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Rca Rc59I Clock Radio with Ipod Dock

Compatible With All iPod Models
Not Compatible With iPhone
6 Green LED
Features iPod Dock With Charging Capabilities
AM/FM Radio Stereo

I saw this for sale at a local store, so I thought I would do some digging for information. Unfortunately, there is almost zero. It doesn't say it anywhere online or on the box, but this will indeed charge your iPhone 3G. It's possible that they did not want to pay for licensing. Since it will charge the 3G, it should charge all of the new non-firewire iPods (Nano 5G, etc).

It's nice and compact, but certainly sturdy. Once you take a leaf through the instruction manual, it's very easy to use. Not one of those things I recommend to start pushing buttons feet-first, because you'll probably be woken up at 2:30am by accident.

What else can I say about it? It charges my iPhone, plays pretty well (a 5.1 system this isn't), has an aux-in for a Zune, etc, has dual-alarms with 3-4 different options each. If you're looking for a cheap replacement for your firewire-charging alarm clock, this is a good choice.

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This item is great. It fits good on a night table and doesnt take up much space. The only issue is that you must remove the black plastic piece that surrounds the mounting jack and replace it with the one your IPOD came with. If you dont have that piece the IPOD may not seat right and it wont work. Once we figured it out it started working.

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I browsed for weeks to pick out some choices for my Christmas present and I'm glad my husband chose this little clock radio. It has several good features and only one that I'd change if I could. First the good things. It's small and leaves me room for books on my nightstand. It doesn't have a lot of hideous stylish flourishes that only add bulk. It's a clock radio not a sculpture and I like that. My iPod Touch fits easily into the dock and charges quickly. A removable adapter's installed that you may have to pinch out depending on your iPod model. The stereo sound isn't bad for a $30 radio and I like the digital tuner. We live in a mountainous ravine and have a lot of reception problems, but this radio picks up more stations than our component system. The time display isn't so bright that it lights up the room. The snooze bar is long and doesn't feel like any other button good for flopping fingers in the morning. There are two alarms and you can wake to iPod, radio, or electronic alarm. The battery backup's nice since our power frequently goes out in storms, but you have to supply your own 9-volt battery. The only thing I'd fix would be a way to adjust the volume on the electronic alarm. It's so loud it'd wake the dead. I like to set the alarm as my backup in case I sleep through the music, but the alarm's so loud that I jump in bed when I hear it. If you sleep through alarms, though, this might be you cup of jolt. Recommended!

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This alarm clock is easy to operate with buttons that make sense and are easy to press even when half-asleep. Also, it is one of the only ones out there that has the numbers light up, not the whole background, so you can see the time but the light doesn't keep you awake. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that the one I bought died after 24 hours and I had to send it back to the manufacturer. However, they sent me a new one in return, so despite the inconvenience I guess I can't complain. It was worth the wait. Loving it! It looks great too.

I've been looking for a new alarm clock for quite a while. I bought the iHome a few years ago, but stopped using it in favor of a much older alarm clock because of the back-lit numbers. That was the main appeal of this alarm clock. The numbers are green, so it doesn't make your room bright at night and you are still able to see what time it is, even if your eyes are not quite awake.

This comes with an adapter to make the iPod Touch fit into the top slot. I have an iPod 5g, but you have to have your own adapter if you have anything other than the Touch. I had to pry the Touch adapter out with a knife because it was set into the unit so firmly. This unit will also charge the iPhone, although the iPhone makes sure to inform you that the alarm clock is not made to go with the phone.

The sound on the alarm clock does not get very loud, so if you want to use it to listen to your iPod, don't expect too much--it has that alarm clock sound to it. However, as an alarm clock, it does exactly what it's supposed to do. It has two alarms, both of which will wake you to a beep, the radio, or the iPod. The radio tunes digitally on the face of the clock, rather than with a dial. I had trouble getting radio stations to come in clearly, but it helped when I set another object on top of the alarm clock or rearranged some objects on my nightstand.

Overall, I'm pleased with this purchase. It charges my iPod, and wakes me up. The buttons are easy to push and find when you've just woken up, especially the snooze button. The radio function is not the best, but I can live with that. And it doesn't have that annoying back light that so many alarm clocks seem to have now.

RCA RC180i App-Enhanced Portable Docking System for iPod and iPhone

Docking station for iPod and iPhone, even iPhone 4
Alarm clock features Auto Time Set and dual wake
Comes with N-hance technology for added application use
Convenient carrying handle makes RC180i portable
Features line-in for connection to all sorts of devices

I got this for my ipod touch 4th generation. I put it on and a note came up on the ipod touch that said that this accessory was not compatible with this device, but it will still play on it, so I don't know what the deal is with the little notice saying it was not compatable. As for the brightness, you can adjust it and the dimmest I find difficult to see, so there should not be a problem finding a level that suits you. It has a nice handle to care. You need 2 "AA" batteries for the back up of the clock, and in the other side on the bottom, there is a slot for 4 "AA" batteries for listening on the go.

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Do NOT buy this clock if you intend to use it as an alarm clock in your bedroom. Remember the Seinfeld episode where the neon sign from the Kenny Rogers chicken joint kept Kramer, then Jerry, awake all night because it was so bright? Same thing here... but the blinding light is blue (even on the dimmest setting).

You can download the RCA app (which is pretty cool) and it says that allows you to turn the clock's display off and use your iPhone as the display. However, the RCA app renders the iPhone useless. We tried re-installing several times. It affects the touchscreen capabilities somehow.

OTHERWISE, we were impressed with the sound and features. We had to send to it back, which is too bad.

Read Best Reviews of RCA RC180i App-Enhanced Portable Docking System for iPod and iPhone Here

Good features for the price and seems to be relatively solid. It's not intended to be a boombox, so the modest volume is not a problem. Adjusting the iPod's equalizer settings permits significant adjustment to the sound. The self-setting clock is a bonus.

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The recipient loved this present!! I was told this is the item the she wanted for Christmas and she loved it!!

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This unit is weak! Okay for a clock radio but not enough sound to use as a boombox. You would have to be right next to it to hear it outside.

August MB300 Mini Wooden MP3 Stereo System and FM Clock Radio, with Card Reader, USB Port & AUX Jack

Top quality mini MP3 Music System with FM clock radio and Wooden Box for the fabulous music quality
Play high quality MP3 music from SD/MMC memory cards, USB sticks / USB flash disks and external iPod, iPhone, MP3 player & any other audio players with an audio out (earphone) jack
FM radio and alarm clock with radio, MP3 & buzzer waking-up modes, display date, time in 12/24 hour mode and temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit
2 x 3 Watt 60mm powerful Hi-Fi speakers and built-in rechargeable battery for up to 5 hour playing
Comes with remote control, AC power / USB power adapter and cable, 3.5mm audio cable, 2.5 to 3.5mm mobile phone converters

I bought the August MP3 player from Amazon for less than $18, including shipping.

I like it a lot and I bet that you will too, depending on what you expect at this price.

CONS: Cheap remote control, no ability to navigate within tracks or folders, tiny LCD displays for critical info, side-loaded USB droops a bit, on-board buttons are too hard to operate, less-than-intuitive interface requires that you actually read the manual.

PROS: The sound is surprisingly good. It recognized audio on SD card and USB drive right away. FM reception is very tight, even with the antenna not extended. Set-up was easy after 5 minutes with the manual. Clock is accurate and big, although not back-lighted (except when you're doing something with the buttons or if you press the LT button on the main unit). Solid, but cheap construction. Nice looking, in a cheesy kind of way. Good packaging, complete accessories, nice solid cables, including the AC adapter.

