Tivoli Audio iPAL Portable Audio Laboratory AM/FM Radio, Silver/White

by Tivoli

Product Details

Product Manual [306kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 11 x 6 x 6 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002HA7OK
• Item model number: PALIPOD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (132 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,131 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 11, 2005

Product Description

Color: White

Amazon.com Product Description

New electronics that resemble old electronics are all the rage these days. With a case that looks like it belongs in a mad scientist's laboratory, the Tivoli iPal is on the vanguard of retro style. In fact, the "Pal" stands for Portable Audio Laboratory--a cheeky reference to the unit's obvious Geiger counter-inspired design. Fortunately, the iPal does more than just look cool. When paired with an MP3 player such as the iPod or with a laptop, the iPal is a versatile companion that musters much better sound than we expected from a single-speaker unit. Tivoli is known for engineering small components with surprisingly good sound, such as the Henry Kloss Model One radio. The iPal proved to be no exception.

Its compact size makes the iPal an excellent MP3 player companion.

Design
While the iPal is functionally identical to Tivoli's multicolored line of Pal-powered speakers (offered on Amazon.com in Electric Blue, Pearl White, Sunset Red, Basic Black, Neon Yellow and Spring Green), its white and silver casing is designed to complement the iPod MP3 player. At 6.25 inches high and just under 4 inches wide and deep, the 3.5-pound unit is small enough to slip into a backpack, but it's a little hefty for a briefcase.

The iPal's single rotary dial handles tuning for both AM and FM stations. Testers didn't expect to have much to say about something as mundane as a radio tuning dial, but the iPal's is truly unique. The dial is designed to move between stations at a speed that's a bit slower than the speed at which the user turns the knob. We found that this ratio dialing technique makes it far easier to tune stations accurately and quickly. Little touches like this really set Tivoli products apart.

The iPal's radio tuning ratio dial is smooth and accurate.

The tuner band selection and volume dials are easy to control, although their conical shape could make them a little pesky to operate for those with larger hands. A small LED power indicator blinks when the battery is running low. Meanwhile, the iPal's single, 2.5-inch magnetically shielded driver is protected by a handsome metal speaker cover.

The back of the unit sports a telescoping antenna that has the solid, metal construction reminiscent of older transistor radio antennae. A standard 3.5-millimeter headphone jack is provided here, as is a 3.5-millimeter auxiliary line-in port for plugging in your iPod or other music device. A port for AC/DC power and battery charging is also present. All the ports feature handy, attached rubber plugs that keep out the elements when they're not in use.

The base of the iPal houses a rechargeable nickel metal hydride battery pack that, when fully charged, delivered a respectable four hours of listening at moderate volume levels. The iPal's rechargeable batteries give it a leg up on many other portable speaker solutions; gone are the days of hauling around an armada of disposables. Tivoli claims that the battery pack does not suffer from the dreaded memory effects that afflict other types of rechargeable batteries.

Listening Pleasure
At first, we were skeptical about the performance of a small, one-speaker unit that offers only monaural sound. The reality is that most small, portable two-speaker systems don't allow you to place the speakers very far apart anyway, and the iPal's rich, resonant sound more than made up for its lack of true stereo separation. Plus, the iPal is an elegant box with no cumbersome speaker cords to fuss with when you're entertaining on the go.

We plugged the iPal into the kinds of audio devices folks tend to use these days--an iPod, a laptop and a portable CD player. We came away impressed with the iPal's performance with all three. Highs were crisp and clean, while mids and lows were accurate, with a fullness that surprised us. "Could this kind of sound really be coming from this little box?" we asked. When we really pumped up the volume, there was noticeable distortion, but at normal to high volume levels, the iPal excelled. For casual listening, indoors or out, the iPal is a great way to let others hear that iPod library you've been slaving away to build.

