Philips DS9800W/37 Fidelio SoundSphere Docking Speaker with AirPlay

• Compatible with: iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4
• Fullsound to bring your CD listening experience to life
• Real hand-crafted wood speaker enclosure for fidelity sound
• Stream music with AirPlay wireless technology
• Remote control complements speaker design and finishing

Here was my situation I moved and didn't feel like putting in the effort to wiring the entire house for speakers, amp, IR control, etc... And the cost to do all that can be hundreds. So I set out trying to get an AirPlay speaker even if it was to hold us over for a year. Well two months of trying different units I ended up here. And before the first song was done playing I was hooked.

First iHome's WL1 I liked the mobility and battery life but HORRIBLE sound quality, sounds like a pillow was on it, it tries to over emphasize the bass to the point where it flopped the speakers at 1/2 volume.. went back in 2 days. (also went back because if iPhone 4S issues of dropout which later was identified as an Apple defect that's still not fixed, so note that the 4S is not compatible with ANY, AirPlay devices at all... not until they release iOS 5.1 some time in Feb 2012 or beyond)

Second Bose OK sound but weak and not real AirPlay (didn't realize when I purchased) went strait back

Third Philips sound ring far better sounding then the iHome, but battery life was short 1-2 hours depending on volume, much less then iHome, and the bass was awkward...

Fourth Philips 8800 sound curve I gave up on battery power and decided that I needed a plugin and focus more on sound quality. I was extremely happy with this unit, it had great sound, look, and fit in all the places I wanted to put it... I planned on keeping this unit and most people may want to stop here... it's a fantastic speaker.

Fifth However, Amazon had a huge 30% discount on this 9800 & 6800 units, so I couldn't resist and ordered both... well the 9800's arrived first, plugged in and placed the speakers about 16 feet apart, setup the airplay which is super easy and began playing parts of songs to test the quality, I started with high quality acoustic & vocals like Jack Johnson, Paula Fuga, Nora.... VERY rich and clean, the right tones that I expected, well balanced... I then moved to more blues and instruments like Amos Lee, Matt Costa, Beck, Beastie boys instrumentals... Perfect sound reproduction to my ears, I couldn't find fault in what I was hearing. Lastly I wanted to test out the lows and volume and played LMFAO (kids current favorite), Citizen Cope, G Love and even some heavy stuff like Tool and it took it all without stress. The lows were deep, enough to feel it and hear it on another floor of the house and at high volume it never flopped out... the High's hung in and stayed crisp. These are fantastic. I didn't bother to test the smaller 6800's.

So in the end, I have to say they are amazing in sound quality, AirPlay is great, it's somewhat portable as you only need a single speaker so I just disconnect the 2nd and I can move the primary speaker outside or to another room in seconds. I was hesitant to get the Philips brand because of historical quality and I do notice significant different between base consumer products like philips/sony/pioneer and the good stuff Onkyo, Denon, HK... but these make a great showing and there really is no competition... I did not try the Zeppelin Air, it gets good reviews but I was not a fan of the look.

Yes these are expensive, but they are fantastic and won't disappoint. And volume wise, these fill a 32 x 26 room with ease at 1/2 volume, any higher and people start to have to yell over.. it does have a true 50W RMS (equal to Sony's 1200watt receivers)

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These Speakers are simply fantastic. Audiophiles with undoubtable find something to criticize, but for their size and price these speakers really have remarkable presence and dynamic range. I have them in a large living room and they are just excellent.

Setting them up was much easier that I thought using Airplay. I have a sync button on my router which speeds up the process quite a bit. 1. Hit the sync button on router 2. Hit sync button on speaker. 3. Hit Airplay button on iPad (Music Icon) and select the speakers. That was it.

Streaming Pandora One works very well. I changed the Pandora setting to stream higher quality. I am using a 1st Gen iPad and iPhone 4s. Volume works by using the physical volume controls.

The only flaw so far is the included remote which doesn't work unless you are very close, but you don't need it since you can control everything from your mobile device. The included docking station is elegant and charges your iPad/Phone (it doesn't have a physical connection, but you don't need one).

I am very impressed. After doing quite a bit of research, I was going to by the Klipsch G-17 Air's but they delayed the ship date. I am really glad, because it is going to be hard to beat the sound on these. I was a bit hesitant because Philips does not specialize in Audio. I have to hand it to them, they did a first rate job with these speakers.

I was also a bit concerned about Airplay being glitchy, but the Philips speakers has it working flawlessly. These speakers are the way it should be! I control all my music around the house using my iPhone!

I will definitely buy another pair and would recommend them.

I also bought the DS3881 SoundRing for the bathroom. It is rechargeable so you can bring it around with you in the smaller rooms. I hope they work as well as these.

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Soundwise no complaints, though I prefer them with active "Full audio" which is available through the Fidelio-App. Without "Full audio" they might sound a bit recessed, especially at lower volume levels. Also be careful how you position them. Near a wall bass becomes enhanced, in the middle of a room they might sound quite "light" in bass department. Apart from that they sound very natural and very brilliant outplaying all other docks i have ever owned in detail reproduction, particularly because they are really capable of a wide stereofield, unlike most other single-box dockingstations.

When comparing them to the already very good sounding Audyssey South of Market Dock that i also own, the Soundsphere sound clearer and more distinct with better definition in the mids, the Audyssey having a slightly deeper reaching bass which is surprising as the Audyssey is considerably smaller. Altogether the Audyssey just cannot compete soundwise, because the sound seems to come from a single point, while the Soundsphere do really create a three-dimensional soundscape.

