iLive Portable 2.1-Channel CD Boombox with Docking Station for iPod (White)

by iLive

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 18 x 8 x 8 inches ; 11 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 11 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000F38KRW
• Item model number: IBCD3816DT
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Ideal for dorm rooms and backyard barbecues, the iLive 2.1-channel boombox packs a solid array of features into an affordable package. The primary selling point of the IBCD3816DT is its built-in iPod docking station, which not only plays the iPod video, iPod photo, iPod, iPod mini, iPod nano, and iPod shuffle, but also charges the unit while you listen. Users will also dig the included remote control, which lets folks operate all of the aforementioned iPods (except the iPod shuffle) from a distance. It's perfect for parties or lounging on the couch, as you needn't amble up to the unit to adjust the volume or skip a track. The boombox also includes a slot-loading CD player (with support for CD-R/RW formats) and an AM/FM tuner, along with several intuitive knobs and buttons for quick and easy system control.

The boombox owes its smooth audio performance to its pair of stereo speakers and accompanying dual side-firing subwoofers, which deliver thumping bass that's far deeper than most portable iPod speaker systems. In addition, the IBCD3816DT accommodates both older iPods and other audio devices--such as MP3 players, personal game systems, and personal CD players--through its auxiliary line input. Add in a video output for playing videos and slideshows on a connected TV and you have a great boombox for the modern media landscape. Other details include a sleek white housing, four preset equalizer settings, an easy-to-read backlit LCD display with a digital clock, and a stereo headphone jack.

The boombox, which runs on either eight D batteries (not included) or AC/DC power (an AC cord is included, but the 12-volt DC car adapter is sold separately), measures 17.5 by 7.4 by 7.6 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a limited 90-day warranty.

What's in the Box
IBCD3816DT boombox, remote control, AC cord, shoulder strap, dock inserts for iPod nano and iPod mini, auxiliary line-in cord, user's manual.

Product Description

Features: Preset EQ. 50W total power. Docking station for iPod. Requires 10 C batteries. All-in-one portable system. Slot-loading CD-R/RW player. Blue, backlit LCD display with digital clock. Digital AM/FM stereo radio with station presets. Works with iPod nano, iPod mini and iPod shuffle. Stereo line in jack for GPX and other audio players. Stereo front-firing speakers and 2 side-firing subwoofers. Includes full-function remote that controls iPod functions, AC/DC dual power detachable line cord and stereo headphone jack.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome buy for the buck, June 8, 2006

By 

C. Wayne "Clark of L.A." (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: iLive Portable 2.1-Channel CD Boombox with Docking Station for iPod (White) (Electronics)

This is an awesome deal for under $100.

Pros:
Price
Features
Sound

Cons:
No handle
No mp3 CD playback
Hissing sound


Pros:
For the price of this unit, it can't be beat. I searched everywhere to find a good speaker system for my Ipod for the least amount of money and none compare to this.

This unit has so many built in features. It has an FM/AM (I listen to AM talk shows and no other ipod speaker has an AM tuner), CD player, aux input, video output on the back, remote control.

The sound of this unit is good. It's no match for the Altec Lansing IM7. I'm sure that blows this away. But it's also more than double the price of this. It also doesn't have the features as well. I listen to the radio as well and it's a nice thing to have a CD player handy so when you're in a party and a buddy wants to play their CD can do so. The sound is harsh at first, but after several hours of playing it, it sounded so much better. I guess you have to break the speakers in. There is a bass boosting switch. When it's off, the sound is decent, it gets better in the mid setting, however, on full it sounds good as long as you don't turn it up too loud otherwise it'll distort pretty bad. I find the mid setting to be optimal, even on loud settings. The sound also depends on the bit rate of your sound files. Most of my songs are 128kb and it sounds decent however it sounds pretty bad when you turn it up. But when I played an original CD, it sounds great. When I turn it up really loud, the sound doesn't distort at all. I know it doesn't sound as good as something from Altec or JBL but you gotta take into account that it's only $100. For $100 it sounds phenomenal.


Cons:

It doesn't have a built in handle. What it does is it has a strap that goes on the ends of the radio. The strap is nylon and I'm sure it's strong, but it feels flimsy. The unit is pretty heavy too, and that's without batteries. I don't like the angle of display. You have to look directly up on top of the unit to see the display. So if you're sitting across the room and you want to see what station it is, you'd have to get up and walk across the room to look over it.

The CD has no mp3 playback. I don't really see this as a con since I'd put my mp3s on my ipod anyways and would probably never put one together in a CD since it takes up too much time. But still, the cd drive that reads mp3s isn't that expensive so I don't know why they didn't put it. I guess they didn't want to bump the price any higher. But I'd pay an extra $20 to have that feature.

The unit has a hissing sound when using any sources except the CD. It isn't that loud but it's audible. It'll probably only bother me when I'm listening at extremely low volume levels. Other than that, the music will just play over it.


Conclusion:

It's irritating when people bash a product and say how much something that costs 2-5 times more is better. That's a moot point. However, when you factor in the price, it's an awesome unit. For all the features it packs, you won't find anything better. The sound is good and the unit looks really nice. If your budget is only $100 then this is the unit for you. If you have an unlimited budget, don't waste your time on this unit and go buy the more expensive units.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Misses the mark completely, October 8, 2006

By 

Patrick Madigan (Mesa, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: iLive Portable 2.1-Channel CD Boombox with Docking Station for iPod (White) (Electronics)

I got one of these on sale at a department store, and thought "Wow, how could this do so much for such a low price?" Then I got it home and found out why, it's because the sound quality is absolutely terrible. Well, to qualify that, it's ok if you crank it up REAL loud. But at low volume levels the hiss/static sound would drive you nuts. Don't even think about using one of these in your office or next to your bed. For outdoor use (beach, patio, etc.) it would be ok; it actually puts out a lot of sound, and the bass output is pretty respectable, like any other boombox.

A few other gripes... the controls on this are kind of whacky and counter-intuitive. When you turn off the unit and turn it back on, the volume always jumps back up to 18, it doesn't remember where you had the volume set when you last turned it off. And though I carefully read the instructions, I never could manage to change the time on the clock. Got it into Set mode, but couldn't change anything. Don't know if my system was defective, or if the defect was somewhere between my ears.

In my case I returned it the next day. For a decent amp/speaker system, I'll step up in price and get a quality one... like the one from Apple. I mean, why spend a small fortune on an video Ipod and then get a cheap, junky speaker system with the goal of having that replace your home stereo? It doesn't make sense. Save your money for a good one!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Muddy sound, annoying hiss, September 24, 2006

By 

Martin Quiazon - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: iLive Portable 2.1-Channel CD Boombox with Docking Station for iPod (White) (Electronics)

It's really too bad that this unit sounded awful. It's got the best bang for the buck for any iPod speaker system, as it offers AM/FM radio, a CD player, and a remote. (Why don't more manufacturers include those features?)

But it fails on the most basic test for any boombox -- does it have decent sound quality? It most certainly does not. I don't expect audiophile quality, I just want it to sound reasonably good, and I've heard cheap tabletop CD players that sound better than this product.

The hiss that all the other reviewers are talking about is present no matter what sound source you select, and while it's less noticeable when music is playing, it is always there. Music sounds muddy and has no clarity or sparkle whatsoever.