Philips Fidelio SBD7500 30-Pin iPod/iPhone Speaker Dock

• Compatible with all iPod products with a 30-pin connector (except iPod shuffle)--this includes the newest iPod nano and touch models; also compatible with iPhone, iPhone 3G and 3GS, and iPhone 4
• Plug and play to enjoy your music at home or on the go
• Deep, rich bass through the built in wOOx bass radiator and Dynamic Bass Boost technology
• Advance acoustics
• Scratch-resistant housing

You get the speaker dock, a very nice carrying case, an 18" long 3.5 mm cable if you want to hook it up to something other than an iPhone/iPod, and an AC adapter with a nice long cord. It can also use 4 AA batteries. The carrying case has a piggy-back case that you can use to hold the A/C adapter, or leave it off to travel light if you plan on just using the batteries; a nice touch. The battery compartment is a little awkward to use, but not too difficult. A tip-out stand holds it at a good angle.

I hooked it up to my PC via the 3.5 mm cable, and tried the bass boost feature, which worked nice. The unit has its own volume control so you can fine-tune the listening level easily. These controls and the on/off switch are recessed, giving a clean appearance, but making it a bit hard to operate the sliding switches. I compared the sound to some PC speakers, and what a difference! These were so much better; no tinniness, just nice rich sound. And the bass boost works well. The manufacturer claims 8 hours of playing using batteries. So far, looks like that is a good estimate. There is a small power light behind the speaker grille that glows when it is on, which is nice; it already reminded me once that I forgot to turn it off!

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Though this unit works well, it has a very bad design flaw that any buyer considering it should be aware of. When using it as a portable getting power from its internal AA batteries, even when you shut the unit OFF with its ON/OFF switch, the four batteries will self discharge to dead in about a week because the unit still draws current from the batteries even when shut OFF.

I considered my unit to be defective because of this problem but when I contacted Philips support to request a exchange unit under warranty, I was informed that this battery drain was normal and that I needed to remove one or more of the batteries when not using the unit to prevent the batteries from going dead. Dumb, dumb, triple dumb design flaw in my opinion!

Why even have an ON/OFF switch if you must remove a battery to really shut it OFF!

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This portable speaker system from Phillips certainly comes in handy. It is extremely easy to use--just plug it in and insert your iPod or iPhone in the very obvious jack, then press "play" and you're good to go. That it charges as you go is of course helpful. And it is small enough you could easily take it with you in a bag or suitcase, with no extra pieces to worry about losing or breaking. However, the sound quality is not that big of a step up from what comes out of my iPhone itself when I simply play it with the headphones detached. It sounds at best like a decent small radio or car radio. Considering that I recently purchased a 5-disc changer stereo system that ALSO interfaces with my iPhone for only less than $100 more, and which has large speakers and superb sound quality, I have to say this little system is somewhat overpriced. Honestly I could not see spending the money on it unless I traveled very frequently and needed a charger with speakers for that purpose.

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I wanted a small unit with decent sound that would be compatible with my 7th gen 160GB iPod classic while it was in its case. That seemed a tall order and I looked at dozens before finding this. Although some other docks might have worked fine with my iPod, it wasn't stated and I didn't want to take a chance. I also didn't want to have to remove the iPod from its Agent18 plastic case for docking. I found this dock on the Apple site and only wish I'd known Amazon carried it since they are traditionally faster and less hassle for me than buying elsewhere.

I was looking for a speaker dock that was a modest size so I could set it in a particular spot in my kitchen where my iPod would be handy either for listening or charging. Although the dock will run on batteries, I appreciate the ability to plug it in. I very much like the small size compared to many other docks and I find the sound quality much above average. I have Bose CD radios and have relatively high expectations, but was willing to settle for somewhat less if my other conditions were met. I am completely satisfied with the sound. I listen to a mix of music but almost none from today's popular recording artists so I can't speak to that, but for classical, opera, vintage things from the 60's through the 80's and jazz, I find the quality extremely good considering that some of the recordings themselves will limit the quality to some degree. I can turn up the volume fairly high and enjoy just as good sound as at a soft level. There is a button to boost the bass, but I don't use that as my music doesn't require it.

The iPod will charge with the dock turned off (as long as it is plugged in). Turn the unit on to play the music. A small light illuminates when it's on to alert you to that status.

There is no remote, but where I have it that is not an issue. What matters more to me is that I can use the iPod click wheel to make my selections and it feels very sturdy in the dock. The dock's back support 'leg' runs nearly the length of the dock so it doesn't feel like it will tip. Because the connector sits away from the dock by a small amount and is raised as opposed to being down in a cradle, I can connect my iPod while in its case, for which I'm very grateful.

All in all I am completely satisfied and recommend this to others with similar requirements, or who want a small portable unit with a case and good volume.

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One thing to keep in mind when you're buying this speaker system... it's a portable system. This should not be compared to something you would plug into a wall or leave sitting in one room all the time. To compare the two is like comparing a portable TV with a wall TV... yeah the wall TV is better for the price but there are some benefits of having something you can just bring with you wherever you go.

The number one benefit of this product has to be that music just sounds good with it. I've had other portable speakers which buzz when they're plugged in or just don't make enough sound and in this speaker's case I don't have that problem. Yeah, I can't DJ a loud party with it but honestly if you're going to go that route by plug in the wall speakers, for sure.

As mentioned by another reviewer (I wanted to confirm it wasn't just mine so I looked around) there is some weird issue with the battery life and this unit. I think most of the other reviewers probably gave the unit a full run down but didn't test it again in a week or so after use so maybe didn't see it? Either way it eats up batteries even when it's off. So you should definitely remove the batteries between uses to make sure you don't waste a ton when it's not plugged in. I'm not sure of the mechanics of how that all works out but I'm guessing something is still taking some of the charge out.