CONCLUSION: I plan to buy another. It's not beefy enough for loud music but it's ideal for talk radio and sounds GREAT with Old Time Radio MP3s, like Suspense, Lights Out, The Whistler, etc. You can easily fit 100 hours of thrills and spills and program the player to Play randomly. I just leave the SD card plugged in (2 gig is plenty) full-time. I suggest that you program the audio tracks into a single folder. I also suggest that you teach the remote control commands to a learning remote. In my opinion, I'll be using this device a lot and the credit card remote, while strong and powerful, feels like it's not going to hold up with a lot of use. I would like to have a fast-forward/rewind function but it's not a deal-breaker. I like using solid-state storage devices for playback, by the way. They are both very quiet in operation, especially when compared to a CD player. I think they're also less likely to break down. If I'm wrong, I'll write back and update. And, by the way, the audio on the August is much better than the audio on my 17" Acer laptop. Happily, the cable is included with the August so that I can go from my Acer headphone jack to the August aux-in.

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My piece stopped working after 30 days. It says no card to read, can't return it so have to use as clock, what a waste of time and money.

History :

I got my product in 1.5 weeks (super saver shipping) but remote and aux cable was missing, so called amezon , they asked me to return it and order a new one

Initial observation:-

Size Compare to a coffee mug.

Speaker Loud enough to fill 2 rooms, with fair bass.

Buttons Hard to press but works.

MP3 Player No track information, watch and mp3 player are two separate modules. Track navigation can only be one by one (i.e. if there are 10 songs you need to push button 10 times to reach last song, it's a bit unpleasant because a 1 GB memory card may have 1000s of songs.)

Watch Did not find useful, normal digital watch, back light works only for 10 sec, never tried alarm.

Radio Works reception was OK.

Overall I got it in 24$, and think I am overpaying but there are very little option in usb player segment, want to play songs for my baby so do not care much about track and all.

Remote Worked for 5 days total and then stopped responding even after a battery change.

Read Best Reviews of August MB300 Mini Wooden MP3 Stereo System and FM Clock Radio, with Card Reader, USB Port & AUX Jack Here

Does the job on multiple levels, but a little awkward to find tracks ( if this is desired ) as not even track info is displayed on player.

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I read all the reviews for this products and they seemed to split 50/50 crap vs cool. So I took a chance and here is my take on it:

1. Ease of Use. A lot of people said that it wasn't intuitive and the buttons were hard to push. I did not find this to be the case however. The buttons are smallish and stiff so that might be part of the issue people had. I have no problems with this however. There are several buttons, but I had it figured out in a matter of minutes. So on ease of use I give it 4 stars.

2. Quality. It works, which seemed to be a problem with some reviews. Radio and MP3 player both play without any issues. It does have a "cheap" feel to it and the LCD is a bit hard to read unless you look at it straight on (at an angle, everything looks gray), but I keep it next to my bed and can see it fine. Remote is nice, when I want to see what time it is at night I just hit the snooze button on remote and the time is illuminated for about 20 seconds. Would have liked to be able to just turn on the blue light, but not a deal breaker. 3 stars

3. Sound/music player. I keep the volume on 3 which is plenty loud to wake up by or go to sleep to. At higher volumes it can be heard through the entire back of my house. The MP3 player will remember the last track you played and start back at it when you restart the music. The MP3 alarm, however only seems to want to play track 1. When I hear 3 doors down now I want to punch the snooze button ... even in the car radio. 4 stars

4. Value: My wife was shopping for MP3 alarm clocks for my birthday and was pricing them at $100. I told her to forget that and bought this one for $35 with next day shipping. Value 5 stars.

5. Overall: You get what you pay for, but you do get a lot for your money. This unit is portable, has phone hook-ups, and other features that really make it a bargain. Hopefully it won't die in a few months, but that remains to be seen. I rolled the dice and came on the upside of the 50/50 line. Hope you do too! 4 stars

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The design is compact and solid. The sound is so much better than I expected for something this small and inexpensive. Take some time to read the manual, this is not one of those electronic pieces that most people can just pick up and start using; it's functionality is very much it's own and not easy to decipher. Once you get the hang of it though it's easy.

I originally bought this to be able to wake up to a soft mp3 sound file instead of the vulgar and shill alarm I've hated for year. I'm a light sleeper and I really don't need to be forced awake. But instead I found that the alarm sound on this clock was really nice, just 3 short smooth electronic beep-beep-beeps repeated until you hit the center snooze for 5 more minutes or any other button on the unit to turn the alarm off.

Only 2 small complaints; Would prefer for the snooze to be 10 minutes instead of 5, and I would prefer that the very very bright blue background light not turn on when you hit the snooze.

Overall I love this unit, and I'm buying a few more to give as gifts.

NEW Emerson Jumbo Talking CID (Caller ID Units)

Bought this for my mom for christmas. The real hit is that it talks to you letting you know who is calling. Mom loves it

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I bought this for my 86 year old Mother. She could not read it at all and I could barely make out the numbers even when I tilted it to get the most visible angle. It cost me shipping to send it back but it was worthless to keep it. I read the bad reviews but took a chance and am now sorry I did. I think Amazon needs to drop items like this that get consistent low ratings so as not to tarnish their reputation.

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very good for my wife because she can select the calls that she wants to answer. so many calls are just nusience calls from some advertisment firm or a political party group.

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It works fine but comes without adapter. For the price you pay 6V adapter should be included. Reading screen is not convenient. You can read at certain angle in certain position only.

JVC UXEP25 Audio System with iPod Connect (iPod not included)

3.1 inch full-range speaker
Display dimmer
COMPU PLAY
Wake-up volume
iPod connection

This would make a perfect stereo system for a dorm room or an office. I actually bought it to hook up my electronic keyboard to an external sound source, but it's quickly become a very useful addition to my den.

It sounds great. Granted, I'm no audiophile, but it sounds just as good as my Technics receiver and pair of JBL speakers (just not as loud). Keep in mind, though, that more discerning pair of ears may find these lacking.

The Pros:

you can do just about everything with the supplied remote;

you can hook it up to your computer using the USB "B"-style port (like the USB ports on printers) in the back; this will install plug-and-play drivers for USB sound device and you can then use it as a sound output device (you don't need to install any drivers on the computer);

the motorised lid for the CD tray is just too cool!

built-in iPod port and ability to control iPods through the remote and stereo interface. I don't have an iPod, so I don't have any experience with this. Also, not all iPods are supported, so be sure to check the JVC website to see which models are supported. Of course, if your particular iPod is not supported, then you can simply use the Aux In port with it.

it's got a regular USB port ("A" type connector) in the front, which is, for me, the coolest part of the bells and whistles on this stereo. You can copy over your MP3s and WMAs to a USB flash drive, plug it into the USB port on the stereo, and the stereo will play the music files on it. Not only that, you can also plug in a memory card reader to the port, and then use memory cards with the reader to play music. What a great way to make use of the older digital camera flash memory cards, especially if you have one of those 12-in-1 reader types!

it has Aux In port (mini stereo plug-size) for connecting other devices (like a digital keyboard, non-iPod MP3 player, hand-held gaming consoles like Sony PSP). You can set the Aux port's input level to either of two levels. So if your external source has a fixed output volume and you find yourself scrambling for the volume control every time you switch beween Aux and other sound features, then you can use this to adjust (either increase or decrease) the Aux port's input level.

