Tivoli Audio at Target !?!

[Ron Stone]

Looking around for possibe two-disc CD cases, I stumbled on to an end-cap display at Target featuring the Tivoli Audio products. In our brave new iPod world, I was pleasantly surprised to see this stuff in a big box store!

In case you haven't seen Tivoli products in various advertisements and equipment journals, Tivoli specializes in very minimalist tabletop radios, featuring analog tuners, volumes controls, and single-speaker wooden cabinets. They're kind of a throwback to the old Advent radios, only smaller and much better-looking.

Target sold all three permutations I'm aware of, including the basic radio, another with an alarm clock function, and a full system including a second speaker and a CD player. Man, I was tempted! The Tivoli stuff just looks good. No blinking EQ lights and faux military/SUV trim on the speakers.

The units were on active display, all playing the same radio station. The sound was good for what it was and the EQ was warmer than you might expect, perhaps tuned to reduce fatigue from what I call radio "glare" and spurious noise.

Considering that most people would view sound systems lacking an obvious iPod dock or even a remote control damn near an antique, and a relatively expensive one at that, I'm not sure how Target plans on selling these. Since they were displayed facing the corner of the store, maybe they aren't planning on selling many; the various iPod boomboxes (Bose, etc.) received much better exposure on the aisle facing the new music releases.

Still, that $400 three-cabinet CD system . . . It's just so damn good looking.

[mtodde]

I saw that recently too and agree it looked great. Target is a great store.

[www.records]

I haven't been in Target for years. But I would guess they are gearing up for Christmas. I do like the looks of those Tivoli.

[John B Good]

I plan on getting their new combo unit, if it gets to Canada.

I liked the little dig at Bose about the Tivoli having on-board controls

http://tivoliaudio.com/articles.php?articleid=81

[Parkertown]

Ummm, those do not look analog...

[CardinalFang]

Ummm, those do not look analog...

No, those don't. These do:

http://www.tivoliaudio.com/home.php?cat=262

[bababooey]

I worked at Tweeter for one of the most miserable years of my life. I believe the former CEO of Tweeter has or had an interest in Tivoli. They were always trying to make us push that stuff.

I thought they sounded good for what they were but they were way overpriced.

[-=Rudy=-]

Target here has these also. :thumbsup: Mentioned it here last month, I think. Sad thing is, we're not in a great FM reception area, so these units aren't even working for a demo. Poor reception in the brick and steel building they're in. I can't even get a cell phone signal in there most of the time. They're neat looking, but I did not notice if they had all the color choices, nor did I notice the Model Two, which is the stereo version of the radio. It's pricey but if I had the $$$, it'd be our kitchen system. :thumbsup:

[deadcoldfish]

I worked at Tweeter for one of the most miserable years of my life. I believe the former CEO of Tweeter has or had an interest in Tivoli. They were always trying to make us push that stuff.

I thought they sounded good for what they were but they were way overpriced.

Since they're at Target, you can now wait for the post holiday clearance sale on the end cap :righton:

[soundQman]

I bought a Model 2 and was disappointed. Boomy bass and poor AM reception. The FM tuning is quite good for the most part, but has a problem with multiple images across the frequency dial on really strong local stations where I live.

[Grant]

Rood and I had a small discussion about this inside a recent thread...I don't racall what it was about, though.

[Dan]

They let me buy one for the store I work at so I can play football games over the PA on Sunday. It was one of the only reasonably priced radio I could find that had a line out.

[coopmv]

I plan on getting their new combo unit, if it gets to Canada.

I liked the little dig at Bose about the Tivoli having on-board controls

http://tivoliaudio.com/articles.php?articleid=81

How does the Tivoli Radio stack up against the Bose Wave Radio, which was described by a friend of mine as a piece of crap?

[Upstateaudio]

I use the Model 1 as a mono tuner by using the rec out. It sounds great in this application.

