Memorex Dual Alarm Audio System for iPhone/iPod

• Powers and charges your iPod devices with docking capability.
• Dual alarm settings - wake to iPhone, iPod, radio, or buzzer; Everyday, Weekdays, or Weekends.
• Wake to your iPod, radio, or buzzer (volume increases gradually every 5 seconds until maximum volume setting is reached.
• Batter back-up function (2 AAA sold separately).
• Syncs day and time from your iPhone or iPod

I haven't had any problems with this dock, but the quality of sound and volume are not very good. It is just an ordinary bedside clock radio with an ipod dock.

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My husband bought one of these for our son and it worked for a while unfortunately during which he also bought one for me as I thought it was a neat unit. Within under 4 months the first unit doesn't even turn on you can press the power switch and nothing happens even with the remote you cannot turn it on. Mine is fairly useless as you cannot charge your iPhone on it which was a big part of its intended use upon purchase. The opportunity to return time is very short go figure! so were stuck with them. Buy something else!!! May be best to stick with an Apple product??

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I use an Otterbox case for my iPhone 4 and this is the 2nd Memorex product I have bought that you have to completely take apart the case to dock the iPhone. The alarm works fine and the Sync button allows you to Sync the clock to your phone so you do not have to set the time. However, as big as the product is, you would expect higher quality sound from speakers that sound no better than an alarm clock. Even at the $20 I paid locally, I am taking this item back.

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I have an ipod touch 4th gen and my sister got me this dock for my birthday. It worked great thr first couple of times and had really good sound quality. However, eventually my ipod would not connect. I even had apple send me a brand new ipod but still only would work a couple times. I know it's probably a defect in the ipod but, i got another dock which works just fine. Does anyone else have this problem?

I purchased this product today. I was a little worried about the brand name, but after using it, I was impressed. The sound quality is very good and it charges my Iphone 4. I also Liked the having my phone sitting in front of the unit so it cant get knocked off. It has 2 alarms and tested them both and work great. Buttons are easy to function and overall i am impressed with this product.

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Supersonic IQ2011 / IQ-2011 / IQ-2011 Micro Stereo System

• Charges Your IPod When It Is Docked
• Full-range Dynamic Speaker Performance
• Auxiliary In Jack - Add An MP3 Device Of Another Brand
• Plays CD/CD-R/CD-RW - Will Play CD Discs

My son needed a good and easy to use Stereo, fitting for his room & also compatible with his Ipod.

All expectations met!

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We gave this to our 13 year old daughter for Christmas so it has only been a few days but so far so good. She loves it! Nice size, charges her iPod and she loves the fact it lights up when her iPod is in it. She also likes the sleep feature so that she can listen to her music while she is falling asleep but doesn't stay on all night. Only drawback I can see so far is that you have to be pretty much straight in front of it to use the remote but not a huge deal. She likes it.

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Ipod, cd and radio all works great, its sleek and is a great value, I bought for the living room and its more than sufficient sound

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There was no indication that this was a used system and I intended it as a gift. The stereo itself was scratched, the box was tore and ripped all up on the front and it the speakers were scuffed.

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Sony ICFC05iP 30-Pin iPod Alarm Clock Speaker Dock

• Compatibility: iPod mini; iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G; iPod classic 4G, 5G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod touch 1G, 2G; iPhone 1G, 3G, 3GS
• Wake or sleep to iPod/iPhone, FM radio, or buzzer
• Digital FM radio tuner with 20 user presets
• Sleep timer adjustable to 15, 30, 60, or 90 minutes
• Backup battery keeps time in the event of power outages

First time in ages I've had to read the instructions for a clock step-by-step, but it was oh-so-worth-it. How nice to charge my iPhone on my nightstand and not have to fumble for it in the morning, and even better, to awaken to music of my own choosing! The display is easy to read, the iPhone fits snugly and easily into the dock, and now that I've figured out how it works, it'll be fine. I'll want to keep the instructions on hand, though, for future reference (but the fact that it's not intuitive will help keep it safe from my college-aged daughter who likes to steal everything when she comes home on the weekend). The speakers sound much better than I expected for a clock this size, too--another pleasant surprise.

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Sony ICF-C05iP Clock Radio for iPod (White)

My favorite thing about this alarm clock is not the ipod feature which is why I purchased it, but it's the different settings for the display. The display can be bright, dim, dimmer or off with a tap to the snooze button.

I also agree with the first reviewer that it was not and intuitive set-up. I had to refer to the set of instructions for the first time in years!

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Ourchased as Christmas gift and went over like gang busters! This is a great IPOD Alarm Clock. Lots of features...has multiple dimmer settings for the display, summer DST button in back (just push and is set for daylight savings time, and they found it fairly easy to set up. They really loved the small footprintof the clock. It is not more than 5" L and 4" W. Very nice and great price!

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What I like about this alarm clock is that it keeps my iPod charged and ready to go while allowing me to wake to the music I choose. I also appreciate that when the power goes out and comes back on my clock still has the correct time. That said, there are several things about this unit that I do not like.

As with previous reviewers I had to "read the instructions" and they are not intuitive so I too need to continue keeping the instructions near the clock.

I was initially drawn by the bright or less bright feature of the display but the reality is that I simply can't read this clock at any brightness without my glasses on at night a problem I did not have when I was using a colored LCD display. It may simply be that this clock is not for folks with astigmatism. For those without eyesight difficulties this should present no problem.

After I finally got an iPod nano, I decided I wanted a radio for it, one that included an alarm. I looked through review after review of models by iHome, RCA, Sony, and others. I didn't want to spend too much money, since I would only use it for the alarm and occasionally as a radio. I have had a Sony CD Clock/Radio for nearly 10 years, and until this past year, it worked great (the CD player finally died, but the clock and radio still work.). I decided to get this model at Christmas, and I have been very pleased with it so far. The sound is surprisingly good for such a small speaker set. I have no trouble setting the alarm to just the song I want, and while some have complained that it is difficult to work initially, I had no problem with it. As long as this little thing works at its current level for a year or two, I will be supremely satisfied with it. I would definitely recommend this to others, and buy another down the road. Works with the latest generation nano, though it is not listed on the specs.

**Update

I will say that sadly this radio did not last forever. About a year after I got it, the iPod dock stopped working. However, I loved it so much that I bought another, which is still working. When it dies, I'll buy another!

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SpongeBob Clock Radio

The SpongeBob Alarm Clock was picked out by my 4.5 year old son. He viewed many on Amazon, and settled on this one. I was a little hesitant due to it's price tag, but he loved it so much, I decided to purchase it.

The clock is cute and squishy. It's adorable how SpongeBob pops up at the sound of the alarm. I like the blue backlit face. (You can adjust this setting...off, low, or high). I also like how the snooze goes off every 5 minutes, as opposed to a longer time between snoozes.

Some downfalls...

1. I cannot get the radio to operate. It does not function at all. I know that I could return the product due to this malfunction, but it isn't terribly important to me.

2. If you are purchasing this as a 'first' alarm clock for a preschooler, beware. He/She may be scared of it, even though it is a beloved character. When the SpongeBob pops up, it actually made me jump a bit. My son is a little weary of it being in his room.

3. The instructions are so poorly written. The English grammar is quite hysterical. For example, here is a sentence written verbatim: "If set radio as alarm sound, alarm on keep last 15 minute."

I would have given the alarm clock more stars if the price was about $20 less than it currently is. Overall summary: not worth $50+.