The Cons:

The clock does not display when the unit's off (when it's in standby mode);

with the remote, you can't hold down the volume control to increase or decrease the volume automatically; there are 30 levels of volume, and if you want to go from volume 0 to 30, then you have to press "+ Volume" button 30 times;

On the stereo itself, I'd have preferred a knob for volume control, not + and buttons.

The Neither-here-nor-theres:

The unit can playback a maximum of 999 music files, orgainzed in up to 500 folders (same whether using a CD full of MP3s/WMAs or a USB drive/reader);

on my unit, regular audio CDs play just fine. Computer-burned audio CDs work fine. Computer-burned discs containing MP3s or WMAs keep giving "No Disc" error message (I've tried three discs burned on two computers so far). Normally this would be a deal-killer, but as I exclusively use the USB port for MP3 playback--and indeed, would still have even if I didn't have the problem with reading the MP3 discs--this is largely a non-factor for me. I bought a 2GB SD card for $14.99 and am using that for MP3 playback (had a reader already). Or you can get a brand-name 2GB USB flash drive that doesn't require a reader for $15.99 from Amazon.com. Probably be even cheaper next month.

I thought this was a bit funny: The manual basically says what kind of CD media and music files are supported, and then goes on with this disclaimer: Basically, even when all the requirements are met, MP3/WMA playback may still not work.

I'm very happy with my purchase!

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If you are looking for a shelf system this is the one to buy. I checked out the similar offerings from Sony, Philips and Panasonic. This system sounds better, build quality is great, main unit fits on a shelf nicely and interface features are far superior. The feature description for this doesn't mention how well it works with non iPod players... Great! The system can read MP3 file directly from MP3 players, Memory sticks and USB hard drives. Navigation is done from the remote and MP3 tags are displayed on the front panel. The only odd thing is the file/folder navigation is a little different from other players I have used in that you must switch "modes" to navigate folders vs files. Overall JVC got it right with this one.

Read Best Reviews of JVC UXEP25 Audio System with iPod Connect (iPod not included) Here

Not a bad little player. Works well in the kitchen. I do not recomend it for large rooms because of low sound output. The part I like about it is that I can plug my USB flash stick in to listen to music. If only it had a high sound output it would be the perfect system in all homes. I turn it up to 20 and it puts out decent sound, but the volume control only goes to 30. I guess its more so personal preferrence as to volume. Overall it has not failed me yet. I would recomend it being at 100 dollars any higher it wouldn't be worth it.

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Bought this system for wife's gym, and I was totally blown away by sound quality. I can her the music throughout the house. The function are easy, its simply plug and play. Would recommend to anyone.

I purchased this JVC audio system for my husband because of the iPod connect and CD player. Most units don't have both. I researched online and this was the best reviewed unit I could find for about $100. We are extremely satisfied. The unit is small, sleek, and packs a pretty good punch, sound wise. I'm not the type of person that would be able to tell the difference between 20 different speakers, but I know enough to know that this system sounds better than our last.

Sony DSX-MS60 DSXMS60 Marine In-Dash MP3/WMA/AAC Digital Media Receiver w/ Internal USB and Front Au

Detachable faceplate with 2-line display and front aux / Dimensions: 9.5 x 4.4 x 10.2 inches
Integrated Tune Tray with USB 1-wire input
MP3/WMA/AAC playback1 with DM+ enhancement technology
Intuitive Quick-BrowZer and ZAPPIN search features
Satellite radio/HD Radio ready using Sony Bus

I have had no issues with an enclosed iphone shutting down due to heat, as some have reported. The remote is very handy and I really like the iphone/ipad attachment tray.

Buy Sony DSX-MS60 DSXMS60 Marine In-Dash MP3/WMA/AAC Digital Media Receiver w/ Internal USB and Front Au Now

With IPod connectivity ONLY, and no cd playing feature, there is less internal mechanisms to possibly malfunction These days, who wants to deal with cd's anyway? ( iTunes Music or Pandora Radio anyone?) With the flip down faceplate feature of "hiding" your IPod within the unit, it is protected, and charging at the same time. With the ease of use of controls, as well as excellent sound capabilities and quality features, this is a perfect marine radio, especially for a boat. I highly recommend it.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DSX-MS60 DSXMS60 Marine In-Dash MP3/WMA/AAC Digital Media Receiver w/ Internal USB and Front Au Here

I was modernizing my pontoon boat and wanted a better radio than the pyle that was on it. The old radio was new, but i found it a bit junky. The sound was not so hot, tuning for distance was poor and the display buttons were lit poorly. I was happy when the Sony arrived and i got it installed. The display is clean, the buttons are well marked and it has excellent signal. Typical bulletproof Sony product. Highly recommended.

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The Sony Marine Stereo exactly filled my needs and was a breeze to install. I was up and running with our favorite music in 15 minutes. The product arrived promptly and in great condition. The price was very competitive and the purchase experience was great.

Executive Docking Station for Sportster Replay

Desktop speaker system with four 1" drivers
Dock for Sportster¿ Replay receiver
Blue backlit LCD display with clock, source, input, and volume indicators
Includes AC adapter and flip-up antenna with 16 cable

And here's why:

Got this thing to use with a Sportster.

My wife and I have been trying to get this thing working meaning, positioning the antenna for the last 2 hours. It would go to 3 bars for a second, then down to none in the same place. It would receive ok in the exact MIDDLE of the room held up in the air but not in the window... It would work when hand-held, but not when in the EXACT location placed on a book or something, would not work.

It didn't work right in front of a window, but would suddenly spring to life in a position which made no sense such as when I was standing in a ridiculous pose (making fun of the unit) and pointing it right at the ceiling.

It did receive fine.... out front of the house. I'm not drilling holes for a 50' extension antenna...

So as we were exasperated and a bit stunned at what seemed to be not-ready-for-primetime technology, I decided to try something....

I took the receiver that came with the Sportster... plugged it into the Sportster unit, and plugged that into the Docking Station... instantly, 3 bars. I moved all around the room and the least I got was 2; I covered it with my body, though, and that stopped the reception. But that makes sense, unlike the laughable and erratic performance of the Directed base unit.

So, it comes down to the antenna. Frankly, if the quality of the antenna is this poor, it doesn't say much for the base unit as a whole.

1 star because without the antenna, there is no reason to own it!

And guess what? Here's a bonus critique: the display on the base unit stopped working correctly >>three minutes

Bluetooth Adaptor for iPhone/iPad Docks

With Apple's move to the Lightning connector, and my purchase of an iPad Mini, I obtained the iLive wireless Bluetooth receiver/adapter to stream music from my venerable but still functional Cambridge SoundWorks 765i with iPod Dock. The dock had the 30-pin connector that was otherwise useless with Lightning. The iLive adapter fit easily and connected in less that 10 seconds with my iPad, with excellent sound quality within the promised radius. Cost less than $20. I also purchased a Bose Soundlink II for extra portability but at an astounding $299. (I don't know what I was thinking.) I'm able to use my older Apple devices with both the iLive and Bose connections but rely primarily on the iLive. An excellent device at a very reasonable cost.

Sony ZS-S2iP CD Boombox with iPod Dock, Black

30 Station Memory Preset: Uses electronic settings for easy, one-button tuning of up to 20 FM and 10 AM stations.
iPod Adapter Compatible: Allows most iPod models to fit securely in the unit.
Digital AM/FM Stereo Tuner: Provides the most accurate, drift-free tuning of AM and FM radio stations
iPod Battery Charging: While your iPod is on the dock it will charge, so you never have to worry about running low on battery life.
Allows you to listen to your iPod by using the built-in iPod Dock. Simply connect your iPod and press play.

