If You're Choosing Between the Boston Acoustics Recepter and the Tivoli Model One

If you're choosing between the Boston Acoustics Recepter (retails for $150 but is commonly on sale on Internet for $95 or so) and the Tivoli Model One (retails for $119 and can be purchased commonly for $75-85), you need to know that while both are high-end radios, they have huge differences. I own both and will say that because the Tivoli Model One could not with its stock piggy tail wire antenna get me some Los Angeles stations: 89.3, 88.9, 97.1, and 103.1 The Model One's AM reception was perfectly fine though sometimes on both AM and FM you will get a little signal fade. This is too bad because I really wanted to fall in love with the Model One. It remains popular with radio lovers. Its appeal is its pleasant full, rich speaker, its retro design, and its simple analog tuning.

The Recepter is a different beast altogether. It is digital, it has a clock, an alarm, and presets. Its speaker is rich and full also but most people prefer the Tivoli's. What makes me recommend the Recepter over the Tivoli is its superior reception. I play mine in the kitchen. I simply elevate the wire piggy tail antenna by hooking it to a cupboard knob and receive all the stations my Model One does not get. The Recepter's AM is great. There is no signal fade. If you don't have any special reception needs (but don't we all?), and love the style of the Tivoli, it will probably satisfy. But most of us want the best reception possible so I say that if you can find a Recepter for under $100 and you don't need a headphone jack (the Recepter doesn't provide one making it useless for a bedside radio if your partner doesn't want to hear your all-night talk or music), you should choose the Recepter. If you don't need digital, preset or alarm features, you might want to look at the attractively priced Sony ICF-M1000, which costs about $45 with $13 shipping. For a brief review of the Sony, CLICK HERE. 

Comments

[Ed S.]

I just can't see spending over $100 for an analog-tuner radio (the Tivoli). A couple of years ago I bought an anolg radio that looks and sounds a lot like the Tivoli, *plus* it has an extension speaker for FM stereo. It's by Emerson and it cost me less than $30. Unfortunately, it's not available any longer.

[Jeff McMahon]

I wouldn't spend a 100 dollars either. I bought my analog Tivoli Model One for 75 minus 25-dollar coupon, about 50 bucks. It's currently in my wife's office (which doubles as my yoga room)with the Kaito 1103 sitting on top of it. I don't even have the auxiliary cable hooked up between them. We just use one or the other. Not a bad set-up.

I bought the Sony ICF-1000 for 42 plus 14 shipping and will review it soon. I'm curious to see how it gets 89.3 and 97.1 FM.

[Ed S.]

Jeff,
Please feel free to borrow any of my radios to test them out in your location(s). Try-before-you-buy is a good way to go. Just let me know via email.

[Jeff McMahon]

That's a great offer. If the Redsun (soon-to-be Kaito?) 3100 doesn't become available in the next several months, perhaps I'll borrow the Kaito 2100.

That Kaito 1103 is the only digital radio that gets 89.3 in my wife's office. It repels computer interference well and is a great FM receiver. The Eton E5 is supposed to be the same but it's funny how some reviewers complained about its performance. This gets to your point: Radios perform differently in different environments and one never really knows until one tries it. Just like your PR-D5 got lousy AM for you and in your case needs a filter switch.

[Ed S.]

Yes, I've got my PR-D5 posted for sale on amazon. Too bad, it could have been a winner with better AM overload countermeasures. For FM- only it's very good, being voiced for music instead of speech.

[Ed S.]

Yes, I've got my PR-D5 posted for sale on amazon. Too bad, it could have been a winner with better AM overload countermeasures. For FM- only it's very good, being voiced for music instead of speech. If it had tone control it would be even better.

[Wals]

"It's by Emerson and it cost me less than $30. Unfortunately, it's not available any longer."----------------------------------
I saw the "Em'o n31" for $13 before xmas at a discount place. It's tuner is no where near the Model 1 but if I go back I might pick one up for the Aux-in, on this Model 2 knock-off.

[Jeff McMahon]

I've seen that Emerson and always assumed it was junk but now I'm hearing otherwise. Too bad. Probably have to get one on eBay.

[Michael S]

I bought five of those Emersons at Target a couple years ago for $5 each. The tuners are junk but the speakers are very good. The AUX jack makes them useful for input of iPods, Sat Radios, computers, TVs, etc.

[herculodge]

$5 each is a steal. You can't buy speakers that cheap. Target sometimes sells Tivoli Model 3s for 50 bucks.

[Michael S]

$50 is a good deal on the Tivoli 3. I paid $75 for one on eBay and they are listed at $299 now on the Tivoli web site!

[herculodge]

At $299, the Tivoli 3 has priced itself out of the market. I paid 65 for mine and considering its signal fade it's not worth much more than its great speaker.

[Robert Rhoades]

I own the Boston Acoustics Receptor and will never get another. From day one it lost time on the clock. Then a few years into using it and taking good care of it, I began to lose clear reception. Now it is almost impossible to listen to... just one big blur of noise.

[herculodge]

Sadly, Boston Acoustics radios are loaded with bugs. Too bad since they have good reception and sound.

[Thomas Lavin]

My BA Receptor and Solo are still going strong. I have the old Emerson also which is great. I don't have the Tivoli but I always wanted one. I noticed BA no longer makes table radios. Too bad. They did a very nice job for a first effort.