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The i765 is an absolutely terrible name for this product. After years in this business I still can’t figure out what motivates companies to give their best products the most obscure numeric names. In this case, the lone “i” doesn’t help much. It tells you that whatever the 765 is, it probably has something to do with iPod. If it were up to me I’d have called this the Everything Radio or the Bedroom Sound Master at least. I should be in marketing.
Why the Everything Radio? This beefy little unit is an AM/FM clock radio with a CD/DVD player and iPod dock in one unit. The CD/DVD drive can play MP3 files, and you can set the alarm section to wake you with the radio, CD or iPod. Cambridge calls this a 2.1 system due to the fact that it’s got a pair of stereo speakers and an integrated subwoofer. There’s also a little remote so you can control it while lying in bed.
As a radio, the i765 is a good one. Its digital tuner did a decent job of pulling in distant stations (though not quite as good as the Boston Acoustics Receptor), but it’s not an HD radio. For that you need to go to Cambridge’s 820HD, which doesn’t include the CD/DVD/iPod features. I guess this isn’t the Everything Radio after all.
As an iPod dock, the i764 beats most on the market. You can use the remote to navigate your iPod’s content and view track info on the radio’s LCD display. Both audio and video iPod content are supported by the i765. You’re limited to very basic controls via the unit’s remote—such as skipping a track or pausing playback, but to navigate around your tunes and videos you’re better off actually touching the iPod. Of course, like other iPod docking devices this one charges the player while connected. The unit will output iPod videos to a TV via the composite or S-video output.
Radio, CD and DVD functions are all pretty standard fare on the i764. The slot-loading disc drive operated smoothly and playback of discs started without delay. Video can only be output via composite or S-video, not component or HDMI, but that’s not a big deal for me as this product is really meant for bedroom and den TVs, not living room home theaters. Picture quality was good.
All Cambridge Soundworks radios tend to have a deep, warm sound and this one’s no different. All the tracks I played, whether from the classical FM station, CD or iPod, sounded richer than expected from such a small package. The integrated subwoofer design lent a thick tone to the bass, at times covering up the music’s high frequencies, but it’s a sacrifice I’ll gladly live with. It also delivers more than enough volume for most rooms and a fairly good soundstage as well for a single body unit.
The price, $499, is a lot for a tabletop radio, but if you’re in the market for a good tabletop model, you could pay as much without the DVD or iPod functions. The nearest competition is the Polk i-Sonic ES that sells for $599, which includes HD radio and is XM-ready, but does not include an integrated iPod dock. The i765 is an entire entertainment system in one. yy
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