Either way it's definitely worth buying if you plan to be on the road a lot and don't want to integrate with your car for speakers or if you go camping and want to listen to music with friends. I wouldn't put too much faith in it for any heavy lifting but it's not really made for that use so you're barking up the wrong tree either way if you think that it's not comparable to some heavy duty plug in the wall thing.

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Sleuthgear Digital Wireless NightOwl IR Cube Clock Camera

This camera takes excellent video, day and night. The only issue is that it makes beeps when it starts recording in the motion detection mode. There is no option to turn the beeping off. We had someone stealing from my elderly mother so we thought that this would help catch the person. It beeped so much the first day we couldn't use it in the motion detection mode:(.

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REVO Heritage Multi-format Table Clock Radio with iPod Dock - Black

• Internet Radio requires broadband Internet and a router
• High sensitivity DAB and DAB+ digital radio
• Advanced internet radio with Wi-Fi and wired LAN connectivity
• Easy access to over 11,000 internet radio stations
• Wireless audio streaming from PC or MAC

A capable radio, music player and internet streaming device. User interface is acceptable, using a joystick to navigate, and one pushes on the joystick to select. This is a bit tricky as it is very easy to mis-select if you don't push exactly straight. Entering a long WPA code can be a challenge..Overall operation is good compared to other internet radios out there. Powering up and selecting "internet radio", the radio saw and connected to my work network and home network. Also will stream itune playlists, and multiple formats. One can manually enter a specific internet radio location, like RadioParadise, which is listed, but only the 128K version, one can manually enter the 192K location if desired.

This radio provides DAB, but was unable to find any stations in my area (Colorado).

FM radio performance is acceptable, but does not pull in weak stations well. An external antenna is NOT available. Ok, so most (non HD) FM stations are available by streaming, anyway.

In order to use the 'favorite locations' and other features on the internet radio user interface, one has to sign up at LAST.fm, a disadvantage. On the other hand there are five station presets that operate independently, so each stream mode, radio, internet, DAB, music server, etc, has 5 presets.

The ipod interface works well, and as an alarm clock, functions ok. Just remember if you want to wake up to RadioParadise, it takes a while to connect...

Operation in wired and wireless mode was stable and had no problem with dropouts, etc.

Only complaint is sound quality which is only fair. I believe it uses a 3" dia speaker, popular these days, and while the midrange and high frequencies are acceptable, but somewhat colored, the bass is limited and bass boost only muddies the sound. I have a number of radios from all vintages, the best sound quality award goes to the Tandberg TP43, an amazing radio but over 40years old!

The older Grundigs and Tandberg radios have sound quality that is simply unequaled by any recent radio I have heard. That is unfortunate, and in my mind, unacceptable given what is possible these days. Just don't get it.

Is it worth $400? Well... probably not. I like the overall style and operation a lot, but if the sound quality measured up, it really would be worth it. As is it is only acceptable.

I have listened to other self contained radios, both internet ready and not, from Roku, Tivoli, Boston Acoustics, Sangean, and others, and they all seem to use the same 3" speaker and sound pretty much the same to me. Until some manufacturer is driven to improve the sound quality, we're stuck with this. For now will be fine for a nighttable radio if you want high quality sound use a separate amp & speakers.

Downrated for value and sound quality.

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Hi All,

I bought a Revo Heritage Radio G 1 a number of years ago direct from the store in the UK. 2 years in I had some difficultly with the display though every other aspect of the radio was stellar including the incredible sound quality, streaming capability, iphone docking just to name a few of it's many outstanding features. The problem I had with the display was not easily fixed and when Dan Sawyer of Modern Digital USA heard about my difficulty he offered me some of the best costumer service of my life. If you are planning to buy a Revo product do not go through the UK store /website buy it from Modern Digital USA you will receive (as I did) top notch advice and stellar costumer service.

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Timex T123L Simple Set Direct Entry Alarm Clock with LED Display, Blue

• Sold Individually

Our daughter received this clock for her birthday. Its the perfect first alarm clock. Easy to set the time and alarm. Plus the rainbow colored numbers are fun! Love it!

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I am thrilled with this product. The colors of the different numbers are truly fun and colorful in the dark, A really simple to use clock/alarm. I love it! I feel like a kid again. :-)

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We purchased this for an elderly relative since it is easy to set the time and alarm. We would even like it for ourselves as it is more efficient to set the time on this than the normal alarm clocks out there.

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Digiview PC06 Baseball Projection Clock

My 6 year old loves his baseball clock which he rec'd for his recent birthday. He especially enjoys being able to lie in bed, look up at the ceiling and know what time it is. The clock itself is only plastic but it reflects the affordable price.

Base ball type round ball timer and projector works well. It is operated by 2 AA batteries for time keeping and time projection is by AC power cord.

This was the least expensive ceiling projection clock I could find. Ordering process and delivery was easy and prompt. It serve for my purpose.

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My son's room is done in a baseball theme. Thought this would be a great addition. Not very bright though and he can't do the clock by himself

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If you are looking for a baseball themed projection clock this one fits the bill. The projection is clear enough and bright enough to see easily. The other features like setting the time or alarm are rather cumbersome to deal with. We use a separate clock on my night stand to set our alarm clock and only use this one to project the time on the ceiling.

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Very good acurate time piece. Bright easy to read on the ceiling We enjoy being able to know what time it is during the night.

