Customer Reviews

iHome iP46 Portable Speaker System for iPod (Black)

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Took all of several minutes to unpack, plug in and turn on, sound is really very good for something this small and construction is solid.

Fold out legs stabilize unit in an upright position and feel good and sturdy as you unfold them as they are metal and NOT plastic as you would expect. The speaker grills are also metal giving this a little "heft" to it.

Volume can be raised to a level that is too loud for being next to it, always great not to need full volume to even hear the music properly.

The iP46 design seems geared more toward the newer,thinner iPods & iPhones, I'm using a thicker 4th generation iPod

At the time of this review, Amazon page does not really state other than it is a portable speaker system for iPods/iPhones

The following is printed on the box it came in;

Works with:

iPhone 3GS
iPhone 3G

Made for;

iPod nano 1st-5th generation
iPod touch 1st - 2nd generation
iPod classic
iPod 4th-5th generation
iPod mini (NOTE; Be sure to read first comment attached to this review)

Included in the instruction packet is a "Read this first" paper saying to make sure you have the proper "insert" to seat your device on the speakers IF needed and tells you to refer to the manual to see which "insert" you need to use.
However, I can find nothing about "inserts" in the manual, and there are no optional "inserts" in the box.
I don't think you really need insert adapters for the iP46.
This is too confusing for the customer, do you need them for some players or not? If you don't, do not say you do in the printed matter.

You can view a PDF version of the instruction manual for the iP46 on the iHome web site.

Just to note, on mine, when the docking drawer is all the way out, the docking plug iP46 was angled back too much to allow my iPod to set down on contact while back is up against the resting pad on the speakers, I had to deflect the docking plug a bit forward to seat the iPod. Gen 4 60gb is too thick to line up as is.

While a rearward 15 degree angle is designed in and keeps the iPod snugly against the rubber rest behind it, mine was just angled too much for the model iPod I have.
I hope that several cycles will have it aligned so further adjustments are not needed, but also not do damage to the plug.

They warn you NOT to do this, but mine would not mount without a wee bit of forward movement on the connector.
I am only telling you what I did to make it work for me and I'm not suggesting that you do it to yours.

Don't know about how long the charge will last, but claim is 10 hours, which would be long enough. Keeping it plugged into the adapter whenever possible will provide non stop power at home.

I like the fact that they added an Aux input so you can also use other audio devices with 3.5mm plug.

There is also a remote control available at extra cost if you need one.

This sounds great with all types of music so far... even my voice Podcasts sound good.

Very nice little box to put your iPhone in or iPod touch, to listen to music, etc. The sound quality is surprisingly rich for such a small device and it sounds excellent. The weight of the device and its length make it difficult to transport as an everyday or all the time deal, but for a game or a small party (a spontaneous one) it works great. If you need to give some sort of presentation or lecture with audio then this thing will certainly fit the bill.

When I first took it out of the box, the power came on, but nothing was happening. I finally reset the device (small recessed button on back near power plug) and the poof! It started charging and playing. So if you get one and have difficulty getting it going , then try the reset.

I am using it right now with an iPhone 4, it is charging and playing ... :)

Some would say I have too many iPod/iPhone docks, but I don't see it that way. Each one is best suited for a specific room or device and I use them all often; this one for example has made it's way to my office desk. Between the size, style and sound it was the perfect choice. While I do have some complaints about this system, I still feel it's worthy of 4 stars.

Pros:

~ Very Compact; I don't have much extra space on my desk, but it was easy to find enough room for this even with the legs turned out for stability.
~ Sound quality comparable to my Altec Lansing IMT320 inMotion Compact iPod Speaker System, with very little distortion at higher volumes.
~ Rechargeable battery for on-the-go use. I initially charged mine for 5 hours and I have already used it for 4 1/2 without needing to recharge.
~ Simplistic buttons; On/Off, Volume Up/Down and a SRS WOW enhancement. It also has an illuminated battery level indicator.

Cons:
~ Will not allow my iPhone 3GS to connect with my OtterBox Impact Case on. If I remove the case it, it works just fine which is okay, but I prefer to leave it on.
~ In my opinion, the price is a bit high when looking at comparable products especially since it does not come with a remote, but instead is offered for additional purchase.

I purchased this speaker system last February and so far it has been a great little portable iPod system. It is super compact, has great sound, and the battery last for at least 12 hours of playtime.

My only issue is that there is no way to lock the power button or remove the battery. This becomes an issue when you want to travel with the speaker system (which is the primary reason I bought this). The power button is super easy to tap accidentally and when you have it packed in suitcase or backpack the slightest little bump will turn the thing on.

Not a big of deal when your destination has power and you can plug it in to an outlet... But there have been multiple occasions when I fully charged the system, packed it up, then took off for a camping trip. Only to find that when I want to use it that the power got turned on during travel and the speakers only have one bar of power left or are completely dead... Which immediately voids all the positive aspects and turns it into a useless block of plastic and metal.

So basically, it's a great little speaker system for the home or a travel destination with access to power, but completely useless if you ever want to take it camping or use it in a similar no power situation.