Unfortunately only one of the Soundsphere speakers has an amplifier built in, the other is acting as slave, meaning they both need to be interconnected with a wire. This is a pity, because 2 independent speakers would make positioning even more flexible, you would just need a connection for power supply. Of course this would mean even higher costs, as the used components seem to be of high quality, because in fact you can hear a relay from the amplifier inside when turning them on.

I like the design and material quality is top notch. They are heavy and seem pretty robust. But i would like some additional colors to choose from like white, red etc. maybe. I am sure other colors would be very popular as well.

When successfully paired with your network which wasn't a big deal even when setup manually, they always need some time (10-20 seconds) to become active after turning them on. Unfortunately you don't really know if they are on or off as the LED is at the back and cannot be seen. I had some short hick-ups during playback through airplay, but this might be related to my router and interference with my airport-express as well. Most of the time streaming was without any issues.

There is only one master volume level available, which is a good thing because like this the amplifier always works at an adequate level. If you control volume through the remote the volume-slider of your i-device will be controlled at the same time, so no dual volume-levels anymore that interfere one with each other like with many other wireless and bluetooth systems.

The included dock only acts as a simple charging-station, although it has some nice light at the base, it has no other functions. This is a pity, because you cannot really use non-Airplay devices with the Soundsphere except through the auxilary-in, though you will always lose quality like this because of additional digital/analogue conversion. The dock would be perfect if it acted as an airplay-transmitter on its own. This way you could dock your Ipod Classic and transmit 160GB full of music wirelessly to the Soundsphere without any quality-loss. I really hope Philips might add such an active Airplay-dock once as an accessory.

Although the dock can also charge an Ipad, it is quite a hassle to fit an Ipad inside and sometimes i even got a message that the Ipad wouldn't be charged and had to redock it several times in order to make it work.

If you can warm to the Soundsphere's looks you will definitely like them overall as the speakers produce spectacular sound that rivals all single-box speakers i have ever heard. I only miss an optical input to be able to attach other digital sources so that the Soundsphere could indeed substitute my complete stereo system, soundwise they already do!

PS: If you want to stream through Airplay from your PC without the need of iTunes, just install Airfoil. Airfoil allows every single program to transmit to any available Airplay-speaker, even several simultanously, although they are not perfectly in sync, but i really recommend it.

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The speaker sounds amazing, the wifi setup is easy connect to speakers then login to router the you are done, bass is so clear , u can adjust how u like it to sound with phillips app from the Appstore, so its a plus

.i've used it for 5 days until it decided to stop working on me in every aspect , wireless and aux in. It was hardware malfunction. 5 stars for design and sounds. 1 star for hardware problems. I wish it lasted longer than 5 days ;(.

Beautiful designs with no potential!!

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I bought the Philips DS9800W after listening to a few Air-play enabled speakers in the market.

The Philips speakers are hands-down, the best sounding and looking speakers out there.

They beat out the Zeppelin and various Airplay speakers available here.

The sound quality is first rate for a small speaker.

But the reliability is terrible. In the one year I had it, its been sent back to the repair centre in Singapore 6 times!!

On the first time ( 7 days after I bought it), Philips replaced it with a set of brand new speakers.

The second pair failed to detect the wifi from an Apple Airport Extreme after 2 months.

All other iOS devices have no problem with the wifi.

Since then the speaker have been sent in for repairs roughly after every 2 months.

The wifi board was replaced each time.

The problem is that the internal wifi loses link after you stop playing music for 24 to 48 hours.

Then you need to re-attach the wifi signal and it takes a few attempts before it locks.

The speakers are about 2 m from the Airport Extreme, so distance is not the reason for its poor performance.

The are numerous complaints about its wifi performance in the Philips Forum site.

I hope Philips find a long term solution to this issue. This is a fantastic sounding product, its potential limited by its poor reliability.

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Noise Machine with Alarm Clock 6 Soothing Sounds Spa

Good little clock. Nothing too fancy. It has a variety of sounds to choose from other than a standard alarm which is what I was looking for. It changes color only when the alarm is going off or you are setting it's features.

This thing is almost useless. The clock can't be seen at night unless you hit one of the several buttons but you'll have to turn the room light on to see the button! After a few seconds it goes dim again. The "sounds" it makes are comparable to the quality of sound you get from a musical greeting card. Don't buy this good for nothing paperweight. OK so it is good for one thing

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It was disappointing when my child received this as a gift from her wish list. The picture shows the clock as lit up with color. In fact, it ONLY lights up when the alarm goes off. So it does not double as a nightlight, and the time doesn't even light up so that you can see what time it is in the dark. The instructions were extremely brief and not very helpful at all. Also, one of the six "soothing" sounds is a whole barnyard, including cows. I'm sure there are much better alarm clocks WITH light available.

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I did want the sounds, but they are just loud noise to my ears. The settings are far from user-friendly, and unfortunately the instructions are not written in any English I can understand. Very low quality, so mostly I am just frustrated and unhappy that I didn't use the money toward something of better quality.

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cheap, works, looks great, and is way better than expected. . .. . . . . .. . . .