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TEAC MC-DX50i 2.1 Ch. Hi-Fi System & iPod Dock

• System remote control also controls basic iPod functions.
• NXT flat-panel speakers. Bass and treble controls. Slot-in CD player plays CD/CD-R/CD-RW discs.
• Clock and timer functions. Digital tuner with 20 station presets (10AM and 10FM)
• Docking Station for iPod.
• Powered subwoofer

I bought this for my wife for Christmas because she wanted a radio in the house and we haven't had one for years. I decided on this model because I was also getting her an iPhone. I thought it would be a great way for her to have the radio and all of her music available in the same source, as well as a convenient way to ensure her iPhone stayed charged.

I was disappointed when we put the iPhone in the docking station and the screen indicated that this device was not compatible with the iPhone (apparently the iPhone has something different on its docking port than the other four iPods that I own and I get this message on all but one of my third-party chargers). However, I was relieved to see that after that message all the functions on the iPhone proceeded without any problem. The iPhone played through the system just as the other iPods and all were controllable from the controls on the TEAC remote or head unit. So, all worked fine except the TEAC does not charge the iPhone and that is the only difference from the iPods.

The TEAC works wonderfully and sounds great. I was impressed right away as I unpacked the item. If you have ever bought a product from Apple Computer, you are aware of the exemplary job they do in their packing. It puts other products to shame, but here it seems that TEAC must be using the same folks to design their packaging. The TEAC unit was packed neatly and efficiently. The inside lid had a large, clear diagram of how all the parts were packed. The parts were packed in a way that made doing inventory and set up as easy as could be.

The manual could have been a little easier to read. i found it a bit redundant, but i'm sure that some would appreciate that if they were only going to read specific sections and perhaps out of sequence. The sleek and well designed remote control fit comfortably in the hand and was impressively solid, made almost entirely of metal except for the touch sensitive surface.

I also had a little trouble picking up a couple of my favorite stations that I listen to in the car when I used the auto-scanning feature, but was able to pick them up tuning manually. At first I thought that the TEAC antenna was just weak since I didn't connect it to an FM antenna (a coax input is provided), but then I realized that the auto-scan actually picked up about 10 local stations that my car always missed no matter which part of town I was in. So, I guess the TEAC has very good sensitivity after all.

Overall, I am very pleased with this purchase. This was my first TEAC product. My dad had a TEAC reel-to-reel back in the 70's, but that was my only exposure to the brand. I will definitely consider this brand in future electronics purchases.

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Have only had this for a few days, here's what I think so far:

Pros:

1. Only one power cord for the entire unit, from wall to the powered sub-woofer. The main unit is powered by the thick cord from the sub-woofer.

2. Cord from sub-woofer to main unit is substantial and about 6 feet long

3. Easy to setup, did not need the manual

4. Sub-woofer helps the sound

5. Modern looking with thin smaller speakers

6. Can get pretty loud, for a somewhat inexpensive room unit

Cons:

1. speaker cords could be a bit longer

2. Plays purchased CDs and CD-R's but not in MP3 format

3. CD loader is on top hope it is not affected by dust getting in

4. Think it's a little overpriced

5. My daughter thinks the clock light is too bright at nighttime in her room, but have been told that the light can in fact be dimmed (see comment, Thanks!) I've been told it can be dimmed, need to check that out.

6. Another person noted it does not have battery backup. Not sure why Teac did not include that.

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I purchased this primarily as a way to get local radio as well as have something to play my ipod on at work. This has nice, robust sound for an office setting, and I was really surprised at the quality for the price. The sub-woofer really does make a difference, even if I felt a little ridiculous busting it out for the office. This isn't a home theater system, so you need to adjust your expectations accordingly. But for the price you will be very pleased.

Not only is this AM/FM/CD/iPOD ready, but you can also use it as your computer speakers through the AUX IN port on the front of the unit. Since you can move the separate components around to your liking, that worked out very well for me on my desk, and I was able to lose my old speakers. What a deal!

Since I don't have this at home, I can't really test it, but there is an S-video hookup as well, so that you can hook it up to your TV. I would consider this for our den, which has a small flat screen so my husband can work and watch sports.

The only thing they could do any better would be to to include a FM antenna (AM is included, but not FM). A very small complaint, as I would likely buy a more robust one anyway (I already had a TERK antennae that I brought with me).

All in all, a great little setup!

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I purchased the TEAC MC-DX50i at my local Costco. I have an iPod Touch and have been looking for a sound system that I could plug the iPod into. I also wanted something that could play CDs, had a radio tuner and would be "low profile" on my bookcase. The sound quality suits me. My only concern is I'm not getting a clear signal on one or two of my favorite FM stations (one is Sports Talk) but I can live with this!

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The system sound good, however the picture doesn't show the "booster" speaker that is bigger than the actual system. The booster is so huge and heavy you can't fit or hide it in a "shelf."

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Fidelity FDS-C-Instant Theater Docking Station for Aiptek Camcorders

• Instant Theater Docking Station for Aiptek Camcorders
• Great for playing back your movies and music
• Includes Clock Radio and FM Tuner
• Also use with any MP3 player
• Works on AC adapter or 4 AA batteries

I got this as a bonus when I purchased an Aiptek camera. This thing truly is a piece of garbage. The clarity of the audio is horrible. It seems like it is pushing way too much power through a tiny speaker. It sounded broken straight out of the box. The dock on top is useless, because it offers no way to charge your camera. It has a small lead-in, where you can feed the power adapter from your own charging cable, but it is really just a big hassle. I haven't touched it since I first tried it, and I would have returned it if I didn't get it for free. I don't even think it deserves a single star.

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Wow,,,what an awesome Docking Station! This thing has amazing sound and is very User Friendly! A must have for anyone who has a Aiptek Camcorder or Ipod!!!