Almost did not buy this little gem after reading the rather luke-warm reviews about the sound quality and other nit-picking items. Found this on clearance at a local box store and for the price took a flyer that it would serve for picnics and other outdoor music uses. This little box is GREAT for the use I wanted it for! It is NOT a replacement for my two home theater systems sound systems. It DOES NOT have a permanent hearing loss creating bass presence. But, it DOES run anywhere off of "C" cell batteries. It DOES play almost any variety of CD media. It DOES have a decent FM and AM tuning engine, and even more interesting...although it is not indicated anywhere on the box or in the advertising....the thing allows for my new 160 Gig iPod Classic to be plugged right into the front of it (even nicer with the little docking adapter that comes with the iPod) and the Sony remote actually operates the Generation 6.5 iPod perfectly! Operates all the iPod wheel functions, skips songs, THE WORKS! If there has to be a negative, the plastic carrying handle seems a little lightweight, but time will tell how it stands up to use. Nice product!!

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I bought this Boombox as Like New off of Amazon and have not been disappointed. It works great and is definitely loud enough for my classroom where I use it. I love finally having speakers for my iPod and also having the CD player and radio is really handy as well. Other people have complained about the speakers and sound but I have no problems with it...But then, I'm not incredibly picky either...But I would recommend this product to anyone as long as you aren't really really picky about the sound (like I said, I think it's fine, but maybe I don't have a good ear for it).

Read Best Reviews of Sony ZS-S2iP CD Boombox with iPod Dock, Black Here

The sound quality was akin to a decent radio alarm clock like the Sony Dream Machine. But that's not what I expect out of a boom box, especially a Sony. Whether playing a CD, radio, or iPod, the sound seemed a little tinny and the bass was virtually absent even with Sony's Mega Bass turned on. Too bad. If not for the sound quality, this would have been a very nice device.

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Again, another nice product from Sony. Not the greatest sound, but you get what you pay for. Not many Ipod CD Boomboxes on the market, and this one is by far better than the others. If you want excellent sound, you are going to sacrifice the CD capability for the cost. The dock design is nice and I was even able to fit my Ipod Video with the case on in it (Not Recommended, but it works). There is no storage location for the remote, but it has all the fuctionality that you could possibly want. CD player works great also. Not much on using the AM/FM in this digital world, so I can't make any comment on it. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to have the capability to play CD's and connect your Ipod using a dock.

I've bought the Ipod 32 GB 2nd Generation, and I was looking for speakers to hear my music, but also for an equipment where I can play the tons of CS's I still own. Well, I've found it with the SONY CD Boombox. The quality of sound is pretty good (after all, it's a Sony product), and the design is compact and offer good aditional capabilities (remote control, radio), that are not always present with other equipments. For the price/quality relation, I'd recommend this one.

Sangean AM/FM Stereo/SW Digital Tuning Worldband Radio

Sangean ATS-505P FM Stereo/MW/LW/SW PLL Synthesized World Receiver

a nice radio and top rated by Radio Netherland

here are my nitpicks:

1. LCD backlight only stays on for 7 seconds

2. 1KHz tuning increment setting is inconvenient (you have to push in and turn the rotary knob first, and it only lasts for one tuning session)

3. too few SW memory settings

4. the back stand is useless unless you use the radio while sitting at a desk a much better approach is to take an 8x10 sheet of plexiglass, heat and bend to make a stand so the radio sits more upright for use...

5. the build feels 'flimsy' as the radio doesn't have a solid feel

6. there is a discernable (1-second) delay when entering digits in the direct-access keypad you'll need to get used to the delay, and the keys require more pressure than you'd expect for a keypad..

7. battery life is not great

I did a lot of research before buying the Sangean 505 and must say, now that I own it, that I'm disappointed on two fronts: the cheap plastic feel of the radio and its weak AM reception. I live in LA and the Sangean 505 gives me a weak signal for a major AM radio station 790. The internal AM antenna is such that I have to turn my radio far south to get the aforementioned station. There are the radio's strong points: clear speaker, strong FM reception, easy-to-use presets. My Sony SW35 has clearer AM reception, a more solid feel, but alas, has a tinny speaker, so I can't recommend that either. In contrast, my Grundig S35, which has no pre-sets and relies on a spin dial tuning system, gets strong AM and FM reception though it is the size of a lunch box. For digital tuners with presets, I'm still looking for a portable radio that delivers good speaker and strong AM reception. I may have to start looking at two-hundred-dollar models, such as the Sangean 909.

Post Script: Several weeks later I have found the radio I wanted Sangean 505 to be: The Kaito 1102, which gets great AM radio, has stronger FM than the Sangean, is smaller, and costs significantly less. To save even more money, the Kaito clone, the Degen 1102, costs another 15% less but arrives with only a Chinese operating manual.

Update: The Kaito 1103, in spite of its ergonomical difficulties, is the uncontested king of FM reception with above average AM reception. Ironically, the cheap GE Superradio III is the king of AM reception, largely because it has an 8-inch internal ferrite AM antenna, twice the size of any other radio.

Buy Sangean AM/FM Stereo/SW Digital Tuning Worldband Radio Now

Hi folks its Vince the Radioman . I have a large collection of radios and I love to do compares and share my thoughts. The ATS 909 and 606 , if you've seen my reviews are great buys and probably Sangeans best radios. The 505 is a very good buy for someone who want Single Side Band and can't spend a large amount of money .The 505 is the least expensive radio out there with side band and fine tuning( 1kh increments). The overall construction and quality of the build is ok at best and the radio is a little top heavy and bulky . The tuner sensativity is far better than the Grundig yb400 on AM and FM but on SW the 505 is about equal on its best day. The step down to 1 kh tuning is inconvenient where you need to push in the tuning dial to go to the fine tuning mode. The dynamic range and selectivity is good but the ATS 606 blows this radio away, same price , but the 606 has no SSB. The new Eton E 10 ( probably the best of the new Eton line for the money) also blows it away but no SSB. So , if you want SSB and a fairly decent radio for a low price this is a no brainer. If you want a mid-sized and priced radio for AM/SW and FM get the Eton E 10 or the SONY SW35 or the Sangean ATS 606.

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I purchased this radio after buying and using a Grundig G-2000A for about a year. The Sangean is a little larger, with perhaps a three inch speaker versus a two inch speaker for the Grundig. The Grundig has only moderately good sound quality for AM and FM. This Sangean has surprisingly good sound quality on AM and FM, particularly for a radio this size. I put it in our kitchen, and when someone is down there playing it I noticed that I can hear it upstairs and the sound is really like a much bigger radio with a larger speaker. The sound is clear and has very good tonal quality and richness. This Sangean has settings for both music and voice programs. Tuning and reception are also good. The Grundig is kind of a battery hog, that will run down in around three weeks with moderate use. The Sangean has better battery life with similar use, although I think using the shortwave bands seems to be a greater drain on the batteries of both radios. If you haven't used a shortwave radio before be prepared for a booming and fading pattern of the sound. Both radios have this quality, and it is a characteristic of shortwave transmission. You are likely to find that this will detract from your listening satisfaction with some programs, but again, I would have to give the nod to the Sangean for overall quality on the shortwave tuning and sound. With either radio you certainly can listen to some stations you have never heard on AM and FM. I was listening to a station in Florida one night and then when I changed channels some, I was surprised to find that a Cuban station was coming in pretty clearly. The Sangean also has a small light that changes color to help you determine the strength of radio signals as you adjust the tuning knob to find stations. This Sangean is quite a nice radio, and I think most radio fans will like it.