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Onkyo TX-NR3009 9.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver (Black)

• HDMI Support for 3D, Audio Return Channel, DeepColor, x.v.Color, LipSync, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio,
• Massive Transformer and Two Separate Transformers for Audio and Video Processing
• Playback of Audio Files Through Local Network (MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, FLAC, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, LPCM)
• High-Quality HQV Vida VHD1900 Video Processor
• Direct Digital Connection of iPod/iPhone via Front-Panel USB Port
• HDMI Support for DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD, Multichannel PCM, and CEC

9.2 channel, THX Ultra2 Plus, DTS Neo X, Audyssey XT32, 3 zones, iPhone USB, 4k upscaling, easy interface with a great multi functional remote. Need I say more? This AVR rocks. I compared many models from competitors and the only thing this really lacks is apple AirPlay but since I had an apple tv it really didn't matter. This receiver has 4 transformers and uses them all marvelously. I couldn't be happier with this AVR. The interface was super easy to get up and running as well as to do a bios update via the network jack. Also, (as a bonus) the apple store has a remote app that allows you to control any zone with ease. I paired this with 7 Polk Audio speakers and an Epik subwoofer and all I can say is WOW.

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I'm running a 5.2 system off this receiver. Sounds great after Audyssey set up, and really helps control my 2 SVS PB12+ subs as each gets individually and collectively optimized. My left and right fronts are run off an external amp, while this powers my center and side speakers (PSB Stratus C6i, PSB Imagine S surrounds). Sounds excellent, better than my old Onkyo 807, and I like the new dynamic volume options as well. I've just begun to explore its capabilities, but it is working well in its core function of switching video and powering audio. I've had no HDMI handshake problems between any of my components, even using 30ft runs w/ 3D content. Plugged in a USB wifi adapter and was able to listen to internet radio from around the world very nice.

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the title says it all. has just about every bell and whistle in a mainstream receiver besides 11 channel capability. honestly, i did not know it was going to be this good. if i had to do it all over again, i would've got the 5009 which is a several hundred dollar upgrade for having a toroidal transformer and a few other minute details, the toroidal transformer being the reason and brunt of the upgrade. and if you're on the fence between the onkyo 818 and onkyo 3009 to get audyssey xt32, get the 3009. big difference in sound.

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First off the receiver arrived on time and was well packaged I got it for $1200.00. I couldn't pass that up. I am running my panasonic 60" gt50 through this receiver. I am havibng some troulble on the audio. whenever music plays in the movie the sound is great but the talking is not coming through. Sometimes I can get everything to work just fine, but it takes awhile. What I mean is this receiver has a lot and i do mean a lot of different combinations. My thought is I need a center channel speaker for most of thje settings so I will have to break down and get one ( i am using 6 radia speakers and a cadence xldns 12" woofer). The speakers sound great. i did upgrade the cd player to a marantz 5004. I finally realizing that to get good sound you need good equipment.

The receiver is able to handle some of my older equipment. Yes, I still play my lazer discs and an occasional vhs tape. The inputs on the 3009 still accept the s video. The newer 1010 does not (the 3010, due to costs was not a consideration). This receiver does allow me too use all of my older formats. I do not have an eight track player, so I cannot comment on that. However I do plan to hook-up a reel to reel I happen to have.

I did download the manual, which I recommend or have a laptop handy to look at the various settings and how to program different functions .I will post again in about 3 months by then I will know if it is a problem with the receiver or it is me.

After doing somuch research on this bought it. No complaints. Really cool Audio upscaling and perfect sound. Enjoying it. THX Ultra+ and 4K upscaling are too good

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XtremeMac IPN-APL-00 Airplay2- Black

• High quality, wireless FM transmission
• Brilliant blue LCD with easy-to-read white characters
• Three programmable station presets for convenient recall of clearest frequencies
• Pass-through Dock Connector functionality
• Includes Dash mount

I must disagree, partially, with a previous review of this product. I find it to be a good product, once you get used to the quirks.

I received the Airplay2 for my birthday and for three weeks thought it was not working -Sent e-mail to Xtrememac customer service and received no reply, so called them. Learned that I needed to connect the Airplay2 to my Ipod Nano and press/hold the center and menu buttons to re-set. This worked and now I enjoy the AP2 a great deal -Just thought I'd post the reset fix for those who find themselves in my situation, as it seems a previous reviewer is/was.

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i got this a couple of days ago and i have nothing against the sound quality. it won't work well if you move it further away from ur radio.. but why would you really move it more than 10 feet away from your car or radio. the lcd screen looks good and i have no idea why the reviewer two below me complained about it turning off because mine works fine even whent he lcd screen isnt lit up.

there are two things that are extrememly annoying however. the dock connecter indeed is flimsy, and does not stay locked in the ipod, but its not like it falls out. also, if you have a case on ur ipod, u can forget about using it when u have the fm transmitter in there because it won't fit. it really is not a hassle for me to take off my case before i get in the car so its ok.

the most unique feature i would say is the female/male ports. u can plug in ur transmitter to the ipod, and the transmitter has an extra dock connecter port on the bottom of it so u can attach a charger to it if you already have one, its pretty convinient. i already had a charger so i didnt want to pay up to like 70 dollars to get a charger/transmitter. instead i paid about 40 dollars for the airplay.

overall, its an average transmitter, no problems with the sound but some things that could have been better. i don't mind using it however and should work for the basic needs.

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this transmitter does work for me, but it doesn't stay in the dock connector port. can be very frustrating. and as said before, it is very hard to get this to work with a cover on. i don't know why they didn't put the retractable pins on this fm transmitter-it would have made it a much better product.

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I have owned this since 2006 or 2007, and still use it to this day (2011). It is used with iPod classic (4th gen) video 160GB. It works fine, someone reviewed the white one of these and in NYC he complains that the channel has to be changed a lot. That is true, in Philly I had the same problem. In Minneapolis it is slightly better. I leave it on 107.9 the highest one, the lower stations are harder to keep nailed down.

