Tivoli Model Satellite Table Radio (Sirius Satellite Radio / AM / FM ) by Tivoli Audio
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Our Price: $599.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $299.00 (click here) Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Tivoli Model Satellite Table Radio (Sirius Satellite Radio / AM / FM )
Digital camera Review: TIVOLI SATELLITE TABLE RADIO
Summary: 4 Stars
This radio performs better than the WiFi radios SIRIUS offers. The sound is quite good even with the single small speaker. It is every bit as good as the other Tivoli radios The on/off button is a bit of a tiny nuisance as it takes a bit of time to turn the radio on and off. Unfortunately TIVOLI has discontinued the model.Digital camera Review: Terrific sound for a very pretty table radio
Summary: 4 Stars
This will be just a brief review, and only of the Sirius part of the radio - I haven't used the AM/FM part.
The radio is small, and beautiful, and has absolutely terrific mono sound. (For a bedside/bedtime radio I see no need to buy the extra speaker for stereo sound.)
With Sirius of course you get whatever music/news/talk you'd like. I'm using it exclusively for the 3 classical channels (and maybe the 24/7 All Elvis All The Time channel every once in awhile). (XM also has 3 classical channels, later on when Sirius & XM merge there will probably still be 3 classical channels). The programming is very good.
However, there are a few flaws to be aware of with this radio. The biggest flaw is a direct result of the design - internally this is a digital satellite radio bolted on to Tivoli's standard analog radio: The remote control doesn't control volume! Amazing limitation! The remote does have a mute function. Also, it has a very limited "sleep" mode - only 20 minutes, and to get it into that mode you have to traverse the menu system - impossible to do from across the room with the remote because you can't see the menus from that distance.
Also worth noting: I am using an external antenna (the "SIRIUS Outdoor Home Antenna", bought from [...], very easy install) and the signal cuts out once in awhile - this may be due to some large trees in the line-of-site to the satellite sometimes block the satellite. Yet the signal strength meter shows "3 bars" (of 9) for the terrestrial signal - I live in Seattle where Sirius apparently has ground repeaters - so why should it ever cut out due to not seeing the satellite?
Still, I'm very happy with the radio. 5 stars for sound + looks, then subtract one star for the annoying lack of volume control on the remote.
Digital camera Review: The radio I've been waiting for!
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this radio. Starting with the real knobs to turn, I find it very solid and convenient to use. Yes, there are wires for the antennas, but you have to have them to get the good reception so there is no point complaining. You might as well moan about gravity.
It really sounds wonderful. After two weeks with one speaker I had to have the second one for stereo, and that was well worth getting. As other reviewers have said, it does have a slightly boomy tone, and I can't imagine why the sub-woofer would be needed. Maybe it is for rap music - I haven't tried that.
The programming from Sirius is excellent. It is more entertaining than cable TV. One word of warning though: if you need tech support from Sirius, you will be sorry. Apparently nobody there has ever used a satellite radio. They seem to be minimum wage people who are told to bluff their way through as quickly as they can so they can pull the wool over the next person's eyes. They don't know anything about electronics, and barely know what an antenna is. Don't confuse them by mentioning the FM or AM antennas!
In the end I got adequate reception in spite of all the misinformation from tech support. It was worth the effort.
Digital camera Review: Tivioli is 5 Stars but Model Satellite??? Read and Buyer Beware
Summary: 1 Stars
Let me say that I love Tivoli radios. I love the warm and rich sound from such a well designed and sexy cabinet but please save yourself the money and pick up a free satellite radio receiver along with a Tivioli Model Two Radio instead of the Model Satellite. Both Sirius and XM (take your choice) are offering free radio receivers with a subscription that you will have to get anyway to use the Model Satellite for Satellite Radio reception.
You can save yourself $100.00 outright by buying the Model Two instead of the Model Satellite and save $160.00 if you would plan to buy the matching stereo companion speaker for the Model Satellite. The Model Two comes with two speakers right off the bat. This gives you plenty of money left over to buy the Tivoli Model Subwoofer which I have and highly recommend.
I have a Model Two and a Sirius receiver that I can set to transmit on any FM frequency I choose. The Tivoli tuner picks it up beautifully and I still have the auxillary input jack available for my Ipod. The whole Sirius receiver is only 4" X 3" X 1". You don't even know it's there.
One other thing if you haven't heard Sirius Radio has had "serious" financial troubles and has been bought out by XM. The two will run separately for only the rest of the year and then Sirius will cease to be. XM will probably take over some of Sirius' programming but no one knows if a receiver designed to pick up Sirius signals will work after that point and be able to be used to pick up XM broadcasts. You could end up with a very expensive but obsolete radio before the end of the year. I'd sit tight and explore other means as I have of enjoying satellite radio through the wonderful sounding Tivoli line.
Digital camera Review: Tivoli Model Satellite Table Radio/ Sirius Satellite Radio
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this as a gift and it is well worth the money: very nicely put together and a good looking product.