We were also pleased by the iPal's tuning accuracy. Tivoli says this is the result of the unit's automatic frequency control (AFC) technology. Whatever witchcraft is behind this tuner, we were impressed. Tivoli adds that the iPal can be used as a component tuner via the headphone-out port--not a bad idea given its quality and accuracy. --Joshua Gunn

Pros

• Small and portable with great rechargeable batteries
• Simple, elegant design
• Great sound

Cons

• One of the more expensive portable speaker solutions
• Cone-shaped tuner and volume dials might be challenging for larger hands

Product Description

This is the iPod of portable radios and speakers according to MACADDICT's November 2004 review of the Tivoli Audio iPAL AM/FM Radio. Giving it their 5 out of 5 Stars AWESOME award, we couldn't agree more that it sounds awesome and looks great. The iPAL cosmetically matches the Apple iPod and is the perfect home and portable playback system for the iPod, MP3 players, or portable CD players via its rear panel auxiliary input and supplied 1/8 stereo mini cable. It can also play MP3 files wirelessly via the Griffin iTrip or Belkin FM transmitters. It provides exception playback via its Henry Kloss designed AM/FM tuner, and features Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) which locks on to the center of the station for best reception and lowest distortion. A 2.5" magnetically shielded driver can be used near computers and its rubberized cabinet is weather resistant, so your iPAL can keep you company by the pool or the patio. Its rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride battery pack has no memory and fully charges in about 3 hours, providing up to 16 hours of cordless playback. The clever little green LED serves as both a power and battery status indicator. It includes a stereo headphone output for private listening (headphones not included). The adjustable telescoping FM antenna extends and rotates for improved FM reception (there is also a built-in AM antenna). iPAL includes rubber gasket covered i/o ports to keep sand and water out of the unit and plated hardware to withstand the elements. It includes an AC adapter for home use and for the built in battery recharging system. An optional carry bag is also available to take you iPAL and iPod on the go.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Portable For The Radio Connoisseur, September 23, 2005

By 

S. Walters (Suffolk, Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tivoli Audio iPAL Portable Audio Laboratory AM/FM Radio, Silver/White (Electronics)

There are as many classes of radios out there as there are people who listen to them. The first thing that comes to mind if you see this radio online is "Why $150 for a three-knob radio?" Most consumers expect digital tuning, stereo sound, and lots of lights and buttons for this price point. This radio's price is justified by what's inside. Let's talk about what this unit is.

The Tivoli iPAL is a portable AM/FM radio that is powered by an internal (and customer replaceable) nickel metal hydride battery. It includes an earphone jack, an auxilliary input jack and external power jack. There is a telescoping rod antenna for FM reception and a built-in ferrite coil for AM. The controls are simple: a volume control, a band selector with OFF position and a tuning control. There is also a green LED indicator light that tells you when the radio is on and the charging/discharging state of the battery. The controls have a very high quality feel to them and are easy to operate. The knobs fit firmly and are not loose or flimsy as on many lower priced radios. The tuning knob has a 5:1 ratio reduction gear which moves the dial pointer more slowly with respect to the tuning knob. This makes fine tuning easier. The cabinet is made of very solid and rigid plastic. The whole unit has a weighty feel and a sturdiness that most radios lack at any price. One gets the impression that daily use will not wear this unit out. It has a very tidy appearance. There are no projecting parts other than the controls. The rod antenna folds down into a groove in the back of the cabinet so it is totally invisible when not in use. There are no fake aesthetic features like on many boomboxes that are designed to make it look like something more than it is. This radio is marvelously understated and does not draw attention to itself or make garish statements about the person carrying it. There is no handle as such. One carries the set by gripping the two indentations on either side of the cabinet. A carrying case is available which makes toting it around easier.

Performance is where this radio really surprises. One might expect the sound to be cheap and tinny but once switched on, this radio fills the room with a sound reminiscent of the vacuum tube table sets of the forties. The sound is warm, rich and full of tonal range. Music comes through with round base tones and sparkling highs. Spoken word broadcasts are clear without being harsh. Voices are deep without being boomy. This sound quality is equally present through headphones so there is no tuned port trickery going on. The circuitry really does sound this good.

