- Play and charge your iPhone/iPod
- USB Direct for easy MP3 music playback
- AM/FM Digital Tuner with 40 station presets
- Dynamic Bass Boost
- Includes full function wireless remote
Product Description
Philips iPhone/iPod compatible docking entertainment sytem with built-in CD player. Stylishly designed with a cool metallic finish, the sleek system features smart functions and boasts 30W RMS power for truly dynamic sound… More >>
I am not a sophisticated audiophile, so I won’t write the detailed review that some others have posted. I think of myself as a regular user, not particularly tech savy when it comes to music devices. For me, this unit is perfect! It was easy to set up and use. I still borrow CDs from friends now and then (I know, I’m behind the times!), and I like being able to listen to them directly before I have decided whether to download to my iPod. The sound is rich, seems like it comes from a much larger unit. This is just right for me!
Rating: 5 / 5
I use this in my office — I actually use it as the external speakers for my computer, in addition to the charger and speakers for my iPod Touch. No complaints — it looks good and it works, and I am perfectly happy with the sound quality and volume.
The video output is not useful to me, but I imagine that some folks will value it. Some might want a more detailed LCD display to show more of track names on MP3-CDs.
Rating: 5 / 5
Great sound and portable enough to carry from one room to the next. Would definitely recommend to others. What you get for the price is well worth it.
Rating: 5 / 5
This system has some very good points. IPod management is very good. The charger is fine and navigating the iPod with the remote control is easy. The sound is excellent. We’ve found that FM radio is fine but we can’t find a way to make the antenna work for AM radio and consequently it sounds terrible. The RDS does not work at all, which is a small issue, but for the price of this thing, it ought to work!
It sets up easily and looks nice. It does take up a lot of space wherever it’s placed. It has a connector for external speakers. The sound adjustments lack separate bass and treble controls. It has a limited equalizer and a DBB, but it’s just not the same. The system will accept any iPod/iPhone w/a 30-pin dock connector.
All in all a nice system, is space-consuming and has a few limitations, which are disappointing considering the price tag, but fairly user-friendly with good sound.
Rating: 4 / 5
We listen to a radio in the breakfast nook or have speakers in the adjacent kitchen to listen to our mp3 devices. I chose the Philips DCM250 docking entertainment system to combine these two systems while increasing our audio listening capabilities. Philips DCM250 docking entertainment system charges an iPod/iPhone while being an audio source or allowing playback from USB devices, CDs, or radio in a sleek system boasting 30 watts total RMS power for dynamic sound.
Setup was mostly simple. I started by connecting the various pieces such as antennas and the power cord. Then, like a typical guy, I turned on the system and started pressing buttons. While setup is intuitive, learning several of the DCM250′s functions is not. Reading the user manual, for example, is the quickest way to learn how to use the DCM250 as an alarm clock or program radio stations automatically. The manual states “When you connect power and no radio stations are stored, the DCM250 automatically begins to store radio stations”, however this failed to occur for me. Knowing I could replicate the process by pressing the PROG button for 2 seconds while in tuner mode was a great help.
For all this entertainment system does, the obvious omission is wireless connectivity to the home network. With the current trend of purchasing music by downloads, wireless connectivity would provide the greatest versatility. Plus we burned all our CDs onto the home server where all our music is stored.
However, this entertainment system was not created with wireless connectivity. Philips created a compact stylish appearing (the product image doesn’t do this system justice) versatile system which works well. The rich sound shows slight distortion between 24 and 32; however this range is too loud for typical use. Daily functions are simple to carry out and intuitive using the remote. The buttons on the system are not as intuitive, but simple enough to figure out.
When comparing to other options on the market, the price appears to be in line with this system’s capabilities. For me, the price seems a little high, but the Philips DCM250 docking entertainment system has lived up to our expectations. Adding wireless capabilities would add value, making the price more realistic for me. However, for iPod/iPhone users looking for a versatile docking entertainment system, the DCM250 is worthy of consideration.
PROS:
Looks and sounds great
Includes an alarm
Light weight
CONS:
Wireless connectivity would add value
Radio stations didn’t automatically program
Rating: 4 / 5