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shark SHKLXMT723 Waterproof Motorcycle FM radio / AMP / AUX IN AUDIO OUT CLOCK

• Built-in FM radio, Radio Frequency range 87.5--108MHz
• Dot Matrix LCD FM frequency display
• Built-in 2x15W amplifier
• RMS power @8 15WX2
• Frequency response 20Hz-20kHz

Great unit for the money, works as described, simple to hook up. shipping was fast, I would buy again if I needed one.

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I brought the radio, received it. Nothing telling me how or what to use to mount it. Don't think wireties would look to kool. I saw it on another bike and it look real good but didn't take time to see how it was mounted.

Produce Name:shark SHKLYMT723 Waterproof Motorcycle FM radio/AMP?AUX IN AUDIO OUT CLOCK.

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Pyle PLTS77DU 7-Inch Single-DIN In-Dash Motorized TFT/LCD Touchscreen Monitor Receiver with DVD/CD/M

• 7'' 16:9 Wide Screen TFT/LCD Display - Picture Control: Brightness/ Contrast/Chroma/Hue - AM/FM-MPX Stereo Radio - Support DVD/VCD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/MP3 - Front panel AUX Input (Ipod/MP3)
• Motorized Drop Full Detachable Front Panel - Resolution: 1440x234 Pixels/ Brightness : 400nits - Switchable USA/Europe Radio Frequency - Parking Video Output - Subwoofer Output
• Touch Screen (Graphic Screen Allows Easy Control of Operations By Touch) - Electronic Screen Angle/ Position Memory - Clock Function - DSP Equalizer Control/Rock/Classic/Pop - Full Function Wireless Remote
• NTSC PAL Compatible - USB/SD-MMC Reader MP4/JPEG/MP3/WMA Playback - ESP Function Anti-Vibration/Shock Protection - 30 Preset Stations Memory (18FM/12AM) - 320 Watts Total Output (4 x 80 Watts)
• Treble /Bass/Balance/Fader/Encoder/Volume Control - Repeat/Program/Random/Intro Play - Auto Memory Store/Preset/Scan - 4 Channel RCA Preamp Output - UNIT Dimensions: 7.09''W x 7.01''H x 1.97''D
• 7'' 16:9 Wide Screen TFT/LCD Display - Picture Control: Brightness/ Contrast/Chroma/Hue - AM/FM-MPX Stereo Radio - Support DVD/VCD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/MP3 - Front panel AUX Input (Ipod/MP3)
• Motorized Drop Full Detachable Front Panel - Resolution: 1440x234 Pixels/ Brightness : 400nits - Switchable USA/Europe Radio Frequency - Parking Video Output - Subwoofer Output
• Touch Screen (Graphic Screen Allows Easy Control of Operations By Touch) - Electronic Screen Angle/ Position Memory - Clock Function - DSP Equalizer Control/Rock/Classic/Pop - Full Function Wireless Remote
• NTSC PAL Compatible - USB/SD-MMC Reader MP4/JPEG/MP3/WMA Playback - ESP Function Anti-Vibration/Shock Protection - 30 Preset Stations Memory (18FM/12AM) - 320 Watts Total Output (4 x 80 Watts)
• Treble /Bass/Balance/Fader/Encoder/Volume Control - Repeat/Program/Random/Intro Play - Auto Memory Store/Preset/Scan - 4 Channel RCA Preamp Output - UNIT Dimensions: 7.09''W x 7.01''H x 1.97''D

Just got the Pyle View, it's killerit has every feature you could possibly need or want, even does DVD. It looks and sounds incredible plus, it was a no brainer to install. Watch my video, I've got plenty of details about it in there.

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This headunit is a great value. It does everything it says. For the price you can't beat it. When I first ordered it I was kinda nervous; My biggest concern was picture quality. I expected it to be very pixeled because of the low price and lower name brand. But the picture is great! The only thing that this unit doesn't have that higher end units do is GPS. But you can purchase an upgraded model that does. I don't need it since I have GPS in my Droid-x. The installation was a breeze. For anyone with any experience, it was very self explanatory. The manual is horrible as others said because it is translated from another language but all the wires are very clearly marked. There is a safety feature on this unit so that you can't watch video while driving. I thought it defeated the purpose of buying this unit; since I wanted video for my pasengers to watch while I drive. But don't worry it is VERY easy to bypass. All you must do is connect the pink "parking brake" wire to ANY ground on your vehicle. I must mention that this is illegal in the US so therefore I'm not telling you to do it. By the way I found a crappier unit in walmart that didn't have all the features this one has and it was $100 more! So definitely a great buy in my opinion. Oh, 1 more thing. I was a lil nervous playing a dvd while driving because I'm in the process of redoing the suspension in the truck that I have this installed in. So the ride is VERY rough and bumpy right now. BUT, my DVD NEVER skipped so far. Not even once. Hope this helps! Thank you everyone else for your feedback I really appreciate it to help me make informed buying decisions.

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Basically Pyle is one of your respected "Brand-X" manufacturers.

Compared to all the baseline models having these features, you're getting the same exact features and quality the major commercial name brands give you for $100+ more.

Good touch screen, good EQ options with a super bass mode and loudness control. More than ample ins and outs on the rear deck. Plenty of power but obviously outboard amps are a necessity these days. Great radio reception, I grab all my favorite city based radio stations just about anywhere I go which is from up to 50+ miles away. Remote has plenty of interface controls. Disc loading is fast, aux, USB/SD reading is instant and plays Divx the same it would off disc.

All your settings menus are incredibly thorough as well, lots of options to suit any of your needs.

My only complaint is to put the SD card in, you have to pop the face place off. Beyond that it's a really good baseline unit for the money. Much better than my Jensen bought a couple years earlier.

For the money it has thoroughly earned 5 stars.

