But while the ICF-CD3iP's speaker quality is subpar, its unobtrusive design, retro CD tray, and ease of use make for a good budget bedside companion. Although it costs just $99.99, the ICF-CD3iP's pitfalls won't let us recommend it over the Altec Lansing Moondance Glow ($129), or the iLuv iMM173 Dual-Alarm Clock ($149), which offers an extra dock and better sound. Of course, this may prove to be the best method for getting someone out of bed: listening to the subpar sound quality for long periods of time can get irritating.Īs an iPod docking station and dual-alarm clock, the Sony ICF-CD3iP performs adequately. Regina Spektor's "Fidelity" sounded decent at low volumes, but tinny and hollow as the volume was turned up, as was the case with most music played through the device. It's even iPhone 3G-compatible, so there's no need to switch into Airplane mode to avoid the dreaded GSM buzz.Īs we mentioned, the ICF-CD3iP's speakers are positioned (annoyingly) behind the clock face. Setting the alarm to wake up to iPod, radio, or buzzer was a cinch, and the time set and snooze buttons are big enough for even the sleepiest of hands. Overall, we'd say sound is more than passable, given the price and feature set.Several different generations of iPods, as well as the iPhone 3G, synced up seamlessly with the ICF-CD3iP. Both FM and AM radio reception are very good-all the stations we expect for our location came through clearly. Music has a nice warmth to it, but it's not exactly sparkling. The full function remote control will make it easy to access the iPods music while it charges on the dock so it will be ready to go when you are. That is, there's pretty much no bass to be heard, but audio isn't bad on the whole. Sound quality is about on a par with that of your average iPod clock radio. A small button on the top panel allows you to enter this mode, and there's even a stereo patch cable included.ĭuring testing, we found that the Sony ICF-C1iP is quite easy to set up and use, thanks largely to an explicit quick guide that's included in the box. If you want to use the ICF-C1iP with a non-iPod audio source, Sony provides for that with an auxiliary line input on the rear of the unit. The center button turns all the audio functions off. The left and right sides scrub through tracks and tune the radio, while the top turns on the radio and switches between bands. Pressing down on the pad activates the iPod mode and serves to play/pause music. Here, there's a volume rocker and a circular control pad that rather mimics the iPod's own Clickwheel-minus the touch-sensitive scrolling, of course. The various audio functions are handled mainly via the included remote and the controls located on the top-right side of the Sony ICF-C1iP. Along with the current time, the LCD displays the current mode (iPod, FM, AM, or audio in) and the alarm time and type. The display features large, legible text, but its location at the bottom of the speaker might not be ideal depending on the amount of surrounding items and the angle of view. A central iPod dock juts out of the bottom and houses the backlit LCD. The front of the unit is covered in a metal speaker grille, which is interrupted only by an adjustable rectangular appendage that serves as rear support for a docked iPod (no dock adapters are included). It's quite a bit larger than your average radio alarm clock, measuring about a foot long, 5.3 inches tall, and 5.5 inches deep at the widest point of the base. The Sony ICF-C1iP is probably not the best choice for a small or cluttered nightstand. The Sony ICF-C1iP radio alarm clock for the iPod isn't the smallest or most stylish in the category, but decent audio quality, great radio reception, and a reasonable price point make it a fine option.
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