Sony ICFC1iPMK2 Speaker Dock and Clock Radio with iPod Dock (White) Reviews

• Works fine with Iphone

  
  By A20NVN2HDT8L50 on 2008-06-10
  Seeing as one of the reviewers posted for all the items (always frustrating since its misinformative), I'll enter a fair review on the MK2 version of this Sony clock.
  
  As a previous owner of 2 of the original Sony iphone clock radios and a current owner of the identical looking upgraded versions, I can say that the original (and one thats on big sale on amazon) will have interference with your iphone. It will also tell you upon docking your iphone, that the iphone isnt compatible with teh device. So hello, wake up and realize that sony released a new shielded version (THIS version, teh ICFC1iPMK2) specifically for the iphone. When you dock your iphone on the right version, you dont get an incompatibility error.
  
  You also get none of the GSM buzz found on the previous model.
  
  As for sound, this isnt my klipsche sound dock, but it does a good job. I keep one wherever I may need time, music and ipod charging. As someone who lives next to their cell phone, I love that in the evening I have one less thing on the nightstand when charging my phone. Iphone's been handy charging in my 2 cars, both factory ipod capable too. I'm down with the Iphone :)
  
  The clock is where this unit shines. If you've had a sony dreammachine clock since you were 4 years old, you will appreciate the dual alarms, easy to reach snoozes, easy to set clock and alarm selection. The sound is more than enough for a bed room, although thats only my opinion. If you want a full blown knock your socks off stereo, these shelf units arent going to cut it anyway.
  
  So, this model... 100% Iphone safe. In fact, its the exact model previous except with shielded speakers and iphone recognized approval programmed in. If you buy the cheaper, on-sale model, you'll know you have the wrong one the moment you dock and your iphone warns you!
  
  

• works great with the iphone 3G - but I don't recommend it anymore

  
  By A3B22DZR4DOGW5 on 2008-08-01
  **UPDATE September 4, 2008**
  
  Unfortunately, I have to change my recommendation to a *not recommended* After using this product for a few weeks, I've found the overbright screen to be too much of a nuisance. I shouldn't have to turn my alarm clock sideways to dim the light to a bearable level. Also, the abrupt waking (instead of a gentle sound faded in) became too annoying. Other issues I had after a few weeks of use are noted below in the "CONS" area. If I could change my star rating on amazon, I would give it a 2 or 3 instead of a 4.
  
  
  **ORIGINAL REVIEW**
  After getting my iPhone 3G, I knew I had to get a "night time dock" so I could keep my iphone in a safe place during the night.
  
  I've been known to wake up and step on my old motorola razr, and I definitely didn't want that happening with my iphone 3G :)
  
  After reading through reviews on ilounge and macrumors, I finally decided on this unit. It was actually the review by R Allison that made me take the plunge.
  
  PROS:
  
  I was worried about the unit being compatible with my iphone 3g, and then I was worried about the buzzing sound that other people had experienced.
  
  I decided to go ahead and try it, knowing that Amazon has a great return policy.
  
  I can safely say the unit works as described. I just docked my iphone 3G (white) and it was ready to roll. I've used it for a little over a week now and I haven't heard any buzzing, there were no device errors, it just "works".
  
  I like that my iPhone 3G can charge at night and that I can wake up to any track that I want.
  
  CONS:
  
  I only gave it 4 stars as a product because the are only 3 things that would make it perfect:
  
  1) The ability to have the alarm "fade in" instead of blaring the track at the volume you set. Even though it's not an advertised feature, it is something that would have made the product better. My wife has a Bose Wave Radio and it's nice to be able to be "gently" woken up by your favorite track and have it slowly rouse you out of your sleep. A work around is easy enough. I can just create a track of my favorite music and create my own fade in with editing software.
  
  2) The sound quality isn't "super duper". I mean, it's a clock radio, so it's not supposed to sound like your home theatre system, but it would be nice if it had a bit deeper base or was a bit more adjustable.
  
  3) The display is way too bright. It has 3 "dimmer" levels and even on the lowest level, it illuminates the whole room. I've actually turned the unit around sideways (to face the opposite wall) to make it seem less bright. It would have been better to make the display light up by a button so if you need to see it at night, you could turn it on (like those indiglo watches). Or have an auto dimmer for night time to keep it not lit at all.
  