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My wife got me this for Father's Day and I am so happy with it. I got Aux plugs and I can hear music off my Droid and if I get a phone call it comes right thru my speakers. The touch screen is nice and with the back up cam I got with it I can see in front and behind me. Only pet peeve is that the screen will come out when I back up but wont turn the music on until it retracts and I have to press the button for it to turn on, but otherwise it's a steal and a bargain for the price. You, yeah you. The one sitting there reading my review. Get one, you wont be disappointed.

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Works great but the manual is poorly written(translated from another language presumably, and is lacking vital information.

Sound quality is impressive and is easy to install.

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Xtreme Mac Luna Voyager Speaker System for iPhone and iPod -Black

• Recommended Age: 7 years and up

I wanted a clock-radio replacement that would let me wake to my favorite tunes, and have the side benefit of making sure my IPhone got charged every night (as I use it a lot and tend to forget to plug it in). I had looked at the iHome, but it is just too big. This unit is a delight. It is small on the bedside, I prefer the blue light display, the sound quality is better than the last clock-radio I had, and the buttons are sleek, intuitive and easy to use.

I bought this at the same time as I upgraded to the iPhone 4, and it did come with an insert that fits the iPhone 4. There was also a perfect insert for my old 3G in a silicone case. It came with 4 inserts total.

If you have an iPhone that you like to keep at your bedside, this is a perfect solution. It would also work as a desktop speaker. In fact, we may be getting a second one ;-).

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I'll confess I am a gadget junkie; especially when the gadgets make or record sound. If my wife would allow it, I would have an iPhone/iPod player in every room of the house, even though we already have a whole-house sound system... That being said, the Luna Voyager is really more of a desk/nightstand clock + charger than it is a sound system, unless your current sound system is a Hasbro i-Dog Robotic Music Loving Canine White

Yes, it plays the music from the iThing of your choice, but the fidelity really isn't much more than you'll get from the typical radio alarm clock in this price category. It is a mediocre sound device.

However, where the unit excels (and exceeds my expectations) is in the ease of setup, use, and day-to-day function. Some examples:

1. Automatically sets the time based on your iPhone (or iPod). Seriously cool feature, especially if you live in an area with frequent power outages and HATE resetting all the digital clocks in the house like I do!

2. The display can be dimmed AND TURNED OFF ALTOGETHER! With an easy twirl of the "clickwheel" thingie on top, you can dial up or down the brightness of the display, including turning it completely off, which is a requirement at sleepy time in our bedroom (the wife forbids anything "electronic" from shining, buzzing, humming, blinking, or making its existence otherwise known in our bedroom).

3. Nice and small hides nicely onto a nightstand. Even if you're furniture is all Chippendale, it won't throw off your bedroom (or office) mojo too badly.

One thing to note the unit seems to be billed as a "travel" clock, but I can't see why. I travel A LOT and I can't see ever bringing this unit with me on the road for a couple of reasons first it is too bulky (I always carry-on so space is a premium for me), secondly it doesn't run on batteries, which I would think is a requirement for a "travel" version of anything... A travel clock bigger than a pack of cigarettes is not worth the space in my book.

My only other nit is that the wheel used for adjustments doesn't spin very easily. You have to "two-finger" the unit in order to get enough friction against it to make it turn smoothly. The only other controls are two tiny chrome buttons one for Play/Pause and the other for setting the alarm mode.

When we talk about ease of use, I can illustrate how easy it is by re-writing the user manual (in my own words) that will cover all necessary functionality:

--------

Plug the unit in

Stick your iPhone/IPod unit into the top

To play music, press the Play/Pause button. To pause, press the button again. Spin the dial to change the volume.

To set the alarm, push the Alarm button and twirl the dial to the time you want. To alternate between Alarm, iPod, or Off, repeatedly press the Alarm button

To change brightness, press and hold the Play/Pause button while turning the dial to achieve the desired brightness

---------

That's pretty much it, unless you want to switch from 12h/24h mode, which is a switch on the back. =)

Overall, a super easy-to-use iPhone/iPod Alarm Clock & Charger that is convenient to have at the bed side and unobtrusive enough to have a high SAF (Spousal Acceptance Factor).

Read Best Reviews of Xtreme Mac Luna Voyager Speaker System for iPhone and iPod -Black Here

I hate to be the lone dissenting voice among all the happy reviewers, but I have to be honest. This is an attractive little device that has a lot going for it, but it falls short in several important ways.

I'll start with the good stuff.

1. The product is attractive. The clock is compact and sleek, and the speaker grilles on the side are concave, which keeps the look clean. The clock face glows with light cobalt blue numbers, whose brightness can be adjusted. In particular, I liked the futuristic font of the numbers. Overall, it's not going to uglify your bedroom, and that's important. I've posted some photos in the "customer images" section above that'll give you a good idea of what the thing looks like.

2. The packaging was attractive. The outer box has a dark color scheme, but inside they've attempted to imitate Apple's packaging -nested white boxes with clean grey type in a modern font. No one does it as well as Apple, but this is a nice attempt.

3. The sound is okay. It's far from hi-fi, but it's about what you'd expect if you look at this machine primarily as an alarm clock. I wouldn't use this as a speaker system, though.

4. It charges your iPod, or iPhone, or iWhatever you're putting in it.

5. It automatically sets the time when you insert your iWhatever, based on whatever time that device says it is.

On to the bad stuff.

1. The AC jack on mine was loose inside, and cut off power when I moved the machine around at all. That's not good.

2. I wish the machine had a battery-only option so you didn't have to pack a big, bulky AC adaptor when you're traveling. It kind of detracts from the packability of the machine, and it's supposed to be a travel clock.