Also, much to my dismay, when plugged into an iPhone or iPod Touch, they popup an alert "This hardware is not compatible with this device". Which really sucks. No firmware updates that I can find, and doesn't appear that there is any newer version of this on the market, which brings me to the PROS:

Most other FM transmitters are much bigger, require that they be plugged in to the lighter socket, etc. This one allows power to be plugged into the bottom of it, which is great.

I really wish they made a newer version becacuse it is so small and easy to carry around, I used to have this as my "spare" FM transmitter that I left in a small pocket of my backpack, for many years, and I would use it when out of town and renting cars, etc. Now I use it fulltime due to my having an older car right now with no aux input.

One other issue is, when sitting in one of those mounts, it hangs out the bottom and as the car bounces around, this falls out, doesn't stay in that tight.

Otherwise it is nice, and it works. Not the greatest one out there but for its size, ease of use, portability, and not requiting any power, is awesome.

I found this on clearance at Wal-Mart for about $12 (it was originally sold there for $25 or so).

There are some small things that take getting used to, but overall I had no real problems. The sound was surprisingly good. It's probably the smallest transmitter out there and was very convenient since I liked to use it outside my car as well.

Because of some damage that was my own fault, the screen cracked, but luckily I remembered what my presets were so I could still use it. Then I accidentally bent the connector so it only works when I hold it the right way. That's the only reason I've started looking for a replacement, but there's no way I'd spend $50 on this.

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RCA RC170i App-Enhanced 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-hence technology for added application use
• Convenient carrying handle makes RC180i portable
• Features line-in for connection to all sorts of devices

There is nothing that is above average on this device. It works well enough but there are too many quirks with the interaction of the iPhone and the unit to make it enjoyable.

The cradle doesn't actually cradle anything. The iPhone is freesly suspended on the connector at the base. Nothing else touches the iPhone leaving it free to move. Since most of the commands for the unit come through the iPhone, each time you touch it, it moves since nothing is supporting the iPhone. Poor planning. They should have provided a filler to fit the mode of device you are connecting.

There is an internal light for the buttons. It is very bright. Since there is plenty of space between the buttons for the light to shine through, the room is well lit since there is no way to dim the inner light. Warning: Don't buy if you live near an airport, planes might try to land.

The sound quality of the speaker is ok.

RCA n-Hance is joke of an application. What a waste of technology. There is nothing at all postive about the app.

Overall, the unit functions but there are many areas of improvement.

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Sound is reasonably good for the price. Very pleased with the capability.

Great way to have your iPod or iPhone anywhere.

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Sharp HE DKCL5P iPod Clock Radios

• iPhone & iPod Clock Radio
• Plays and charges iPod & iPhone
• USB Host and SD Card Reader
• 5 setting EQ
• Video out terminal

I was looking for a clock radio with the following features -digital tuning, preset stations, dual alarm, battery backup. All of the ones I researched on Amazon had one flaw or another. I finally found this Sharp unit and decided to purchase it although I do not have an Ipod or Iphone (and have not used those features of this unit).

Generally I am pleased with this clock radio. I get good reception on the FM radio on a station my old radio had trouble with. I like the feature that allows me to set my alarm for just weekdays, allowing me to use the second alarm on weekends if I need it.

Only problem is that when you use the alarm with the FM radio, you CANNOT set the initial volume of the radio when the alarm triggers (I have confirmed this with Sharp customer service). It comes on LOUD (volume level 15 on my unit). After the alarm triggers you can manually turn down the volume (the volume control is easy to use, even in the dark).

I have not yet tested the buzzer volume and I do not know if this problem also applies to use of the Ipod/Iphone as the alarm source.

I will probably keep this radio notwithstanding this annoyance because I use a (separate) white noise generator when I sleep which makes the sound blast more tolerable. This unit was the best I could find for my needs after an extensive search. But if you don't want to be shocked awake, this is not the clock radio for you.

UPDATE:

Since my first review I have tested the alarm buzzer. It is a little loud but not nearly the heartstopper that the preset radio alarm volume is. So I now wake to the buzzer and two presses of the power button turns off the buzzer and turns on the radio at a normal volume level that I control. Not as nice as waking to a normal volume radio but workable. Still, I can't for the life of me conceive what the designers at Sharp were thinking when they designed this otherwise fine clock radio so that the user could not control the radio alarm initial volume. Even if they wanted to provide for a minimum volume that would wake the user, the volume they set is about twice as loud as is comfortable, even with a white noise generator in the background.

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I am glad to have this iPod dock. Everyone in our family has some kind of iPod and some kind of iPhone, and this dock works on all these products. It's a little irritating that the power button goes through all the various options each time you try to turn it on, but otherwise, this works well, and the radio gets good reception.

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It died right after one year, but was barely used at all. Will think twice before buying Sharp products again.

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I got this from bestbuy when they sold for $25. so the price was good for dock station, that has five type of inputs

am/fm, usb, sd card slot, iphone/ipod

but with my iphone 3gs, it charges fine, but it doesn't play iphone 3gs,

we tried iphone 4 and it plays well. but otter cover on iphone4 it doesn't sit on the dock station :(

so currently i am using it for charging station for my 3gs..

