An iPod dock, predictably, is centered on the unitвЂ™s top. Shaped like half of a tube, it contains two forward-firing speakers behind separate metal grilles, 11 buttons on its top and two dials on its sides, and an iHome-like but cheaper-looking LCD screen that displays time on the left, month and day on the right, and alarm activity above the date. Of the clock radios weвЂ™ve seen, the iBlaster Clock Radio is amongst the least impressive, but not entirely for lack of trying. For that reason, our short reviews of the Excalibur and Jensen radios offer direct comparisons to the iH5 rather than its newer, more expensive brethren just bear in mind that spending a little more will get you more features. Because of recent iHome price shifts, however, theyвЂ™re both priced on par with the earlier iH5, which now can be had for $80 at many major retailers, as itвЂ™s a few steps behind the iH7 and Apple Store-exclusive iH6 in features. Over the last month, weвЂ™ve spent some time with two low-priced iHome alternatives вЂ“ ExcaliburвЂ™s iBlaster Clock Radio/Alarm Clock ($80) and JensenвЂ™s JiMS-190 Docking Digital Music System for iPod ($70) вЂ“ each undercutting the price of iHomeвЂ™s $100 iH6 and $150 iH7 by at least $20-30. Whether or not you like these offerings, virtually all of the alternatives weвЂ™ve seen arenвЂ™t as well-made for their respective prices, and many are surprisingly poor when you get beyond their similar-looking shells and actually listen to the sound they put out.

The iHome iH5 (iLounge rating: A-) was first to create a true nightstand-ready alarm clock with both an iPod dock and AM/FM tuning, and its sequels iH6 and iH7 (iLounge rating: A-) added dual alarm clocks, a more user-adjustable face dimmer, and station preset buttons to the mix. Sold for a relatively attractive price and bundled with an Infrared remote control, iBlaster features 11 buttons on its top and two dials on its sides, two large speaker grilles on its front, and an iPod dock in its center.Д«ecause New JerseyвЂ™s iHome created and continues to dominate the iPod-ready clock radio speaker market, its iH-series products have become the benchmarks by which other options are judged. Sold with several different names on its packaging and manual, ExcaliburвЂ™s new iBlaster (aka iBlaster Alarm Clock, iBlaster Clock Radio AM/FM Radio & Video Player) is a combination AM/FM clock radio with audio and video output functionality on its back.

Radio clock ipod dock