The color is very dull and not as picture. You get a couple of choices for the alarm sound, the radio doesn't work well for me, and I wish the alarm was louder. Oh and the plug is very heavy...that thing could be a weapon!!!!

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I got this for my grandson for his birthday and he truly loves it. The "eyes" come up for him to push down when the alarm goes off, therefore he wants the alarm set every night. He likes getting up for preschool by himself.

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Supersonic SC-117 3" TFT Display with DVD/CD Receiver, AM/FM Radio & Detachable Panel

• Manufactured to the Highest Quality Available.
• Meets the standard of excellence.
• Latest Technical Development.

I was very sceptical of buying this brand name but i took the plung anyway and was please, the screen is very good it plays usb very good the reading of the usb is quick very good quality audio i simply have no regrets

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Sony Ericsson W300i Unlocked Cell Phone with MP3/Video Player, Memory Stick Micro Slot--Internationa

I've owned the W300i for a year and I love it. I've tried just about every major brand of cell phone, and this Sony is great. This phone has the best call quality of any phone I've owned. No static, and people tell me I sound great on their end too. My battery gives me 4 days of standby even with regular phone use, so I don't understand the complaints. My owners manual is written in English and you can download a PDF of it online. I added a one GB micro mem stick for the Walkman part, which works great. The headphones are good, but they don't work well as a hand's free device, too much bass. The layout is intuitive. The camera is so-so, but I don't need mega-quality for that. It's lightweight and comfortable carry and talk on. Good call volume as well.

The only negative is the crazy key shape which makes it extremely difficult to accurate typing on. I don't know who designed the keys should be shot.

Bottom line, if you are primarily interested in call quality and reception, you can't go wrong with this phone. I'm going to stick with Sony phones from now on unless they let me down, and they haven't with this one.

I have the Chinese version of the phone, the 300c. Other than the start language they appear to be the same phone. My manual came in Chinese, but Sony's website has the English version of the 300i manual which I saved and use.

I like the phone as a phone very much. It works well. It doesn't lose calls often. Battery life is outstanding.

The ringer could be louder.

I upgraded the memory to 4gb and use the phone for music on long flights. When it works, it works fine. The Walkman functions do seem to glitch often. This is easily solved by a quick off and back on, but is annoying.

The external earphone adapter's bottom cover fell off. It still works. It just looks ugly covered in electrical tape.

The Walkman function faults, and lack of durability on accessories are why only 3 stars.

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This phone has all the features, but it has broken down TWICE in a year. I had one phone replaced on warranty with another phone. They both broke down. Some of the keypad buttons mysteriously just stop working. I wish that I had never bought this phone.

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I ordered this phone December 20, and it was at my door on the 23rd!! The phone is fantastic for eases of use, battery life, and graphics. I could not have spent my money any better. The price is low compared to others and well worth every penny.

DDavis

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excelente!!! muy buenos todo precfecto, muy recomendables de primera muy util precfecto pra lo que queria y de muy buena calidad

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Audiovox SIR-PNP2 Sirius Satellite Radio Receiver

• Listen to over 100 streams of Sirius satellite radio programming
• Receiver has 30 presets, 20-song memory, and a remote control; features 6-line amber monochrome display with auto dimming feature
• Can automatically alert you to your favorite songs or switch to a stream at preselected time
• Requires home or vehicle antenna kit, plus subscription to Sirius service
• Measures 5.2 x 3.4 x 1.9 inches (W x H x D)

Sirius satellite should be considered a great complement to your audio system, whether in home or car. It should not be considered an end all to music selection. It will not replace CDs, mp3s or typical over the air radio. Once this expectation is established, it's good to see Sirius as a decent addition to those who love music.

First off, how much does it cost? You'll need a receiver, then a docking system for the home or office. Then there is a setup fee. So you're looking at a little under $200 to get started. Quite a huge investment for just checking out a new type of radio. I would advise getting Sirius professional installed in your car, unless you don't mind wire flaying around when you drive while looking at a tacking do it yourself setup. Also, if you want both home and office, you'll have to buy a boombox. This can run to about $350 total. Quite pricey, especially when it doesn't include any monthly fees.

Secondly, how about the reception? It's surprisingly well in my car, but does suffer some dark spots when you go under a tunnel or when travelling through a tree line street. However, I was unable to get any signal in neither my home nor my office, so don't automatically assume that it will work at your home. The only consolation is that if you sign up for Sirius, you get monthly web access.

Thirdly, how about the playlist? The best way to describe Sirius's playlist is probably a lot breadth, but not quite a lot of depth. For music, unless you love every type of music available, you'll actually only have about 10 music stations to listen to. For example, all Classical, Latin, Electronic, Jazz, Children and Love stations are absolutely useless to me as this not my type of music. In terms of sports, it's got the NFL, NBA, and if ever, NHL. The best game for radio, baseball, is with XM satellite, which is a huge bummer. Many of the news stations and entertainment stations are just audio replays of audio stations, so it's got commercials and aren't altogether suited for radio. For example, you'll hear, "take a look at this replay". Well, I can't look, it's radio. All in all, the talk and music is the equivalent of doubling the FM and AM radio stations of a big city. You'll still listen to your normal stations, but the number of stations will be expanded.

Fourthly, how about the receiver itself? It's pretty good. The display is huge. You get to see the band or song name before switching to a different station. I love that. It can store 20 songs, which, when one of the songs comes up, the receiver will beep and give you the option of changing to that station. The only small problems were that sometimes the stored songs didn't come up, and the turn wheel will lacks a grip, which is annoying when driving.

Fifthly, what were some of the major problems of Satellite radio? Besides the high cost for the equipment, the fact that they charge an activation fee was annoying. I'm willing to pay a monthly fee, do I need to add another fee to that? Secondly, the nickel and diming continues with the fact that the receiver contains no basic antenna nor power supply. You must buy a docking kit no matter what. I bought a car docking kit, but it only had a power supply for the cigarette lighter, which meant that all setup has to be done outdoors, in the car, with the car running. I couldn't even test it to see if it would work indoors, so I had to buy a boombox to test, only to find out it didn't work, and then return the boombox. A cheap home AC/DC power supply included in the docking kit would have saved me hours without costing me fifty dollars for the other docking system. Also, the customer service is not that great. The people on phone are nice, but you have to endure the navigation system along with a large self-serving tirade about how well Sirius radio is before you can get to the menu. In order to get stream player access, you have to e-mail them for the password, but no one bothered to reply to my e-mail, so I had to call them again. When the company won't give you the password for the free web access, and won't reply when you follow the website instructions, it gets annoying. Another thing is the repetitiveness and limiting factors of the playlist. Some of the bands I'm interested in, Carbon Leaf, the Streets, Perfect Circle, Tool groups that I thought should appear for paid radio, are not really there. However, Ashlee Simpson, Maroon 5 and Leonard Skynard are pretty much on 24/7. Not quite the original playlists I was hoping to get.

Finally, what were some of the things that surprised me? First off, it's still cool. To be free of Clear Channel's chokehold on music radio is great. The web access is free. XM charges you about four dollars a month, making it more expensive monthly if you use web access. If you get Dish Network, the music stations are there already to listen through over your television. If you don't get Dish Network, you can get a free preview via the web for three days. Nice. Finally, I've become acquainted with many bands that I would not have known or just barely remember. It's nice to hear Traffic, Public Enemy, Guns and Roses, Flogging Molly, N.W.A., etc.

So, all in all, it's a nice complement, but it's no magic musical panacea.

