![]() Truly, the major difference here is iP99’s iPhone compatibility. This isn’t surprising given the additional radio and clock hardware that’s found inside both iH9 and iP99, but it would have been reasonable to expect some more dramatic sonic performance enhancement given that iP99 sells for so much more than iH9. Though the comparison isn’t entirely fair, it needs to be mentioned that neither the iP99 nor iH9 sounds as dynamic as JBL’s clockless $150 On Stage 200ID or Logitech’s $130 Pure-Fi Anywhere, recent and noteworthy performers in this price category. ![]() Both systems achieve the same medium room-filling maximum volume level with less than ideal clarity, but iP99 sounds a little better at its peak. To our ears, the difference is trivial so too is a change from a 6-Watt amplifier in iH9 to a 10-Watt amplifier in iP99. ![]() iH9’s effect adds more of a 3-D effect and additional treble-potentially too much if you’re also using the treble setting-while iP99’s effect adds a little less 3-D and a little more bass. By comparison, iH9 includes a generic 3D spatializer that is identified on screen as “3D,” and triggered in the same general way. While iP99 still lets you adjust the bass and treble settings of the speakers, you can now activate an SRS WOW audio boost feature that is designed to create artificial 3D spatialization and improve bass performance. These features work just as noted in our prior iH9 review, with only one exception. The alarms each feature daily, weekday, and weekend settings and the ability to wake you from the radio, iPod, a playlist, or buzzer, just like iH9. Both systems feature dual alarm clocks, AM/FM radios with six presets per band, and twin speakers with rear bass ports. What hasn’t changed much is iP99’s core feature set: it is nearly indistinguishable from iH9 on performance. Similarly, iP99’s power adapter is now much smaller than the gigantic one included with iH9, and though iP99 isn’t a portable system per se, iHome notes that it’s better for traveling. Just like the redesign of iP99’s shell, these changes are minor in the grand scheme of things, but certainly welcome. iPod menu navigation is now included on this remote, as are the predictable volume, track, radio and equalization toggles found on other iHome systems. As the most conspicuous “lesson learned” from Luna, iP99’s remote control has been considerably improved from the ones found in virtually all iHome products, now bearing the same candybar size, shape, texture and weight of the impressive Luna remote. Though iP99’s controls are virtually identical to the streamlined array on iH9, providing dial-style access to volume and tuning, plus 11 buttons for power, presets, both alarms, snooze/dimming and other features, the buttons and dials have all been boosted in size, making early morning fumbling easier on your fingers. Both screens provide large numbers for the time and smaller text for the calendar date, which switches to display AM and FM radio tuners and alarm settings. Both iHome systems have identical eight-stage dimmers, and though iP99’s screen has a blue tint to iH9’s slightly green tint, the difference isn’t in either system’s favor. Like iH9, iP99 also borrows from Luna the idea of a white text on black screen, rather than the black text on white screen design that some earlier iHome users found overly bright at night.
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