Customer Reviews

iLuv iMM173 Alarm Clock and Dual Dock for iPod and iPhone (Black)

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

The features of this product are great...the problem is the clock constantly freezes and/or locks up. Twice the alarm did not go off because the clock had frozen. I returned the product for a replacement thinking maybe I got a dud. Well the replacement does the same thing. So I emailed the company to see what could be done. Three suggestions were given:

1. Make sure you are using the iPhone dock adapter (well duh)
2. Turn the power off before inserting the phone (well ok but not sure how this would help the clock freezing in the future...it wasn't freezing when I was putting the phone in).
3. Power cycle the clock to reset...(ok I do this EVERY time it freezes).

So bottom line works great to listen to music...but if you need a clock or an alarm (which is probably why you are looking at an ALARM CLOCK) then this is unreliable and completely useless...just like the company's support.

I was afraid that the iLuv Dual Dock would be too large for my end-table but it is the perfect size. I was also relieved to confirm that both docks will play and charge the 3G iPhone and newest iPods. The build quality is very high and the glossy plastic looks great but it is also a fingerprint magnet and hard to keep clean.

The reason I gave it 4 and not 5 stars is because I disagree with the other two reviews before mine that state that the sound quality was great. I think it sounds rather poor. I would rate the sound a 3 out of 5 at best. If I was using this for listening to music I'd send it back. It sound nothing even close to the Bose and Altec-Lansing iPod speakers i've listened to. Luckily I'm only using it as a clock, alarm and for listening to podcasts.

Note: It also comes with a nice remote that attaches to the back with a built in magnet.

EDITED:
Since posting the review I've had the iLuv "crash", "lock up", "freeze" a few times. I need to be able to rely on my alarm and this is a real problem. The clock stays showing the time of the crash and all buttons stop functinoing. I have to power cycle the clock to get it going again. I'm going to call iLuv and see what they can do for me.

I, like others that have mentioned so here, had a lot of problems with my original unit. It constantly froze when I connected my iPhone3G, or I would get the dreaded "Accessory not compatible" message on my iPhone screen. I put up with this for about a week before I contacted iLuv about the problem(s).
To their credit, they handled the issue very professionally. iLuv/jWin utilizes an online-only support system, which I was a little sceptical about at first. When it comes to product support and returns, I would usually rather speak with a live person. However, the iLuv system is more like a blog where you can log in and see the status/comments associated with your trouble ticket, and any questions or comments I had were always answered within an hour. Not bad at all.
What ended up happening is that iLuv sent me a brand new updated unit that was labeled as "Version 1.1" (and even had a new "Time Sync" feature that keeps the time between your phone and clock synced at all times - very handy. I didn't even have to set the clock initially - it just took the time from the phone). The end result is that I have had the new unit for a week now and not one issue. The bottom line - if you are having problems, contact iLuv. If you have version 1.0 of the product and are having problems with the iPhone3G, they will make it right.

This thing sounds great. Works with Pandora streaming thru your 3G or home network to produce great sound. AUX jack out and in is nice too. Charges my iphone perfectly and I really like the radio alarm clock as the sound starts low and then goes higher. PROBLEM is the light. Even at the lowest level it puts off more light than I want. You can however turn the light totally off but then you have to touch the radio to see the time at 3 AM. Easy fix with some window tinting from Lowe's. The light probably won't bother most b/c there are 10 light settings so it's basically a flashlight at the highest level. But if you like cave darkness you'll have to make some adjustments. Other than the light this thing is a great little radio to have in any room and the speakers fill the room enough to listen to morning podcasts or radio/ipod/pandora. You won't be dissappointed!

I too, like many of the previous reviewers, was unlucky enough to get stuck with the very buggy, freeze-prone, Ver. 1.0 unit. You must contact customer support through their web-site, trying to reach them by phone is futile. Instead of being able to speak to a live person and get the exchange process handled quickly, you are forced to endure endless blog-type messages back and forth with customer "service." As I write, I have now spent over two hours trying to simply arrange an exchange of the unit. Perhaps I will get a replacement someday and that will be nice but this was definitely NOT worth the hassle. There are better units out there.

