Edifier Tick Tock Dock iF230 Ipod Dock

Review: Edifier Tick Tock Dock iF230 Dock Review

Pros:

Works With iPhone in Phone Mode.

Small and Portable.

LCD Display Screen.

There’s a lot to be said for a sense of humour. There’s also a lot to be said for any design that bucks the trend a little bit. The Edifier Tick Tock Dock ably manages both, making it a really neat looking iPod dock. But is it all style and no substance? We dispatched our fearless reviewer to find out.

Introduction

As a technology reviewer, I spend an awful lot of my time surrounded by products that look and feel exactly the same as a lot of other products. Having reviewed a couple of hundred iPod docks in the last few months alone, I can attest that you become very grateful for anything that looks a bit offbeat or interesting.

The Tick Tock Dock is one such product. Designed to resemble a classic alarm clock shape (one that today’s kids probably only recognise from Bugs Bunny cartoons), this dock (that also doubles as a radio alarm clock) is currently getting noticed via a combination of positive feedback and a strong web presence.

This is a very simple device, so there’s no way it can compete with the Phillips Fidelio or any other top range dock. However, the simple, sturdy exterior and surprisingly beefy sound reproduction (from the 40mm, magnetically shielded speakers) make this a decent choice. The connected device sits comfortably on a little shelf at the front of the dock, which slides back in when not in use, saving the connector from dust and accidental damage.

Although the Amazon listing claims that this dock has a USB and SD card function, I can’t find either, so I’m going to go out on a limb and assume ‘typo’.

At £50, this is really rather steep (and that’s after a £10 price drop). However, this is a unique and interesting product from a lesser-known company, so you should expect to pay a little extra.

Hardware / Design

In terms of playback, the little speakers, along with the overall shape of the dock, create a slight echo effect. This is actually rather pleasing; the quality of the speakers is also fairly good. You can hear bass lines quite nicely and the sound picks up the strumming of an acoustic guitar with relative ease. However, the volume control is extremely limited and you cannot adjust the speakers in any way at all (the only way to get a louder sound is by boosting the iPod itself). This actually stifles the playback options quite considerably; personally, I’d like to at least see a volume option.

In terms of size, this would make a very nice travel dock, were it not for the awkward shape and pointy bits, which just aren’t ‘suitcase friendly’.

The digital screen is a nice touch and really does look impressive, but then again, that is likely going to be covered by the device itself whenever you use it.

In addition, the placing of the buttons used for actually setting the alarm right at the back, near the bottom of the dock, is simply not helpful. Although it could be argued that a traditional alarm clock is set that way, this doesn’t help you read the screen at the front whilst pressing the buttons at the back, I’m sorry to say. An iPod dock should be far more user-friendly than this.

Conclusion:

This isn’t a bad dock, but it isn’t an especially good one, either. If the asking price was £20, or even £30, I’d be quite happy to recommend it. However, for the listed price, there are better docks around.

It’s a shame, because I really wanted to like this product, the shape and design is innovative and memorable. It has a novelty feel without resorting to kitsch value to make its point and, to top it all off, it has character, a quality sorely lacking from most of its contemporaries.

The performance is pretty good, but again, not great and the lack of travel value really doesn’t add to the Tick Tock Dock’s chances. It does wield a certain charm, but not quite enough, to be completely honest.

Overall, I would recommend this product for the casual user who is looking for a simple device to get them up in the morning without any fuss. If that’s all you want and the quirky design job impresses you, then by all means, grab this dock.

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Tags: iPod Dock, Edifier Tick Tock Dock iF230 Ipod Dock, Docking Station