Looking for an attractive radio/alarm with Ipod dock

September 13, 2011 9:10 PM

Anyone have suggestions for a radio/alarm clock with Ipod dock that doesn't just look like a piece of hardware?

I am looking for a modest sized radio/alarm clock (alarm not a total requisite) that will also let me dock my Ipod. Unfortunately, most of what I have come across online is clunky, black or metallic, and looks like a piece of hardware. I'd love a device that has a retro feel or has a wooden exterior so it would actually look nice on my furniture. I've found old radios but they don't have an Ipod dock. Looking for suggestions from people that have found attractive solutions.

posted by Sylvia Plath's terrible fish to Shopping (8 answers total)

Best answer: Does it have to dock? You want the power up? I love my Tivoli Pal in white. It's not a dock, it has an audio port. Check out the rest of their line, though. I think they might have a dock in their higher end stuff.
posted by amanda at 9:34 PM on September 13, 2011

Someone I know got this dock recently. One drawback is that it's a bit pricey though.
posted by astapasta24 at 9:36 PM on September 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

This is nice, but no actual radio. A bit fancier with a built-in alarm but again no radio.
posted by mikepop at 5:20 AM on September 14, 2011

Kenwood makes one in Japan only. A google search for wooden iPod radio yields items by Sangean, iHome, and others.
posted by blob at 6:23 AM on September 14, 2011

I use this one in my kitchen, and an uglier version on my bedside table. I don't think that's really what you're looking for, but it's not black. The upside on that one is the display is a soft orange; the uglier one is a blue that is so bright I put a pillow in front of it. I really need to switch them around.

I like the look of this Crossley, but it's been out of stock for a while.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:22 AM on September 14, 2011

Oops, it's Crosley, and there are a couple of models still in stock online.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:25 AM on September 14, 2011

I use this one in my bedroom, fwiw, and I love it. Not sure if it is in keeping with the aesthetics you were talking about, but I think it looks fine from across the room. It's not wood, or retro, but does what you need and I don't think it's horrifically ugly.
posted by indiebass at 8:54 AM on September 14, 2011

Seconding the Sony Dream machine (link in indiebass' comment). It's what I've been happily using for the last couple of years. The dock part is actually a little drawer that you can slide away into the clock body when it's not in use. It also comes with a remote control that will actually let you control music playback from your iPod/iPhone. Like you, I had strict aesthetic requirements that went out the window as soon as I saw how much the really pretty alarm docks cost! The Sony was a good compromise for me.
posted by dutchbint at 1:55 PM on September 14, 2011