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Very great product, I'm absolutely happy with it. my iPhone 4 perfectly fits even with case. Also it supports USB Flash and SD Memory Card for playing music (mp3). It also has Video Out, so you can play videos from your iPhone to your TV. And ofcourse, you can play YouTube on your TV using it, except of VEVO video (but you still can consider DailyMotion.com for that). Video Out feature works only with iPhone, not with other devices, 'cause it just sends the ready video signal to your TV, it doesn't read video files. Video In lets you connect other audio players to this dock station. The Remote Control makes it even easier to use this great music system.

What about sound yes, it is not like in big professional audio system, but it's well enough for such average-sized device. You will also need at 2 AA batteries for the FM stations presets and clock to not be erased, while no power. Feel free to ask me anything about this product if you'd like to.

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iLive ICR6806DT Digital Clock Radio with iPod Docking Station (White)

• Digital clock radio with built-in docking station for "dockable" iPods
• Dual alarms wake to iPod, digital AM/FM tuner, or buzzer
• Stereo speakers are acoustically calibrated for superior performance
• Auxiliary input for older iPods and MP3 players; 4 preset EQ settings
• Video output; measures 13 x 6.5 x 4.7 inches (W x H x D); 90-day warranty

Unfortunately I can't give this device less then one star.

My point even $40 is way too much for this piece of junk that only can be used as a paperweight with some basic radio and electronic clock functions.

Yes, it looks really not that bad and clock/alarm functions are OK and I don't care that the clock display is somewhat too light in the night.

But the main problem of this "audio" system (the quotes are on purpose) is HOW IT SOUNDS!

The sound quality is not just bad it's TERRIBLE!!! Period.

Since I have some background in electronics I clearly see that the analog amplifier of this device was designed by someone who has very little idea about sound at all. May be by some guy who spent most of his professional career disgning cheap $1 radios.

Horrible sound distortions (my guess around 15%-20% at least), the noise level just kills your ears (my guess the signal/noise ratio is not better then 30-32 dB), _very_ bad design of the power supply and filters for the analog subsystem every time your iPod hard disk drive starts you hear all details of how it's starts spinning, etc...

My point of view is that probably iLive decided to save on few good quality parts and that lead to absolute failure. They probably saved few bucks but killed all good that was in this product.

From another point of view this baby will wake you up for sure you'll do anything you can to stop these terrible sounds in the morning. :-)

The bottom line I don't think that I will ever buy anything from iLive.

PS. I tried 3 (three) different devices all the same. Glad that got rid of it now.

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Well my family purchased an (i)home since we wanted to hear either the radio or our IPOD music in the morning. The two drawbacks with the (i)Home is (a) It's like shining a torch in your room at night and (2) when the radio/ipod goes off in the morning, the volume progresses from a low 0 to 20 (out of 30) in about 10 secs and blows the ears off you. I really ask myself who designs these things they must be deaf.

Well the reason why I elaborate on this is because this iLive has an equally disturbing blue light that shines in your room and secondly, it too blows the ears off you in the morniing. We're not a quiet family and we like our music loud but let's take the morning in perspective. We returned the iLive to Amazon and now we're looking for No. 3. We have been referred to the Jensen Clock radio/IPOD.

Postives it has a remote control and its sound is very good (when you are actually willing to listen to it a high level!)

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If you're looking for a good iPod speaker system, keep looking. The sound quality is noticably terrible even for this price, and I am not that picky. There is constant buzzing in the background..gets louder as you crank it up. Especially noticable between songs. The music sounds very 'boxy' and muted. My laptop does a better job definitely.

Whats worse is the alarm clock. You can wake to the iPod which would be great if the loudness of the alarm wouldn't wake up the whole house! You can't adjust the volume of the alarm beforehand and it gets SUPER loud. I tried leaving the iPod volume and the system's volume very low..nope still too loud. And the buzzer alarm sounds like a foghorn "dooot" it's horrible. The radio transmission is just as low quality, there is always buzzing and my other radio doesn't do that in the very same room.

There is a remote, but it's poorly designed. Still it's slim and cute, just one more problem. It doesn't read the remote until you're only 10 feet away. At that point I can just walk up to it and push the buttons. :(

Also, the LCD screen is ridiculously bright. It lights the room when the lights are turned off. Its basically a strong nightlight.

I don't recommend this if you care about the sound quality from your iPod. If you're having a party and this would be the main speaker system, your guests will not be impressed. Buy something more expensive you get what you pay for.

Recommended for people's younger aged kids who have iPods. You can put it in their room. I mean, it still produces sound, and at lower volumes, may be acceptable. If they're not too picky, this might be good. And it doubles as a nightlight!

Pros:

Good looking

Easy to use

has a remote, alarm clock, and am/fm radio w/10 presets

Cons:

LCD screen too bright

bad sound quality

alarm clock TOO loud

remote useless

DONT BUY IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR GREAT SOUND

Overall, for the price, it delivers what you paid for. But there have to be better systems even for this price. Try the iBlaster, less features but better sound.

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For the price level the iLive is pretty good. The sound quality isn't every good at all because there always seems to be a little bit of static in the background whether you're listening to your ipod or the radio. Waking up to any song on your ipod and having the remote control are definetly the pros. If you're looking for great sound quality I'd keep looking, but if you aren't too picky on the sound quality and just want a fairly cheap ipod alarm/player/charger then this is a great choice.

I was disappointed in this product. It looks and feels cheaply made. The manual has multiple typos and errors. And the sound quality is subpar. I wish I'd bought a better quality product from a store at twice the price.

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RCA RS2181i Audio System with Universal iPod Dock

• 20-watt bookshelf sound system with iPod dock, CD player, and digital AM/FM radio
• Universal dock for iPod plays and charges most docking iPod models
• Clock/timer function allows you to wake up or sleep to your radio, CD, or iPod
• Customize your sound with bass boost and digital EQ with presets or custom setting
• Front-panel audio input for use with MP3 players, computers, etc.