  4) *Added Sept 4, 2008* When you wake to your iPod or iPhone, it defaults to the last track you were listening to. So you may have been listening to a "loud" song, and when you wake up, you get jolted to that same song. It would have been nice to be able to wake to a specific playlist you can create or a specific song so you don't have to remember to cue up the right "wake up" song before you go to bed.
  
  5) *Added Sept 4, 2008* The way that you activate the alarm is a bit awkward. It took me a while to realize that after you set the alarm time, you have to activate it. It probably says this in the instructions, so that's not much of a con. It just wasn't intuitive.
  
  Overall, for the price and for the functions it has, I would have to withdraw my recommendation of it.
  
  I ended up purchasing the iHome iP99 from the Apple store online and it has all the same features, without the "Cons" of the Sony clock. The iHome iP99 (not the product featured above) has a "real" dimmer that goes down 8 settings, all the way to "off" if you want the display off. The iHome iP99 (not the product featured above) allows you to wake "gentle" with a playlist, song, radio, etc faded in, and also has settings that allow you to only wake during the "weekdays", "7 days a week", or "only on weekends".
  
  
  You can see pictures of my Sony unit (I bought the white Sony unit) in the gallery for this product :)
  
  

• The best value iPod clock radio gets even better - good sound, great radio

  
  By A2XPK6XCL0UH1S on 2008-08-16
  Last year I bought the previous version of this clock radio (the ICF-C1IP) and was extremely impressed, especially compared to many other iPod clock radios that I tried. This week I bought this updated version for another room, and was pleasantly surprised.
  
  What I've noticed in this updated version:
  - explicitly iPhone compatible ("works with iPhone" indicated on the box)
  - AM radio reception is notably clearer (and the old one wasn't bad)
  - the display is brighter and easier to read (it might, in fact, be a little too bright at the lowest dim level)
  - sound quality just slightly less bass than earlier version (subtle - probably because of magnetic shielding for iPhone)
  
  How do you tell which version you're buying, aside from the model number? Look for the "MK2" in the product name, as well as the "Works with iPhone" on the box.
  
  Like the previous version, the Sony is fully compatible with my iPod Classic, and the sound quality and radio performance is notably better than other iPod clock radios I've tested.
  
  Sony has done a great job with the ICF-C1iPMK2. It is an upright design, with most of the unit behind the iPod, in a slanted design with controls at the top. The iPod dock accepts universal adapters, but they aren't really needed as Sony has an adjustable supporting plate behind the iPod.
  
  Unlike other iPod clock radios, the Sony does not attempt to duplicate the iPod menus on its display. Instead, the Sony includes a remote control that lets you completely control the iPod menus as if you were manipulating the scroll wheel. Quite impressive.
  
  Sound quality is very good for a clock radio - with crisp highs and even midtones. You may want to play around with your iPod equalizer settings to see what sounds best. (To my ears, "Jazz" EQ setting works well with these small speakers.) Sony includes a simulated mode they call "Mega XPand" that in my experience made the music sound muddied and under-sampled. Your mileage my vary.
  
  The blue-backlit clock is located in the iPod dock area, and 3 brightness levels are available. In my experience, even the lowest setting is a bit too bright, but not enough to disturb me at night. I wish that the display were slightly larger, although the high contrast lets me see the time without my glasses from a reasonable distance.
  
  And, unlike most iPod clock radios, the radio reception is outstanding - with an external AM antenna provided. The unit has dual alarms, which can be set to iPod (you can even select a wakeup volume), Radio, or Buzzer.
  
  On the downside, the battery backup for the buzzer alarm and clock is a small expensive lithium battery (although after nearly a year of use, this battery was still working on my old model). And, if your relying on just the buzzer to wake you up it's not very loud. You also have to be careful when changing the alarms to make sure that you don't accidentally turn the alarm off. But all of these are minor issues. However, these are all very minor issues that don't detract from the unit overall.
  
  All in all, in my experience, this is the best iPod clock radio you can buy.
  
  

• Jim

  
  By ARYPGWXV3XDOC on 2009-03-24
  Wow, the fact that this unit got such high reviews is confounding to me. It neither functions well as an alarm clock (because the display is so bright it will keep you up all night and you will eventually sleep right through the alarm) or as a soundsystem.
  
  The sound is very reminiscent of my 1990 Sony dream machine with one speaker. It is awful. Tinny, no base whatsoever. Just horrible sounding.
  
  Would not buy this again and if I still had the box i would return it. Alas I am stuck.
  