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I love this little radio. I was looking for an inexpensive world radio to fool around with. I looked at various sony, grundig, and sangean radios. I chose this one because of the price, features (lots of presets, digital tuner, range of bands), and some solid reviews. Now that I own the radio myself, I couldn't be happier. I work in an office full of electronic equipment, an d the building is build into the side of a hill. My office is 1/2 below grade and radio reception is bad. This radio can pickup many stations that I previously thought were unreachable from my desk. The sound is really amazing for such a small radio. It's rich and full (a nice pair of headphones lets you enjoy the fm stereo). Battery life is wonderful, plus the ac adapter was included. The radio feels solid and well made. Also, the included protective pouch is a nice thing to have when transporting or storing the radio. I would recomend this radio to anyone.

Etón SCORPION NSP100OR Multi-Purpose Solar Powered Digital Weather Radio (Orange)

Digital AM FM Radio Tuner, NOAA Weather Band, Built-In LED Flashlight, Large Solar Panel, Crank Powered, USB Cell Phone Charger
Audio Line Input, Aluminum Carabiner, Splashproof, Rugged Exterior Skin, Battery Charge Indicator
Bottle Opener, No Batteries Needed, DC Power
Dimensions: 5.25-Inch x 2.5-Inch x 1.75-Inch (W x H x D), 133 x 63.5 x 44.45 mm (W x H x D)
Weight: 8.5 oz. (241 g)

I have had the Eton Scorpion for about a month.I use it everyday. Camped with it 4 times already.

Reasons I bought this was ...

1:audio input.To basically have a solar/crank powered speaker for my iphone (extends iphones battery life)

2. To crank charge USB devices.

3.Mainly to have something to charge stuff ( mainly iPhone 3GS ) during power outages, no sun, night time , emergencies.

4. Bottle opener. Because I am tired of not be able to open my drinks??? This space should have been used to store earbuds,an extra long wire antenna or perhaps a little raincoat/bag for the scorpion.

Verdict:

Solar charges itself in full sun in a few hours.

Crank charges itself to full charge with about 300 cranks(3 minutes) giving about 45 minutes radio time( much more if you use headphones) and Hours of flashlight time.

Even when the radio dies the flashlight will keep going for about 30 minutes or more.

Power input is there but no adaptor included. This unit doesn't take removable rechargable batteries(AA) but it could be incorporated through the power input if one knew how to add up AA or AAA batteries voltage to match the input voltage of the input.

Solar Charging iPhone: not going to happen without rewiring it from the inside. Panel is too small anyway and not worth it , would take days to charge. Get a Goal Zero Guide Ten portable solar charging kit. solar charges an iPhone in an hour and charges 4 AA batteries too.just awesome!

Crank charging is the only way they designed this device to charge an iphone. No charging from the solar panel or from the scorpions stored collected energy in its internal battery.

Crank charging iphone:tricky but it works.To get the iPhone to accept it and to make any sort of charging possible ,follow these steps:

1. use an iPhone cable not a knock off.

2. Set the phone brightness to the lowest setting

3. turn off wifi

4. go into airplane mode or at least turn off 3G .

5. Get comfortable becuase you'll be cranking for at least 7 minutes(2 songs on a radio, or a few commercial breaks on tv)

6. Here is where people get discouraged and fail.

As soon as you crank, the iPhone may reject the charging source with a pop up saying "incompatible accessory" and you'll feel the crank become too easy to crank.

The trick is you have to sort of jump start it to get the phone to accept the crank charge. To do this you'll have to do a quick half crank( like starting a mower or kick starting a motorcycle) and then you'll hear and feel the phone giving resistance on the crank which means it accepted it . You'll keep cranking after the first quick half crank but you'll slow down for a second to lock it in and then your in the zone. You can adjust your cranking speed from here forward.The iPhone will show it's being charged and the screen will eventually turn off so take a mental note of the battery percentage so you can see how you've done 7 minutes later.

Depending on how you've cranked ,you'll probably achieve an additional 1 or 3 percent of battery life. Yes this is not great or anything but it could help in an emergency to get that text or call out.

I figure to almost fully charge the iPhone would take somewhere between 3-4 hours of cranking.Good luck with that.

Even a bicycle crank generator would still take alot of effort and nit much less time to charge an iPhone because you can only charge it so fast before you damage the battery. So for the portability factor of the Erin scorpion as a crank charger , I would say it's doing it's job the best it can do.

Moving on:

I have taken this camping 4 times since I've owned .still works .I use the crank alot to charge the radio and light .mainly because I like to use the audio input so I can crank my iPhone music through a the scorpions speaker. This means 3 minutes of cranking for ever 45 minutes of using the speaker.

The light is great. Last a long time and lights up an area pretty well. When your walking , it shines a big circle in front if you and a med circle to the left and right of you.. A Nice spread.

The very end of the handle broke on my last camping trip so I had to learn to crank with out it. When I got home , I drilled a hole in the end of the handle and bolted the piece back on with a screw and locknut from skateboard hardware (last forever).

Pros and cons:

Pros:

-audio input

-Nice size solar panel to charge its radio/flashlight.

-cranks to full charge in 2-3 minutes.

-45 minutes radio(half volume)/ couple hours light.

-nice rugged rubber shell.

-antenna stores away safely.

pretty water resistant( left it in rain for a day, after drying it still works although it shouldn't )

-does crank charge USB devices including iPhones if your desperate.

-The caribeaner hook thing is nice to have. If it breaks I'll bolt that back on too.

Cons:

can't solar charge USB devices.

-can't charge USB devices from internal battery.

-doesn't take removable batteries.at night you have to crank charge to use the radio more than 45 minutes which goes by pretty fast.

part if handle broke but fixes easy and now is stronger than before .

-radio tunes one station at a time , no station memory.

The new Eton Raptor is bigger and the next step up to the scorpion with a bigger solar panel and lithium battery but it has no crank charge ability. If the scorpion had no crank charge ability it would be useless.

Since I have already had to modify my scorpions handle , here are my plans to further modify it.

-remove the bottle opener and install a mini aa battery charger(from a solar garden light,they are basically mini solar aa rechargers) and wire it so they charge using the scorpions solar panel or crank charge .

rewire inside so I can switch the radio from solar, internal battery,external AA batteries.

-rewire so USB devices can use solar charger, internal battery, or external aa batteries.

Maybe change the internal battery to lithium ion.

make a rain coat with a clear window for solar panel and pockets for a extended wire antenna, earbuds,and additional rechargeable AA batteries.

-if I'm feeling reall ambitious , remove the solar panel and make three solar panels that fold out from it ( like a book) to have better solar charging during cloudy days or triple it's solar power intake and charging time during full sun days.

If Eton did this instead of making the Raptor I would gladly pay $200+ and buy one (or two of them) because it would be all that I would need and I could carry much less with me when hiking etc.

Hope you liked my overly detailed longwinded review!

Buy Etón SCORPION NSP100OR Multi-Purpose Solar Powered Digital Weather Radio (Orange) Now

I wanted a small portable radio for backpacking and had researched Eton's other products in the past. None of those radios had all the features I wanted. When I saw the scorpion I knew it was exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a radio that would not be too heavy to carry in my overnight pack but included features such as line-in, backup cell phone usb charger, and weather alert channels.