This reveiw is for; RCA CD Micro Stereo System with iPod Dock RS2181I

Ever since my wife & I bought an I-pod, we hardly ever listen to CD's anymore. We have been looking for an adequate shelf system so we can listen to music in the bedroom that sounds decent and inexpensive. We found the RCA RS2181I last night at a local Target for $95. Here are my simple observations;

PROS

Nice compact size thin top loading, vertical CD player saves space.

CD player works great. Most of my CD's are recorded CD-R's.

Compatible with ALL Apple I-pods including Touch, Video and 1st to 5th generation I-pods (plastic spacers for all sizes are included).

Unit charges your I-pod with the connected, spring-loaded front attachment that retracts when not used.

Nice remote which you can even use to change songs on your I-pod (song skip or go back).

The remote also has nice range because I used it far from across the room.

Has alarm & sleep mode which allows you to wake up or sleep to either your I-pod, CD or radio.

You can program up to 32 radio stations (FM or AM).

Has two extra inputs for connecting other devices such as other MP3 players that are not I-pods.

One button equalizer settings for simplicity with individual settings for Rock, Pop, Jazz, Classical, Flat (?) or settings can be customized.

One button bass boost. Not strong enough to rattle the dishes, but a moderate bass boost.

Speaker connections are the standard, spring loaded black-red wire, so I suppose if you ever blow-out the stock speakers you can replace them with anything.

CONS

Only 10 watts a channel for a total of 20 (left & right). Not loud enough to annoy your neighbors, but loud enough for my wife & I to listen to in the bedroom.

The spring-loaded, retractable I-pod attachment occasionally sticks to the unit when it is pressed all the way into the unit.

LCD display is difficult to see due to very, thin LCD numbers & letters. You can basically only see it if you are directly in front of it.

Blue light at night is a little too bright, but might be OK for a kids' night light.

AM/FM tuner has no "seek" function. You must manually search each radio station.

Awkward looking AM, plastic antenna (about 3" X 4" plastic rectangle) that you must hook up if you listen to AM, but the FM antenna is just your standard, thin black wire.

Overall, my wife & I are mildly satisfied with the unit so far. It's a step up from the ancient cassette boom box it replaced. It works very well with the Apple I-pod, so I highly recommend it. It's not super loud, but it's loud enough for my wife & I. Great stereo for the bedroom, office or small apartment and that uses very, little space.

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I went to a store and saw this, then ordered it on Amazon. The one in the store was the one seen in the main picture.

There seems to be many models of this speaker system and they all have the same model number so it is impossible to know what one you will be getting through online merchants or Amazon and it is shameful that RCA has done this!

Even when you get the speaker system the image on the box and instructions do not look like what you get in the box.

The main picture graphic is not the same as what you will be getting. The Speaker on your right will not look like that and rather the speaker system will come with two of the speakers that are on the left side of the image.

Another change is the Ipod dock at the bottom of the speaker system. The Ipod dock does not slide in when not in use to keep dirt and dust off of it. The Ipod dock stays out to collect dust and dirt and can not be manually pushed in when not in use like the store model that I saw.

Overall this system has more audio connectors then most speaker systems I have seen. It gives you all audio connector options available to have two more Ipods or Zunes hooked into it if you have the correct cables plus the Ipod dock that is already built in.

The system looks really nice but when it is off there is an ugly light that looks like a red ring. The sound quality is like every other speaker system in it's price range. It sounds ok.

The only two bad things I thought were the following. I feel these almost ruin the whole experience for Ipod and Zune users alike.

1) The buttons are so small and need so much force to push them in. The system is such light plastic that when you press in on any button you have to hold the system or the force from the amount that you need to push the buttons in to make them function moves the whole system. You will need to use the remote that is included so this does not happen. What is the point of the remote when you need to be within a few feet to see the Ipod or Zune screen. Almost makes the remote pointless unless you are using the cd drive. It's Very annoying for Ipod and Zune users.

2) The Ipod dock does not close like the store model that I loved and I'm disappointed in that since the dock will collect a lot of dust.

Overall this is an ok system but has it's flaws. No speaker system is perfect.

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This product was purchased as a gift for a 15 year old girl. She loves the product. The sound is great (and loud)! Great buy for the money.

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Purchased as a gift. Receiver had a profound need for a new stereo and has expressed complete satisfaction with this stereo system and has not had a problem with the item. Worth the money spent.

I've had this system for several months and up until recently have been pleased with the sound quality. I have my computer & TV hooked up to it and it does produce good distinct sound for a 20 watt system. The build quality is really disappointing in that it is plastic and VERY light weight. The IPod dock is in a fixed position so it does collect dust & dirt. As I don't own an IPod, this is not a big deal to me. The problem I have with it is that it now has a tendency to randomly produce a very loud "buzzing" at random times while in use. I don't know whether this is a "normal" problem that occurs if it's to close to other electronics or just it's lack of quality. I've had 2 other micro-systems ( a Phillips & Magnavox ) that had no problems whatsoever and lasted several years. Thankfully, I did not buy this radio at full price, so I'm not TOO upset. However, because of the "buzzing" and the cheap build, I honestly would recommend that this radio be avoided. RCA, in my opinion, was a very good company whose products lasted. It's unfortunate that their "bottom line" seems to dictate quality and value anymore.