  
  
  

• Works great w/ iPhone

  
  By A3HTZWF237FONW on 2008-06-30
  This speaker alarm clock is awesome and is appealing to the eye as well! The sound is great, I use it in my room and the sound is pretty loud, more than sufficient. Also, it is compatible with the iPhone, and you dont have to put the iphone on airplane mode, so you can receive phone calls while your music is playing. It also has a radio, which is nice, and the remote makes scrolling through your music library easy from across the room.
  
  
• White Sony ICFC1iPMK2 clock radio
  By A3CSGD08GKPXP9 on 2009-01-07
  I love everything about the radio except the LCD brightness. The clock is awesome. The remote works on the iPod menus, and it gets charged while it's docked. I singled out this brand and model because I didn't want my iPod sticking up out of the top. I figure that it would be knocked on the floor every time a half asleep person tried to hit the snooze button with their eyes closed in a dark room. However, the room isn't quite as dark as it might ordinarily be.
  
  If there is a way to dim the LCD screen, I haven't figured it out. It's like having a nightlight a couple feet from your face. I'm going to use some window tint on the screen, as I did on another radio in the past.
  
  
• Fits our needs
  By A2T7VZML7W3R5D on 2009-04-03
  I bought this for my husband to use in our kitchen. He likes to cook and listen to music or the radio. It works great playing music from either iPod or ipod nano. The music quality may not be top notch but it's good enough for the kitchen. This is the only one I could find that gets am radio which is important for sports. The radio works just fine. All in all we both like it and it gets used every day. The profile is slim enough to fit on our windowsill.
  
  
• Works and sounds great. Excellent quality
  By A15OXHM7UYQ21G on 2008-10-24
  Purchased this for my nine year old daughter. She has been able to use it with her iPod nano without issue. The Alarms are a bit tricky to set up so I had to do that. Sound is excellent and remote works fine (a bit small and I worry she will loose it). Display intensity is adjustable which is good as it can be very bright at the highest setting.
  
  
• Think twice if you have a Nano
  By A2EUI0440LZX1R on 2009-01-15
  After reading all the great reviews for this ipod clock radio, I ordered it for my son for Christmas. It was the best present ever, until he plugged his ipod nano into it. No sound. You could watch it play, but couldn't hear a thing. It ran from the audio in plug in from the back. Big deal. We wanted the clock radio functionality with the ipod, not just another set of speakers. Back to the store, order another, Try the new one. Same problem. Contacted Sony. No help at all from them. So we went shopping with the ipod nano in hand. Between 2 different stores we tried 5 different machines before getting one to work. If you have an ipod nano, you have a 1:5 chance of getting one that will work for you. This was an unscientific study.
  
  
  
• Great audio speakers
  By A22JNL7BO4W2G7 on 2009-03-07
  The Sony ICFC1iPMK2 provides excellent sound to complement the iPOD Nano 3G. The bass could be better, but given the small speakers, that's to be expected. The alarms can be set to individual volume levels which is a plus. A drawback is that the alarm (to radio) does not automatically shut off after an hour (feature on other Sony clock radios), so if I leave for the weekend, the alarm radio remains on all the time.
  
  
• Very good speakers that are compatible with the iPhone
  By A2X47860CQEBYT on 2009-01-19
  I was looking for an affordable dock for my iPhone that had fairly good sound quality. After reading reviews I decided to try these. For the price they are excellent speakers that are perfectly compatible with my iPhone. As stated in other reviews, the backlight is very bright. I kind of ignored reading about this thinking people might have been being overly sensitive. I ersonally am not bothered by the brightness but anyone who may be or who has trouble sleeping, I cannot reccomend this product to you. Other than that these speakers are definitely better than spending 2-300 dollars for Bose or some other expensive dock. I would reccomend this dock to anyone looking for a fairly affordable dock that works with the iPhone.
  
  
• nice little radio
  By A2Y93YF2L38KMC on 2010-01-21
  purchased for home office, small unit so fits nicely on a shelf or bookcase. great sound
  for such a small radio. Remote is a great feature as you can work everything from it, including ipod.
  Only negative is you can't turn the unit on/off with the remote...which seems pretty dumb.
  
  
• A Winner in Several Ways.
  By A2JDTECG83PQDX on 2010-01-07
  I can carry this radio from room to room for listening and charging my iPhone without losing the time. I can listen to the Voice of the Tarheels on AM radio while I watch them on TV with the sound down. I can get AM better with this radio than I can with any other radio in the house. I love to listen to audiobooks from my iPhone, or Prairie Home Companion on FM while knitting in my favorite chair. This item really works well for me.
  