[GabeG]

I liked the little dig at Bose about the Tivoli having on-board controls

http://tivoliaudio.com/articles.php?articleid=81

Except the Bose does have on on-board controls.

[CardinalFang]

I use the Model 1 as a mono tuner by using the rec out. It sounds great in this application.

So the line output jack is mono too? Or is that only for AM? I'd jump on one of these if there was stereo FM via the line out.

[John B Good]

How does the Tivoli Radio stack up against the Bose Wave Radio, which was described by a friend of mine as a piece of crap?

I've never heard a Bose, but it's widely dissed. For one thing, its much more expensive than Tivoli, Boston, etc.

So maybe Bose gives less value for money?

I'm like Upstate, I have a Tivoli Model 1 to give myself a semblance of mono.

[John B Good]

Except the Bose does have on on-board controls.

The Bose that all the big ads in the last 2 years has been pitching actually boasts that it doesn't have ugly controls on the unit, and that you can control everything with the wafer-thin remote.

The very first time I read that, I thought it was wrong. Am I the only person who has never misplaced a remote? :)

[coopmv]

The Bose that all the big ads in the last 2 years has been pitching actually boasts that it doesn't have ugly controls on the unit, and that you can control everything with the wafer-thin remote.

The very first time I read that, I thought it was wrong. Am I the only person who has never misplaced a remote? :)

I wonder if that wafer-thin remote works well at all. I have serious misgiving on most touch-sensitive remotes and prefer the clicking types. At any rate, I have never owned any Bose products and doubt I am missing much.

[sierracharlie]

Roll up a paper towel and plug the hole in the bottom. It is a great improvement in the sound. And it is almost cost free.

[stereoptic]

Roll up a paper towel and plug the hole in the bottom. It is a great improvement in the sound. And it is almost cost free.
:confused:

[DJ WILBUR]

I plan on getting their new combo unit, if it gets to Canada.

I liked the little dig at Bose about the Tivoli having on-board controls

http://tivoliaudio.com/articles.php?articleid=81

So has anyone heard one of these table top all in one stereo units Tivoli put out this year?

[boead]

See some say the glass is half empty, I say it’s not quite full enough.

I saw the Tivoli at Target too and my first thought was; “wow this stuff is crap!” – is that wood? Looks more like plastic or some man made wood-like product. I mean maybe if it ‘was’ cheap but the stuff is expensive.
I mean $120 for an AM/FM radio (digital tuner, they don’t make an analog tuner)??
$300 for a Sirius Radio with one speaker aimed at the ceiling?
But worst was the lack of fidelity, it sounded like a clock radio. You can start buying the extra box with the CD Player, the sub woofer, another speaker and now you spent $600 and have a countertop full of Tivoli stuff. I don’t get it?

The stuff pictured just above, Target doesn’t sell. Maybe that stuff is nicer but how much?

I was very surprised while shopping for a small micro system for someone that this system, made by Insignia (whoever the hell they are) sounded GREAT. I mean this cheap $125 system had tiny wooden speakers, a small wood box sub and a tiny but heavy body that played CD, MP3 and DVD and it actually sounded nice with a lush midrange and rich bottom end.

http://www.insignia-products.com/images/product/large/139.jpg
http://www.insignia-products.com/pc-139-19-insignia-100w-5-disc-dvd-compact-shelf-system-with-pc-connection.aspx

[Billy Budapest]

I have heard the Tivoli PAL--the teeny, tiny radio. I must admit that the radio reception was good, it was very easy to tune with the counterweighted dial, and rejection seemed pretty good as well. However, the built-in speaker sounded like tin. Even though it was less than 2", you can do a lot better. H/K makes those tiny aluminum drivers (think: Soundsticks) that sound really good for that size.

[Billy Budapest]

I was very surprised while shopping for a small micro system for someone that this system, made by Insignia (whoever the hell they are)

Insignia is Best Buy's "private-label" brand. Not sure who OEM's it, but many think it's a cut above a lot of the cheapo crudola.