Myself, I'm going back to Sony as I've not had any major issues or problems with their products.

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Sony Ericsson LT15a Xperia Arc Unlocked Phone with Android 2.3 and 4.2-Inch Multi-Touch Display--U.S

I previously owned an Experia X10 which I was content with as my first smart phone venture but after purchasing the Experia Arc, I can clearly see how flawed the X10 is. I won't go into the X10's problems since this is a review for the Arc. So that being said, will break down the review in categories. Looks, Software and Performance.

LooksOne sexy sleek phone hands down and one of the best looking phones on the market. The phone is super slim and the arc in the back actually adds to the sleekness. The back of the phone looks black but looking closely at it you can see it goes from a dark blue to a dark grey silver tone. But you have to look very close. The screen is beautiful at 4.2 inches and the sides of the phone are a chrome color which makes this phone look very classy and heavy, yet it's not heavy at all and pretty light.

SoftwareA huge flaw of the x10 was the lack of updates and an ancient android operating system. I am happy to say this phone comes with the latest 2.3 gingerbread operating system which includes flash for pc like web surfing, more stability, pinch zoom and the ability to download the latest apps requiring the latest operating system. Sony Ericsson has also perfected their skins and proprietary merged os. The system is much more responsive as well.

PerformanceAs stated before, this phone is stable, smooth and pretty quick. Sony is touting it's display as a display infused with their bravia engine technology which in short is just a gimick in terms of the home screen but does improve the picture in the camera and video departments. I compared the x10 with this and found very little difference in the home screen but the camera function is clearly better on this set and better than other phones I have compared. Still the samsung oled and iphone retina displays are still the best in the business. Even so the camera display comes pretty close to those phones.

On a side note, the recharging on this phone is super fast! about half an hour to an hour and it's fully recharged. 15 minutes and it's and it's 30 percent recharged. The standby time is also really good and impressed with the life of the batter during constant internet use.

I bought this phone unlocked and it only works on AT&T's network but definitely worth the price and piece of mind knowing i'm not held on contract anymore. Wonderful phone and kind of like that this phone isn't offered widely in the US as it's very unique and gets lots of looks. It seems like the whole world has an iphone these days and I feel like I have something most people don't, and I do. :)

Quick Update: As of 11/7/11 my phone still working like a champ. I just wanted to update everyone on a recent update for the phone. The update provides slight improvements such as advanced face book integration, screen capture, Zoom in HD camera 3D capability, new themes, icon pics in created files, better recording sound and speaker volume. The only updates I found any interest in was the screen capture which is a great feature to have and the zoom on HD camera. Otherwise all other updates just okay. The 3D capability sucks, All it does is allow you to take 3D pics in panorama view but in order to view it in 3d you need a 3D capable tv along with the 100 dollar glasses! Either way, it's nice to get some updates as giving it's unlocked status I thought I would'nt get any updates.

The LT15A Xperia Arc (Anzu) is simply amazing, this 1GHz single core processor holds its own against many of the current dual cores out there, even beating the SG SII in some areas. Its construction feels rock solid, and there are plenty of after market cases, accessories and mods on the internet for very cheap.

There is however some bad news, the stock Sony apps and Sony bloatware weigh the handset down immensely. Your apps, the ones you actually want to run, are constantly competing for system resources with the stock Sony apps which are constantly running in the background, needlessly hogging resources and gobbling up precious battery life. The Sony apps for the most part are not removable, and insist on residing in the tiny phone memory as opposed to the massive SD card, making life a constant battle to keep enough room free for daily operations.

Luckily there is also some good news, there is a replacement Android firmware called Cyanogenmod that is offered for free. Cyanogenmod replaces the stock Sony Android system, allowing you total control over the apps and many other previously restricted customization features. The catch is that you must unlock the handset's bootloader, thus voiding the warranty from the manufacturer. If you plan to do this, it is a good idea to wait a few months at least until you're reasonable satisfied you didn't receive a lemon. It is also recommended that you have a moderate level of technical expertise to perform this operation, as if not you may end up rendering your handset inoperable while in the process of voiding your warranty.

I literally hated this handset until I removed the Sony software, the Sony apps were so intrusive, obnoxious and persistent, it made me want to chuck it out the window on more than one occasion. After installing Cyanogenmod, the Arc went from being a mediocre and mildly frustrating smartphone to full fledged superphone. Apps that used to take thirty seconds to open now take ten. There is so much space on the internal handset memory I can load it up with all my most frequently used programs for faster access. The battery lasts many hours longer on standby, and can now sustain heavy internet use all day instead of just half a day as it did before.

To sum it all up, if you're someone who isn't interested in heavy customization and just wants a smartphone that works smoothly out of the box, buy an iPhone or a BB. However if you are someone who is interested in a pocket sized supercomputer and doesn't mind a bit of hassle to get it up and running properly, the Xperia Arc is an excellent choice.

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No way this product can be better, it is lightweighted, functional, fast, durable battery and way too good to be true, keep doing this Sony

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Good: Easy to use, fast, big screen, high quality videos and photos

The bad: time battery life is very short, this disadventage by far all the virtues of this cell.

