Sony ICFCD3iP CD Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone (Silver) Review

I bought and returned the Sony ICF-C1IPMK2 a few weeks ago. You can find my review of it and my reasons for sending it back. In brief, audible distortion killed it for me. I subsequently ordered the ICFCD3iP with the expectation that sound output would be weaker.

I received the CD3iP today and I'm happy to say that it accomplishes its mission very well. It's not meant to be a Bose SoundDock, but it produces very well behaved sound. Let me see if I can explain it further...

First, there is absolutely no audible distortion. The sound is clean and well balanced; it has weight and is not as tinny as some would suggest. For a clock radio, the speaker does a remarkably good job. The volume goes up to level 20, which is loud enough for a single room but not loud enough to damage your ears. Realize that it's a small speaker and keep your expectations reasonable. Even at maximum volume there is no distortion and the sound is tightly controlled.

The FM tuner does a superb job of producing a clean and clear output with no listener fatigue. Small amounts of hiss or noise can quickly lead to fatigue, so it's particularly gratifying to have an FM radio to which I can listen at length. NPR (local 88.5) comes through very nicely.

The alarm and clock are thoughtfully designed. Large numbers are easy to read, the display has 3 brightness levels, and the dual alarms can be set for weekday, weekend, and wake-to-radio, wake-to-iPod, wake-to-CD, or wake-to-buzzer.

Alarm and radio presets are backed up by an onboard battery, so no flashing 12:00 after a power outage.

iPod/iPhone integration is the same as on the ICF-C1IPMK2. The remote lets you navigate your iPod.

Overall I'm quite happy with the design and performance of the CD3iP. It replaces a 12 year old alarm clock without taking any more space while adding CD, Radio, and iPod playback.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony ICFCD3iP CD Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone (Silver)

Product Description:
Wake up or fall asleep to your favorite tunes with the ICF-CD3iPSIL. Thanks to a hidden sliding dock tray, the ICF-CD3iPSIL can dock with most iPods and iPhone1 models. Its dual alarm lets you set two separate wake-up times with the option of waking up to your iPod, iPhone, CD, AM/FM radio, or buzzer. The Automatic Time Set and Automatic Daylight Savings Time features help ensure easy and convenient set up. The ICF-CD3iPSIL also includes a full-function remote control that lets you access all the music on your iPod or iPhone from across the room.

Buy cheap Sony ICFCD3iP CD Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone (Silver) now Get 11% OFF