iHome iH70SRC review

Another problem is the lack of input toggling. When you have more than one source hooked up (PC, iPod, and auxiliary), the audio gets all mixed together. On the one hand, that's not bad if you're listening to music on the iPod but still want to hear the notification sounds from your computer (inbound instant messages and e-mails, for instance). But the optimal solution would've been for a "source select" button, with "mix" being the fourth option. It's not hard, and it wouldn't have cost a lot to add.

The unit ships with a remote control, which is somewhat rare for lower-priced computer speakers. The remote is identical to the one that ships with the iHome iP99 clock radio; controls are limited to volume and basic iPod functions (play/pause, skip forward, skip back).

As for sound, it won't wow audiophiles, but it's not bad. The speakers use the same Reson8 design that the iHome clock radios do but what makes the iH70 sound better is the simple fact that you get better stereo separation from having the two speakers set to the width of your computer screen (or even a little wider). Better yet, when you're at your computer, you're sitting at the perfect distance to get the best sound from these speakers (3 feet away). Don't expect booming base or to fill a large room with rich sound, but these speakers would do fine as a stereo system in a smaller room (like a dorm room) and offer decent clarity if you're sitting in the aforementioned sweet spot. The iH70 compared favorably to Bose's entry-level $100 speakers, the Companion 2 Series II. Those Bose speakers cost a little less but don't feature the built-in iPod dock of the iHome iH70.

It's also worth noting that the iH70 will work with most late model iPods and iPhones, but the lack of GSM shielding requires iPhones to be switched into airplane mode (no calls) to avoid speaker interference.

In the final analysis, this is a pretty nifty setup if you have an iPod or iPhone and like the idea of being able to conserve space by having a docking station built right into your computer speakers. While the speakers aren't going to win too many style points, they do pair up well enough with the current generation of silver iMacs. But absent a bigger price cut, we suspect most people are probably going to go with the cheaper iHome iH69B.