iHome iH5 Clock Radio and Speaker System for iPod (Black)

by Soundesign

Product Details

• Item Weight: 5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000C7DQ66
• Item model number: iH5BR
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (481 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 10, 2005

Product Description

Color: Black

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.

From the Manufacturer

The sleek iHome iH5 clock radio wakes you gradually and lulls you to sleep with your iPod music or AM/FM radio or buzzer. It does all this while charging the iPod with a built-in dock connector, so it's ready to go when you are!

Alarm Features

• Wake to your docking iPod, radio, or buzzer
• Easy-to-set alarm
• Alarm Reset turns off alarm and automatically resets it for same time the following day
• Sure Alarm battery backup maintains clock setting and ensures alarm wake time in case of power failures
• Gentle Wake peacefully wakes you with gently ascending alarm volume
• iPod alarm backup: If iPod is the selected wake to source and iPod is not docked, a buzzer will sound instead.

Sleep Features

• Sleep to iPod, AM/FM Radio,
• Programmable Sleep with 120, 90, 60, 30, or 15-minute scheduled shutdown
• Adjustable Sleep volume allows you to select a comfortable ÒsleepÓ volume level without affecting the Òwake toÓ or listening volume levels
• Gentle Sleep gradually decreases music volume

iPod interface features

• Play music from your iPod
• iPodÕs battery charges while docked
• Included dock inserts ensure a snug fit for any type of docking iPod (gen 3, gen 4, iPod mini, iPod photo, iPod nano)
• Patch cord included to connect non-docking iPods, other mp3 players, and otheraudio devices

Auto-Set Features

• Time and date are preset at the factory.
• Adjust preset time to any of seven different time zones at the touch of a button
• DST switch for quick daylight-savings time adjustment

Radio Features

• Clear AM/FM Reception
• Built-in Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) for enhanced FM reception
• PLL Digital radio Tuning
• Display of radio frequency/volume level
• External AM antenna for best reception

Display and Design Features

• 6 watts total power
• Aux/MP3 line in jack, patch cord included
• Clean contemporary design compliments the look of the iPod
• High-fidelity stereo speakers in specially designed isolated speaker chambers
• Extra-large, backlit custom LCD Display
• Display Indicators display clock/calendar, iPod info, radio tuning, volume level, alarm information
• Amber backlight on all primary buttons

iPod Compatibility
iPod nano 1G, iPod mini, iPod 3G, iPod 4G (Clickwheel), iPod Color, iPod 5G/5.5G Video

Note: compatible with second generation iPod nano with optional connector

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

422 of 426 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A pretty decent gadget, August 2, 2005

By 

Paul (Nebraska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: iHome iH5 Clock Radio and Speaker System for iPod (White) (Electronics)

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.

227 of 237 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Product, But With a Few Gotchas, January 10, 2006

By 

M. Chesner "Nomad of Mod-Blog" (Shelton, CT) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: iHome iH5 Clock Radio and Speaker System for iPod (Black) (Electronics)

I bought the iHome after recieving a Black Video iPod for Christmas, thinking it would be the perfect companion to my new toy. I have had a number of alarm clocks in the past including many CD alarm clocks, and the important thing for me was (1) that I could choose the song to wake to, and (2) absolute reliability of the alarm. On those two counts, the iHome is a champ. Simply cue up your iPod to the song you want to wake up to, hit pause, and it will start right in when the alarm hits. And if power should be lost, the iPod unseated, or if you forget to plug in the iPod, no problem. It switches to a "beep" alarm which is loud enough to wake you, but not so obnoxious that you wind up in a bad mood all day. Sound quality is SUPERIOR. And the controls are pretty obvious, and nicely lit with a gentle red glow for night useage.

However, there are a few gotchas with this product that probably will mean I will be going back to my old CD alarm clock. First, the LCD display has no "lights off" feature. For some, this will be nice as it means the display is visible even in pitch blackness. But I have a sensitivity to light that sometimes makes it hard to sleep if there is too much of it. Even the lowest light setting (there are three) is sometimes too much for me. Second, there is not a whole lot of iPod integration as far as controls go. You can turn on the iPod, wake to it, and turn it off. That's it. If you want to change the song, you will want to pick it up OUT of the iHome, change the settings on the wheel, and then plug it back in. Not a bigee, but a step down from the integration that most iPod accessories have. Third, this is NOT a "portable" solution. If you travel, this unit will be too big and bulky to bring along.

Overall, a good product which I recommend if the gotchas do not worry you. But neither of these are mentioned anywhere on the packaging or any of the reviews I have read. Buyer beware... and then enjoy!

144 of 149 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Solid!, December 24, 2005

By 

Muhammad Miguel Ali Hasan "Film Director & Po... (Sunset Beach, California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: iHome iH5 Clock Radio and Speaker System for iPod (Black) (Electronics)

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

otherwise, if you're looking for a great alarm/stereo package, then look no further!

HAPPY BUYING!!!!!

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