Pros:

Song preview

20 Memory Storage

Large display

Free online access after signing up

Free 3-day online preview

Cons:

Nickel and diming

Very repetitive song list

Entertainment and News is Just a Replay of Television

Customer Service is lacking

Signal cannot be received in many places.

Minimum Setup Cost ~ 200 dollars

Optimal Setup Cost ~ 350 dollars

Monthly Cost ~ 13 dollars

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The first thing I'd like to give here is a warning NPR lovers beware. The NPR stream available here is probably not what you expect. Check out NPR /Sirius websites to see what it offers before buying. NPR was my biggest reason for buying Sirius over xm.

Overall though, I am thrilled, the BBC stream is tremendous, the music channels are varied and play a great collection of music inside their genres. The sports channels let me hear NHL and NBA games now and will let me hear every NFL game.

The product is good, not perfect, but well conceived. Setup was simple and 10 minutes after purchase I was up and running, the auto adaptor broadcasts on the four 88.x fm channels.

In short I recommend the product, but educate yourself carefully to make sure you know what you're getting.

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Let me start by saying that I've listened to both XM and Sirius, and Sirius' programming is far superior. The streamhosts, though they do talk a little bit, bring a ton of knowledge and programming savvy to the streams. And the variety is very good. And I really like that subscribers can listen to the music channels online for free.

As for the Audiovox receiver: I bought the receiver, the car kit and the home kit. I'm giving it 4 stars because it's pretty good and easy to operate. I like the "memo" feature that allows you to find your favorite songs no matter what stream they're on. And the remote control is nice for home use.

But it does have some annoying issues that should give most people pause.

As mentioned by several others here, the tuner runs very hot during continuous use. Don't make the mistake of leaving the radio on without the car running. Mine got so hot sitting in my parked car (it was about 80 degrees that day) that the screen blacked out and it wouldn't work until I shut it down and let it cool off.

I also moved the receiver and antenna from one car to another one, and in the process broke the antenna connector plug. It's really poorly made. The jack is difficult to plug and unplug, and there's a weak point that breaks easily. You have to really tug on it to unplug it. I tried soldering the plug back together, but that didn't work. I'm going to have to spend $50 to get a replacement antenna. Solution: If you have two cars, buy two car kits.

And now that Sirius is on Dish Network, it defeats the purpose of having a receiver in my living room.

In hindsight, I should have bought a car-only receiver that hooked into my stereo.

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The receiver has two issues that have to be considered. First this guy gets really hot. Both in the car and in the home. Heat was the cause of a failure of this item in my house (the fm modulator died) Audiovox did send me a free replacement, but I was out of use for a few weeks. The other issue is signal strength. The FM modulator could use a boost. When traveling, I have to change the frequency to get a solid signal. Otherwise I get interference from other stations in the 88.1 to 88.7 range. Is there something better? I tried the JVC and it's cooler, but the signal strength of the FM modulator is no better.

First XM or Sirrius I chose sirius only for the programming I was leaning towards XM but the entire NFL plus WABC out of New York and 790 the Zone out of Atlanta made me choose sirius.

I bought it mainly for the news talk -comedy channels but the Music Stations are great My daughter and I can finally agree on some of the music channels which is a nice change. The traffic / weather reports are much more detailed than on the standard Atlanta radio.

The sound is great in the car. It made my 98 Neon (please don't laugh) a great little car again that is fun to drive. The hour drive to work is enjoyable and more relaxing. I also bought the boombox and move the unit from the car to the boombox easily.

I rarely lose signal and then it's when I'm parked under an overhang like a gas station filling up. Every once in a while the signal may or may not drop while driving under very heavy trees and then just a split second. On the drive to work I expected to lose signal in the parking deck, but there must be a terrestial antennea nearby and no signal loss. I do not even need the antennae on the boombox at work.

The car adapter that came with this knocks a point off. It is an FM modulator. Meaning I tune the radio to 88.1 (or .3 .5 .7) depending on which frequncy I use on the adpater. Atlanta has an 88.1 and a 88.5 radio station so I set the PNP2 set to 88.3. 99.5% it works great. But 88.5 must boost the power output and bleeds into the 88.3 band which causes very minor static sometimes. Since Satellite radio is so much better than FM I removed the car antennae completely I don't listen to anything else but the Sirius Radio.

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Tenergy Centura AAA Low Self-Discharge LSD NiMH Rechargeable Batteries, 1 Card 4xAAA

• Very slow self discharge maintains 85% residual capacity after 1 year of storage and 70% residual capacity after 2 years of storage
• Exact replacement for standard AAA size battery in all the devices
• Designed for enhanced performance for high drain applications such as digital cameras, CD players,portable audio devices
• Can be recharged for up to 1000 times, providing big saving by replacing hundreds of throw away AAA batteries.
• Can be rapidly charged with any quick charger, smart chargers, plug in charger or universal chargers
• Designed for hand held games, 2-way radios, PDAs, and other portable high drain digital electronics

I don't have much confidence in Tenergy products in general. But the Tenergy Centura AAA Low Self-Discharge (LSD) NiMH Rechargeable Batteries are presently available at ~50% the cost of Sanyo Eneloop AAA. So I took a chance and was pleasantly surprised. Here are my test results, using my old La Crosse BC-900 Battery Charger:

Right out of the package, the average remaining charge measured was only 237mAh, or 30% of the rated capacity of '800mAh'.

After the first recharge, the average capacity jumped up to 898mAh!

After another two discharge/recharge cycles, the average peaked at 900mAh. The spread is quite small, with minimum=880mAh and maximum=922mAh.

In comparison, Sanyo eneloop AAA typically arrives with ~75% of rated capacity, and the average capacity after 2 cycles is 830-840mAh. So the Tenergy Centura, while marketed as an eneloop clone, actually delivered ~7% higher capacity than eneloop.

The measured capacity of Tenergy Centura is higher than all other LSD AAA cells I have tested except for PowerEx Imedion AAA. The Imedion AAA is rated for '950mAh', and delivers 975mAh average capacity under the same test conditions. But of course the price for Imedion is much higher.

I still have one concern: the performance charts provided by Tenergy claim that the capacity of Centura AAA is within 1% variation from that of eneloop, but why did I measure ~7% higher capacity instead? It is possible that Centura cells have actually improved in capacity, or maybe they are made by two different suppliers, one with higher capacity than the other. In any case, the present low price of Centura makes it an irresistible deal. You got to start picking while the picking is good.

[Aside]

Make sure you shop around for the best unit-price. As of this writing, the Tenergy Centura 12xAAA package is actually more expensive than three 4-pack, after you factor in shipping cost.

[Update on Oct 9, 2011]

Long term self-discharge data: After 92 days in storage, a pair of Tenergy Centura AAA cells retained 83.3% of the original charge. This proves that they are indeed LSD type, although the charge retention rate is slightly worse than advertised ("85% after 12 months").

[Update on Dec 5, 2011]

Tested a second pair of Centura AAA cells after 5 months. The average remaining charge is 739mAh, or 81.2% of original measured capacity of 910mAh. Another way of look at it: those cells have retained 92% of rated capacity of 800mAh. This is probably where the marketing claim of "85% after 12 months" came from.

Unlike the Tenergy Centura AA, those AAA cells did not suffer any capaity loss after storage. So I can fully reommend them without reservations.

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In spite of Centura's advertised similarity to Eneloop, Centura has a significantly higher self-discharge rate. I'd rate these batteries at about 4.3 stars (Price...5 stars, Capacity...5, Self discharge rate...3.) If they didn't advertise these batteries as retaining 90% capacity at 6 months and 85% at 1 year, I'd have given them 5 stars since they are a good value in an LSD. However, since they have a higher discharge rate than advertised (I'd say no better than average for a LSD), can't do it.

