iHome iPL10 Clock Radio with Lightning Dock

iHome iPL10 Clock Radio with Lightning Dock..

GET iHome iPL10 Clock Radio with Lightning Dock By iHome

Most helpful customer reviews

159 of 167 people found the following review helpful.
Like the best of us: Very Good but Imperfect!
By D. Reinstein
I like this stereo alarm clock, iPhone charger a LOT. It does good service as an alarm clock that allows for using FM radio broadcasts or music from your own iDevice to wake up to. It charges your device whenever it is on the dock, so if you use it with an iPhone5, as I do, you get to wake up to the music you want as well as to a fully charged iPhone to start your day! With a footprint of 5" square, it fits easily on most limited-space surfaces ... Like the end table next to your bed or on an already busy and crowded desk at the office. The clock automatically syncs with your device so is always accurate. Other design features worth mentioning include 1) a USB port to connect other devices (including older iDevices using the 30-pin adapters and any other product that can be connected with a USB plug; 2) a full range of sleep/wake/snooze settings; and a built-in back-up L-Ion battery to continue to provide time and wake-up service when there is an interruption in AC power. It is simple black with brushed metal accents and will fit easily into any imaginable decor.

The Sound:
I was surprised to hear the good quality sound from this rather small device. It will not provide full-range concert volume stereo - nor should it be expected to. In an office or small guest room, in the kitchen or a contained dining area, it is entirely adequate. Moreover, when used as intended (as an alarm clock) at bedside, it provides better sound quality than any "clock radio" I have even encountered. I had been using a much larger Bluetooth speaker with my iPhone that was OK, but lacked stereo and while louder that this iHome iPL10. provides less sound quality.

The Most Common Complaint:
The most common complaints about this iPL10 moan on and on about the fact that an iPhone in a case will not fit on the Lightning plug. Of course not - No devices, that I know of, will! People have complained that it is a nuisance to remove their protective cases in order to use this device. My solution: Get a dockable case! My personal favorite is the Candy Shell Slip Dockable Case by SPECK. Problem is solved for this and all other Lightning docking devices. (The SPECK case currently retails here on Amazon for under $26. Check it out!)

One Annoying Design Oversight:
There are no designated "Hour" or "Minute" buttons, so any change in setting must be accomplished by holding down "+" and "-" buttons as the minutes roll on in either direction. Although it only takes a couple of minutes to more the alarm setting 23 hours, it is annoying and point to a design oversight that would have made this device even better than it already is. If I could have taken off a half-a-star for this, I would have done so. Left with the choice of a 4 or a 5, I decided to leave the 5 for the overall design and function. After all, if "5" really meant "perfect", few (if any) products would ever receive it!

All-in-all:
This is a well designed, functional and welcome device that while built for iDevices with Lightning connectors, can and does accommodate ANY other device connectable via a USB port. Give it a try - Give it a listen. Amazon is great about returns if you do not like it, but I think you will - especially once you procure an appropriate (and ubiquitously necessary) "dockable" case.

71 of 76 people found the following review helpful.
I'm HAPPY!
By Martha
I'm not sure what kind of cover the other reviewers are using saying that it doesn't work with the cover on, but mine fits on the charger quite well with the cover on. I like the size, shape and sound from the iHome PL10. I have waited quite a while to get a base clock/radio for my iPhone 5 that doesn't shut off all the notification sounds that the others (Sony) did while the phone was mounted on the base. That was a problem for me, and I'm sure others, that don't have a home phone and would like to hear it ring while it's charging.

89 of 98 people found the following review helpful.
Finally, an alarm clock to charge my iPhone 5!
By M. Hertzler
*UPDATED 8.11.13: Holy cow this thing is BRIGHT! I was hoping the light would not be so darn bright but even on the lowest setting, it illuminates my entire room. I can turn the light off, but that negates having a clock next to my bed to glance at. So buy with that warning. I love everything else about this alarm/ radio.

The only drawback to my current alarm clock is that it stopped being relevant when I upgraded to an iPhone 5. I have been waiting for someone to release something that I can charge my phone overnight, play my podcasts to wake and still have it next to me in the morning. This fit the bill.

I am pleased with the small size, as it doesn't take up a lot of space on my nightstand. The buttons are easily found in a sleepy wake-up daze, especially the snooze which is just the long bar in the front.

So here is what you need to know:

*The Lightning Pin is in the top where the phone sits, but there is a USB plug in the back to charge your other devices (iPad, other iPhones, and iPods) but you will need to supply the cord.

*You can choose to wake up to iPod/ iPhone, FM Radio or Alarm buzzer.

*There is a "gradual sleep" and "gradual wake up" choice that increases or decreases the volume slowly, which is a great option for those who don't like being jarred awake but need to volume to fully wake up.

*There are 6 preset options for the FM stations. ALL of the buttons are on the top, so there is no fiddling with the sides and back to set times or adjust volumes.

*The speakers are ok. Mine sit below the mattress line, so I find that they don't project in my room as much as I'd like. What that said, the sound seems to come from all 3 sides, which really fills the space. If it was on a dresser or a higher night stand, it would create a better sound.

*Time sync button allows you to automatically set the time to your phone which makes it super easy.

The worst part is that this doesn't work with my current phone cover. it isn't all that thick, so I worry about which one it would work with. It would have to have an open bottom so that it seats very close to the Lightning Pin. Also, as mentioned before, there is no AM dial, so make note if that is important to you.

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