Philips iPod clock radio review

I had seen many iPod docks before. Various manufacturers – Altec Lansing, Harmon Kardon, Bose, Belkin, etc. I knew for a a fact that Philips had a standard range of products such as televisions, radios, cordless phones, shavers, mp3 players, shavers, and knick-knack electronics like USB drives, batteries, earbuds, universal remote controls, flashlights, etc. They are also particularly noted for their lightbulbs. I wasn’t aware that they made products for Apple, though. This one is their only ipod-only product, as they have http://www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/en/ca/consumer/cc/_productid_MCM108DB_37_CA_CONSUMER/Micro-Hi-Fi-System+MCM108DB-37, which plays CDs.

So as for the product itself – I have to be honest – It looks really nice, but really badly engineered. When you get it all set up, the rear wing has only 2 features to it – the power plug, and the radio antenna. It’s a whole three inches receding backwards, that’s totally pointless. The antenna should be built in, if extension is necessary, it should be retractable, in the way that portable mice are designed, to save space. As for the power plug, it can be placed anywhere around the edges – why create a whole section on the device just for that? This is designed to be a clock radio, and between a book, a Kleenex box, a lamp, and other standard bedside items, there isn’t much room on a nightstand, so a device like this should be as space-efficiently designed as possible.

Actually using the device is a different story. Setting the time was an ordeal. The onboard buttons and layout is extremely confusing. The remote is relatively easy to use, and is about the size of a pack of gum, so won’t take up much space on your bedside table either. Well designed. There’s no backlight option either. It has to be on, or off. It can’t stay on like on a cell phone for x amount of time, as determined by the user. The display also somewhat resembles a car dashboard’s clock. REAL easy to read when you’re in bed, below nightstand level, and your contacts are out/glasses are off...

But now for the positive points – great sound quality – very little static, and good bass allows for a reasonable volume with maximum thumpage. Affordably priced too, at $150.

Wired: Spectacular sound. Amazing bass. Doesn’t put your wallet on a diet. Well designed, comprehensive remote.

Tired: Terribly laid out physically. Settings not easy to work with. Should be a little smaller. Display can’t have a preset amount of time to stay on for, and is too small to begin with.

Bottom line: If you have a big nightstand, good eyes, and a floodlight as your reading lamp, and an ipod to go along with it, this is your device.

Next steps: Bigger, brighter display. There’s no reason for a display not to have an always-on backlight, or at least a timed one for that matter.