3. The dial is the kind that's basically a plate you spin with your fingers. That's fine, but it really sticks and that makes it very hard to set the alarm time.

4. I have a 5th Generation iPod Nano, and there was no adaptor provided, which is strange, because there's an adaptor for the 4g.

The Luna Voyager comes with adaptors for the iPod Classic, the Nano4G, the iTouch 2G, and the iPhone 3G. I don't know whether other models would fit those adaptors, but I wouldn't make any assumptions. You can see from my user photos that I just put my iPod Nano 5G in without an adaptor, and it worked fine.

Summary: It's a nice-looking thing, but it seems more thought went into the design than the function. It could have been so much better if all the technical details had been worked out.

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I was able to find this product for $25 elsewhere (sorry, Amazon!) -but even at Amazon's price, it's still a fine gadget. As others have mentioned, even the packaging is impressive. When a company puts this much thought and care into the design and presentation of their product's packaging, you assume either the product itself will follow suit and impress you with its design and build quality, or that the packaging is just a clever way to mask a substandard product. Fortunately, in this case, it's not the latter.

The device itself is about the size of an oversized paperback novel. It's nearly all black, and apart from the shiny plastic covering the display and front of the unit's top, the surface is matte black and feels slightly rubberized. The side speaker grilles are a dark silver-gray. The look and feel of the product exudes quality.

I currently live overseas and was just hoping that the adapter would be dual-voltage so I could use it there, as I couldn't find anything in the specifications to indicate this. Not only is it indeed worldwide voltage (110-240VAC), a full range of slide-on plug adapters was included as well, so this is an excellent choice for anyone who might be spending time abroad. Most countries' AC outlets will be covered by one of the included plugs.

A handful of docking adapters is included, none of which seemed to work with my iPod touch 4G in its case (out of the case was a different story). This was not a problem at all, though, because the pin connector is solid and tight-fitting. If your particular iThing works with one of the included adapters, great. If not, you will never miss it.

Sound quality is quite decent; about what one would expect from what's essentially a stereo clock radio. This should more appropriately be listed as an iPod-docking alarm clock rather than a "speaker system." For bedside table applications, though, it's quite okay. I use a rain/thunderstorm app called Sleepmaker when I go to sleep (who doesn't like falling asleep to the sound of rain?) and the difference in sound quality from just placing my iPod on the table and docking it in the Luna Voyager was extreme. For this use, it really sounds good. Music is alright, too, though its EQ curve seems stronger in the midrange at the expense of the highs (and obviously you're not going to get impressive bass). Acoustic and vocal music sounds the best. On this point, I really have no complaints at all. It reproduces sound as well as I expected for what it is. You can also set up a playlist in iTunes and name it "Luna," and the device will automatically use this playlist as the wakeup/alarm playlist. The alarm seems to be one of the "gentle wake" types that increases steadily in volume. The snooze is actuated by rotating the dial. It's odd (since we're used to pushing a button or bar), but works easily enough, even in a drowsy haze.

The Luna Voyager could barely be any easier to use. Most appreciated was the instant clock setting once you dock the iPod, and the ability to dim or turn off the display is a huge plus. There is a Luna Voyager app on the Apple App store, but I believe it's exclusively for the follow-up model to this device, the Luna Voyager II. That unit incorporates a radio and can also dock the iPad. I downloaded the app to see if it had any functionality with this particular unit, and it's very limited (you can control iPod music, but you can do that without the app just as easily).

I was so impressed with this unit that after a couple of days' use, I ordered another one as a gift for one of my friends. This is an easy gadget to recommend, and at $25, it's a steal.

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XtremeMac's new Luna Voyager is a travel alarm clock that works with your iPod/iPhone. Essentially, the device is an alarm clock with a port for an Apple iPod or iPhone on top. I tested it with both an iPhone 4 and an iPhone 3GS. I plugged the unit in and placed my iPhone 4 into the port; the clock quickly set its time to the time in the iPhone. You can adjust the time to run as a 12 hour clock with am/pm indicators or as a 24 hour clock. The clock display can be dimmed by steps from off to bright. At its brightest setting, the clock was easily visible in a bright room. The dimmest setting would be perfect for a bedside scene, but the ability to turn the numbers off entirely is a nice option for those annoyed by any light in the bedroom. The numbers are large enough to be legible at 10 feet. Numerals are presented in blue.

Press the play button on the top surface and you instantly can listen to your music. To skip from song to song, or to choose a specific song, you'll need to activate the iPhone or iPod; after that, songs will play in order as presented by your Apple device. There are two speakers, one on each side of the Voyager, so you get reasonable stereo. Remember that this is a small unit so audiophiles might prefer the Luna SST. Bass is lacking, but the overall effect is louder and superior to that of the iPhone's single internal speaker. Of course, there's a tradeoff here for size; the unit's small size makes it easy to toss into a suitcase for traveling. We chose to place the unit in the kitchen as a small clock & music source on the countertop.

There are several adaptors that allow for insertion of various iPod and iPhone varieties. I used one for the iPhone 3GS. Once inserted, the adaptor can be removed with use of a letter opener or small knife blade by following the instructions in the well-written manual. Both iPhones were charged by the port, something that not all devices handle properly.

The clock can be set up to be set manually. This is an advantage for those living in areas (St. Louis comes to mind) where the time presented by the iPhone from the network is sometimes inaccurate. There is a battery compartment for two AAA's to preserve the clock and alarm settings in the event of a power failure. There is also a Line-In jack on the back of the unit. This jack is not described in the users manual and was undoubtedly a last-minute addition to the overall product. It isn't clear to me what type of plug this is although it seems to be a mini-jack similar to the jack on the iPhone.

