Customer Reviews

Tivoli Audio Model One AM/FM Table Radio, Hunter/Maple

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is an excellent little radio. Its diminutive dimensions belie the extremely rich, full sound that the Model One produces. Unadorned by all of the knobs, switches, levers, lights and other inputs that clutter most modern radios, it has an appearance that could be described as retro, even austere by the standards of today's gadgets. With just three knobs to tinker with (Off/FM/AM; volume, and an analog tuner), it's refreshingly simple to operate, a fact reflected by the Owner's Manual being not much more than the size of a postcard. Tuning is extremely easy and accurate, facilitated both by a 5:1 gear ratio on the tuning dial - allowing you to make very fine adjustments - and by a light on the front panel that gradually brightens to indicate the best signal strength. Tuning on this radio is actually a pleasure - I find myself spinning the dial for the sheer enjoyment of seeing what I can find.

Anybody interested in the Model One should also take into account what it is not. First off, it's not stereo but mono. Those who simply cannot tolerate a radio without stereo should consider its big brother, the Model Two (essentially the same radio with an extra speaker). But the Model One being in mono is not so much of a limitation as a deliberate design choice: excellent sound in a single, small package. That being the case, this is the perfect radio to unobtrusively fill space-starved locations, like the kitchen or office, with superb sound.

Unfortunately, a few flaws in the Model One prevent my giving it 5 stars (I'd give it 4.5 if I could). As another reviewer has noted but I think is worth reiterating, the volume dial is extremely sensitive on the low end. This can be pretty frustrating, as the slightest twitch of the finger on the dial makes for significant volume variations at the lower volume settings. As a result, I spend more time than I think I should making tiny adjustments in the bottom 10% of the dial, while the remaining 90% remains largely ignored. My only other complaint, albeit very minor, is that plugging a CD or MP3 player into the unit disables the radio, and the only way to reinstate radio play is to physically unplug it. This seems to be a function that could and should have been on the front dial and would have avoided unnecessary wear and tear on the rear inputs. As I understand it, this was remedied on the Model Two.

Despite its minor shortcomings, the Model One is a fantastic little table radio. If you're looking for a compact radio that delivers amazingly full and rich sound at a reasonable price, it's a fine choice.

I was hunting for "just a radio". No CD player, no components, no extras, just a radio. I hadn't purchased a radio in years. I was dismayed by what I saw "out there" (I shop locally, not on the internet). The plastic, the cheapness, the gaudy styling, the prices, none spoke to me. Then I saw a display of radios in my local TV repair shop. I paused, I smiled. Here was a radio which, figuratively, spoke to me. I was drawn to its aesthetics.

The shop owner showed me the various models, some stereo, some monaural. He played the sub-woofer. The sound on all of them was fine. I selected the Model One in Hunter Green & Maple. There were four others from which to choose. I am very happy with the purchase.

I have played my radio in my office with various and sundry environmental noises filtering in. It sounded great. I played the same radio in my home at the most quiet time of the day, very early morning. I listened to classical music. The sound was robust and full.

I love the analogue dial. I am from the generation which spent its youth adjusting the car's AM radio dial to just the right frequency, to pull in that just perfect pop song which resonated so perfectly with our mood. At home, late at night, I tweaked the dial to pull in those FM stations from exotic places like Memphis and Chicago hearing blues and jazz, which to my parochial mind were foreign and a little forbidding. Adjusting the dial makes me a participant. Something lost in the push button digital world.

I recommend this radio if you want just a radio. Just a radio with great tonal range, in a naturally pleasing wooden box, with a dial that allows you to participate in your listening.

Quite simply, the Model One is a good little table radio. It won't wash your clothes or even play a CD, but it does one thing and does it very well.

Perhaps more important than the sound, the Model One has a very nice FM tuner. Reception is superb (Better than anything I have seen without a large antenna), and the tuner is very accurate, so you can easily tune in on as station as best as possible.

The sound is good for something so small: quite full, and no major flaws for such a small unit, although it does sound unspectacular by any means when compared with a full sized stereo, it was never meant to compete with that.

If you are looking for a little radio for the bathroom, home office, or kitchen (It'd even be a fine addition to the office at work, if some soft music is acceptable), or anywhere else you might want the addition of some music without a hassle, the Model One is a nice little radio, and I'd strongly reccomend it.

I walked into my sister's home yesterday and was surprised to hear her living room full of rich orchestral sound. She is no audiophile, so I skeptically glanced around the room for high-tech speakers, when my eyes caught this fun retro-styled radio. Having seen the Model One in a specialty shop the week before, I immediately remembered the reviews that I read of the product, and was dazzled. While the windows did not shudder at the sound of it, the speakers reproduced a hearty bass range of the cellos and a cystal-clear TINGGGG! of the triangle during the Christmas carol that was playing. I can't believe that somehing that costs so little can create such sound. I went and bought my own immediately and am deeply impressed with both its reception in the city and its tonal brilliance. Even without stereo, this must be heard to be believed.