After receving my Scorpion the other day I have used it extensivly and am very pleased with the device. It is very well built and is perfect for some music around the fire after a long day of hiking.

As far as each features are concerned. Flashlight Decent LED flashlight. Good for finding your way around in the dark. Not my primary flashlight but its on par with every other crank flashout out there. Radio Digital tuner is great. Picks up stations very well (I live in the middle of nowhere). Sound quality The sound quality is what I expected. It is about the same quality as most standard clock radios. It's nothing special but I wanted a rugged radio that didnt have the hassle of making sure you have charged batteries. If sound quality and size is a top priority look for portable iPod docks such as JBL's On-Stage. It does play loud. Note: when using the line-in function the volume control on the unit does not function. Volume is controlled by external device (ipod, phone, etc).

Overall its a great portable small radio for any type of outdoor adventure. I have since used it for picnics and bbq's where larger radios are more of a hassle then what they are worth.

Read Best Reviews of Etón SCORPION NSP100OR Multi-Purpose Solar Powered Digital Weather Radio (Orange) Here

During a week long camping trip-The antenna is too short the radio reception is poor no matter what band you are on. On a full charge at moderate volume your listening time is about 30 minutes. It takes alot of cranking or time in bright sun to charge. It was rained onlightly for about 15 minutes, it stopped working and showed an odd display & condensation in the display windowhowever after baking in the sun for a few hours it dryed out an worked again. The buttons to change the station can't be located well with your fingers, they are all stacked together in a row. You cannot charge a phone via the USB port unless you are turning the crank [and turning and turning and turning]. Except for the rain issue it does seem to take shock/drops.

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ORIGINAL REVIEW (5-Star): This is a very nice little unit and it performs better than I expected. The hand crank feels solid, unlike others I've felt in the past that you worry will break quickly. The clip has a nice stiff spring in it and feels very solid. The radio reception is amazing and the retractable antenna is more than 7" long, so fine tuning is easy. The speaker is about 1.25" in diameter, but the sound is pretty good. Most of my vehicles don't get FM or AM this well. The clock is a nice feature and the display includes a battery gauge (similar to most cell phones). The LED light works well, but the three lights cast a strange shadow on the ground. It appears to be about as powerful as an average headlamp. The bottle opener has a metal ring all the way around, so you're not prying a bottle open against the plastic side. I've broken more than one widget when opening a bottle against a plastic surface...nice touch. I haven't had a chance to try the charging feature yet on my cell.

Overall the design and build quality is top notch. We're not weekend campers, but with two kids this will be a great addition to our trip gear. Small, lightweight, rugged and functional.

The only complaint I have is the placement of the antenna. With the unit lying so the speaker and solar panels are facing up, the antenna has a limited area to move around. But I consider this a minor issue.

Note: The dimensions are for the main body of the Scorpion, and doesn't include the clip. The overall length is 6.5", and the other dimensions seem accurate.

See my response to this post for an updated report...

When I saw this product announcement I put it immediatly on my Amazon wish list as I wanted to suppliment the Black-N-Decker one that I have which has similar features as this one except no solar charging. Overall I'm very happy with my purchase as the Scorpion has a very sturdy shell and a crank that feels like it will last a long time unlike other crank lights I own. The light is also brighter than others I have owned as well. I like the fact that I can clip this on a backpack and such however I wish the clip were on the crank side of the light as it's hard to have the solar cell face outward if you're on a hike for charging. It sits "unnatural" on the backpack the way it currently clips on. Minor annoyance though. One thing I definitely wish was included in the instructions though was average charging rates for the solar cell. The light has a batter meter on it and mine came with only one bar from being full. Just for grins I put in in the front seat of my truck while I was at work to see if it would fill that last bar since my truck sits in the sun all day. No luck and even after two days it had not fully charged. Granted it may not have had full sun for a full 8 hours during the work day. I haven't cranked it enough yet to full charge it but as mentioned only minor annoyances. Oh and as mentioned in the other review, I haven't been able to get the USB to charge any of my phones. This may be due to needing to crank it to charge as it does not appear to use the solar cell or internal battery to charge the USB devices. I think it said that in the manual as well but once again it would be nice to get a chart of average charge rates and such.

Overall I will most likely be purchasing another one of these as it's a solid device. I have one in the trailer for camping and such and I'll have one put in my emergency kit.

JBL OnBeat Xtreme Bluetooth 30-Pin iPod/iPhone/iPad Speaker Dock

JBL Ridge tweeters and JBL Atlas woofers with computer-optimized DSP equalization and user selectable EQ settings deliver stunning sound quality
High-quality Bluetooth wireless music streaming supports advanced A2DP and AVRCP Bluetooth profiles for interference-free operation, and uses the higher quality AAC codec for the best quality audio streaming
Hands-free calling with full speakerphone functionality with Bluetooth phones, via the built-in microphone and DSP with echo cancellation
Rotating dock connector for iPad, iPod and iPhone devices allows them to be positioned in portrait or landscape orientation for optimal video display, with extendable docking arm for optimal placement
Exclusive JBL Weave design offers an elegant and dynamic, one-of-a-kind look

Some of the other reviewers said they were disappointment with the sound but I can't agree.

Pros:

-Sound is amazing. Stands up to thumping bass and the highest opera/classical I've got. I tested using FLAC and Apple lossless files.

-Size is nice and compact for a speaker this size. Smaller than the Zepplin Air with the same punch. Also the top makes a nice carrying handle for moving around.

-Power adaptor is a simple universal cord found at any radio shack. No huge power bricks or different adaptor. Also 110-240V capable for those overseas.

-3 of the 5 buttons are backlit. Nice touch.

-Bluetooth works well. Took all of 5 seconds to set up.

Cons:

-App isn't the greatest. Just use the normal music app on the ipod.

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Last year I received the Harman Kardon GO + PLAY II Portable Loudspeaker Dock for iPod and iPhone which I really enjoyed. As I wrote in my review of the HK at the time, it allowed me to keep my sanity while cleaning out my garage.

So when I got this, I was curious as to how this would compare... first thing to note -in order for it to work with your devices, you do have to download an app. Wasn't wild about that (particularly since I'm running low on storage on my iPhone as it is). But MAN... the sound quality of this is SO much better than the Harmon Kardon -much more "oomph" but good balance with the higher ranges as well.

The foot print is about the same size as the Harmon Kardon but the device weighs quite a bit more. And unlike the Harmon Kardon which relied on an awkward angle to dock your phone, it is very straight forward (and in my opinion, safer) to put your phone in and out of the dock -you don't feel like you are going to snap anything off in the process.

The iPad dock mechanism also feels secure. I have a Philips alarm clock which will accommodate both an iPhone and iPad but the iPad always seems a little precarious because of the size and weight. I don't have that problem with this system.

When I unpacked this, my nephew -a classical percussionist at the San Francisco Conservatory was with me... he told me how his school uses JBL for all of their studio work and they are known for their fidelity. We were also able to do the side-by-side comparison of the 2 systems... I actually did a "blind test" using my sister and nephew as guinea pigs... both agreed that it was no contest and picked this one as their favorite.

Of course, this system costs twice what the Harmon Kardon does and about 4 times what the Philips did so you would hope that it would sound better. Is it worth the extra money ... to me, DEFINITELY. I live for my music -especially my classical music. Mahler sounds pretty darn good most of the time... but this system brings out the best! As with many things in life, your decision will come down to your budget... if you have the budget for this system, it is well worth the extra money, in my humble opinion.

