Tivoli Audio Model One AM/FM Table Radio, Cherry/Cobalt Blue

by Tivoli

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 7 inches ; 5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000WM2L8
• Item model number: M1BLU
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,388 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #64 in Electronics > Home Audio & Theater > Radios > Clock Radios
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 1, 2006

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

The Tivoli Model One has been praised far and wide for its high-quality sound, small size, and cool, retro styling. We got our hands on a sample unit and came away impressed, just as many others have. Anyone who wants a compact, stylish radio with surprisingly good sound should give the Model One a look.

Design
In many ways, the Model One is the culminating achievement of famed audio engineer Henry Kloss's long career. Designed from the ground up by Kloss, who passed away in 2002, the radio exudes understated class and elegant simplicity. We received the Platinum Series Model One, which features a hand-lacquered, high gloss dark walnut cabinet that is simply gorgeous. According to Tivoli, the genuine wood casing isn't just for looks as it provides "an acoustically inert housing" that maximizes the speaker's sound quality. At just over 8 inches wide, 4.5 inches high, and 5.25 inches deep, the Model One is about the size of a toaster turned on its side-- plenty small to fit on a desk, dresser, or nightstand.

The Model One's single rotary dial handles tuning for both AM and FM stations. It feels sturdy and smooth in the hand. The dial is designed to move between stations at a speed that is a bit slower than the speed at which the user turns the knob-- a 5 to 1 ratio, to be exact. This "ratio" dialing technique makes it far easier to tune stations accurately and quickly. It's a nice touch that sets the unit apart from other desktop radios.

The tuner band selection and volume dials are easy to control. Plus, they're well designed for hands of all sizes. A small LED power indicator, as well as an LED that helps determine signal strength, are positioned between the dials. We liked the light-colored face and dark lettering printed on the Platinum Series model we reviewed; it made for easy operation in dimly-lit rooms. The Model One's single, 3" driver is protected by a handsome metal speaker cover. Tivoli adds that the speaker is enhanced by a "multi-stage frequency contouring circuit that adjusts the speaker's output over half-octave increments." The result, Tivoli claims, is "musically accurate tonal balance and bass response."

The back of the unit features a coaxial antenna jack for the included FM antenna wire. While the Model One also has an internal FM antenna, Tivoli recommends using the supplied external one for tricky tuning in locales with a lot of stations crammed together. There's a handy switch for switching between the internal and external antennae. A standard 3.5mm headphone jack is also provided, as is a 3.5mm auxiliary line in port for plugging in your iPod or other music device. If you want to use the Model One as a component tuner-- not a bad idea given the overall quality and accuracy of the tuning circuitry-- Tivoli has provided a 3.5mm output port. The back panel also sports separate ports for AC and DC power, making the unit a great choice for boating or RV use.

Listening Pleasure
As with the Tivoli iPal portable speaker system, we were initially skeptical about the performance of a small, one-speaker unit that only offers monaural sound. The reality is that most small two-speaker systems don't allow you to place the speakers very far apart anyway, and the Model One's rich, resonant sound more than made up for its lack of true stereo separation. Plus, the Model One is a single, elegant box with no annoying speaker cords.

While the Model One isn't designed to provide earth-shattering sound at high volume, it produces surprising clarity and fullness at normal listening levels. When turned all the way up, the unit's rich sound persists and we suspect that Tivoli engineered the Model One's volume level to max out before any distortion arises. If you don't need a lot of volume, the Model One delivers. As with the iPal, we were left scratching our heads and wondering how such great sound could come from such a little box.

The Model One's tuning accuracy is also impressive; we were able to dial in stations we didn't even know existed. Tivoli says this is due to the unit's discrete-component FM tuner technology, which was originally developed for cellular telephones. Whatever Tivoli has done here, they did it right; closely-spaced stations are a breeze to tune.

