal". You can take a chance or not....