I own all of the above Tivoli radios (the Model One and Model Three are for sale for reasons I'll get to so I'll be a former owner of them soon) and having compared them I feel qualified to give each one a judgment. First, all of the radios are extremely attractive and easy to use. Their fit, finish, and overall aesthetic makes them highly coveted radios, which enjoy a high price. But performance between the four Tivoli radios varies and I would like to explain why I recommend two of them while I would like to steer you away from two others.
1. The Tivoli Model One: A beautiful radio in cobalt blue with walnut cabinet. Easy to use. AM sounds great. The speaker is wonderful. Sadly, though, FM is mediocre at best and even when you do lock in on an FM station, you will get signal fade. A $120 radio should get you better FM reception. For this reason my verdict is: NOT RECOMMENDED. A better alternative: The Boston Acoustics Horizon Solo for $99.
2. The Tivoli Model Three: I bought mine for $65 two months ago when it was retailing for $199. Now it's retailing for $299. What do you get? Essentially a Tivoli Model One with a clock and a slightly bigger, louder speaker. The AM is fine but, like the Model One, the FM is shaky. This may be the most overpriced radio in the market. Verdict: NOT RECOMMENDED. A better alternative: The Boston Acoustics Horizon Solo for $99.
3. Tivoli Songbook: I bought two Songbooks for $159 and its telescopic antenna improves FM. No signal fade. AM is adequate. The 5 presets are welcome. It looks great. The speaker is full and clear. It has the "gotta have it" factor. I noticed on Amazon the price has gone up to $199. If money is no issue with you then my verdict is: RECOMMENDED. Less expensive alternatives: The $115 Kaito 2100 or The $70 Sangean PR-D5.
4. Tivoli PAL: I bought mine 4 years ago for $130 and now the PAL is $200, very pricey indeed. Its analog tuner with telescopic antenna gets me better FM than the Model One and Three. Its AM is strong. Its speaker is rich and full. It automatically recharges the battery. My only complaint is that the rubber case gets dirty and does not clean easily. Verdict: RECOMMENDED. Because this is a unique radio, there really is no outdoor rechargeable radio to recommend as an alternative. If you want to save money for an outdoor radio, just get the aforementioned PR-D5 or even a cheap $45 RCA Super Port/formerly GE Superradio III (Amazon is selling the RCA Super Port for $142 today; this must be a mistake; usually Amazon sells it for about $45) and use batteries.
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