Pros

• Compact form factor
• Excellent sound
• Supremely accurate tuning

Cons

• Not engineered to produce extremely high volume levels

Product Description

Where performance and simplicity are paramount but space is sparse, the Model One table radio fits the bill. With just three knobs, it is the antithesis of today's ever more complex electronic products. The Model One gets more stations than other radios because of its state of the art, Henry Kloss designed discrete-component FM tuner using technology originally developed for cellular telephones. This technology gives better FM reception and increased clarity on closely spaced stations. Features include a furniture-grade, handmade cherry wood cabinet that doubles as an acoustically inert housing and a heavy-magnet, long-throw 3-inch speaker which provides musically accurate tonal balance and bass response. Its large analog tuning knob with geared-down 5:1 tuning ratio permits easy and accurate tuning. The amber tuning indicator lets you know when you've achieved proper tuning. Built-in AM and FM antennas provide satisfying reception, while a rear 75-ohm jack allows connection of an external FM antenna in difficult reception areas. Also provided is a headphone jack, auxiliary input to connect an iPod, MP3 player or portable CD player, and a record output for recording, or to use the Model One as a high-quality outboard tuner.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Attractive Radio, Strong Speaker, Good Reception, September 24, 2005

By 

M. JEFFREY MCMAHON "herculodge" (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tivoli Audio Model One AM/FM Table Radio, Cherry/Cobalt Blue (Electronics)

One of the most attractive radios in its price range, well constructed, lacking cheap materials, and having a crisp, full monoaural speaker, the Tivoli Model One is an analog radio, which means you have to use the dial to find the sweet spot every time you tune to your favorite station. This can be a chore for some. Additionally, the reception is about a grade B+ for FM and B for AM. Remember, the Model One doesn't come with a telescopic antenna like the slightly more expensive Tivoli PAL. You only get a little pig tail in the back, which can prove inadequate for hard-to-reach stations. Yet understandably it's easy to fall in love with this radio, so what do you do? I'd recommend buying it. But instead of buying an external antenna to strengthen your reception, spend a hundred dollars (or 65 on the Chinese Degen 1103 model) on the Kaito 1103 digital radio. Easilly fitting on top of the Tivoli, the 1103 has the double the FM strength of the Tivoli and has over a hundred digital presets. The problem with the Kaito 1103 is its little speaker. But the Kaito is small enough to fit ontop of the Tivoli Model One and be hooked up with an audio cable through the Tivoli's provided "Auxilliary In" connection. So now you have erased the weaknesses of both radios and maximized their strengths in what will be the best "radio" you can buy. The cost for this radio hybrid, about two hundred dollars, is still less than half of a Bose radio, which, in spite of its nice speakers, suffers from mediocre FM/AM reception.

The Tivoli Model is such an attractive, well-made radio that it's worth combining it with the super-performing Kaito 1103. By itself, however, I'm afraid it's more looks than performance.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Performed as expected and then some, April 3, 2005

By 

F. Jones (Northwest Kansas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tivoli Audio Model One AM/FM Table Radio, Cherry/Cobalt Blue (Electronics)

I ordered this radio after reading everything I could find on the Model One. I can tell you I was not dissapointed. The size of the radio is smaller than I expected, but it is definitely well built and more substantial in hand than any other radio I have ever owned.

I live in rural Kansas and reception has always been an issue. This radio brings in my favorite NPR station which is transmitted from 35 miles away, perfectly. I was also suprised to find it tuned in another NPR station, that signal is transmitted almost 100 miles away.

Most of the day I can also pull in other stations located over 120 miles away. I have had the best luck so far just using the built in antenna. Tuning is easy and the sound is full and rich. It is not stereo, but it doesn't seem to matter. I may buy a model two next to see if it provides any distinct advantage.

I have a Sangean that I paid $170 for several years ago, for FM performance the Tivoli beats it hands down, again and again. I would suggest that you "beleive the hype" and buy one of these if you enjoy turning the tube off and listening to some radio for a change.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars great radio with one big fault, March 24, 2008

By 

Singaporean Sam (Oakland, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tivoli Audio Model One AM/FM Table Radio, Cherry/Cobalt Blue (Electronics)

This is a solidly built radio with excellent sound for its small size. However, I am really disappointed that stations tend to drift. After tuning in a specific (FM) station, I find that I have to make minor adjustments to the tuning dial every 10 minutes or so to maintain best signal strength. This is not a radio where you can set it on one station and forget it. You have to make minor adjustments periodically to get best reception.