Philips DC199B/37 iPod Docking Audio 2.1 30-Watt System

• Play and charge your Ipod
• 2.1 Built in Subwoofer, 4" woofers, 30 Watts RMS
• Also play music with your USB devices.
• Wake up and sleep timer, includes remote control
• Digital radio tuning with 20 presets

I was looking for a replacement to my 8-year-old (annoying beep, beep) alarm clock. I also wanted to get speakers for my laptop. So, I thought, let's get an all-in-one. I was originally going to get the iHome IH9 Alarm Clock for iPod (Black), because of the iPod attachment. However, I chose this product over it because 1) you can put the speakers anywhere, 2) it has better sound (in my opinion), 3) you can also plug in a USB stick or other peripheral that has MP3 or WMA files. It's sound is good for something so small, and even has a built-in subwoofer for bass, and for added bass has "Dynamic Bass Boost" which has great response. Remote control works good, as does the iPod dock, and the USB drive. The FM tuner doesn't work that well for me, then again, I didn't buy it for that. Has an alarm and sleep function, both are handy. When the alarm goes off, the music turns on gradually to a max of 12, which is pretty loud. So if you're one of those people that, to wake up, one must also have to wake the dead, I recommend putting war sounds on your iPod for this purpose. Keeps track of time pretty well, a concern since one of the reviewers for the aforementioned product mentioned that on his review (of the iHome). Good sound, good looks, that's what you're looking at. If you can pay the price, this is a good 2.1 solution. I plan on keeping mine around for a long time. Thank you for checking this review. God bless you richly.

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Overall, this is a nice system that works fairly well and sounds decent. It's operating limitations hold it back from being very good or great.

This system offers four "modes" of operation:

1. iPod docking/charging station with limited operation via the Philips remote.

2. FM Radio with digital tuning, and 20 presets.

3. MP3/WMA audo from a USB Mass Storage Device (USB drive).

4. Alarm Clock play audio from one of three sources (FM, iPod, MP3 on USB drive).

I suspect most people will be interested in this system for the iPod docking feature (at this price point). Philips supplies four different adapters [see note 1] that allow docking of all versions of iPod. Once docked, the system charges your iPod.

It offers only limited control of an iPod via the supplied remote; you CAN NOT traverse iPod menus using the remote. You can only play/skip/goto-start/goto-end a playlist (or play mode, such as playing everything by a certain artist), and that you must select from the iPod menus directly via the iPod controls.

This limitation is disappointing. It would be nice to be able to more fully control a docked iPod. But, for less than $100 (and with its other qualities) it is still a good product.

Sound quality is pretty good for such a small system. It has sufficient power to blast a medium-sized room, and the sound is pretty clean and crisp (I'm no audiophile though). Base is, oddly enough, its only weakness though not in the way you might expect. There are only two modes normal and Base Boost. In the normal (non Base Boost) play mode base is a little weak. In Base Boost, base is generally a little too pronounced for me when I'm right in front of the unit (especially since it is located in a shelving space that seems to amplify the base), but sounds very good when further away.

The FM radio is pretty decent, with good sensitivity and selectivity. It relies though on having an external antenna (75 Ohm coaxial connector on back, like many older TVs had). Though all initial product information, including that packaged with the system, indicates that a wire antenna is included IT ISN'T![note 1] For the last few weeks we've been able to get by using a simple twin-core wire antenna from a mini-stereo this system replaced (just wire that barely makes contact with the antenna connector).

We have not yet played MP3 or non-DRM WMA files from a USB drive, but this is one of the DC 199's features that helped me decide to purchase this system. As far as I know this is the only system that offers this. With unprotected MP3 music becoming more available via iTunes and other sources, this feature is one we are likely to use more and more.

The clock/alarm clock feature might be useful for some. We don't use it. As far as we can tell, it works as one would expect.

Pros:

iPod docking for every type (I think).

iPod play control using supplied IR remote.

Sound from satellite/sub-woofer design is generally rich and clear.

FM radio discrimination/selectivity and sensitivity is pretty good.

Playing MP3 files on USB disks is kinda nice.

Inexpensive as iPod docking/powered speaker systems go.

Cons:

Limitations on iPod play control using supplied IR remote.

On/off Base emphasis more gradual base emphasis would have been much better.

FM receiver not much use without external antenna, which isn't included.

My conclusion: For the money this system is a good deal if you want to be able to listen to both iPod playback AND FM radio, or if you download music onto your computer and want to listen to it somewhere else in the house (from a USB drive).

Notes:

[1] All information I could find on this system before Christmas, including the User's Manual obtained from Philips' web site, indicated that an external wire antenna and eight iPod adapters were included in the DC 199/37B package. There was no antenna and only four adapters in the box. The distributor and Philips customer support have been helpful trying to resolve this (it's Philips' problem, really), but the bottom line is that after several weeks we still do not have the right antenna for it. A Philips tech. support person told me just yesterday that the documentation he has does NOT indicated that an antenna is included with the unit, and that only four adapters are included (the documents seem to have been revised to match reality).

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We were disappointed to find that this device would not charge the ipod nano 4th generation, although the manufacturer's web site indicated that it was compatible with the ipod nano with no specifics on which models. It would play the 4th generation fine with decent quality sound, but there was a warning on the ipod indicating that it was not charging. An older ipod model we have did charge fine. I called Apple and they confirmed that this device is not compatible with the 4th generation. We sent the Phillips speakers back to Amazon and promptly received a full refund. We purchased an iHome device that works well. We recommend contacting Apple to confirm compatibility before purchasing a speaker system to go with an ipod.

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I actually purchased this product through a local retailer (not Amazon) and I'm very happy with my purchase. I purchased this primarily to play music off of my ipod touch (which it does not charge, but there is an available adaptor to make it charge while being docked). Not only does it play music off of my ipod, but I can use one of the adaptors that came with the system and plug my ipod in through the headphones jack and play Pandora radio (a self made radio station that creates a playlist for you based on your favorite artists, songs, or genres). Though several people complained about the usage of the remote for the commands, I'm ok with using the ipod screen for most of my info. As for charging while using, using the aux cable frees up the charging jack on the ipod so it can be plugged into a wall. I don't consider this a hassle but some might.

I bought this system after walking up and down the store with my ipod and a couple of songs ready to play and plugged them in to all of the docking stations and shelf systems. The price points started at 50.00 and went up. We tried them all...even ready to consider Altec Lansing, Harmon Kardon, or Bose for a good sounding docking station that would take up little space. So after plugging in and turning up about 15 systems, we were pleased to find the one we enjoyed the most (thanks to it not sounding very tinny compared to most of them) was at the lower end of the price point. The main unit is actually a mini-subwoofer with a small tube built in. The speakers are wired but if you wanted to extend you could splice in additional line (keep in mind sound quality goes down the longer you make the wiring).

The controls may have been easier to use on other models, but the sound quality was the biggest factor in this purchase and I feel I got a very good product to fill this need.

This iPod Dock is great! It has great sound quality and some solid bass. It isn't just good for your iPod but is good for any AUX or USB device.

The only flaw is that the remote sometimes doesn't work. It is easily fixable by going onto the radio and switching stations, then going back to the iPod.