Is There a Good Sounding Clock Radio w/ iPod Dock?

[Old Moparz]

Question, opinions & mini rant.....

I want to pick up a clock radio with an iPod dock as a gift that has decent sound to it. I was looking at spending somewhere between $75 & $125 or so, & definitely don't want to spend more for something like the Bose unit. (Although that one does sound great.) I bought an AM/FM clock radio about 25 years ago by a company called Proton, that was $100 back then. It had separate bass & treble, 3 or 4 watts of power, & dual setting alarms. (I got a lot of years out of it & miss that unit.)

All the radios on display anywhere now, sound like something from a dollar store or Toys R Us no matter what size or price. It could be a $9.99 China-Mart item with a speaker the size of a quarter, or a $150 name brand unit with dozens of features & stereo speakers from an electronics store & it sounds the same. I just bought a Sony unit on my lunch break from Target that had good reviews on line. The displays weren't set up to try, so I took a chance figuring it might be okay.

I get back to my office, unpack it & put a CD in it to test it out. Aside from liking to be sure the gift I give works, I also wanted to hear how it sounded & save myself from embarrassment. No disappointment or surprise here, it sounds like a huge pile of crap. What happened to a desire for good sound? Are secret ipod docking drawers, digital icons, backup battery memories, or whatever other useless features & toaster knobs more important than good sound?

I know it's basically a clock radio that isn't the primary source for music, but for what I just paid it should sound a lot better. I'll be returning it after work later.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[71charger_fan]

One of the hotels I recently stayed in had really nice ones. Now I've just got to remember which chain. Would have to have been the Element, Hilton Garden Inn, or Marriott Townplace.

[Brock Samson]

  a couple units here, probably crap if the speakers bass response is weak..

  http://www.sharperimage.com/si/view/category/Ipod+Accessories/100154?mainCatId=200014
 

[dodgeboy67]

http://www.ihomeaudio.com/products/


i have the ip9 sounds i think it sounds great for the 99 bux

[dodgeboy67]

http://www.ihomeaudio.com/products/


i have the ip9 sounds i think it sounds great for the 99 bux

bought it at target about 2 years ago

[jb666]

I love my IHome.. I have one beside my bed, in my garage and on my desk at work...

That said, the Bose IPod docking station I have in my workout room rocks.. It's amazing how they got the quality of sound that comes out of this little thing...

http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/digital_music_systems/sounddock_systems/sounddock10/index.jsp

I got this system when they were offering a "12 payments 0% interest" deal and never regretted it.

[Vainglory, Esq.]

I have an iHome as well, and I think the sound is very good.  I'm not a connoisseur by any means, but I'd check it out.

[moparstuart]

 I also have an  I home here at work and love it .

[Old Moparz]

Thanks for the suggestions.   

Sears had the ihomes on display & they didn't sound bad for the money. That's about the quality I expected & would be what I'd buy, but it seems that the ihome units don't have a CD player in them. My daughter likes to put a CD on at bedtime & fall asleep to music. I know she can simply load music to the ipod & listen that way, but I thought having the option to play a disc would be a good one.

I did find a Phillips unit for $129 on line, but I haven't been able to listen to it.
http://www.jr.com/philips/pe/PHI_DCM250/