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Tivoli Audio iPAL Portable Audio Laboratory AM/FM Radio, Silver/White | 
 enlarge | Brand: Tivoli Audio
Category: CE
List Price: $219.99
Buy New: $199.00
You Save: $20.99 (10%)
New (5)
Avg. Customer Rating:  118 reviews
Color: White
Media: Electronics
Batteries Included: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4
Dimensions (in): 11 x 6 x 6
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: PALIPOD
Model: PALIPOD
UPC: 831623002146
EAN: 0831623002146
Availability: In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served.
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| Features:
| • | Portable, iPod-matching AM/FM radio with high-end 2.5-inch speaker | | • | Automatic frequency control locks onto station for clear reception | | • | Built-in NiMH battery pack delivers up to 16 hours of play | | • | Auxiliary input with stereo mini-cable for connecting to iPod | | • | Measures 3.69 x 6.25 x 3.86 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The iPAL is the perfect complement to the iPod. Functionally the same as Tivoli Audio's other PAL radios, it matches the sleek, modern, white and chrome appearance of the popular iPod MP3 player. Use the auxiliary input to connect an iPod, CD Player or other device, and prepare to be amazed at the expansive sound, which must be heard to be believed. iPod can also be connected wirelessly using the iTrip FM Transmitter (sold separately). The environmentally friendly NiMH battery, which fully charges in about 3 hours, provides many hours of cordless playback. The clever little green LED serves as both a power and battery status indicator. The iPAL also features the world's most acclaimed AM/FM tuner, with Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) to lock on to the center of the station for best reception and lowest distortion.
Amazon.com Product Description
New electronics that resemble old electronics are all the rage these days. With a case that looks like it belongs in a mad scientist's laboratory, the Tivoli iPal is on the vanguard of retro style. In fact, the "Pal" stands for Portable Audio Laboratory--a cheeky reference to the unit's obvious Geiger counter-inspired design. Fortunately, the iPal does more than just look cool. When paired with an MP3 player such as the iPod or with a laptop, the iPal is a versatile companion that musters much better sound than we expected from a single-speaker unit. Tivoli is known for engineering small components with surprisingly good sound, such as the Henry Kloss Model One radio. The iPal proved to be no exception. 
Its compact size makes the iPal an excellent MP3 player companion. | Design
While the iPal is functionally identical to Tivoli's multicolored line of Pal-powered speakers (offered on Amazon.com in Electric Blue, Pearl White, Sunset Red, Basic Black, Neon Yellow and Spring Green), its white and silver casing is designed to complement the iPod MP3 player. At 6.25 inches high and just under 4 inches wide and deep, the 3.5-pound unit is small enough to slip into a backpack, but it's a little hefty for a briefcase. The iPal's single rotary dial handles tuning for both AM and FM stations. Testers didn't expect to have much to say about something as mundane as a radio tuning dial, but the iPal's is truly unique. The dial is designed to move between stations at a speed that's a bit slower than the speed at which the user turns the knob. We found that this ratio dialing technique makes it far easier to tune stations accurately and quickly. Little touches like this really set Tivoli products apart. 