  
• Good sound but display too bright
  By APU15CYW63BRH on 2009-12-17
  
  Better sound than expected for such a small unit. Adjustable size docking area big enough to accommodate the bulkier iphone/ipod sleeves, so they don't have to be removed for docking.
  
  The one problem I have with this unit, as it is intended for use on the nightstand, is the extremely bright display, even at the lowest of the three brightness settings. It brightens the entire room and makes it tougher to fall and stay asleep. I had to cover it up.
  
  
• Wake to music is great
  By AGUC1FF8LJP7K on 2009-12-11
  This unit is an excellent clock radio, charger and player. It works flawlessly with the iPhone 3G. Wake to your choice of music, then shuffle is excellent. Very easy to use, dual alarms, snooze plus the alarm on the phone. If the phone rings, just pick it up, it mutes the music. Real audiophiles will not like the sound, kind of basic but acceptable, two settings to change the tone.
  
  
• A Little Bright at Night
  By AP8SFCX7OIEL on 2009-10-25
  This radio works exceptionally well as an AM/FM radio and as an iPod playback device. I currently am using an older 2nd Generation Shuffle (using a Griffin dock adapter) and it has superb sound quality. The antenna can be a little obtrusive and can be hard to hide. But they are a necessity to get good quality sound out of the radio stations. The remote is slick in that it is small and full-functioning ... except it won't work the Shuffle. BUT I DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO; the documentation doesn't include the Shuffle as a compatible device.
  
  CONS: The light on the clock is really bright. It can be dimmed, but not even close to what is satisfactory for use in a bedroom. I made a shroud that attaches to the radio via Velcro and flips down over the clock at night. That solves the problem. Sounds a little hokey, but it is worth it because of the other overall quality features of the radio.
  
  I shopped far and wide to find this radio. A definite must have if you are looking for a quality clock radio that will work well with your iPod.
  ===============================================================================================================
  Wanted to add some information for you more advanced iPod users. I replaced my Shuffle with a used Nano 3rd generation iPod and it works superbly with this radio. All the functions are excellent. Go to sleep with the iPod, charges while you sleep, wakes me up to iPod music right where I left off. Some alarm clock radios don't do that ... they always starts at the front of your music playlists rather than where your iPod shut off at night.
  
  
• sony ipod dock
  By A2KSJ0UAZST48U on 2009-09-12
  I love my sony dock, the quality of the sound is great.
  no complains with the product just with amazon because even do the item was in stock took like 2 weeks to get it.
  
  
  
• Great value
  By A1XSPQ2TD1CBVW on 2009-09-01
  This is a great clock radio and docking station. Quality sound for the price. I love the dual alarm. The only drawback is the display is quite bright at night if you are used to sleeping in a dark room. You can dim it, but the lowest setting wasn't low enough for us and we had to put something in front of the display to block the light.
  
  
• Affordable iPhone 3G docking solution
  By A1G3E0QC1RV2NV on 2009-08-03
  We have two of these and just purchased a third. They are the best inexpensive option for using your iPhone 3G/3Gs in a speaker dock. One of them we have bedside and use the alarm function - the other ones we don't.
  
  The unit charges the 3G/3Gs with no incompatibilities or messages. I have also not experienced the GSM buzz that some said was present in the previous generation of this design (make sure you get the MK2).
  
  The one nice thing I like about this is if you have a case on your phone, you can dock your iPhone easily and securely without removing the case. Most speaker/clock docks for the iPhone do not allow you to do that as the connector is too short or the case won't fit into the cutout. This one docks easily and it does so without placing any undue pressure on the phone connector, even with the case in place. There is a wheel in back which allows you to adjust the sliding pad which aligns the phone for docking. That way you can be sure the phone docks at the proper angle.
  
  As for sound quality, it is average. This is not meant to be a large-room solution, so if you're after that look elsewhere. But for a small or medium room it's fine. We have used ours outdoors as well and it's OK. Not like the $250 speaker docks, but then you're paying 1/3 of the price as well.
  
  The alarm functions work well, although setting and activating the alarm can be confusing at first. Yes, you can wake to the iPhone music. As for the brightness, it is a tad bright so if you like a darker display you can buy some cling-tint film at the hardware store to shade it a little. For me, it's fine and I have it 12 inches from my pillow.
  