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I bought this because I've always been a fan of Ericsson phone. I previously had the Xperia X10a and when it broke (to no fault of the phone) I decided to upgrade to the Arc. This phone is slick and gorgeous to look at and the high-definition screen is crisp and clear. The display is far more responsive than most of the phones I've used, too. As usual, Sony Ericsson's efforts show in their heavily modified version of Gingerbread (and the available Honeycomb update). The music player, video player and camera are greatly improved over the default Android programs stylistically and functionally. The high resolution camera makes this phone better than the stand-alone camera I already had. This phone also includes programs that noticeably boost the sound and image capabilities. Everything else has been aesthetically improved and additional Ericsson created apps turn the phone into a wholly integrated social device. Yet, all of the modifications do not interfere with the capabilities of the phone. You are still free to modify and fiddle with it to your hearts content. Receiving it unlocked ensured I'd be getting the complete functionality of the device (e.g. tethering and compatibility with my provider).

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Archos 35 Home Connect 4GB

• The web radio evolves with Android thanks to the ARCHOS Home Connect and its 3.5 inch touchscreen
• The ARCHOS Home Connect includes two built in high definition speakers in specially designed cases for improved bass
• As the ARCHOS Home Connect is light and has an extra-long battery-life you can take the great sound with you around the home and beyond.

I fell in love with the concept of this device when I stumbled on it @ Archos' website. Unfortunately, the execution fell short, primarily in how much Archos skimped on quality of the touchscreen. If any device ever cried out for OLED (a screen technology where light is emitted by each individual pixel rather than one big back light), this would be it. In its night mode where it shows the time in white with the rest of the display black, this low-contrast backlit display still lights up a dark room enough that my wife complained about sleep quality on night 2. The display's touch response is abysmal as well for anything beyond tapping simple scrolling gestures through my music are often misinterpreted, and the display is so small that only three or four items are displayed in many lists, making it difficult to find your place again when it scrolls too much.

On the plus side, the speakers were better than I would have expected from a device of this size & weight.

If Archos thinks they needed to hit a certain price point to make an alarm clock viable, fine, but they should offer a more expensive model that's the same, just with a higher-res and more touch-responsive OLED. I still like the concept enough that I'd take them up on it.

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Boy this is a tough review to write. As an alarm clock, the Archos

1) Does everything you need to make a perfect alarm clock

2) Does them all poorly.

Where do I start? I guess with the screen, the resistive screen works OK to push buttons, but scrolling, which is a breeze on any cellphone, is an exercise in frustration here, sometimes it scrolls, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes it thinks you want to push a button.

The other major annoyance is the clock. The dimmer is too bright, so you have to point the clock at the wall otherwise it shines in you eyes. The other thing is the clock has a timeout you cannot switch off, so instead of the nice clock you can see in some screenshots, you get a dull green clock that bounces around the screen. Also, the clock is not the main screen, it's an application, so you are constantly going back to the main screen then pushing the clock application button.

The clock comes preset with appslib as the default android market. This pales in comparison to the Google market, you cannot browse for apps on you computer, and browsing on the clock is frustrating, so you end up browsing the Google market then searching on AppsLib once you have found the app you like. The Archos is compatible with the fewest apps I have ever seen, about 70% pf the apps are not compatible.

Now for some good news. The radio is fantastic, and the music app is very good. Also, and the most satisfying thing is, if you do not like the way something works, you can find a new app and substitute that. I customized my Archos as follows:

Replaced the clock app with Alarm Clock Plus. Its the same app as installed, but the market version has more options, including the option to turn off the screensaver. Added Google voice so I can listen to podcasts. Added Mortplayer so I can listen to audiobooks. Added Arctools to get the Google Market. Added Shuttle FTP server so I can transfer files between my computer and the Archos over the WiFi.

So now I have an alarm clock that is designed the way I want it, with functions I need. Thats the good news. Does that negate the poor screen navigation, lack of apps compatibility, and the too bright screen? Not sure, I have decided to keep the Archos, but as soon as someone else come out with a better android alarm clock, I'm first in line to buy it.

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I had been waiting for the release of this for a while because I thought that it would make a good internet radio and alarm clock.

First impressions are good. Immediately on unpacking and turning it on, it found my wifi network (but it, as so many other wifi gadgets only works on basic configuration routers-no 5Ghz here). It then performed a firmware upgrade.

After that, it was a case of entering in email details and logins, and it was good to go.

It has Tunein Pro-a bonus, as I was only expecting the basic version. Sound volume is good, and the quality not bad at all.

The alarm clock works fine, with lots of options.

It's rechargeable, but the battery only seems to last about 4 hours. Maybe it will improve with use. The manual warns against leaving the usb charger plugged in, but I'm going to ignore that. Having to plug and unplug it all the time when it's sitting on the bedside table being an alarm clock would be a bit of a pita.

All in all, I'm glad that I bought it.

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I love this thing. The speakers sound great and the actions are responsive. Just a few problems resistive (physical pressure based) screen and the action buttons don't light up. So if you are a gadget snob, don't buy this. It isnt a modern miracle piece of technology. But if you want a great little android stereo then you'll be pleased like me.

I have to admit there are a few minor nuisances, as with any Android device and any touchscreen device, but overall, it is about the most brilliant "clock radio" I have ever seen.

My two biggest complaints are that the little icons for home, back arrow, settings, etc., should be illuminated if possible, and I don't really like the way the USB power cord plugs into the rear; it can make the radio a little unstable. But these are minor.

Perfect size and remarkably good sound for that size. The ability to load my own music, listen to TuneIn Radio Pro, including local stations, is just what I wanted.

I can go to sleep listening to the radio or music of my choice

I can glance at the clock and see the time and temperature.

And of course it is an alarm clock.

It has a variety of apps preloaded and available, much like any Android phone does. For the most part I don't see the need to play angry birds on a clock radio or use it as an internet browser or calculator, but I suppose these could be nice options for some.

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