The iPal's radio tuning ratio dial is smooth and accurate. | The tuner band selection and volume dials are easy to control, although their conical shape could make them a little pesky to operate for those with larger hands. A small LED power indicator blinks when the battery is running low. Meanwhile, the iPal's single, 2.5-inch magnetically shielded driver is protected by a handsome metal speaker cover. The back of the unit sports a telescoping antenna that has the solid, metal construction reminiscent of older transistor radio antennae. A standard 3.5-millimeter headphone jack is provided here, as is a 3.5-millimeter auxiliary line-in port for plugging in your iPod or other music device. A port for AC/DC power and battery charging is also present. All the ports feature handy, attached rubber plugs that keep out the elements when they're not in use. The base of the iPal houses a rechargeable nickel metal hydride battery pack that, when fully charged, delivered a respectable four hours of listening at moderate volume levels. The iPal's rechargeable batteries give it a leg up on many other portable speaker solutions; gone are the days of hauling around an armada of disposables. Tivoli claims that the battery pack does not suffer from the dreaded memory effects that afflict other types of rechargeable batteries. The batteries are environmentally friendly, too. Listening Pleasure
At first, we were skeptical about the performance of a small, one-speaker unit that offers only monaural sound. The reality is that most small, portable two-speaker systems don't allow you to place the speakers very far apart anyway, and the iPal's rich, resonant sound more than made up for its lack of true stereo separation. Plus, the iPal is an elegant box with no cumbersome speaker cords to fuss with when you're entertaining on the go. We plugged the iPal into the kinds of audio devices folks tend to use these days--an iPod, a laptop, and a portable CD player. We came away impressed with the iPal's performance with all three. Highs were crisp and clean, while mids and lows were accurate, with a fullness that surprised us. "Could this kind of sound really be coming from this little box?" we asked. When we really pumped up the volume, there was noticeable distortion, but at normal to high volume levels, the iPal excelled. For casual listening, indoors or out, the iPal is a great way to let others hear that iPod library you've been slaving away to build. We were also pleased by the iPal's tuning accuracy. Tivoli says this is the result of the unit's automatic frequency control (AFC) technology. Whatever witchcraft is behind this tuner, we were impressed. Tivoli adds that the iPal can be used as a component tuner via the headphone-out port--not a bad idea given its quality and accuracy. --Joshua Gunn Pros
- Small and portable with great rechargeable batteries
- Simple, elegant design
- Great sound
Cons
- One of the more expensive portable speaker solutions
- Cone-shaped tuner and volume dials might be challenging for larger hands
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| Customer Reviews: Read 113 more reviews...
 A Mini Marvel October 16, 2002
81 out of 83 found this review helpful
Where to begin? This incredible portable radio has the cache of being designed and engineered by the late, great and legendary Henry Kloss. First it defies logic that a 2 1/2 inch speaker in a plastic coated, weatherproof, enclosure can sound so good. It does because of the large magnet and the fact it is not a cheap plastic/paper one. Tuning in stations is a breeze as the rotary dial is smooth and easy to operate. PAL has the best FM tuner in the industry - it will get about 50% more stations than any radio you currently own (unless it's a Tivoli). The AM section is also very good with the antenna built in. The telescoping FM antenna hides away nicely when not in use. You can get many FM stations with the antenna stowed away! Jacks on the back allow you to add an MP3 player or CD player as stated above. The built-in rechargeable battery can run for about 16 hours at moderate levels. It takes less than three to recharge it (AC adapter is included). Also by using the stereo headphone jack you'll be in for a pleasant surprise. If the FM station is broadcasting in stereo you'll hear it that way. Yes, even though the radio has a mono speaker, it has a stereo amp and tuner. Use the headphone jack to plug the PAL into your Hi-Fi system and you'll be amazed at how much better the FM stereo sounds. Tivoli does it again. A great product.
 I'm a bit picky.... April 22, 2006
25 out of 29 found this review helpful
I have become, over the past few years, a bit of an audiophile. I tend to do a lot of research (and a lot of returns too :-) Anyway, I recently decided to bite the bullet and buy an iPAL for the bathroom. Here's my summary:
Is it a good, small, desktop radio?
Yes, I think it is about as good as it can get for a 2.5'' speaker in a portable radio. It's fairly rugged (except for the antenna). The radio tuner works 'very' well and the fact that it runs off of an internal NiMH battery makes it very portable.
How does it sound?
The good. Vocals. This little guy presents wonderfully clear vocals. This may seem odd, but this little guy shines with talk/news radio. Voices don't sound as thin as they usually do in small portables.
The not so good. Because it hits the vocals so well it tends to let the mids out do the other frequencies. What does this mean? It means if you are listening to Allison Krauss then you will hear her as clear as a bell, but the dobro and banjo might get drowned out a bit.
The bad. OK, yes, I realize that this little guy wasn't meant to compete with my component stereo system. Come on, it's got a 2.5'' speaker. Does it have bass? Sure it has excellent bass from a speaker that small, but it really can't get the full range that some of us want.
