iHome iP38 Portable Stereo Alarm Clock for iPod and iPhone (Black)

• Compatibility: iPod mini; iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G; iPod classic 4G, 5G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod touch 1G, 2G; and iPhone 1G, 3G, 3GS, 4
• Play and charge your iPod
• Alarm clock lets you wake and sleep to your iPod
• Housed in protective travel case
• Auxiliary input for use with external devices

This portable stereo/clock provides great sound from my iPod. It is superior to the sound that I get from the iPod speaker system that I bought for my home last year. I spent approximately the same amount for my other system (a simple speaker and recharging dock with similar sized speakers). Of course, I should include the disclaimer that I'm no audiophile and simply enjoy listening to my iPod in the kitchen on occasion.

The set up was incredibly simple and there were various docking inserts included for whatever device you will use for music. The clock is somewhat small (approximately 1x4 inches) but nice and bright and easy to read.

The clock has an available beeping alarm or it can be set to wake with music.

There is the drawback to needing to add AA batteries in order for it to be truly portable (my husband and I both wondered why it was not rechargable in some manner) and I have not checked to see how long the batteries will power the device on their own. There is a button battery backup for the alarm (included) but if you were camping, or using this for any other means where you don't have a power source, this could be an issue. I personally would plan to use the AV adapter, but that does require that you carry it along wherever you go or just enjoy it only at home.

The size is not that of a mini "travel" clock (it's about 14x6x3 inches), and because you need to bring the chunky power cord along for long term use I don't know that it is ideal for frequent travelers unless they really want to enjoy their music from their iPod or iPhone while away and have lots of room in their suitcase. With batteries installed it won't be lightweight, either. It does fold flat and zip shut, but will not hold anything inside and has no "pocket" or storage area on the outside. If it had a way to stash the iPod and adapter, it would be clunkier but more efficient, in my opinion.

That said, I am going to thoroughly enjoy it plugged in wherever I'd like to listen to my iPod. It may even replace my aging alarm clock in my bedroom. When my husband and kids saw this arrive they were mildly interested in it, but once I plugged it in they began to fight over it. So, there may actually be a battle over who gets to use it the most often unless we get one for each of us.

Bottom line: It's good-looking, easy to use, sounds great and isn't a bad price for the obvious quality.

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Out of the box this looks like a great unit. It's feels heavy and packs nicely. The clock is clear and big enough to be easy to read. Everything is well packaged and the only thing you might want is batteries.

My first annoyance is that you get a collection of plastic adaptors so you can choose which iPod base you want to support and you clip that in and you are good to go. For that iPod. If like in my house you have a few iPods and none of them are the same model you'd need to switch out the base support or the connector doesn't engage and the unit doesn't function. These aren't easy to swap out, and even less easy to keep track of once you've taken it out of the unit. Just something to know.

The sound quality isn't amazing but for a travel stereo it beats the internal speaker and having a clock right here is really nice. The sync function is also pretty cool. I do think the case design could be more stable for desktop/nighstand use as it's easy to knock backwards or have the lid snap shut when you undock (or try to dock). Overall I've seen nicer units if you are planning to leave something in place for a long period of time but for travel or hot-desk type applications this is a nice unit.

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Holds it's own when compared to the high-rated Logitech S715i Rechargeable Speakers.

My husband loves the Logitech speaker but finds it too large for the extensive travel he does. The iHome iP38, however, is perfect for travel, has great sound, and gives him the lighted clock to boot.

Took about a minute to put in the five batteries, set the clock, stick in the ipod, and push play. Really appreciate that it has a power adapter so that the batteries are only necessary for remote circumstances.

Maybe the next generation will be a little more compact but this works for him.

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My main criteria when selecting a docking station is sound quality. Second is design quality, and third, form factor. This dock is good to excellent in all three, and while not perfect, is a solid choice in a travel dock.

SOUND QUALITY: 3/5 Stars

This dock has decent sound quality, but with insubstantial bass response. Music is crisp, if a bit on the warm side, and only gets tinny when at higher volumes. I don't expect the listening experience to rival much more expensive models--in my estimation you are getting about what you pay for here. It's listenable, and it a travel dock with other excellent features, that's all I really expected. I should mention that I tested it with my iPod classic, using a variety of media files from lossy Mp3s to Apple's Lossless format. Higher quality source material get's marginally better results, but ultimately the speakers are the bottleneck for the iP38.

AESTHETICS / FORM FACTOR: 5/5 Stars

Where this dock really excels is in it's design. Using a clam-shell hard case (like an over sized glasses case) to secure and protect the dock, the iP38 really is a travel dock. No worries about it kicking around in a suitcase on a long trip. It closes tightly and stays closed. It's also pretty nice to look at, with the sort of minimalism that is cohesive with a similarly minimalist iPod or iPhone. The dock is very nicely designed across the board.

INTERFACE / FEATURES: 4/5 Stars

Everything is laid out as it should be, and works intuitively as well. Setting the alarm is easy, as is accessing the 'sleep' function when you're still groggy. You can set the alarm to play anything you like, including all the music files on your device. I was disappointed that I could not get it to play Pandora (streaming from an iPhone) as a wake-up option however.

The LCD is bright, easy to read, and adjustable, allowing you to dim it if that suites you.

The dock can be powered by both AC or batteries, making the iP38 a great option for camping, trips to the beach, or anywhere else you want a music dock or alarm clock but don't have access to an outlet.

OVERALL: 4/5 Stars

Compact, well designed, and with reasonable sound quality, the iP38 travel dock and alarm clock is a reasonably priced option for iPod or iPhone owners. The sound quality will not blow you away, but for a travel dock it's acceptable. The quality of the case design and features make this a great choice if you do a lot of traveling and want a hassle free dock.

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I ordered this ihome product for my son's 3rd generation iPod. He is a resident in a long term care facility and really loves his music. The portable stereo works great. Because of both AC and DC use, it can be relocated to any area of his room.