  In all, this is an excellent value, thus the reason for the five-star rating. it does what it says, is very compatible with the iPhone 3G/3Gs and sounds OK. I searched for comparable options that would allow me to keep my case on my phone and this was one of the only ones. The remote is handy, although frankly I rarely use it.
  
  
• Exactly what you want but cheaper!
  By A1VXYXFL5D1E6V on 2009-06-12
  This is everything you're looking for:
  -Charges your iphone/ipod while listening plugged in.
  -You can still recieve your phone calls during playback.
  And the Service is great, too:
  -Good Packaging.
  -Fast delivery, even with the FreeSuperSaver Option.
  
  
• A big improvement over my last radio
  By A3D5BTDWTV5233 on 2009-06-08
  I was mostly looking for a radio with easy to use controls beside the bed. It takes some setting up and is slightly complicated at first but then works great. Works fine with my iPhone too. I like the various buttons for switching stations, sleep timer, volume etc. that can be done in the dark. IPhone fits in just like a radio station when you are selecting what to hear.
  
  
• bought two
  By ALIIK8K4EJE8V on 2009-06-02
  love it sounds great for the size of room i use it in, bought two! great value and buttons are easy to use.
  
  
  
• very good product
  By A248KHNYMA5M5E on 2009-02-02
  I had the iHome version and those silly iPod-like dials stopped working. The Sony works fine and up to Sony standards. It is a little big and a little goofy looking.
  
  
• Good concept, poor execution
  By A1JVMV28ZV19R4 on 2009-01-14
  I thought this clock radio would be a good solution for the kids, replacing their clock radios and providing a charging base and interface for their iPod/iPhone devices. Unfortunately, the sound quality was quite poor, as my kids quickly complained about how poor their iTunes music sounded. Really disappointing, particularly as I almost always like Sony products.
  
  
• Nice Features for the Price
  By A2E57HQM4LOHJC on 2008-12-30
  This is a great product for the price. No, you won't feel the bass of a Klipsch or Bose system that costs 2x or 3x more, but the sound quality is decent and more than sufficient for our daughters' room. Several reviewers have complained about the brightness of the display, but I find that the brightness is an asset--it serves as a nightlight in our children's room! The remote is sufficient for basic iPod navigation and functions. Overall, a good quality product.
  
  
• Nice product, but very bright display at night
  By A32OE6Y6CFYK2 on 2008-12-27
  I own an iPhone 3G and this product works well with it. Manuevering to Podcasts is a bit cumbersome, but it's easy to get to music. My only complaint thus far is the brightness of the display at night. The display can be dimmed, but is still very bright. It irritated my husband so much that he got up and placed something in front of it to block it...but then obviously, you cannot see the time. I've had none of the buzzing that some other reviews mentioned.
  
  
• Great speaker. Poor reliability.
  By A2UIS0ZSFV1711 on 2008-11-10
  We had this for 3 1/2 months (since it was a gift, it was in use slightly less than 3 months). Then the unit completely failed - first stopped charging the iPod then within a week the display went blank. Catch is after 90 days only parts are covered so it will cost approx 1/3 of a new unit to have it repaired ($24 charge from Sony plus shipping the unit in).
  
  As far as function when it works, it is a nice clock radio. I was considering getting another - but will pass on getting a second one (or purchase an extended warranty)
  
  
• Amazing concept but..
  By AYEE6MUFE78I8 on 2009-01-20
  I have older generation of same radio, i love it, so I bought another one for my father. Bass response on this one is terrible, I exchanged but still same problem so I returned and bought another old generation one. That one is great. Highly recommended (unless u need bigger system). This one is perfect for a room.
  
  
• Stopped working within 15 months
  By AMP57XUCE5U11 on 2009-06-15
  Within 15 months, the display just stopped working, so the time and most other functionality also stopped working. Sent the unit to repair center and they couldn't fix. Fortunately I had a insurance contract, so I'm getting my money back.
  
  
• I wanted to love it....
  By A1J0L6UM32THIP on 2008-12-27
  I received this device as a gift...I had wanted something like this for months. While the features and interface are terrific, the display is far too bright, even at the lowest of the three brightness settings. Because I suffer from occasional insomnia, the waking-in-the-middle-of-the-night kind, the light from the display prevents me from falling back to sleep. I am returning this to look for something with a different display technology (not backlit).
  
  

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