[NCJVR]

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For reference, I have been using the Bose SoundDock for some time with my Iphone, and so was interested in how this unit (JBL Beat Extreme) would stack up.

I will start with a summary of the pros and cons of this unit:

Pros:

1) Easy to Use. I had it out of the box, bluetooth synced to my iphone, and playing my favorite music in under a minute. No need to read the instructions.

2) Looks pretty slick

3) Handles incoming calls well if someone calls while you are listening to music. It becomes a speakerphone.

4) Sound quality is good when you are playing it loud.

Cons:

1) You can not dock your iphone to it if the iphone is in an otterbox. Even though the unit will sync through bluetooth, I would love to be able to use the unit as a charging station. If you have ever put an iphone in an otterbox, you know it is a big job, so you dont want to be taking the phone in and out of the otterbox just to dock it to a speaker system.

2) Sound quality is poor if you have the volume low or medium. By low, I mean you are not blasting the music, but maybe listening to music as you work.

3) Integration with Iphone bluetooth is not perfect. In some aps, it is hard to get the sound to go through the speakers, or if the sound is going through the speakers to come back through the phone. Some aps have a little popup that lets you choose where to send the sound, and some don't. This might not be a limitation of the speakers, but the particular ap on your phone. Just know that there is some frustration using this unit switching back and forth between iphone speakers and this speaker system.

How does it stack up against the Bose SoundDock:

The major advantage over the Bose system is the bluetooth sync feature. I like being able to find a song on the iphone screen, and then play it. Using the Bose system, you are sort of operating blind with the remote and the iphone mounted on the unit. Also, this unit will play a lot louder than the Bose, and sounds good when played loud.

The major advantage of the Bose system is that the Bose sounds MUCH BETTER at low or medium volume. The music from the Bose is much more "crisp".

For me personally, I am going to have to say I like the Bose better. That is because I am 50 and I don't blast music any more. I would bet that if you are in your 20's or 30's you would like the JBL system better. If you are in your 40's or 50's you would probably like the Bose system better.

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First, the requisite qualifier: I have been an audiophile for 35 years and currently have a $100,000+ system. Obviously, the quality of my music is important to me. For the past month I have been laboriously researching and listening to various options available to achieve a singular goal: give me a way to listen to my MP3 library that can play loud (for outdoor parties), can maintain sound quality at moderate to soft listening levels, and offer me portability (so long as AC power is available). I defined portability as "an-all-in-one" box solution.

There are solutions that sound better, or as good, but then you are sacrificing portability (i.e., the Focal Bird system, which is also more than twice the price). The first such device I auditioned was the Arcam Cube. I turned it off in about 15 seconds, it was HORRIBLE! Next was the revered B & W Zeppelin. It was "ok"...it still had that hollow sound that to me is just totally unsatisfactory. After reading review after review that ranked the Zeppelin #1, I figured that I might end up buying the Wadia amp/dac/transport system with some Focal monitors...that I would never be happy with any dock! I auditioned many more, pretty much all the top rated brands. I went to the T.H.E. Audio show in Newport Beach, where I auditioned more boxes (as well as other "lifestyle" oriented solutions; some of them costing upwards to $10,000 that sounded great, yet no portability and much more than I was willing to spend). A representative from my local audio dealer finally nailed things for me when he said: "why are you putting so much time and effort into this...regardless the situation, this is only going to serve as background music for you, and never as a critical main listening environment". Wow, he was right! My current $100,000+ system took me a whole heck lot LESS time to put together than I was putting into finding the perfect dock!

Once that light bulb went off in my head, I just happen to have a connection within Harman/Kardon that enabled me to get the On Beat Extreme at a discounted price. I ordered it without even testing, accepting the fact it was for 'background listening' only. It arrived 1/2 hour before a big outdoor party our neighborhood was having. I did not have time to read the manual, I just plugged it in, stuck my iPad on it, and started playing my Spotify library...LOUD! I was blown away! There was not any of the hollowness I seem to have experienced from all other similar devices I auditioned. Not only was there more presence/clarity, but the frequency response seemed pretty flat across the spectrum. On other docks I auditioned, bass rolled off pretty quickly and it sounded like you just ended up with some low frequency noise that lacked much definition or musicality. The JBL bass was tight and articulate, without overshadowing the mids or highs, which themselves were very impressive.

Bottom Line: The best sounding speaker dock I have heard...bar none..Period! This is not to be construed as meaning it is the best sound in the world, only that for a simple speaker dock solution, this cannot be beat.

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If you can tell from the price point, JBL created the Xtreme to compete with docks such as the Zeppelin, Bose docks etc. What will be your decision is whether or not the JBL is worth it and if it is better than the competition. My review will hopefully help you in that area.

--Quick Summary--

Going by feeling alone, the price is a little bit too high. If I am comparing to the competition, then the price is appropriate. Assuming this price point is within your range, I will defer solely to the output of quality. That being said, the JBL compares very evenly with the Zeppelin, and I have not tried any Bose docks. The Xtreme feels slightly better quality than the Zeppelin because it is heavier and possesses a hard case over the speakers versus the stretch fabric. The Zeppelin does bass well, and is good at filling a very good size room. The JBL matches the latter capability in the bass side and my pick goes to the JBL for the money.

--The Elaboration--

Sound Quality:

9/10.

I can say I was very impressed with all types of music from pop, to rap, to classical. What I look for in sound is not the overwhelming of bass to compensate for bad mids, and sounds just as good with pop tracks as instrumental classical. The bass is tight and punchy but with a nice rumble. Usually higher quality output equates to non-distorted, clean bass but without any 'rumble'--should you want it. The Xtreme does both. Fantastic bass. The treble is sharp and piercing. The mids are subdued and clear. I was actually not expecting exceptional sound quality, though that is exactly what the JBL has. *If I were deciding between this and the Zeppelin, it would definitely be the JBL. *

Volume:

What good is quality if the amplifier is weak, or distorts sound at high levels? For a fairly big room, I could not turn the JBL up all the way because the sound was already too loud. When it was at the latter level, the sound was still as level as at low levels and the bass would start to rumble the surrounding environment. It outdoes my big stereo in sound and volume output. This will be more than enough even for a very large living room. Even enough for a party.

Contruction:

This unit is heavy at around 9 lbs or 4 kg. This means it would be slightly difficult to knock it off a shelf should you bump into it. Where does the weight come from? As said earlier, the outer casing on the speakers is a metal fencing, not the stretch fabric that comes with many. Also, the edging is chrome plated. Turning the iPod/iPad swivel is also very fluid and sturdy--unlike some competitors products I have tried.

When you pull this out of the box you know where your money went--which is saying something.

If you are a music lover and have most of your music on an iPod or iPad, you would ideally like to output it the best way possible--or as least close to it. Below a certain price range, you can easily tell that the outputting device is not very good, and a lot of times the more expensive products do not increase in quality enough to justify the cost. The JBL Xtreme is one of the few products that I feel meets the expense incurred, though is a little high. If you are to have an excellent housing for your music collection that will let them shine on their own without having to 'hinder' them, this JBL is a way to go.