I've pretty much replaced all alkaline batteries with NiMH LSD. Most devices use AAs...cameras, flashlights, GPS, wireless devices etc. and they're loaded with the older Rayovac Hybrids and Eneloops. Have a couple which use AAA and they have Hybrids. When I saw the $5 price of 4 Tenergy Centura AAAs and the advertised comparison to Eneloop (generally considered the best LSD available), I couldn't resist a purchase to test and keep them as a backup.

As were previous reviewers, I also was impressed with initial capacity which was well above the 800 mAh rating. After a couple of discharge/recharge cycles on a LaCrosse BC-9009 at a 100 mA discharge rate, they yielded a capacity of 916, 880, 879, and 870 mAh. Pretty impressive for AAA rechargeables.

I initially intended to test capacity at 6 months and 1 year to determine discharge rate. However, after reading NLee's test at 92 days, decided to test a couple myself which now are at 110 days and have been stored in the basement at 60 to 65 degrees. The results: 916 mAh now down to 727 mAh...79% of initial capacity. 880 mAh down to 731...83% of initial capacity. Average the two and you have 81%...in line with NLee's results and already below the advertised 85% at 1 year. However, there is another way to look at this. These batteries are rated at 800 mAh so if you consider the percent of rated capacity, they now average 91% of it at a bit under 4 months. Although the discharge rate will likely decrease with time, given the past rate of discharge, it's pretty doubtful they'll lose no more than 1% over the next 2 months or maintain 85 percent at a year. To be fair, I'll test one battery at 6 months and the last at 1 year. If there's still 680 mAh (85% of 800 mAh) remaining at 1 year, I'll update this review and change the rating to a 5.

Would I recommend these batteries? Absolutely! They are a great value in a LSD! Get some of the major brand 800 mAh LSDs and you will pay twice the price, have less capacity, and see little change in discharge rate. However, if you want a LSD battery with that advertised 85% capacity at one year, it would seem you'll have to spend the extra money and get Eneloop.

_______________________________________________________________________________

(Update 1/2/12) Final testing. At six months (184 days) tested both remaining batteries for self-discharge rate. The results...879 mAh battery now 726...82% of initial and 91% of rated 800mAh. 870 mAh now 710...82% of initial and 89% of rated..

Ran all four batteries through 4 charge/discharge cycles to determine capacity loss under use. Including the initial preparation for testing, this represents a total of 7 cycles. Initial capacity/ Current/ percentage drop for the 4 batteries. 916/851/7%, 880/876/under1%, 879/866/1.5%, 870/836/4%.

Conclusion:It would appear that after about 3-4 months, discharge rate falls to about 1% per month...so although not quite up to Eneloop, its close to that advertised for the 800 mAh RATED capacity. Two of the batteries (880 & 879) held capacities reasonably well under use but the 870 showed a significant drop and the 916 was unacceptable. Although noteworthy that all capacities are still above rated capacity, I have little confidence that the 916 will stand up under long-term us. I would say I have two 5 star batteries, a 4 star...and a 3 star. My initial 4 star rating still holds.

Added note: Early purchasers, myself included, report near 900 mAh initial capacity while a more recent purchaser reports it near 800. This implies that Centura may have changed manufacturers or that they are branding products from two different manufacturers. My testing confirms significant variability in quality within a single lot. Long term durability of Centura remains an unknown. For those concerned about it, I would recommend Eneloop due to their well-established high quality in all aspects...especially considering the recent 40% jump in Amazon's Centura price.

Read Best Reviews of Tenergy Centura AAA Low Self-Discharge LSD NiMH Rechargeable Batteries, 1 Card 4xAAA Here

These batteries seem to be a fine replacement for the original Panasonic batteries that came with our Panasonic cordless phone set. After a month or so of use they are working fine, and much less expensive than anything else.

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Panasonic house phone set had 2 of 4 phones that never kept the charge. These batteries were the correct type. Read the reviews and tried them out. Very happy with them. Needed to be fully charged upon arrival, but put them in the phones and they charged up quickly. Great price too. With Prime delivery they got here in a snap.

With all the pre-charged batteries from different manufacturers out there now, there is no need for 1-time use alkaline batteries anymore.

Using my Lacrosee BC-700 battery charge/test function, the 4 "AAA" batteries performed as follows:

Battery 1 = 784 mAh

Battery 2 = 742 mAh

Battery 3 = 770 mAh

Battery 4 = 793 mAh

(See picture on customers' submitted images)

Straight from the box, the batteries show remaining voltages are between 1.30 to 1.31 volts (see pic above). All packs a little less juice compared to its rated capacity of 800 mAh. Compared to the more popular brands like Eneloops and Duracell, they performed not as good but not bad at all.

At the time of the review, they were available around 5 bucks which is the cheapest pre-charged batteries I can find.

I have been using pre-charged batteries for everything now, from toys, digital cameras, clocks, to remote controls.

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Eton S350DL AM/FM Shortwave Deluxe Radio Receiver (Black)

• Modern, high-performance field radio combined with classic styling, rugged construction, and military-style controls
• Accurate tuning across the AM, FM, and shortwave bands
• Features large tuning knob and a concentric, independent fine-tuning control knob
• Stereo line-level output, and jacks for supplementary AM, FM and shortwave antennas
• Can be powered with the included AC adapter, or via four "D" or four "AA" batteries

This is an improved version, for fifty dollars more, than the Grundig S350. It comes with nice headphones; it has stereo sound for the headphones; the 99-dollar Grundig has only mono through the headphone input; the speaker on the Deluxe is slightly bigger; but most significantly, the Deluxe version has been changed so that it does not drift away from the selected channel the way the old version did. Only a fastidious radio lover will want to spend the extra money since the drifting problem (I own both models) is quite minimal and doesn't in my case affect reception adversely.

This is a fun radio, easy to use, has a big stereo sound and has strong FM reception, the best you can find with a good speaker. The only better FM reception you'll find is in the Kaito 1103 but the Kaito has a tiny speaker.

For those who are disgruntled and disappointed with this radio, may I suggest that environmental limitations or areas that are "hostile to radio reception" can sometimes be so insurmountable that no radio can overcome them.

Post Script: The Kaito 1103 now has a cousin, the Kaito 1107 (currently available as the Degen 1107) that has equal reception as the 1103 but is, like the Grundig S350 DL, an analog radio. It's fifty bucks and has a bigger speaker than the 1103. So for a hundred dollars less, you can get similar performance as the Grundig in the Degen/Kaito DE1107.

Update: I've noticed that two AM stations, 1150 and 980, get overloaded with two stations blaring at the same time. Lack of filter, lack of SSB, AM reception that is "too good." I'm not sure. My Kaito 1103 and Grundig G4000, both compact radios with SSB feature, have excellent separation and do not overload. Of the two, the Grundig G4000 has superior AM and a bigger, warmer speaker.

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This S350DL is everything I need in a portable radio. Powered by D-cells which seem to last forever, the FM audio is fabulous for a $150 radio and long distant night time AM band reception is simply great. Just tune the well lit LCD display to a frequency and if there is anything on it worth listening to it's there.

The selectivity is tremendous with the bandwidth set to narrow. I live almost next door to a powerful station on 820KHz and like to listen to a weak one several hundred miles away on 810KHz, not a problem. No interference from the strong station.

