iHome iP98BR Dual Alarm Clock Radio with Dock for iPod and iPhone (Black)

by iHome

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 10.6 x 3.1 inches ; 6.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0017PMSES
• Item model number: iP98BR
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

iHome's iP98 was designed with iPhone users in mind, engineered to shield and avoid annoying iPhone/mobile phone GSM noise. That means no "airplane mode," so you won't miss calls while your iPhone is docked. Also, the iP98 is packed with lots of innovative features, including alarm settings to complement your lifestyle so you can wake to your own custom iPhone playlist at different times on different days, a remote that controls the unit and iPod menu functions, AM/FM radio with presets, programmable snooze settings, and SRS WOW for an enhanced audio experience. With iHome's Reson8 speaker chambers, you'll be able to enjoy great stereo sound around the clock.

A full-featured alarm clock radio for your iPod or iPhone. Click to enlarge.

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

Full-function remote control included. 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. Dual alarm lets you set separate wake times.

The 7-5-2 alarm settings mean you can set separate wake times, either for every day or separate weekday/weekend times. You also can wake to the playlist or song of your choice.

Sleep Features
In designing the iP98, iHome paid special attention to the other end of the alarm clock equation--going to bed. Sleep to iPod, iPhone, 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.

Programmable Snooze
The iP98's programmable snooze feature allows you to set snooze intervals of 1 to 60 minutes, so you can milk every last second of sleep before you're late for work or class.

Play and Charge Your iPod or iPhone
The iP98's universal dock plays and charges most docking iPod models (in addition to using them for alarms), along with the iPhone. So when you wake up, your device will have a full charge as you head out the door.

Quick Time Zone and DST Switch
Traveling or moving with your iP98? Adjust the preset time to any of seven different time zones at the touch of a button. Ditto on that pesky daylight savings time.

AM/FM Radio
The iP98 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 six AM or six FM presets.

Big Sound, Small Package
The iP98 delivers powerful audio with stereo drivers in specially designed Reson8 speaker chambers.

Reson8 is iHome's through-body ported speaker chamber technology. Porting speakers gives better bass response characteristics and helps the iP98 deliver sound beyond its size.

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 both radio and iPod functions.

What's in the Box
iP98 Clock Radio and Audio System, remote control, docking inserts, AC power adapter, AM antenna and stand, and owner's manual.

Product Description

Dual Alarm with Wake or Sleep to iPhone/ iPod AM/FM Radio or buzzer. Universal dock with inserts to fit docking iPod models. High Fidelity stereo Reson8 speaker technology with 10 watt output. Charges iPod/iPhone while docked . EQ and balance controls with SRS WOW enhancement. Patch cord included to play MP3/CD?s through Aux/MP3 line-in jack. Gradual Wake and Gradual Sleep increase/decrease Alarm/Sleep volume so as not to startle the user. Full function remote control unit and iPod menu functions. 7-5-2 Alarm settings for everyday weekday weekend

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good design, poor quality, October 31, 2008

By 

Steven Cogorno - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: iHome iP98BR Dual Alarm Clock Radio with Dock for iPod and iPhone (Black) (Electronics)

Hi,

I bought this clock four (this is important) months ago from a brick and mortar store (not Amazon, which is selling it for about $50 less. Darn.)

The design is very good, and the interface is intuitive. It comes with a nice remote control, which is handy, although some of the buttons could be better arranged. My only other design complaint is that the tuning/volume "slide wheels" are made from the same slick surface as the rest of the unit. This makes it harder to turn with your finger than it ought to be. But these are minor quibbles with an otherwise well designed product.

Here's my real complaint: after about two months, I wasn't able to play music from my iPhone through the iHome, which let's face it, is pretty much the reason I bought it. I already had a very nice Sony alarm clock thankyouverymuch.

I really thought the problem was my iPhone, and it took me a couple of weeks for met to get to the Apple store and have the Genius test it out. He ended up trying the phone out on an identical iHome in the store, and bingo, the phone worked fine, which means my iHome was the problem (Strike 1).

