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Sony ICFC1iPMK2 Speaker Dock and Clock Radio with iPod Dock (White) | 
 enlarge | Brand: Sony
Category: CE
List Price: $99.95
Buy New: $80.00
You Save: $19.95 (20%)
New (22)
Rating:  5 reviews
Color: WHITE
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4.8
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0 x 0
MPN: ICFC1iPMK2WHT
Model: ICFC1iPMK2WHT
UPC: 027242735781
EAN: 0027242735781
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Wake/Sleep to iPod, Radio, or Buzzer | | • | Automatic Time Set (ATS) | | • | Automatic Daylight Savings Time (ADST) | | • | Full Function Wireless Remote Control (included) |
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| Accessories:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
AM/FM clock radio with built-in iPod dock * for all docking iPods, including iPod classic, iPod touch and iPod nano * backlit blue LCD screen * dual alarm and sleep timer * remote control *
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| Customer Reviews:
 The best value iPod clock radio gets even better - good sound, great radio August 16, 2008
Paul Christensen (West Chester, PA United States)
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.
works great wit the iphone 3G August 1, 2008
R. Blackwell (Sacramento, CA USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
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.
Overall though, for the price and for the functions it has, it was well worth the purchase and I'd recommend it easily to any other iphone 3g owners. You can see pictures of my unit (I bought the white Sony unit) in the gallery for this product :)
Works great w/ iPhone June 30, 2008
Kimberly Howard
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
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.
Works fine with Iphone June 10, 2008
R. Allison (Washington DC)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
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!
 Buzz Buzz , no dream from this machine June 3, 2008
J. Dibble (Dunwoody, Georgia USA)
2 out of 7 found this review helpful
If you intend to use this with your iphone, forget it! This unit produces random buzzing throughout the night. Support has been useless and there is no solution for this issue. This clearly is an engineering flaw because there is inadequate shielding around the speaker and amp. I would have thought Sony would have tested this unit before shipping it..
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