My scant and no doubt obsolete communications theory always held that for great radio reception, double or even triple conversion receivers were the norm. Now I have a radio advertised with highly sensitive and selective latest state of the art single conversion analog tuner circuitry. What that means, I haven't a clue but I'm impressed.

The only negative thing I've found about the radio so far is that its fine tuning knob has a tendency to jump past the frequency you're trying to tune up to, then, when you tune back down it jumps past on the downside. I've heard this called backlash. Eventually you can get a lock on the exact frequency but it is a minor annoyance. Another thing that takes some getting used to is that I'm so used to push the button scanning type receivers, that rotating an old fashioned tuning knob several turns to get from the high end of a band to the low trys my patience. Overall I'm a happy camper and find this radio's good features far outweigh its bad.

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This radio has excellent features for someone who is either new to shortwave radio or just wanting a simple, user-friendly set of controls. Also perfect for those that like analogue-style controls that would be encountered on older radios. I have the S-350, the model that the S-350DL replaces. For general world band programme listening, this radio is fantastic. Outstanding speaker. Easy to read digital display includes backlight. Includes attenuator. Clock can be set to 24 hour time. Easy to carry anywhere. Robust antenna. Does not support SSB tuning, which you would need to tune in Ham radio. Same radio sold under Tescun name in other parts of the world.

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I've been using this radio for a few days now and really like it. It's above average. Forget the guy that says it has cheap knobs, plastic case, etc. It really does feel sturdy, has good selectivity and pulls in the distant stations as well. The only drawback that I wish this radio would have is some sort of memory for selected stations. But I can easily find my favorites manually. It's a lot of fun and the quality is evident. I would definitely recommend it based on price/quality. Another plus that is lacking in most radios of this type is the big speaker. Most Short Wave radios have a tiny speaker which is really bad. I don't know why they do this??? I would gladly pay more money for a bigger speaker with some sound to it.

I have had quite a few shortwave recievers, and this is by far the best one I've ever had! (Under a thousand dollars). It holds up to abuse, lasts forever on a set of batteries, and has fantastic reception! The "hard" antenna works far better than any other model I've ever owned, and if you take the time to hook up a "soft" antenna, look out you'll get so many signals you will have to use your gain and filter switch to sort them out. I have nothing at all bad to say about this model, infact I now own two! If you want a pocket unit, try the Grundig mini-300, but if you want to listen to shortwave from all over the world, save money on batteries, have crystal clear reception, and ease of use, this is it! It really isn't as bulky as you think, and you'll never regret owning this one!

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iLive ITP582B Sound Bar with Play and Charge Dock for iPhone/iPod(Black)

• Made for iPod and iPhone - iPod and iPhone authentication IC, Play and charge your device at the same time, Includes RCA stereo audio cable, component video cable, mounting hardware and instructions, Remote control: requires 2 AA batteries (pre-installed), Powered via the built-in AC power cable

I wanted to buy this from amazon last week but it wasn't 79.99. I ended up getting in from K-Mart(I know right?). This thing does pack a punch. It greatly amplifies the sound on my tv, it can get really loud and sports some nice bass for a simple system. I mainly wanted this for my TV, but it works great with your ipod/iphone as well (except for the 5). The remote that is included is very good! You can turn the device on and off and change the source of where the sound comes from and the eq. I would recommend this to anyone who isn't an audiophile and just wants to get a much better sound from their flat screen tv which are notorious for having poor stock speakers.

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Has all the features I wanted, just lacks power. Still better that the tv sound and I really like the way it looks.

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first of all, I really enjoy the clock and ipod dock, its great, but the functionality of the product is whack, it says you can hook up to a tv and watch videos. Well, good luck with that because I work on electronics and this kind of stuff comes easy to me, and this sound bar is not easy to use! the ease of use is not ease at all, the way it works just doesn't make sense, the engineering is sub par at best

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This product was exactly what I was looking for and was disappointed that I couldn't find one to work. The first one I received did not have any working inputs besides the iPod dock so I was not able to hook it up to my TV. The replacement bar had all of the inputs working but produced a high pitch noise whenever it was turned on. So I gave up and moved onto another make and model of soundbar. I can't recommend this one to anybody.

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Great features are the iPod / iPhone dock, ease of mounting and it's ability to 'learn' another remote. Down sides for me are short cord--need to be within 6 feet of an outlet and the sound quality is good, not great so the volume doesn't carry too far, but really it's okay for the price range (the built in subwoofer is so-so). I'll probably upgrade someday to a $500 sound bar but for now it really beats my old massive stereo system with all the components, wires and cords. I'm using it in my music studio and really love how streamlined it is for playing tunes for my students.

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JiMS-190 Universal Docking Digital Music System for iPod®

Didn't come with a remote and it said it would when I bought it. Needless to say I was disappointed. But the product itself works fine.

Got this for my grandson & he was stoked! LOVED it -played with the presets on the radio and of course using the remote! LOVES IT!! Thanks!

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Just purchased at Target for $59 2/13/09 for my husband for Valentine's Day. Spontaneous purchase, but the loves it. This is our first night with it and so far, so good. Sounds good.

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Product never worked and the vendor refused to do anything,finally received my money back from true blue Amazon

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Xact XTR1 Sirius Satellite Plug and Play Receiver

• Preset tuner scans up to 18 stored streams
• User-Selectable Search -Search by stream name, capture and store up to 20 artists and song titles, while skipping streams when stepping up & down
• Stereo line level audio output, via industry-standard connectors
• Multi-channel wireless stereo FM connection via 6-channel modulator/transmitter and antenna system
• Parental Controls allow administrators to passcode-protect streams form other users

First off, the XACT is a very nice receiver. I have owned a PNP2 and this receiver and I prefer this one. The XACT, while not wearable, is very portable. You can even buy the Powerpod and take it anywhere you go. The size of the receiver does come with setbacks though, there are only 10 S-Seeks compared to 20 on most of the other receivers. The screen is smaller (although very nice), and the presets require a little more work to set. The greatest thing though is the service itself. It is great not to hear any commercials, and the music streams are top quality. The Talk, News, and Sports are also great. Sirius recently added a Maxim channel, which is quickly becomming one of my favorites. Sirius's sports are great, I am a fan of football and there is nothing like hearing your team that is normally not carried locally. In the end I recommend this receiver and Sirius.

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This unit has a difficult-to-read screen (especially in sunlight) and tends to lose power for no reason. But the most compelling reason to avoid it is the company that makes it. I have never experienced worse customer "service" in my life than that I have experienced with XAct. When the screen on my XTR1 got cloudy for no apparent reason, obscuring my vision of the display, I called XAct and after wending my way through their seemingly endless voicemail menu, I finally reached a live human who gave me instructions for returning the unit and remote, saying it was covered under warranty and would be replaced within 7 to 10 days. After a month I called back and when I finally reached a person (who was at first stymied by the apparently mysterious fact that I had called from a DIFFERENT PHONE NUMBER), I was told that the unit had not been replaced (and I had not been contacted) because I had the gall to leave the wall adaptor in the box that I returned. This now meant I was supposed to completely un-install the wiring and antenna from my car and send it all back so they could replace it, and I could then pay to have it re-installed. They could not grasp the concept that they could just send me a new receiver and remote, along with my erroneously included adaptor.

One month later and I am STILL trying to get my new receiver. I have been told several times that supervisors were not available, at lunch, etc. and would call me back, but I have yet to receive a single phone call from this company. I will NEVER buy another XAct product and I will tell as many people as possible to avoid them like the plague. Get the Starmate Replay -it works much better than the XTR1, has a display that is visible even in bright sunlight, looks great and isn't made by XAct!