I am pretty tech-savvy but I find the controls on this unit very un-intuitive. I am constantly reviewing the very-hard-to-read instruction booklet just to remember how to select presets or set the alarm.

Really the only good thing I can say about this clock is that it can dock two ipods and it has a big, easy to read display.

Update Feb. 6: Received the new replacement unit today. Unfortunately they mistakenly sent me the old version 1.0 in a new version 1.1 box. So now I get to return two units.

Update Feb. 11: Finally got version 1.1. Now the unit works as it should, no freezing up, time syncs when you put iPhone in the dock. I still wouldn't go through this hassle again. Hard to get in touch with customer service.

This is a nice product, but from browsing the other reviews, you will realise that there was a flaw concerning the clock and a freezing that would take place at times. This product has since been updated by the manufacturer. How to tell if you have gotten an updated product: One the right hand side of the box there will be a white sticker, the model number will be given as iMM173-01.

If your product only reads iMM173 then you may experience problems with your unit.

I've had the iLuv for several years and just love it. Though I was tempted to give it four stars for a sec because the sound quality isn't superb, I give it five because it does what I bought it to do, and does it well. The unit is an alarm clock and dock with a radio, but I'm not expecting *any* radio/dock/clock unit at this price to sound like THX or Dolby Surround Sound. So for me, for what it is, the sound is just fine.

I keep it on the nightstand in my room, and listen to the radio with it from my kitchen. Thanks to the handy remote, I can change the stations easily from a room away. The signal is always clear, and the digital display is easy to read. When I don't want the remote hanging out on the nightstand where my cats can get it, there is a magnetic holder on the back of the unit that the remote attaches to easily.

The brightness of the display changes easily with a tap of the snooze button, though a small amount of light does seep out from the center of the unit, and I do mean a small amount. My room is nearly pitch-black, and I do notice it if I look at the unit before I pass out, but it is of a very low and nearly undetectable brightness, and not at all bothersome.

I have a first generation iPhone and a third generation Nano, and the unit charges both of them. I have also charged a first generation ipod on the iLuv successfully. though it comes with adaptors, I never used them. The phone stands on the dock by itself, and the nano as well. I do get the "this product isn't made for the iPhone" message when I plunk the iPhone on it, but I just hit "close" and it goes away. I think this is probably Apple adding this into their updates, so when you update your phone on iTunes it gets embedded in the software or something. Probably just a scare tactic to get people to buy Apple-only products if you ask me, but obviously that's just speculation on my part.

I have experienced the freezing a few people mentioned, but just unplugged the unit and replugged it into the wall, and the problem was solved. This happened to me after a power outtage, and once just by itself. I did have to reset everything after that, which was a drag, but only took a few minutes.

The unit also has two alarms on it, which is great for a deep sleeper like me, and you can program radio or the standard alarm buzzing sound. I like the programming wheel things instead of buttons-- those two metal circles on either side of the top of the unit. They make it easy to set the time very quickly.

Overall, I'm delighted with this product, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a solid dock/clock/radio. If you're like me, and you use the ipod and the iphone and you always forget to charge your stuff, it's perfect-- I stick them on the iLuv before bed and grab them off when I wake up as part of my routine, and it's nice not to have clunky chargers cluttering up my office.

I bought this product without reviewing the reviews. Big mistake. This product is advertised: Alarm clock has two docks for two iPods, two iPhones, or an iPod and an iPhone. When I opened the package, the product specifically lists one dock for iPod only. At any rate, neither dock worked with either my iPhone 1g or my iPhone 3g. The plastic shows every fingerprint and the sound quality of the radio is horrible. Do not buy this piece of junk. Not for $100, not for $80, not for $20.

I purchased this item, but on first use the clock screen froze. I sent it back for exchange and had the same problem. The company was a nightmare to work with. Save your money and buy a different product.

it's ok but its just a basic $20 clock radio with ipod/iphone dock,
i paid the full price when it first came out and was very disapointed