RF performance is good too. The field effect transistors in the tuning circuit coupled with a precise AFC (automatic frequency control) mean that Fm stations lock in easly and do not drift. AM reception is excellent even in low signal areas. The tuner is sensitive and selectivity is very good. The built-in speaker is high fidelity mono however, when you insert a headset, the FM reception is in stereo. Stereo separation is very wide and static free. Some reviewers hav commented about the lack of volume on the PAL. I find this not to be the case. I can get sufficient volume for talk radio listening by setting the volume control at one-quarter turn. This radio has as much volume as any portable radio with a speaker this size (2-1/2"). It is not a boombox or a home stereo. One's expectations must be reasonable.

The model I am reviewing is called the iPAL because it has a color scheme to complement the iPod MP3 player. The only difference between the iPAL and the PAL radios is the iPAL includes a stereo patch cable for connecting your iPod, CD player or similar device and the cabinet bears no rubberised coating. The PAL radios are offered in eight different colors, have a rubberised coating on the cabinet body and do not include the stereo patch cable although all units have the auxilliary input jack.

Final thoughts: This is an elegant, uniquely styled, high performance portable radio. It is intended for those who love radio as a technology as well as a medium. In leu of bells and whistles it features superior performance through the engineering of Henry Kloss and a build quality that is seldom found in any portable audio product. The Tivoli iPAL is not intended for the masses who judge value on price alone but for the discriminating lover of radio who admires the perfect blend of form and function.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly rich sound, but Mono, September 4, 2004

By 

Cathy W (A Twin Cities, MN, burbclave) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tivoli Audio iPAL Portable Audio Laboratory AM/FM Radio, Silver/White (Electronics)

I bought this speaker knowing full well that it was mono, but I wanted the battery, the radio, the good sound quality, and the relatively small size.

I was shocked at first at how small it was when I opened the box - (especially after reading about how big it was on other reviews) it's a dinky little bookshelf speaker - how could it possibly get good sound? But it does. Volume is controlled both on the speaker, AND on the iPod, and cranking it up all the way made it quite loud, and no hint of distortion was to be found. Very rich sound.

However, it *is* mono, and it's noticeable that the sound is coming from only one source, and it's less "dimensional" than a stereo system. A hint - the sound is better if it's coming from in front of you, so that you can hear it equally in both ears.

I still gave it 5 stars, because it's not *supposed* to be a stereo system - it's meant to be easily moveable from room to room, or tossed in a backpack (but not a briefcase), or whatever, and still provide EXCELLENT quality sound, and it delivers perfectly.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable Sound in an Attractive Package, December 17, 2005

By 

M. JEFFREY MCMAHON "herculodge" (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tivoli Audio Fashion PAL Portable Audio Laboratory AM/FM Radio, Lime (Electronics)

I live in Los Angeles where many stations compete and go in and out, especially with the pathetic pig tail antennas that are stuck like a joke in the back of many radios. But the Tivoli has a great antenna and is easy to use. I only wish this radio had digital tuning presets. Also don't be turned off by the one mono speaker. Its sound is clear and brilliant.

Post Script: After owning the PAL for two years, I've come across some pros and cons:

Pros:

1. Can be used with an Ipod.
2. Rechargeable battery and rubber casing make it good for outside use.
3. Speaker sound is good for radio of its size.

Cons:

1. No digital tuning so it's not always easy to know what station you're on.
2. AM (MW) sensititivy is only average. (The best AM available is ironically on the cheaply priced GE Superradio III which boasts an 8-inch interal AM ferrite antenna, twice the size of all competition.)
3. For 50 dollars less you could get an Eton S350 Deluxe which has analog tuning and no presets but features SUPERIOR FM sensitity.

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