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The good: Nothing. I'm absolutely serious. So off to...

The bad: I got this for Christmas as part of a promo from Sirius. (It was purchased in November and that's when the 12 month subscription started. Of course they don't tell you that until they charge you IN OCTOBER to renew. Thanks Sirius!) The unit did not work out of the box. I still have to turn it on/off several times for it to work. And then about half the time the screen is blank. The FM transmitter is total garbage, I have yet to find a usable station for my whole commute. Ones that work at home don't work in the city. No fault of the unit per se, just bad design in general. And even when it works, the thing is too far from my radio to transmit a good signal, so the crystal clean digital music sounds worse than AM, worse than even a CB radio. I guess the genius designers thought I'd attach this directly to my dashboard so it can be directly above the car stereo, as the customer rep suggested. Sorry, not gonna happen. Plus the output audio cable that is shown prominently in the manual was not included in my kit. So that's an extra expense. The antenna's magnet has scratched my paint (how about a nice rubber base next time?), and I'm just waiting for the cable to snap on me like so many others have mentioned. Did I mention the heat yet? It gets very hot.

The ugly: This thing does not perform to any level of expectation (unles you expect the worst), there is no customer service to speak of and I'm afraid this piece of garbage will catch on fire months before Stern even gets on the air.

Final point: It's no wonder they were giving these away with a prepaid one-year subscription. You get what you pay for.

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I had been using my Xact Receiver since January 05 without problems until the end of September. It began powering itself off, and would continuously reboot with the Sirius logo and without any sound. Since the problems coincided with the Sirius updates, I figured it was a satellite problem. Sirius resent the signal several times, and that didn't fix the problem. They did not advise me of any problems with my particular brand of receiver although I'm sure they have heard plenty of complaints. Once I started having major problems I started looking online for others with this problem, and found quite a few people who are furious about this.

I called the Xact customer service department, and while it was very difficult to get a live person, I finally did. She gave me EXPLICT instructions to follow about returning the unit (including the remote-got to follow instructions people!!!) and approx 3 weeks after sending my defective unit in, I received a brand new factory sealed receiver and remote. They advised me to lower the contrast and brightness on the receiver; it would keep the unit cooler. I also don't leave the unit powered on unless I am actually listening to it; I guess I'm trying to prolong this receiver's life.

I'm not happy with this experience .... I have purchased 2 boomboxes, the car unit and the home docking kit for this receiver...I feel that it is just a matter of time before this one goes out also. I think its a shame that Xact has put out an obviously defective piece of equipment, and that Sirius is not demanding quality control from it's equipment manufacturers.

Buyer Beware on this one folks!!!! DO NOT BUY USED!!!! You will no doubt be buying someone else's problem. I know the next time I have problems, I will be selling my equipment on ebay or amazon!! Any takers?

I purchased the Xact XTR1 last November when I first subscribed to Sirius. I have been disappointed with this item since the first day. First, the item was very cumbersome when I tried to fit it onto my car's console. Second, the boombox accessory has horrible tone too tinny for my ears. Third, and most important, the receiver gets *very* hot. The unit hasn't overheated but I am very nervous about using it. I've owned this unit one year and am going to ditch it for a newer receiver.

There are better receivers out there....

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Philips Fidelio DS7700 30-Pin iPod/iPhone/iPad Speaker Dock

• Superb gaming sound effects via Bluetooth,DBB to preserve low tones for deep bass at any volume level.
• Elegant, slim and compact design to fit into any briefcase, Robust aluminum finish and cover case for full protection
• Design fit for iPod/iPhone/iPad, Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery for long music playback
• Shielding technology to block mobile phone interference.
• Dock any iPod/iPhone/iPad, even in its case, AUX-in for easy connection to almost any electronic device
• AUX-in for easy connection to almost any electronic device
• Design fit for iPod/iPhone/iPad, Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery for long music playback, Dock any iPod/iPhone/iPad, even in its case
• Design fit for iPod/iPhone/iPad, Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery for long music playback,
• Shielding technology to block mobile phone interference
• Superb gaming sound effects via Bluetooth,DBB to preserve low tones for deep bass at any volume level

I wanted to use my iPad 2 as a stereo while enjoying our pool without worrying about electrical outlets and power cords. With a 10 hour rechargeable battery life, Bluetooth connectivity, and compact design, the Philips Fidelio line caught my attention. While researching which model to buy, a friend received the modern looking DS7700 2 lb 1 oz docking speaker station. I read in other reviews about diminished power/volume while the Fidelio ran on battery, and asked for her thoughts. She assured me my concerns were unwarranted and urged me to make the purchase.

The Philip's Fidelio DS7700, manufactured in China, is designed to provide high quality sound in a portable aluminum finish shell. Shielding technology prevents cell phone interferance, and Dynamic Bass Boost plus various equalizer settings in the app provide rich stereo sound. The 30-pin style docking connector accepts iPods, iPhones, and iPads in their cases, or the auxiliary jack connects to other devices. The package includes the docking speaker, a protective brushed aluminum cover, plus power and auxiliary adapters.

The iPhone / iPad App

Using the Fidelio app is required to get the most out of the Philips Fidelio DS7700. Controlling the Dynamic Bass Boost (DBB) and equalizer settings can only be set through the app while physically connected. The Fidelio app also includes additional features including playback controls, a multi-function alarm clock, music collection browsing, sharing via Facebook and Twitter, access to more than 7,000 internet radio stations and podcasts, displays current local weather conditions, and helps you keep an eye on the docking speaker's battery life.

Like many others, I installed the Fidelio app on my iPad 2 and iPhone 4. Initially, the app would work fine one moment, and later shut down the moment it's fully loaded. There seemed to be no pattern to the problem. I browsed the Philip's Product page and found a solution in the frequently asked questions page. This problem is reported to occur when the app is installed on devices prior to iOS 4.3 being installed. To resolve the issue, delete the Fidelio app from your device, go to the app store and search for the Fidelio app, and reinstall.

Now that I can use the Fidelio app without it shutting down on me, I find I don't want to use it. The alarm clock requires the app to be running for use, browsing and listening to the internet radio stations and podcasts quickly looses its interest, and the app doesn't integrate with Pandora accounts. Philips attempts to enrich the Fidelio experience may successfully do so for some, but not for me. If it weren't for the audio setting capabilities, I would probably remove the app from my iDevices.

The Fidelio DS7700

For my needs, the Fidelio DS7700 docking speaker has fulfilled my expectations. While the volume decreases when the DS7700 is disconnected from a power source, it's only noticeable when disconnecting the power cord while listening. Even then, I have to be listening for the difference or I don't notice it. Additionally, I'm happy with the sound quality when using the docking speaker on battery power.

The Fidelio DS7700's compact design and rechargeable battery allows me to disconnect the power source and listen to music anywhere I want to around the house. I could be working in the garage, organizing my closet, or relaxing by the pool. It doesn't matter where I want to listen, as it's so easy to grab the docking speaker and place it near where I intend to be.

This is my only iPad docking station, although I could use the auxiliary jack on other devices. Even still, the Fidelio DS7700 has replaced my Philips DCM250 iPhone docking station as my favorite device. If you are looking for a portable iPad / iPhone docking speaker system with full rich sound, consider the Fidelio DS7700.