The appearance of the unit is pleasing. The materials used are slick and contemporary. All the buttons and switches work properly. There is a dial on the top of the unit for setting the dimming level, the alarm time, and the volume. The dial is a neat idea as it's flat and therefore prevents the unit from having a bump on the top, but it is a little unwieldy to use, not quite turning as smoothly as it might. I'd recommend that the source for this particular component be upgraded a notch. The overall presentation and packaging is high-end, equivalent to anything you'd see from Apple or other high tech companies, and clearly designed to give the new owner a sense of gratification.

Bottom line: Buy the Luna Voyager if the low price point is critical, if you're short on space in your desired location, or if you plan to use this for travel. Go up a step to the Luna SST if you'd rather have improved sound and don't mind the loss of travel abilities or space.

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Timex T254W Jumbo Display Alarm Clock with Radio

• Wake to AM/FM radio or buzzer
• Gentle Wake Alarm wakes user up peacefully with ascending volume
• Alarm reset button turns off alarm & automatically resets alarm for next day
• Extra-large, 1.4 custom LED display
• Sure Alarm battery backup system in case of AC power failure

Works great and is easy to read. Easy to set the time and alarm and change the radio station as well!

Buy Timex T254W Jumbo Display Alarm Clock with Radio Now

About 6 hours delay every 24 hours, it will never gives you the correct time.Don't buy it.

The radio is working fine though.

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Kaito KA1103 Worldband Radio

• Dual conversion technology, wide/narrow AM filter
• Four tuning methods: direct, manual, scan and preset
• Built-in automatic battery charger and hinged battery cover
• Built-in alarm clock and sleep timer, tilt back holder
• 30 days money back guarantee and one year limited warranty

I own the whole lineup of Kaitos and the 1103 beats the others for FM sensitivity. The 1101 takes second, the 1102 takes third, and the 105 takes fourth. AM is similar on all models. But the speaker is also superior on the 1103.

Here's what I like about the 1103:

1. Powerful, crystal clear FM reception that is superior to radios that cost twice as much.

2. Warm full speaker sound for a radio of this size.

3. The cool factor of a radio that has so many innovations and is changing the radio industry, causing Sangean, Grundig, and Sony to wake up and start making more competitive products at better prices.

4. PLL synthesized tuning with over 250 presets or memories.

Here's what I don't like:

1. You have to press buttons or digitally enter for volume control. There is no spin wheel for quick volume change.

2. The analog display takes up unnecessary space on the radio.

3. AM, like all PLL synthesized radios, is well above average but needs improvement.

However, AM is more than adequate and as a whole the 1103 is my favorite PLL synthesized, dual conversion small radio. If I could only own two radios, a compact and an analog medium sized radio, I'd keep the Kaito 1103 and my Tecsun BLC 2000 (sold for considerably more as the Grundig S350), which gets great AM.

If you don't mind finding an English manual on the internet, you can spend half the money on the Kaito by buying its clone, the Degen 1103. Degen radios, the original Chinese versions, are Kaitos but only come with Chinese manuals and they need AC adaptor converters. The upside is that they are half the price of the American version Kaitos.

Post Script: I enjoy my Kaito 1103 more than ever because I placed it ontop of my Sangean WR-2 and hooked up an audio cable between the two radios. So I'm feeding the sterling 1103 reception through the Sangean's premium speaker. Great bedside setup. You could do the same for cheaper by just buying a good speaker and hooking it up the 1103.

Update: I don't recommend you save money by purchasing the less expensive Chinese clone Degen. The adapter gets hot. If you must get the Degen, buy a USA-built step down 110 converter to avoid fire hazard.

Update for 8-12-206: Both my Degen and Kaito 1103 have shut down making me think that they had lost all electric power or had "fried" inside but in fact they had "shut down" and only needed to be reset by sticking a paper clip end into the reset hole. Now they both work fine. In fact, I bought the Kaito because I thought my Degen had "fried." I was wrong. Keep in mind, these radios can be a little touchy and may need to be reset from time to time.

Buy Kaito KA1103 Worldband Radio Now

About a year ago, I got interested in portable radios, and as a result have purchased these three radios over the last year. Each radio has it's pluses, and I suggest that those pluses drive the decision what to buy. It is fitting to relate each radio to an equivalent car. The Tivoli Songbook is a Mercedes sedan great looking and obviously a luxury car. The sound and build quality of the Tivoli are impressive, and the radio is simply a joy to listen to and own. It is very pleasing looking, and the controls, rubber coating and rechargeable batteries make it a class act. If you are into listening to FM radio, and want something compact and discreet, well this little beauty can replace your entire stereo system. Definitely worth the price, and the sound is really incredible. The G4000a is a Chevy. It is also a pleasant looking radio, and it's strong points are appearance, the nice leatherette case and the well laid out controls and manual. The build quality, for instance the antenna and the case are OK, but a little suspect. It just does not feel like a radio that hold up to the knocks and bangs of travel or hard use. Also, the shortwave reception is merely OK. FM reception is good, and I agree with other reviewers that the best feature of the radio is speaker, which is warm toned and excellent. Overall, a solid radio, but not particularly exciting. The Kaito KA-1103, however, is exciting, much like a BMW sports car. It has tremendous build quality and clear, clear sound through the speaker. The reception of this radio is truly startling FM and shortwave reception pretty much blow the G4000a away. AM? I tuned this radio to AM the first day I had it, in my kitchen in Washington DC, and immediately and clearley picked up a station in Boston! As for all the bad hype about the controls, for instance the volume button and the pseudo analog display, well the radio is really a snap to operate. Yeah, a little quirky, but so is any sports car worth its money. Once you read the manual and play with radio for ten or fifteen minutes, well the controls start to really make sense. For example, the much malinged volume control is actually much finer and more adjustable than a manual wheel. The pseudo analog display enables you to see all bands, and where you are on them. The more you use this radio, the more you realize that those designers and Kaito are actually ahead of everyone else in the design department. The radio also has a lot of cool very well thought out design touches, such as a nice backlit display, a truly excellent memory scan feature and terrific accessories. All for well under $100. The Kaito is my favorite radio, it really is the best small radio, dollar for dollar, I have ever come across. If I was taking one radio on a long around the world trip, the Kaito would hands down be it. So, in summary, if you are in the market for a beautiful sounding FM radio for around the house or your office, one that radiates quality and class, get the Tivoli. For a shortwave radio or travel radio, get the Kaito KA-1103. Don't even consider wasting money or more expensive portable shortwaves. The Kaito is all the portable shortwave you'll need and you will not regret buying and getting to know this hot little sports car of a radio.

