Don’t you hate a morning person? Well, if you get your hands on one of the finest iPod alarm clocks out there, you might be about to join their cheerful ranks. Competition is fierce in the iPod-wake-up world, and our six contenders in our roundup range from the low-budget and basic right through to the upmarket and pricey.

We’ve got everything from the sensible styling of the Ozaki iBand, the slumber-busting power of the XtremeMac Luna LX and Boston Acoustics Duo-i, through to the downright eccentricity of the iLuv IMM173 Double Play or the funky little Logic3 MIP190 Clock Dock. Then there’s the iHome iP27, which is all about the iPod – it doesn’t have a radio at all.

But it’s not just abou the wake-up call – we’ll be keeping a keen ear on the sound quality of these models, as well as assessing their handsomeness and features, so you can be sure to pick the perfect bedside Hi-Fi.

Buying Advice

Picking an overall winner from this appealing bunch is tricky because they all work on different levels. There’s certainly not a duff model among them, and all worked in harmony with different iPods.

The iHome iP27 is perhaps the weakest link but we won’t be too judgemental because it doesn’t actually have a radio. Nevertheless, this device is worth including because it’s the only one that’s fully portable and can be run on batteries alone.

All of the other models deliver generally excellent FM and occasionally AM stations with ease even if some units, like the Luna LX, tend to have presets in fairly short supply. For quirkiness, the iLuv IMM173 boasts the unique accolade of offering two docking stations for your iPod or iPhone. This is great if you share an alarm clock with the other half.

The i-Station Clock Dock from Logic3 was a pleasant surprise too, featuring a crisp and clean design, a strong feature set, and workmanlike performance and all for a good price. The Ozaki could perhaps be referred to as cheap and cheerful. The conservative styling is soon overshadowed by its ballsy sound capabilities. It’s a dependable no-frills model, and ideal if you live in a house where it may take some knocks.

If you like your home to be decorated with gadgets that suggest style and sophistication, then for our money the Boston Acoustics Duo-i will fit the bill best. Alongside fabulous looks and solid performance, this device pips the others to the post with superior features. A host of connectivity options makes it useful beyond your wake-up call, such as the video out plug for getting movies from your iPod to the TV. It is pricey, but it’s our pick of the bunch here, and it’s the best sounding alarm clock we’ve ever heard - perfect for helping you haul yourself out of bed on these cold winter mornings.