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Waking Up with the iHome iDL46 and iPL22 Clock Radios

Written By: Cindy Corbett

~Mom Central received samples of each item for review. The opinions expressed here are all our own.

These days it seems as though everywhere you look someone is holding an iPhone, iPod, iPad, or iPad mini. It also seems that most people need to have their “i”items with them at all times. In my house, I can tell you my 13-year-old carries around his phone like it is glued to his hand and needs to have his iPhone and iPad close by 24/7! He even has a surge protector coming out from under his bed with multiple wires charging his iPhone, iPad and clock radio at night.

So when I was asked to review the iHome iDL46 Dual Charging Stereo FM Clock Radio, which sells for $99.99, I knew exactly where I was going to put it – right next to his bed!

When you take the iHome iDL46 out of the box, it looks like most alarm clocks that can play music from your iPhone. But once my son actually placed his phone on the charging dock, it was a real pleasant surprise. First, he was asked to download a free auto-sync app through iTunes. Once he did this an incredible auto-sync feature called the Lightning Connector, which syncs the clock and phone, appeared. The clock automatically updated from 12:03 to the current time showing on the iPhone. Then he was able to play the music downloaded on his phone through the speakers of the clock radio, control the clock and all it’s features through his phone like the volume, the radio stations, and setting the alarm.

The dual feature of this clock radio allows you to charge your iPhone or iPad on the top of the clock and charge another “i” item with a standard USB connected to the back of the clock, eliminating the need for the power cord.

The sound which comes out of the clock speakers is pretty massive. I can’t imagine anyone wanting it much louder in a bedroom setting. At nighttime, he can set the radio to sleep mode which plays music for specific amount of time and instead of the music abruptly ending, it gradually turns off making for a more pleasant way to doze off.

What I love most about this is when his alarm goes off in the morning, it’s actually music he has picked and enjoys and not some commercial or talk radio. The music gradually gets louder as to not scare the heck out of him from a deep sleep. This wakes him up in a good mood, too. When my teenager wakes up in a good it makes for a good start to everyone’s day!

For those of us who only have one “i” product, the iHome iPL22 Lighting Clock Radio is a great option. It features the same quality sound and easy to use lightning connector as the iHome iDL46, but on a much smaller scale and cheaper in price at $69.99. You can check out both models at ihomeaudio.com.