I called iHome customer service, that afternoon, and they were closed (Strike 2). Apparently their customer service people aren't interested in heard from customers in California past 4 PM eastern time. Then I emailed them, and received a prompt reply the next day (better!).

It turns out that iHome products only have a 90 day warranty! HELLO? 90 DAYS? I was 95 days in. Even though the unit clearly failed during the warranty period, I was outta luck. (Strike 3)

I was giving the option to have the unit repaired for a $30 fee, which shipping both ways at my expense. By then, I'm halfway to the cost of a whole new unit.

The level of quality and warranty length are just unacceptable. I would not purchase this unit again, despite my happiness with the unit while it was working.

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent audio and charging solution, August 28, 2008

By 

J. Cassara - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: iHome iP98BR Dual Alarm Clock Radio with Dock for iPod and iPhone (Black) (Electronics)

Pros:

- A convenient way to charge your iPod or iPhone on your night stand

- Sound quality is a 4 out of 5 stars, with clear highs and and adequate bottom for a clock radio

- Handles all iPhone audio (except calls), including video and internet radio

- Clean and simple remote control with good across-the-room range

- Backlit buttons and display have several light levels, dimmed at the touch of a button

- Solid construction, compact

- Line-in for additional source

- Does indeed block out Edge/Wifi iPhone interference (in my personal experience, you milage may vary) as long as you're in iPod/iPhone mode. There is some inevitable interference when in radio mode. This is the nature of RF, folks.

Cons:

- No internal AM antenna, so you'll need to use the included loop

- Input select button cycles through AM, FM, and Line Input but not iPod/iPhone. The iPod/iPhone is selected as the source by pressing the play button or if the iPod/iPhone is already playing audio before being plugged into the dock. This is fine if you plan to use only the iPod functionality. If you're an internet radio listener, you'll need to get the station streaming before plugging in. Not a big issue, but worthy of note.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good product with a couple of design flaws, December 13, 2008

By 

Brad "Cubsfan" (Colorado) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: iHome iP98BR Dual Alarm Clock Radio with Dock for iPod and iPhone (Black) (Electronics)

Overall, this is a pretty good iPhone dock. I use this almost exclusively with my iPhone 3G,and so far it's done a good job. As an alarm clock, it's very full-featured, which is a great set of features. The sound out of it is far beyond most alarm clocks, but not quite up to the quality of some of the more expensive docks.

The remote works pretty well, although you kind of wish it could do a little more. It can really only handle the iPod functions. It would be great if it could control other apps, like Pandora for instance. Probably a limitation of the iPhone interface.

The GSM shielding works pretty well, I haven't heard any of the static I hear with other products.

Two big downsides for me which is why it gets 3 stars:

- When I plug my iPhone in, it says that this accessory is not meant for use with the iPhone, and asks about turning on airplane mode. You can just say no, but it's really irritating for it to come up all the time.

- Like all the other iHome products, the only thing holding the iPhone is the dock connector. This really has been fine for other iPods, but there are times I need to touch the top of the iPhone (say, when controlling Pandora) and the lack of any back support on the iPhone is really disturbing. There really should be more supporting it.

Overall, if you need an expensive alarm clock that will control your iPod's, it's a great product.

Update 3/28/2009: 3 1/2 months later, one of the buttons on top broke. Basically with normal use, the button kind of started to fall into the unit. Not the kind of quality I look for in a $110 alarm clock. And with a very short 90 day warranty, it's not going to get fixed.

At this point I'd say that, if it breaks beyond use, which seems likely now, it will not be replaced with the same model. I can't change my rating, but it would go down to one star if I could. A $110 alarm clock should last far longer than 3 1/2 months.

Update 12/12/2009: About a year later. More buttons are starting to break. The rotating scroll wheel now hardly ever actually turns. Very disappointed about the quality. A definite negative on the recommendation.