iHome Audio's
original iH5 rocked our world back in 2005
and set a precedent for sub-$100 dockable
iPod alarm clocks. But as much as we loved
the iH5, it was laden with just-good-enough
sound quality, a lack of adjustable bass and
treble, the inability to wake to anything
but a buzzer when running on batteries, and
a remote which cost $20 extra. While we
never considered any of those deal-breakers
for a $99 iPod speaker system (particularly
one with alarm clock functionality),
ezGear's new ezWake beat out the iHome in
all four areas. The ezWake's sound
quality is noticeably better, it
features adjustable bass and treble on the
included remote, four D batteries allow full
functionality when not plugged in, and it
does all of this at the same size and price
point. And about that remote -- it features
a series of buttons which allow you to
fully navigate up and down the iPod's menus
without having to touch the iPod. Although
you still have to be within eyesight of the iPod's screen, you can now avoid having to
grasp the iPod while it's docked. The
ezWake is now shipping for $99.99 in a
choice of black or white.