Let me start by stating that I'm a bit of an audiophile, however I'm too poor to invest in high-end systems that don't disappoint some aspect of my hopes and ears. That said however, I'm quite pleased with this sound dock. It works well with my iPhone 4, iPod Nano 5th gen, and iPod Nano 6th gen. The controls are beyond simple - both a perk and a drawback at times - and it's rechargeable. The quick portability of this system makes it an no-brainer choice. I didn't buy this to replace my home stereo, but so I could listen all over the house without hunting for batteries. This does that and does it well.

Now for the sound. As a pretty discerning listener, the biggest plus to this sound dock is that it doesn't try to do something it can't (or shouldn't) do. It has very tight sound that accurately reproduces the highs, mids, and makes a thrust at the lows - even though it lacks the punch I'd like to hear. I primarily listen to soundtracks, some country, a lot of Christian, and other random genres. It can get pretty loud - not enough to make your eyes turn to jelly, but even in larger rooms, you'll be able to clearly hear it - but don't expect this to be a surround sound system. That's not what this is - or what you should expect. It has clear, but not tinny or overpowering highs, rich, but not muddled mid-range, and an accurate, but weaker (passive) bass range. All-in-all though, I can't complain. I like it.

Pros:
- Well made, doesn't feel or operate poorly
- Solid sound quality for the price range
- Rechargeable batteries have good battery life (approx. 6hrs in my half-volume tests)
- Works well for playing white noise while I sleep. My wife and I LOVE this!

Cons:
- No remote (optional accessory however)
- Lack of buttons. This is often a plus, but makes you use your iPod/iPhone's controls to change tracks and what not.
- Mediocre bass


To compare, here's some systems that I've also considered and tested:

Logitech S715i Rechargeable Speaker - $119 - Nice bass, good sound - audio is a little muddled though and lacks some clarity and balance. Impressive nonetheless.

Klipsch iGroove SXT Speaker System - $121 - Sound-wise, this is an excellent choice. Tight, accurate sound. Poor controls and not as easily portable as the iHome P46

Logitech Pure-Fi Express Plus - $70 - The price, buttons and remote make this an option, but other than that it somewhat stinks. Very muddled sound.

I was planning to buy the bose soundock portable II. The main reason for considering the bose was the sound quality and the loudness. At one point, i really could not justify the 400 dollars price tag. I started to check out the cheaper ones out there. I tried this unit at a best buy store, and liked the sound which was crisp and loud enough to my taste. I started to look for a deal online. Finally picked it up at the local costco. I was looking for something that is good for casual weekend portability and a rechargeable battery along with a night clock functionality (iHome clock app is free). This unit is not a bose rival, but certainly pushes the limit of its class. The dock for attaching the iphone is far better than that of the bose. I can use the iphone control without moving the base at all since the unit has excellent back support for the phone. On the bose I would be forced to use the remote. This unit does not have a remote, and I hardly miss one. It sounds excellent with the pandora and sirius XM app. I would highly recommend this unit for someone who is on a budget.

I am surprised not more good comments. I bought this with little expectations of great sound. It was the only battery unit available at the time.
The sound is incredible
The unit takes very little space, I keep it in my bathroom
Rechargeable battery s, comes with a cord too.
Works with all iphones.
Retractable stand
Small enough to fit in briefcase.

I think the most important attributes for this product are its battery life and sound quality.

We received this a day before a party on our patio, and so I charged this unit completely (took approximately 3 hours) and at about 1 pm began playing music. It started to show some sound distortion, from power drain, at about 8:30 pm. I think that is just exceptional, considering that we were listening to fairly loud music the entire time.

Sound quality is rich and wonderful, in my opinion. I didn't expect a full range, but highs and lows come through. The bass is resonant and beautiful. This is up to the task of classical music or jazz for clarity. It's loud, too, without much distortion.

Other features I noticed were that it has a persistent button back-lighting when it's on. This is very handy so that you remember to shut it down. It charges an ipod, too. Unfortunately, I had a little bit of feedback when using the line in 3.5 mm port. There may be some insulation issue with that port, on my unit. It sounded fine so long as nothing was moved. The cable and device don't produce this problem on other systems.

To sum it up, I think it's pretty expensive. Other units similar to this throw in a clock and a remote. However, if you're willing to spend extra, know for sure you will be using this with Apple's proprietary data port, and desire excellent sound quality, I recommend this speaker system.

This unit sounds great, is easily stowed and carried and fits almost anywhere. There are two problems. Using a 4th gen Ipod Touch, connecting it to the dock is delicate and tedious sometimes. The retractable doc is nice but it also makes it trickier to use. The second thing is the remote. I just ordered one because trying to use the touch screen while mounted is awkward. IHome's documentation is confusing regarding model numbers and trying to find out if you have a unit that will work with a remote is not straight forward. Make sure the unit your buying will handle a remote!

This was a welcome and unexpected surprise!

This relatively small unit captures base and treble in a pleasing range. We have placed the unit in the center of a one thousand square feet area and it covers well.

Certainly it is not a high end BOSE but neither is the price!

So far it has held a charge of approximately ten hours!

It is small enough to be transported to different areas of the house or yard, even on a vacation.

While no remote was included in the package, it would be a welcome addition. Believe we will purchase the remote if the unit continues to live up to our expectations.

A great value overall...