Tivoli Audio iPAL Henry Kloss portable radio

Tivoli Audio iPAL Henry Kloss portable radio

Product Description
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. The batteries are environmentally friendly, too.

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:
AM/FM tuner with 5:1-ratio analog tuning knob * 2-1/2" driver * minijack aux input and cable * telescoping FM antenna * up to 16 hours playback time with included rechargeable * designed to match the Apple iPod

Tivoli Audio iPAL Henry Kloss portable radio

Average customer rating:

Great little travel speaker system for the iPod!
Lousy radio component
Ranks high among the small portable speakers
Elegant design and satisfying sound
Superb External Speaker for the iPod

Tivoli Audio iPAL Henry Kloss portable radio

Manufacturer: Tivoli
ProductGroup: CE

Audio & Video | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics

Portables w/ AM/FM Radio | Portable Audio | MP3 & Portable Electronics |

Home Accessories | Portable MP3 | MP3 & Portable Electronics |
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Product Features:

AM/FM tuner with 5:1-ratio analog tuning knob
2-1/2" driver
minijack aux input and cable
telescoping FM antenna
up to 16 hours playback time with included rechargeable

ASIN: B0002GOH6A

Product Description

The iPAL is the perfect complement to the iPod. Functionally the same as Tivoli's other PAL radios, it matches the sleek, modern, white and chrome appearance of the popular iPod MP3 player. Use the auxiliary input to connect an iPod, CD Player or other device, and prepare to be amazed at the expansive sound, which must be heard to be believed. iPod can also be connected wirelessly using the iTrip FM Transmitter (sold separately). The environmentally-friendly NiMH battery, which fully charges in about 3 hours, provides many hours of cordless playback. The clever little green LED serves as both a power and battery status indicator. The iPAL also features the world's most acclaimed AM/FM tuner, with Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) to lock on to the center of the station for best reception and lowest distortion.The ultra-precise 5.1 ratio dial allows easy, accurate tuning. An adjustable telescoping FM antenna extends and rotates for improved FM reception (there is also a built-in AM antenna). NiMH battery pack, AC adapter, and stereo mini-cable included.

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 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.

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

Customer Reviews:

Great little travel speaker system for the iPod!.......2006-12-31

I bought my iPAL two years ago to take with me when I travel (particularly airplane travel). I can throw this in my suitcase without it taking up very much room, and then, when I am in a hotel room, I have great sounding audio from my iPod or from my MacBook Pro laptop. I researched and tested many other portable units to use with the iPod and this one by far had the best sound. Sure it doesn't fill a concert hall with sound, but it sure sounds better that any of the other portable units I tried. Even though it isn't stereo it's sound is still crisper and more even. With most portable stereo units I tried you really couldn't tell you were getting stereo once you got a few feet away from it anyway. As far as volume, this unit is great for what it is meant for. If you want a lot of volume you should buy one of the Bose or Logitek systems (both much larger and more expensive). For both portability and quality of sound this one gets my vote.

Lousy radio component.......2005-04-28

I'm about to return my Tivoli iPAL. I am not a fan. I fell in love with the design but that's not enough reason for me to justify the cost of what is essentially a speaker for my iPod. The radio component (both AM and FM) gets lousy reception. I can't even get one AM station on the dial! FM stations play over eachother if they even come in.

It's too bad because I want to like it. It looks cool in my office, but I cannot sacrifice functionality for aesthetics.

Caveat emptor!

Ranks high among the small portable speakers.......2005-03-21

I have been using iPAL eversince I got my first iPod in Jun 2004. Haven't faced any issues and have been quite happy. Four stars because I expected much more volume.

The strongest points of iPAL are:

+ miniature, compact, and portable design
+ rechargable battery that lasts for more than 10 hours
+ AM/FM tuner with very clear reception
+ simple interface and ease of use
+ clear, crisp sound - especially if used in a small room
+ reliable

Not so good points:

- Not suited for a big room
- Not suited for very high volumes
- Not suited for outdoor
- Pricey (AM/FM lovers may not say that) - you get better sounding JBL speakers for $99

Features:

Back Side:
> miniplug port for audio input
> headphone output
> port for connecting the charger (included)
> FM antenna (can be hidden or stretched)
Front Side:
> Off/AM/FM switch - for AM/FM to be active, there should be nothing inserted into the audio input port
> tuner knob
> volume control
> LED indicator that glows green when iPAL is on and blinks when the battery is low

I have been watching all the iPod speakers but haven't found a compact speaker that competes with the sleek design of iPAL.

During the initial days, iPAL was my primary speaker for iPod. Later I got a home theatre system for the living room and shifted iPAL into the bedroom to play morning tunes.

Elegant design and satisfying sound.......2005-01-14

After six months of listening to the iPAL, it is as satisfying as the day I bought it. The looks match the iPod. The controls are simple to use. The AM/FM tuner is very good at tuning in stations. The rechargeable battery works well for me. It is very easy to play an iPod or other music source by inserting a cable into the plug in the back.

Several people have commented on the very compact size of the iPAL unit. That is either the good news or the bad news. This is not a boom box or a portable stereo to fill a room with sound. It is a personal listening device. At least that is how I use it. It has a great sound for such a small package and that is why it is so convenient. The speaker is quite the marvel of engineering. Some small speakers can be tiring to listen to after a while. This mono speaker rises above that short coming with a depth of sound and a fullness of tone. It is particularly good at playing human voices clearly and music sounds balanced at modest levels.

My iPAL sees a lot of use in the bedroom. I can plug in my iPod or listen to the local news while I get dressed. The sound carries into the bathroom and as I move around the room, it can be heard clearly in a non critical listening situation. It is handy to slide the power plug out of the back and carry the unit around the house so I have my music while doing other chores.

A word about price. Good things do not come cheap. Tivoli makes quality products. I appreciate the fact that the speaker has not blown out over time and lost its good sound, the switches work smoothly and have not failed and the power supply did not go up in smoke at the first power surge. I first saw and listened to this unit in the Apple store. They thought it was good enough to offer. You will not be sorry if you have the right expectations.

Superb External Speaker for the iPod.......2004-08-06

I truly believe the iPAL is currently the best option available as a viable portable speaker system for the iPod, or for any mp3 player/discman, for that matter...
The build quality is exceptional, as is true of all Tivoli products, and the elegant "retro" looks of the PAL have been tailored, in this case, to complement all generations
(including the new 4G's) of the iPod.
Connection to the iPod is achieved via an auxiliary input and an included "iPod white" minijack cable that utilizes either the headphone jack or the line out of the iPod dock. (A cleaner, highly attenuated and more dynamic connection can be achieved by purchasing a SiK imp, thereby utilizing the 3G/4G iPod's proprietary dock connector)
The iPAL is powered by an environmentally friendly rechargeable battery that lasts up to 15 hours at modest volume levels.
There is also a superb AM/FM tuner section on board, controlled by a smooth, 5:1 ratio tuning dial that also serves to aesthetically balance the speaker grille.
The iPAL's sound quality is rich, warm and detailed, with convincing instrument timbres. Some elements of the music, especially percussion and acoustic guitars, seem to "bloom" outside the confines of the cabinet, providing a lively soundstage that belies the iPAL's monaural output. The bass response is impressive for a single 2-1/2" speaker, and the unit can achieve sufficient clean volume levels to fill modest spaces with quality sound.
Forget about those "oh-so-cute" inMotion speakers. The iPAL is your best option for serious, near-audiophile sound reproduction in an elegant, portable package that will complement, if not upstage, your iPod while externalizing your digital music collection.

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