PROS:

10 hour rechargeable battery life

Bluetooth connectivity

Full, rich sound at all volumes

Compact, lightweight, and portable design

Modern brushed aluminum appearance

One-year limited warranty

CONS:

The app

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I purchased this item to use with an IPad 3. Upon reciept I excitedly opened it it up, plugged it in, and docked my IPad to it. It was at this point that I noticed a potential problem: It wasn't really made for an IPad: The IPad is just too heavy. It worked the first few times, but as the IPad rests it leans back, putting stress on the connector where it plugs in. Sure enough, by the 2nd day, when docking the IPad it no longer will play sounds through the speaker. The connector where it docks has loosened and now the only way for the IPad to register that it's docked is to grab it, lean it forward, and press slightly down. As soon as you even think of letting go though, it disconnects. The worst part? You can't even return it! Read the description above: it has rechargeable batteries. Because of that Amazon classifies it containing hazardous materials and won't take it back. Why it's ok for them to ship out what they consider hazardous materials but not take it back I'm still trying to figure out, but the end result is $175 spent for a defective product that they won't take back 2 days after receipt. Save yourself some frustration and look elsewhere if you're looking for an IPad dock.

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The Philips DS7700 is a truly exceptional sound dock that matches my iPad2 and iPod Touch very well. While not cheap, I think it is a very good value compared to other premium portable sound options with bluetooth.

The good stuff:

Elegant and Practical Form Factor. I have used quite a few iPod docks, of all sizes. This is the first highly portable one I have tried that sounds good. About 1 foot long, but only an inch thick, its cover and rounded design make it simple to throw into a suitcase or laptop/messenger bag to enjoy on trips. It has an aluminum shell, and when closed, has no overhanging switches to get caught on stuff. Its beautifully finished metal case feels solid and matches the elegant design of the iPad/Pod itself.

Sounds very good, and plays amazingly loud for its size. For my purposes, the DS7700 has the best combination of small size and good volume, clarity, and bass performance I have seen in any iPod dock. I am sure it would not satisfy those who must have earsplitting bass or theater level volume, but for me, it is the smallest dock I have seen that has excellent sound and enough volume to fill a medium sized room (hotel room for example). At lower volumes it has really excellent sound....crank it up and the high frequencies get a little strident and the bass gets thin. I rate it 5 stars for sound for my purposes.

Great charging dock design. It unfolds to provide a sturdy support for iPod/iPhone, and an acceptable support for my iPad 2. (Acceptable only because its small size would make it a bit tippy if you had kids knocking it around). The connector should work well with iPods/Pads/Phones without removing them from most cases, and requires no adjustments for different devices. It charges both my low current iPod and high current iPad just great, but must be plugged in to AC power to do so.

-Bluetooth works great, and from well across the room. It pairs almost instantly and remembers its pairing the next time you use it. I have not exhausted the battery, but have used it several hours without it running down.

the free iPod/iPad apps are fine. They provide easy access to tune-in internet radio, as well as equalizer functions and battery level indicators. It works fine without the app too.

Could be better:

Owners manual is terrible. Ignore it. After you get the hang of the DS7700 it is easy to operate, but getting there is more confusing than it should be for such a simple device. Things like what flashing and + mean (charging I think) and how bluetooth paring works are not mentioned. After 15 minutes of fiddling, you should get it all, but that is 15 minutes that could be saved.

The AC adapter brick is pretty big about the size of a large bar of soap, and lacks fold down plugs or way to wind up the cord that would make it more travel friendly. With all the thought that went into the DS7700, they just threw in a generic wall wart. For the premium price asked, it would have been thoughtful if they had included a travel sack that would hold both the speakers and the adapter.

The DS7700 looks great with an iPod/Pad docked into it...but not so great when used remotely via bluetooth. The iPod back support will not fold flat with the rear panel support extended, it spoils the look on your desk. You fold back the support, and the rear brace retracts so the DS7700 rolls back on your desk. The stylish cover can only be used with the speakers off....if they had put speaker vents in it, you could use the DS7700 it on bluetooth with the cover on. That would be perfect! The cover looks nice, but I would have rather had a sack that carried both the AC adapter and the Speakers for normal travel.

No Battery Level Indicator on the unit itself. You can see battery level when the player is docked and the Philip's App is visible, but that's not too convenient.

I really like the DS7700, and think it well worth the price. Sound and construction rate 5 stars, but I am judging it 4 stars because the manual could be much improved, and the portability enhanced with a better designed AC Adapter, cover, and an included case.

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The Fidelio docking speaker for the iPad, iPod, iPhone, etc is a sleek little racetrack shaped set of rechargeable speakers with built in dock to support various other gadgets.

The controls are minimal. There is an on-off sliding switch at the back, a + and button on the front for volume control, and a "connect" button with the bluetooth icon. As the gadgets you would dock in these speakers have their own play, ff, rw, pause, etc buttons you really don't need more than that. If you desire, you can download the Fidelio app from the App Store on any of your iApple devices that connect to the App Store. The Fidelio app is cool, and allows for different sound profiles to maximize sound quality. There is also a clock and the same types of controls that iTunes gives you. I find that I typically skip over the Fidelio app, as the sound out of the box is just fine with mewarm and rich and clear. My son likes the finer control offered by the app and when he has snagged the speakers and brought them to his room, he typically plays with the app.

What I really like about this is the size and portability. The weight isn't heavy but it definitely feels sturdy and won't tip over with the addition of an iPad. I keep the speakers/dock in my kitchen, plugged in and ready to go. However, when I'm at my work table and the boys are rowdy, I'll unplug it and put it right on the table. Going outside? I can take it with me so I can listen to music while puttering about on our patio tending to my container garden. It is very convenient. If toting it for longer trips, there is a cover which attaches to cover the dock connectors and speaker holes and keep them clean and functional.

Overall, I like that everyone in our family (each with a different iGadget) can use this. We were using an 11 year old Bose Wave CD/AM/FM monstrosity before this and one ipod would use the apple-made dock and another would need that unplugged and reconnected directly, and having the ipad just sitting on the counter, while we are busy in the kitchen baking and cooking, seemed like a disaster waiting to happen. This also conveniently has bluetooth connection, which is a definite plus as I'm forever needing my ipod touch in the middle of a song, while working on various projects. It's nice being able to pick it up and hold it in my hand, and even leave the room for a few minutes with it, without disrupting the music. The bluetooth is not something that was on my list of "needs" for new speakers, but it is definitely a handy feature, and the sound is equal (according to my ears) to the sound quality when it is directly docked.

I have tried other docks (I've tried a couple of the Philips ones) and this is the first one that really fits our needs for quality sound and portability and versatility without any negatives coming to mind. The Bose has moved into another room, where it doesn't need to act as AUX speakers for all of our devices.

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Sounds great and looks nice, but I bought this primarily because it was rechargeable and portable. But after three months, it simply would not hold a charge. There is no bass boost and the downloadable app is a waste of time. It works well with an iPhone, but the bulk of an iPad frequently causes the back support bracket to collapse. Lastly, it comes with this nice looking cover, but there is no locking mechanism or magnets to hold it in place. It just sits on top and really kind of useless. Look elsewhere.

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Audiovox CNP2000 XM Mini Tuner Cartridge

• Cartridge contains everything needed to deliver XM satellite radio to any compatible XM-ready audio player
• Works with a wide variety of products, including home theater and stereo systems, DVD players, mini and micro shelf systems
• Can be inserted directly into an XM-ready audio device with a suitable port
• Allows you to have just one XM subscription that you can take with you to deliver XM satellite radio virtually anywhere you go
• Compact unit has an entire XM radio tuner built in, yet measures only 1.3 x 1.65 x 0.44 inches (W x H x D)

This tiny device is an actual radio tuner.