Uniden TCX400 5.8 GHz Accessory Handset for CLX Series (also for T8, ELT, and VoIP Series; Silver)

5.8 GHz digital signal; caller ID/call waiting compatible, 100-call memory
For use with Uniden CLX, T8, ELT, and VoIP series phone systems
USB connector and downloadable software; audio cable for custom ring tones
DirectLink 2-way radio mode; room/ baby monitor setting
Internal phone directory with 100-name and 400-number memory

These were just hand sets that go with the CLX 465. Really the same product, so the results were the same

Buy Uniden TCX400 5.8 GHz Accessory Handset for CLX Series (also for T8, ELT, and VoIP Series; Silver) Now

I bought the Uniden CLX-485 base and five TXC-400 handsets to replace my previous cordless phone system, as I could not get handsets for it anymore. Sound quality is very good for both regular & speakerphone use. The ability to mute & transfer calls is very nice. And, I really like the ability to go into room monitoring & privacy modes. In room monitoring mode, you can listen in to any other handset in the house....much like a baby monitor. In privacy mode, you can lock the system so that no one else can eavesdrop or cut in on your conversation. As I work from home, this is particularly useful in preventing the kids from dialing while I am trying to talk on a conference bridge.

Now for the downside, within six months, two of the most used handsets started developing an annoying trait where they would reboot after the smallest jostle. Put the phone in the charging cradle....reboot. Pickup the phone to answer a call....reboot. Hand the phone to someone....reboot.

Now, about 11 months after the purchase, all five of the expansion handsets are experiencing the same temperamental problems. The ones that have shown these symptoms the longest are now so fickle that they can get stuck in a perpetual reboot mode where the display goes blank, then goes solid orange, displays "Uniden" for some random length of time, and then it repeats the process. Sometimes pulling the battery for a couple of seconds resolves the issue. Sometimes a "love tap" helps. Sometimes...well, you get the idea.

Out of the bunch, the only one that still works reliably is the base station's handset. Maybe it has had a bit less handling, as I often use the base unit's speakerphone while working. Maybe Uniden made some additional changes--aside from the color LCD--inside these handsets. (The base station handset for this phone system is equivalent to a TCX440.) Bottom line is that I am not sure why, but I know that it is still working.

Regardless, I am left a little jaded on these handsets. I am quickly approaching my one-year anniversary date. As such, I am debating on getting them repaired/replaced, but even once that happens, they will only be covered by a 90-day warranty. Personally, I am seriously considering going to a different phone system. (I had two different AT&T phones with comparable features that served me faithfully for better than 4 years each. I only replaced the first to get a 2-line phone system, and I only replaced the second because of the aforementioned lack of expansion handsets.)

As for features...

Contrary to a previous reviewer, there is a redial feature. To access this, you push the little "joystick" down...as in towards the mic opening on the phone...not down like you are pushing a button. Several of these shortcuts are not documented, or not documented very well. But, they are there nonetheless.

Phonebook Okay, I really wish someone would make it easy to create & copy phonebook entries between phonebooks on other handsets. On this phone, if you create an entry, you have to copy it to each & every handset...one at a time. And, if you are on a handset without a specific phonebook entry, there is no way to have that handset access the other's phonebook to copy the needed entry. In this golden age of technology, I think phone manufacturer's could do much, much better!!

Long distance vs. dialing If go through the caller ID log, and add a number to your phonebook, it only adds the 10-digit number. Again, this is the age of computers. I should be able to define a "local" list of area codes (not just a single area code), and everything else should automatically get a one appended to the front of the number. It is common sense. This same behavior is evident when you go to redial a long distance number directly from the caller ID listing.

Read Best Reviews of Uniden TCX400 5.8 GHz Accessory Handset for CLX Series (also for T8, ELT, and VoIP Series; Silver) Here

I purchased my set before the full color version was available. I'm not crazy about the orange display, but it's not bad. I love the individual ring tonesit's better than caller ID. I have a diffeent ring for each family member. All their phone number ring the same tone so I know who it is by the ring; don't even need to look. The only thing I'd like to be able to do is turn off the flashing message notification on the handset but even that is minorI just need to pick up my messages. And, yes, there is a redial feature.

Want Uniden TCX400 5.8 GHz Accessory Handset for CLX Series (also for T8, ELT, and VoIP Series; Silver) Discount?

This phone has several major flaws. First, there is no redial, hard to believe, but true. Second, the orange color on the LCD is terrible. This color makes it hard to see the graphics, which are themselves annoying. Third, the LCD quality is very poor. Pictures,Words and numbers are grainy and appear very low tech, dated and obsolete looking. Lastly, the direct link/walkie talkie mode is a joke. It only works if the handsets are not in the charger and if you don't try to use the phone as a phone and if no calls come in. I would not buy this phone again. Between no redial and the terrible LCD orange color and LCD quality I'd have to advise you to keep looking. I have started looking again, and I'm stuck with 4 of these things!

5.8 GHZ clear, easy to use, and you can update other phones thru home computer.

The Sharper Image EC-A115 Rotating Speaker System for iPod/iPhone

Innovative docking feature rotates from vertical to horizontal positioning for best view
Charge, play and display your iPod/iPhone
Full, rich, digital sound quality and performance
One-touch easy-to-use illuminated controls
Auxiliary-input for connecting other MP3 players and audio devices (audio cable included)

While the rotating unit feature is cool in a engineer/nerd (engi-nerd) type sense, it does not justify this product at price point.

I just bought one of these being closed out locally at a record shop for $50, no returns. Not really worth it even at this price.

Reasons for this:

No remote control, at the retail price point expected.

Not well integrated with iPod touch 3g interface.

Pressing buttons on the unit does not change the display from locked mode for example.

Pause the unit at one volume level walk away and later resume play, does not remember the volume level.

Display will not light up if you press a button on the unit.

While the industrial design is striking, the execution is sub par. For example the buttons seem really cheese-y. I should have know this from the display model having the buttons pushed into the unit.

Not nearly as nifty as a iPod 3G design, and I would have expected much more from a Sharper Image name. I will live with it at this price, what choice do I have since I bought on the condition of no returns.

Buy The Sharper Image EC-A115 Rotating Speaker System for iPod/iPhone Now

I actually think it sounds pretty good as speakers for my iPod touch. I use it to listen to music while I'm working. Keeps the iPod charged, too, when I'm not listening to it. Is it hi-fi? No, and I wouldn't expect it to be. But it's not tinny-sounding, either. Works for me.

Read Best Reviews of The Sharper Image EC-A115 Rotating Speaker System for iPod/iPhone Here

I first saw these in a local store and thought it looked cool. The swiveling dock part peaked my interest. After purchasing though and actually listening to music I must say I'm not impressed. Sound is very poor, and audio sounds like its coming from a tin can and lacks any bass. For the price you can find better. There is no remote control, no display and even the swivel is slow and clunky. The only pro I can think of is its looks but your purchasing this to listen to and honestly its horrible.

Want The Sharper Image EC-A115 Rotating Speaker System for iPod/iPhone Discount?

I found this at an overstock retail store for 29.00. I must say that it was entirely worth it for my purposes as an office music player. I will never need any serious volume in this environment and it charges and plays my iPod Touch 2g, iPhone 3GS, and iPod nano 2g.

The other reviewers said that the buttons seem cheap and I'd have to agree, the rotation feature also is kind of cheap since the motor noise makes it seem like it's going to fail at any moment. So, if you are going to be using this feature alot you might be disappointed after a few hundred uses, mine is working fine after a week and a half of minimal use.

Sound quality is fine. I haven't cranked it and frankly only purchased it for low volume applications, either as a clock or an office player. At low volumes the device sounds fine.

I'm thinking for the price I paid it's a great value. If I had paid the original price of 99.00 for it I'd have felt ripped off, but at 29.00 it's a great iPhone player/charger.

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I love this speaker. It works so well and just the right size for my counter.

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