My girlfriend needed a new clock radio and iPod docking system. Her requirements were a dual alarm and a simple, aesthetically pleasing design. Sound quality wasn’t a top priority because we have a nice vacuum tube amp and Definitive Technology tower speakers in the bedroom. My requirements were a display dimmer and a gentle alarm.
I did some research and found iLounge’s clock radios ratings. Based on our requirements, I narrowed the products down to the Timex Ti700 and iLuv i177. My girlfriend preferred the iLuv i177’s design and appearance so we bought the iLuv.
After a week of use, we are both pretty happy with the iLuv i177. The i177 is intuitive to use. The volume of the alarm can be adjusted if waking up to an iPod or radio, which at the lowest setting is the perfect volume for us. It’s loud enough to wake the girlfriend but not too jarring for me. The LCD display has three dimmer settings and an off mode, which I prefer, because I like a completely dark room. The sound quality is more than adequate given our needs and actually better than expected from a small clock radio.
The only negative is the default buzzer alarm if you don’t have an iPod docked. It’s extremely loud and is piercing like a fire alarm. I highly recommend not using the buzzer alarm. Additionally, setting the time using the dial knob is annoying because you have to spin it until you hit the right time linearly, i.e. there are no hour or minute buttons. But this is a non-issue after the initial time and alarm setting.
Playlistmag.com has a good iLuv i177 review along with a review of the JBL On Time. Playlist concludes…
“Both the iLuv i177 and JBL On Time are nice clock radios, and each has strengths and weaknesses. In short: If it’s an alarm clock you want, the iLuv i77 is the best choice and includes nice extras such as a remote and an iPod shuffle port. If you desire something more akin to a small stereo, with the added benefit of a clock and alarm, go with the On Time.
Overall, I found the iLuv to be a better value, while the On Time had far superior sound. Yet, while I would highly recommend the iLuv—as an alarm clock—I can’t say the same about the On Time; although it performs well as both a clock and a stereo, it doesn’t truly excel at either.”
I agree with this conclusion. The iLuv i177 is a great iPod alarm clock, just don’t use the buzzer alarm unless you like be jolted out of a sound sleep.