Read Best Reviews of Kaito KA1103 Worldband Radio Here

For several weeks I gathered a LOT of info. from the web about many of the portable shortwave/SSB radios, including Kaito, Eton, Grundig, Sony, Sangean, Radio Shack, and a few others.

What weighed most heavily in choosing the Kaito 1103 were the reviews that came from some ham radio operators that I found on a prominent ham website. I was surprised, but happy, to see ham operators reviewing a shortwave radio. There were almost 25 reviews of the 1103. But it wasn't just the fact that all but one gave it a 5-star rating, it was the way they went on and on, raving about what a great radio it is in terms of sheer power and performance (not convenience). And I figured if that many ham operators are that impressed with it, then that's good enough for me. Because for me, performance was the determinant factor in making my choice... not ease-of-use or convenience.

I've had my 1103 for only a month, and it is everything I had read about it. In a word -it is a POWERHOUSE! I've picked up China, Japan, Cuba, and other countries, and the signal from some of these stations was amazingly strong: as strong and clear as a local station right here in my own area (north Texas).

A TIP for anyone who is brand new to shortwave listening (DXing, SWLing): There are books you can buy to learn about SW radio and SW listening. But as everyone knows, books are not exactly cheap these days. So if you're pinching pennies like me, I would suggest checking out the abundant material online before going to the bookstore. I have found a LOT of very useful material on the web that would have cost me a lot if it had been available only in books.

I bought my 1103 in 09/2007.

1st UPDATE (01/2008)

It's been 5 months since my initial review and the radio has performed flawlessly; no malfunctioning at all. It continues to amaze me with its power. Not only have I picked up shortwave radio stations around the world, but also ham radio operators, by using the Single Sideband (SSB) function. I've listened to hams in: Arizona, Nevada, California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Alabama.

I'm truly sorry for those who have had a bad experience with their 1103. I only know that mine has been a SOLID performer.

2nd UPDATE (05/2011)

My 1103 is still working like a charm.

3rd UPDATE (10/2011)

Still just as powerful, still working great.

4th UPDATE (09/2012)

I've had my 1103 for 5 years now and it is still working great. Still pulling in stations from all over the world; still strong and clear.

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The Kaito 1103 clearly outperforms my Kaito 1102, especially on FM, where it is OUTSTANDING! SSB (used by Hams) seems to be easier to tune in on the 1103 than on the 1102...both are "best for the buck" in my opinion.(see my review of the cheaper 1102).

I have mixed feelings about the "digital simulation of an analog dial" it is fun to use, but I tend to agree with other reviewers that the space could be better used.

The 1103, like the 1102 is not easy to operate, and the manual is sometimes less than helpful. The volume control operation is terrible! But for this level of performance for such a low price, some compromises can be expected.

For a similar radio (but more expensive) with several improvments over the Kaito 1103, see my review of the newer Eton E5.

Consider buying a "Passport to World Band Radio" along with this set... this book is almost like having a "TV guide" for shortwave!

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Let me add my voice to the chorus here and say that this radio (I have owned over thirty radios in the last ten years I'm a collector, geek, and gadget nut) has the best FM reception of any radio under 300$ that I have ever heard. It beats my grundigs, Etons, and Sonys. I was struggling to tune in two stations in Miami from where I lived in Palm Beach County, Florida. My Grundig S350 just barely got one in if I placed it in a specific position in one corner of my home. This hot little radio not only gets that station from anywhere in my home, it also tunes it in clearly in my steel/concrete office (where I am lucky to get any but the big stations)! I am extremely satisfied with its reception. No other radio performs like this one. There are some weird details about this radio but they are worth putting up with if you want a hot FM receiver. 1) That crazy volume control. You need to press two buttons to change the volume. Huh??!! Well, there is a reason for thisa regular tuning wheel would lead to noisy "chuffing" (that chuf-chuf sound you get when auto-scanning). This radio has NO chuffing. It is a trade off. I wish it had a tuning wheel but I can see where the engineers head was at. 2) The fake analog tuning LCD screen personally, I love the way it is lit. The entire face and buttons have a warm amber glow that is aesthetically very pleasing in a dark room. It is purely aesthetic, though. I only tune by looking at the digital numbers. Yes, there is a learning curve to this radio but I had it all figured out in less than 15 minutes and now it seems natural to me to work with it. It's not impossible to learn; just different. Once learned, you will not need the manual.

Other unusual but pleasing details: once a station is in memory, you can scan through the presets with the jog dial. It is very fast and well thought out. The radio remembers your volume for the last station tuned in. It is solidly built. The antennae is very long (as all FM radio antennaes should be). Shortwave is strong.

Conclusion: there is NO better FM receiver available for this price. I mean it! This baby pulls in FM like no other. If that is what you are looking for, do not hesitate to buy this.

P.S. I got this cheaper at Universal Radio in about a week.

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