I bought this to replace an XtremeMac Luna (original version), when I discovered that it wouldn't work fully with my new iPod classic (120GB). Among other things, I needed a unit with a display that all but disappeared when the bedroom lights are turned out (it's amazing how many of these things don't offer this most-basic option). Obviously, I also wanted something that would work properly with my new iPod. Since I have a somewhat longish history with Boston Acoustics, I decided to give their offering a shot. Glad I did: Like the Luna, there's a lot of well-thought-out design touches, a few of which are undocumented (several have noted the "hospitality" setting that limits the maximum volume level...some units apparently shipped with this setting engaged, leaving the purchaser to believe s/he received a defective unit). Unlike the Luna, the Duo-i offers greater versatility in terms of input/output ports (for starters, a rarely-seen headphone jack, and an honest-to-gosh threaded coax connector for connecting a serious antenna, even though the tuner is sensitive enough to make do with the included wire antenna in most instances). There's also a "Service" USB port in back of the unit, which hints at the possibility of updating the unit's software/firmware, something that would have come in awfully handy with the Luna..
And while the Duo-i doesn't look quite as svelte on one's night table as a Luna (or most iHome models, for that matter), this can be pegged down to the size of the Duo's two speakers, which are considerably larger than competing models. In terms of table-top audio, the old Detroit axiom of there being no substitute for cubic inches kicks in hard: unless you throw megabucks at it, no amount of bass equalization will get you to the quantity, let alone quality, of bass that most music lovers will find satisfying. BA, intelligently, simply went for a larger enclosure and a pair of 3-1/2" drivers in a ported enclosure, aided with just the right amount of EQ (and made further-tweakable via user-adjusted bass/treble controls). These efforts certainly do justice to the listening experience, putting the Duo-i in a different league from most any other iPod clock radio I've come across.
Controls: I happen to prefer having a few knobs I can twirl to a surfeit of tiny buttons. Boston smartly splits the difference with three multi-purpose control knobs with rubberized surfaces and high-quality tactile feedback, which also push in, button-style, to activate multiple features. Added to this are one button each for the two separate alarms, plus five buttons for station presets (ten FM, five AM), and you have comprehensive control without the flight-simulator look.
Radio reception: this one's easy. The Luna's reception on most stations was sub-par to the point that I rarely listened to radio through it. The Duo-i is just the opposite: it's so good that it rivals my main hi-fi tuner's station-grabbing abilities!
The straight skinny: this one is a winner, and a keeper.
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I looked for a long time for a clock/alarm/radio/ipod dock that was reasonably priced, but had good sound. I tried a number of them and they all got returned when I discovered the BA Duo-i. This radio is comparable to a clock radio that costs twice the price. Very well designed, solid cabinet and high build quality, fantastic sound. But what else would you expect from a speaker manufacturer.
The unit is a little bigger than most clock radios, however, it still should fit on all but the smallest nightstand (since it comes with a full feature remote, the top of a dresser would work as well).
The radio reception is really amazing. I can pick up FM stations up to 40+ miles away. AM reception is equally good. There are several stations that all the other radios that I tried couldn't even pick up, the BA Duo brings them in clearly.
Three knobs control almost all the functions and options (BA did a great job of making the controls very intuitive). Very easy learning curve, you probably won't even need to read the manual. Five small buttons handle the AM and FM presets. Two more small buttons to turn each alarm on and off.
The cabinet is very solid. No cheap plastic or metal. The cabinet is made of a soft-touch rubber like material (very thick and heavy, but the soft surface won't scratch your furniture), the same that is used on the cabinets of there speaker series. The speaker grills seem to be powder-coated metal and the display appears to be acrylic. This is a radio that should last a lifetime.
Two additional auxillary inputs (one mini phone plug and one RCA plugs), ability to add external FM and AM antennas, time and radio presets are saved during power outages by a capacitor system,nice reverse (white on blue) LCD with 10+ dimmer settings, cool metal ring around perimeter of unit is touch sensitive snooze bar (touch it once for 10 minutes, more touches add 5 minutes per touch).
The only other thing I could ask for would be a CD player, but that's easily added with the extra inputs available.
A "must have" radio for those picky about good sound and reception. I'm going to look for more Boston Acoustics products in the future.
So far so good. Satisfied user at this point.
The low humming is making me put the unit in a different place which is not ideal, but other than taht it works really well.
Wow! This was worth the wait! Boston Acoustics covered all of the bases with this radio! After owning a Boston Receptor Radio for Five Years, it was time to upgrade to a radio that had an iPod Dock. The new Duo-i has Tremendous sound with great separation and frequency response on both the AM/FM Radio and the iPod input. They have also added some really awesome new features that were not on the Receptor. New features include Remote Control, Adjustable Brightness for the Display, Separate Bass and Treble, and iPod input. This Radio is going to give the $500 models a strong run for their money! I promise that you will love it!
remote control has no function for your ipod , and when ipod is in the dock it has to be minipulated to work, not enough bang for the buck.
It is a pretty big system, Great sound. Alarms work great. The only major down side would be the fact that there are tto buttons like "snooze" or "dim" on the actual system, you have to turn some nobs and press some buttons to change the brightness.
I�ve been using the Boston Acoustics duo-i for 3 weeks now, and I have to say that I am completely satisfied with my purchase. There are so many things that I like about this unit, for the instance: 22 brightness levels for the display, the snooze feature that works just touching the metal rim around the duo-i, two way speakers, powerful amplifier and so others.
I had the opportunity to match the sound of the duo-i with the bose wave radio. I placed both units on a table about 1 meter (4 feet) from the wall and tested them with variety of tunes. All in all the Boston Acoustics sounded better to my ears and have the posibility to tweak the sound with the controls.
Bose sounded a little bit deeper with some tracks, but the BA duo-i have a better balanced sound. On the duo-i highs sounds much better and precise, it produces a dry, clean bass. Also mids were warm and rounded.
It works very well with my ipod video 120 g. Functionality of the remote is limited when used with the ipod, but thats something that does not botter me. I�m used to prepare long playlist and listen them all.
The only thing that I would like to be changed in this unit is the sleep function. Since I wake up and go to bed listening my favorite music, I would like to set the sleep with the remote. Also when the alarm start doing its job whit the radio or ipod tunes, it goes increasing the sound step by step, making it easy to your ears. However when you set up the sleep for the instance 30 minutes, one this period is completed the music stops right away; I would preferred if the music fades away one step at time as it does when the alarm starts.
I think that the BA duo-i is a great radio and ipod dock with a lot of functionality. I am even more pleased with the great sound it delivers. I have listen similar radios/ipod docks/alarm clocks from Bose, Logitec, Altec Lansing, JBL, Ihome and can tell that none of those products match the functionality, the user freindly and mainly the sound of the BA duo-i.