SDI iHome iH5B user reviews (black)

Pros Wake-up to your own tunes, Cool look, good sound, charge you iPod too

Cons Sound very-very good, not outstanding, but price-qualilty superb

Summary OK, I fell in love with the looks and features, then read reviews; hundreds of reviews about this product and really wanted to believe that the cons were not that bad as, so I decided to buy it and return it if I wasn’t happy. The cons that I read were twofold, 1. The alarm came on too loud and blew people out of bed 2. The dimmer isn’t dim enough and too bright to sleep to.

Well. I found that both were either wrong or I bought a new generation IH5 that solved the earlier problems. I bought mine in March-2006 at Best Buy. I read that the reviewers models didn’t support the Nano, mine did, so be sure yours supports Nano or 5th generation iPod and you’ll likely have the new generation iHome IH5.

The wake-up alarm worked beautifully and not terribly loud, remember that you want it to wake you up, and the Radio tuner was pretty good, digital lock tuning, not the dime-store variety dial type. Finally the sound was surprisingly good and the bass wasn’t that bad. I have been in audio for years and I know JBL, Bose, Polk Cambridge Sound and those are fine, but you aren’t paying $350 - $500, instead, just under $100. Its way better than those tinny $20-$50 dollar Timex, Sanyo jobs, It’s on par with Proton and upper end clock radios. It’s a Clock radio and very capable at that. Add the iPod charger/docker and its pretty freaking’ cool.

It turned on my iPod at wake up, and if I really want to boost the sound quality, it has a lineout jack to plug into computer 5+1 or 2+1 speakers and subs, then the sound can be really high end. Since the lineout jack isn’t variable, you can set the wake-up volume at any level you choose. You can even plug a CD player into the unit and boost the sound.

Finally, Look and the Price-value index and its pretty high in my estimation given the versatility, features, sound, looks, function, ease of use, battery back up. All the key alarm and iPod support that you would expect in a charger, player. I’m mailing in for the remote, (I have no idea why its not included). That costs an extra $20 but will put it over the top. I would give it a ten but, the sound isn’t the super high end. If they could do that Wave-Radio style, add bass and treble controls and added iPod control features then 10 of 10 for sure. I’ll say it’s a 10 for under $100.

Added bonus, I never mis-place my iPod, its alway in the unit and fully charged when i need it!!!