Rating: 
Summary: Quality and Convenience in One
Review: After listening to both the in-motion speakers and Tivoli's iPal, the iPal's sound quality wins hands down. I wouldn't worry much about the fact that iPal is one speaker while in-motion is in stereo since in-motion's 2 speakers are so close together anyway. If you're an audiophile, choice is easy...get the iPal. The convenience of in-motion's dock is nice, but certainly you can live without. And yes, iPal is a little bulkier, but in my opinion, not much harder to travel with than in-motion. In both cases, you'll put the speaker in some type of bag. In-motion is a slimmer design while iPal is more of a cube. Again, don't sweat it...iPal's sound and AM/FM tuner more than make up for it. Listen to both and I think you'll agree with me. I absolutely enjoy the iPal (for a mobile speaker)!
Rating:
Summary: iPal ("iPod white") ROCKS!!
Review: Due to price, rubberized coating, and being mono, I was hesitant to purchase the iPal. Well, I broke down after reading so many positive reviews. I just got it so I can't speak for the longetivity of the battery or the durbility of the cabinet, but if first impressions are worth anything, the iPal is great. The "iPod white" cabinet is NOT "rubberized" which no one could tell me for sure before ordering. Cleaning and wear should not be an issue. As for the battery, it is at least replaceable. I won't bore anyone with the re-hashing of all the other raves about this radio...I'll just say believe them.
I'm sitting in awe of the sound coming out of this thing right now!
Rating:
Summary: Superb for distributing XM Satellite Radio in my house
Review: First, I agree with the prior reviewers that the sound quality is almost unbelievably good for a unit this size. I now own 27 (yes, 27!) of these, and use them to distribute XM throughout my house as follows: Delphi XM receiver to Sangean FM transmitter (from ccrane-dot-com) to Tivoli PAL. Prior to hearing the PAL, I wouldn't have thought a small monaural unit would provide acceptable sound in a small room; the PAL does. The FM tuner had excellent sensitivity (ability to pick up weak stations), yet many radios do. What sets the PAL apart is its exceptional selectivity (ability to receive a realtively weak station that is wedged between two nearby, and stronger, stations). And, for what its worth, when I dropped one into a swimming pool, it floated.
Rating:
Summary: When the Best Things Come in Small Packages!
Review: I adore NPR, but I live in a little NPR-free nook between two very large NPR broadcasting stations. Try as I might, I have NEVER been able to get one of my former radios to grab the signal successfully. Until today.
I've seen this product in catalogues and thought, "Yeah, yeah, yet another designer radio." Then I saw a sedate black one sitting on a friend's kitchen counter and asked if she liked it. She gushed. I became that little bit more persuaded (still gasping at the manufacturer-regulated price).
Yesterday I took the plunge and today (normal delivery even!!) my new best friend arrived. I'm in love. Out of the package, Fast-Charged for about 2 1/2 hours (although you can trickle charge while listening with no deleterious effect on the battery) and I am at long last on the receiving end of a crystal clear, static-free aural relationship with NPR. Didn't even have to extend the antenna!
You can plug it in and listen. You can charge the internal NiMH battery and listen. You can use it with your iPod (plus one of those FM transmitter gadgets) for headset- or earbud-free enjoyment of your iPod's collection either at home or at large. There's a headphone jack. And there is an auxiliary input jack that lets you plug in a portable CD player or mp3 device and listen through the radio's speaker. Attached rubber caps protect the jack inputs when you aren't using them.
It's cute in a simple, elegant way. The size and shape suit my cluttery available spaces. It's much heavier than you'd expect ... feels as solid as a tank. Rubberized exterior? Don't think iPod skin, think something more like a velvety soft metal that doesn't show fingerprints (your finger nail tapping on the surface will say "metal"). Controls are dialable luxury, with an incredibly satisfying resistance. And the sound is absolutely worth writing home about.
Being in my Green Period, I chose the green, despite serious misgivings based on the colour my computer screen comes up with for this product. Spring Green on my system winds up looking something like an icy green-blue, sea-foamy mist colour. Fortunately, Spring Green is more on the "Forest" end of the spectrum, only a little bit softer and a little bit bluer. The knobs, however, could qualify for that mist colour!
Yesterday I was shaking my head, questioning my sanity for spending this kind of money on a radio. Today I don't regret a penny of it. Who could want for anything more?
Rating:
Summary: Incredibly rich sound, but Mono
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Ranks high among the small portable speakers
Review: I have been using iPAL eversince I got my first iPod in Jun 2004. Haven't faced any issues and have been quite happy. Three 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)
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.
Rating:
Summary: Review for the non Ipod user
Review: I just got this little speaker for Christmas with a creative zen touch and I am incredibly impressed with the quality and the sound. The built in extendable antenna can reach quite far and radio channels are clear with no static.
When I plugged this baby into my zen touch and turned it on, I was so impressed by the sound quality. It is almost as good as my 5.1 stereo!!!!!! I am not joking. I actually had my mom confused because she was convinced that the sound was coming from our large stereo and she couldn't find any evidence that the stereo was on. I also felt that it could get quite a lot louder then I had expected.
The iPal is much smaller then it appeared to me online, as well. It's really small! I actually felt kind of ripped off when I took it out of the box, because I had paid quite a lot for such a dinky little thing. It is very portable.
A word of caution: the iPal does NOT come with a audio to audio cord to plug a mp3 player into the AUX jack with. It really comes with nothing other then itself and a power cord.
Rating:
Summary: Great Radio!
Review: I received my PAL about two weeks ago. I got it to replace a portable radio in my office at work. The radio I had in the office needed the antenna fully extended and HAD to be in the window to pick up any variety of FM stations. The PAL can sit on my desk with its antenna stowed in the back and can pick up stations that the other radio could only get outside. The PAL sounds awesome as well.
Rating:
Summary: Superb Portable External Speaker for the iPod
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Call me impressed.
Review: I was having reception difficulties in my office with my previous radio, an upscale CD/radio/alarm combo by a well-known manufacturer...I just couldn't seem to get my favorite radio station, KROQ here in L.A., to come in with any regularity.
When my home alarm clock broke, I took the office one home (its' alarm is super cool...) and bought this one. I have to say I've been completely surprised and impressed at it's performance.
It receives the signal much better, and the sound is astonishing clear and crisp coming from that one little speaker! It's a joy to use. The tactile sensation of turning that knob...so retro yet in a supremely modern package. Ergonomically, it's just about perfect.
The front has, besides the speaker, a large tuning knob, a volume knob, and the on/off/AM/FM knob. That's it. That's all you really need.
The back has the extendible antenna, mini-jacks for AUX IN and headphones, as well as the power cord. All the connectors thoughtfully come with attached rubber plug-covers to prevent exposure from unwanted elements.
It feels rugged and solid in construction, and I can't wait to start using it elsewhere...out by the pool, washing the car...I just might have to go buy another one or two...
In all seriousness, having owned many radios in the past...Sony, Bose, etc...so far I'm happiest with this one!
|