I put it it the home dock. Hooked it up to my XM ready receiver.Registered on line, and in just a few minutes was listening to XM radio.

The sound quality of satellite radio is amazing and the variety of programmming can't be beat.

The magic of the Mini Tuner is as eguipment becomes avialable you will be able to carry your one subscription to your car , office , and back home again. This is a win win situation!

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I purchased this little unit for a Polk I-Sonic. I'm already an XM subscriber and can be activated online. Is about the size of 2 quarters put together. The home docking station is required to use this unit and can be purchased seperately. This tuner can be moved receiver to another receiver that is XM ready. I believe this unit will work in automotive applications as well. The XM Mini Tuner is a must!

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Received the XM mini-tuner in a timely manner, hooked it up to my in-home receiver and I was able to receive XM radio in the home immediately.

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This product is perfect for my car and home...even for my another car.I'm using this for my Kenwood head unit with the KCA-XM100V and its awesome! Then i boutgh this XM Mini tuner home dock for my living room. Now, i don't have to subscribe two subscription. All i have to do is take with me the tuner after driving and plug it to my home dock connected to my reciever and i have XM to my living room. I'm planning to buy another home dock so i can install it to my work, XM while working.All i need is the compatible dock for this mini tuner and i can have XM anywhere i want.

The XM mini-tuner and Home Dock works perfectly with my Sony satellite-ready boombox. Shortly after signing up for a subscription with XM, I was receiving the 170+ channels clearly. I love listening to satellite radio in my home with this easy, portable system.

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Memorex Mi4004BLK iWake Clock Radio for iPod (Black)

• Convenient iPod clock radio with SRS WOW sound enhancement technology
• Universal iPod dock powers and charges all dock-connecting iPods
• Dual alarms wake to iPod, radio, or buzzer; ascending wake-up volume
• Super-sized LCD display; integrated button interface with snooze bar
• Auxiliary input; measures 10 x 2.5 x 5.3 inches (W x H x D); 90-day warranty

This unit was my second try at an ipod clock radio. My first, the iHome, turned out to only have 1 alarm. This one has two, so far so good. And, I think the iWake sounds better, too. So much for the good stuff.

When you read the comment from an earlier reviewer about the volume going up, you have no idea how bad it is. It is NOT gradual awakening over 60 seconds, it is the volume going up a notch every 5 seconds to MAX. So unless you put this right next to you, expect to be scrambling so the entire neighborhood isn't calling the cops. Memorex calls this a feature in their manual ("no need to set the alarm volume"). Haha, very funny.

Next, don't plan on putting the unit above eye level, or you won't be able to see anything but a nice lit rectangle instead of the time. The display is like the old black and grey LCD's that were very directional (although this one is well lit). Trouble is, there's no adjustment for the viewing angle.

My third gripe is the remote. It's much better than the iHome remote (which was WAY too directional), but let's say you want to raise or lower the volume. To do so, you have to press the up or down volume button repeatedly as each press only changes the volume 1 bar (out of 12). In retrospect, a pretty silly thing if you try to use the remote to keep from blasting the neighbors when the alarm goes off, because the volume keeps going up every 5 seconds while you're trying to wake up and repeatedly press the correct button in the dark. Hope nobody got that on tape, I could be a hit on youtube :)

Surely a remote that can smoothly raise/lower the volume like any $5 all-in-one can't be that hard to engineer.

If you are going to have this right close by, you can probably overcome the annoying alarm, assuming you can move it so you can read the time. For me, too many compromises.

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I purchased the iwake for my daughter in November. Although it worked well for the first 3 months after that the buttons just stopped working. For instance you would place the iPod in the docking station and hit the power on button... nothing would happen. All of the buttons would not work. You could not set the time or anything. Please do not buy this piece of junk.

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(1) The face of the clock is very bright, even on the dim setting.

It's like having a nightlight, so may be fine for a child's room.

(2) The alarm is a bit annoying, as it increases in loudness every five seconds. (Mine is across the room, so I have to hurry to turn it off)

(3) The worst complaint is that there is a high-pitch buzzing sound that comes from the unit-mostly the plug! It drives my husband nuts, so if you have sesitive hearing, it's not for you.

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I agree with the other reviewer about the "gradual wake" feature. I too enjoy listening to the radio for a few minutes as I wake up, but such is life. It gets me up faster, anyway.

What drew me to this product is its compatibility with 4th-gen iPods. I got my iPod very shortly before the iPod video came out, and am often dismayed and disappointed at the un-availability of accessories. That said, this product works great with my good-old 4th-gen.

Please note, the speakers and sound quality on here are not the best. DON'T plan on using this to replace your home stereo, or instead of getting a high-quality iPod boombox. But for the purpose of waking up, or just listening to some tunes while doing homework or cleaning my room, it certainly suffices.

The remote feature is nice for using it to listen to music, however, it doesn't have a very good range and you must use it at a fairly precise angle. It is also limited in function (at least in my experience thus far), that is, you can use it to adjust volume or skip forward or backward between tracks, but it doesn't have the full capability of the scroll wheel (moving between artists/albums/playlists etc.) to fully control the iPod.

Bonus feature: this device automatically charges your iPod as it's docked. No more fumbling with the AC adaptor or constantly clogging up a USB/Firewire port. That in itself makes it all the more useful!

Hope this helps. Happy shopping :)

I bought this item sometimes in Fall 06. First of all I prefer this over the iHome because this simply looks better, cheaper, and comes with a remote. With those come the bad:

1. Rather minor, but its true that the display is hard to see. The 'bright' settings is WAY too bright, yet in the midst of the annoying brightness you still have a problem looking at the time from afar.

2. The automatically increasing alarm volume is the most annoying flaw. Trust me, the other reviewers are right.

3. It doesnt have a correct 'mouthpiece' to hold my Ipod nano snugly, but this is not a big deal if you are gentle with it.

4. Then comes the quality control. I certainly hope this problem is not a widespread one because that would be a shame. Starting a month ago or so (after 3 months of use), I'd notice that sometimes when I have a little static ( I have carpet in my bedroom ) and I touch the iWake, the clock would reset itself back to 12AM and all the alarm presets are erased. This was merely annoying until last night when this happened again and this time all the buttons stopped working. Couldnt set the time, couldnt do nothing. Zilch. Nada.

In short I certainly hope that point no. 4 is just an anomaly, but I think its important to be noted. I'm going to see if I can get it exchanged at LNT. Other than that, its just a matter of whether you can stand the ridiculous alarm volume increment.

Update 11/21/07: My SECOND unit just went dead last night with the EXACT same problem as number 4. So 2 units dead due to minor static right now.. I'm not happy.

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Exclusive Hello Kitty AM/FM Stereo Alarm Clock Radio with Top Loading CD Player By Hello Kitty (New)

• KT2053A

Just received this today in the mail. Bought it to replace an old CD player my daughter had in her room. This has yet to play one song on one CD without skipping. VERY FRUSTRATING!!! Paid a lot for this CD player and really disheartening when first open out of the box and it doesn't even play an entire song.

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The side controls are a little small and hard to get to for the 4-year old but she LOVES Hello Kitty and it plays!

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Bought this for my step daughter to play music in her room. For a kid CD/Radio, it actually has very good sound. It looks great and is easy to use. I highly recommend it.

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