TIVOLI AUDIO Songbook Portable Radio BLUE

Rating:
Summary: Great Sound and Strong Reception
Review: The Tivoli is a sleek, attractive, modern design and in looks alone it trumps its only competitor in the nonshortwave market, the CC Radio Plus. The CC Radio has more features, TV and Weather band specifically, but it's old and frumpy looking. So I went with the stylish Tivoli SongBook to use as a kitchen radio. To test its reception, I compared it to my three best radios, my Kaito 1101, my Degen 1103 (marketed as a Kaito in USA for a higher price), and my Grundig S350. The Tivoli showed excellent sensitivity but failed, unlike the others, to clearly receive my weakest station, 88.9 KXLU. Where the Tivoli outshines those other radios, however, is the speaker sound, full, rich, and clear.

Here's what I like about the Tivoli SongBook:

1. Cool blue rubber coating and sleek design.
2. Simple to use controls and operation.
3. Incredible sound, especially for the size.
4. Above average AM/FM sensitivity.
5. Digital tuning with presets.
6. Blue backlight illumination.
7. MP3/iPod input.

Here's what I don't like:

1. Too big and expensive for travel. I'd go with the fifty-dollar Kaito 1101.
2. Doesn't come with rechargeable batteries like its lesser-priced cousin the Tivoli PAL.
3. Should have more than five presets per band.
4. Should have a TV and Weather Band in order to stay neck and neck with the CC Radio.
5. Should have a stand in the back so it doesn't tip over.

If you want to save sixty dollars and don't mind an analog radio, check out the Grundig S350 for home use or if you want to save a hundred dollars and get digital tuning and the best FM reception you'll ever hear, check out the Kaito 1101 for travel radio, but if you want digital tuning, presets, and MP3 input, the Tivoli SongBook is a fine choice.