Service and shipping was great from supplier, arrived on time and in perfect condition. The reception is so poor it will not even pick up the local public AM station (2 miles). AM stations 10 to 80 miles away that come in even on my cheapest clock radios will not even come in worth listening to. The local FM stations that do come in have great sound and do not drift or fade. Anything over 15 miles, forget it. Very disappointing performance. The shipping and restocking charges make it impractical to return, so will give it to my son who lives in a metro area where it may work better. I'd say forget this one if you want good reception.

The Pros: Great sound, small, retro-looking, easy tuning, easy on the ears and eyes, back panel connectors so you can patch in your iPod or CD player, use with headphones, even has a record-out if you want a nice clean mono signal to record, accepts either 117V AC house current with supplied cord, or can be powered by 12 VDC. Sounds good with everything from jazz, classical, rock, country and voice.

The One Small Flaw? The volume control isn't consistent at lower volume levels. If you're trying play this really softly, it's hard to adjust between very very low volume and slighly louder very low volume.

(Note: I own the black/silver version, but didn't see it listed elsewhere.)

I bought my unit to replace a older Sony stand alone. It worked fine for 12 months although the FM reception was a bit disappointing for my 89.3 NPR station. One morning it just......stopped......working. I contacted customer support and they were completely indifferent.

It now sits in my garage, a monument to poor quality and lousy customer service. Sure looks good sitting out there though.

2/16/09 update. Last July I got tired of looking at it sitting in the garage so I contacted Tivoli and arranged to send my unit in for repair/replacement. For a fee ( I think it was $50.00 but could be wrong) they sent me a new unit that worked pretty well until....you guessed it, the tuner has crapped out on it this weekend. The FM band gives me nothing but static and noise. I wish I could give a -5 star rating for this colossal piece of junk.

You have been warned about this company and their crappy radios! Buy at your own risk! I should have listened to myself... :)

Ok, so it's not a stereo radio, but the sound is rich and warm and the FM reception is better than on my high end Onkyo receiver. I love the infinitely adjustable tuning knob and the perfectly balanced design. Even the maple wood is first quality. Keep it simple and enjoy this little wonder. No buyer's remorse here!

I picked up a couple Tivoli Audio Model One radios at my local Target when they were closing them out -- apparently budget-conscious shoppers weren't buying them at the retail price of $120, so they reduced them to $20 apiece to get rid of them. For that price, they are impossible to beat. For the new retail price that Tivoli has set, which is even higher now ($150), I would advise looking elsewhere.

While I wanted to love the Tivoli, I found its ability to pull in stations and its overall quality level acceptable, but not exceptional.

Its minimalistic aesthetics are undeniably appealing, but you will soon realize that it really isn't built that well. The unit feels toy-like, and the sound, while smooth, isn't nearly as extraordinary as some reviews posted here will lead you to believe.

Low mid-range frequencies are overemphasized, resulting in a chesty and boomy sound, and there is no high-fequency sparkle. It might be fine for nearfield listening on a desktop next to a computer, for instance, but not much else. Given their price premium, there is much more value to be had investing in real stereo components.

Incidentally, I also picked up the Tivoli "Radio Combo" -- which consists of a Model One, the CD player, and an extra speaker -- for under $100 on clearance. Adding a second speaker to the One helps, but the CD player is quirky and limited in its functionality, and the full Combo is absurdly overpriced for what you get: incredibly, it now retails for $600.

I know I will probably get flamed for expressing my opinion that there are better buys out there for the money, but -- having tried much of Tivoli's line (I also got the Three on clearance) -- I felt obligated to offer a little perspective.

Thanks to Tivoli's ever-increasing pricing structure, I was able to sell all my Tivoli gear for 5x what I paid for it -- and then invested the proceeds in some quality bookshelf speakers and stereo components which outperform the Tivoli in every measurable way. Couldn't be happier with that decision.

Don't fall for the marketing hype. Listen first. Compare before buying.

I bought this radio specifically for my office. I started with a Model Two w/ Model Subwoofer in my living room and have been extremely impressed with it. My wife and I really enjoy it and so I wanted one for my office.

I found a very nice used Model One that was only a couple years old and in perfect shape. I use it 5 days a week, 8 hours a day and absolutely love it. The FM reception is great and the tuer is very easy to dial in even the toughest stations to receive. The AM is ok but I haven't used it much for that so I don't know if it's better or worse than any other radio.

The sound quality is where this unit really shines. Even at extremely low volumes the clarity is wonderful. I often listen to talk radio and the voices come in crystal clear. The ease of use on the Model One is great as well. With three knobs and 2 lights, the controls are simple yet refined. They're very smooth. The only draw back that some other reviewers have mentioned is the low volume control. It would be nice to be able to have more control over the low volume.

Overall, this product is awesome and I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again. Also, being able to hook up an external MP3 player is a nice feature that works well.