Competition
The main competition to this guy is from Boston Acoustics. They both seem to be trying to make the best portables on the market. I'd be hard pressed to choose between the two for a winner. I went with Tivoli because it is a time tested product.
Sound review (1 to 5, 1=good, 5=bad)
Allison Krauss = 3.5 - Great vocals, little bass. The other insturments get drowned out.
ACDC - 4 - Amazingly, it does pretty well for mid-heavy rock.
Evanescence - 3 - Doesn't present the bass-heacy sound well at all. Vocals still sound great.
Bach (piano) - 4.5 sounds great. Crystal sound.
Bach (concerto) - 3 - Sounds like a small radio. The overall sound is OK, but all detail is lost.
Indigo Girls - 4 - Very nice sound. Again, mid-heavy songs sound excellent.
The Killers - 3.5 - Not too bad, but their music tends to have a bit more bass than this speaker can show.
FatBoy Slim - 3.5 - not too bad if you aren't looking for the thump. The overall sound was pretty good.
Chet Atkins - 4.5 - great sound and clarity.
Ella Fitzgerald - 4 - very nice. I mean hey, you WANT to hear her voice. ;-)
Jack Johnson - 5 - this little guy was MADE to play Jack. Sounds like he is sitting right there.
Kutless - 2.5-3 - It loses all detail. Gets a bit muddy.
Eric Clapton (Blues before sunrise) - 4 - Nice sound - he comes through just as raspy as you want.
Los Lonely Boys - 4 - harmonies rock, guitar licks are sharp.
My Chemical Romance - 3.5 - vocals clear (am I sounding redundant?) - bass is lost, harmony on Helena is sweet
Queen - 4 - sounds as good as it could. :-)
Fall Out Boy - (Our lawyer...) - 4 - a lot better than I expected. Mid-grunge-and-punch sound came out very well.
Matisyahu - 4 - great sound. I actually listen to him more now than before with this radio.
The Little Willies - 3.5-4 - I think my MP3's of this were encoded too low. I think it will sound much better after re-encoding them.
Overall summary:
Do I like it - very much so!
Would I buy another? As a portable, yes. If I buy another small, home radio or set I'd probably go with the Model Two http://www.tivoliaudio.com/product.php?productid=144&cat=262&page=1 just for the second speaker and stereo.
Hope this helps!
DrD
A Portable For The Radio Connoisseur September 23, 2005
24 out of 24 found this review helpful
There are as many classes of radios out there as there are people who listen to them. The first thing that comes to mind if you see this radio online is "Why $150 for a three-knob radio?" Most consumers expect digital tuning, stereo sound, and lots of lights and buttons for this price point. This radio's price is justified by what's inside. Let's talk about what this unit is.
The Tivoli iPAL is a portable AM/FM radio that is powered by an internal (and customer replaceable) nickel metal hydride battery. It includes an earphone jack, an auxilliary input jack and external power jack. There is a telescoping rod antenna for FM reception and a built-in ferrite coil for AM. The controls are simple: a volume control, a band selector with OFF position and a tuning control. There is also a green LED indicator light that tells you when the radio is on and the charging/discharging state of the battery. The controls have a very high quality feel to them and are easy to operate. The knobs fit firmly and are not loose or flimsy as on many lower priced radios. The tuning knob has a 5:1 ratio reduction gear which moves the dial pointer more slowly with respect to the tuning knob. This makes fine tuning easier. The cabinet is made of very solid and rigid plastic. The whole unit has a weighty feel and a sturdiness that most radios lack at any price. One gets the impression that daily use will not wear this unit out. It has a very tidy appearance. There are no projecting parts other than the controls. The rod antenna folds down into a groove in the back of the cabinet so it is totally invisible when not in use. There are no fake aesthetic features like on many boomboxes that are designed to make it look like something more than it is. This radio is marvelously understated and does not draw attention to itself or make garish statements about the person carrying it. There is no handle as such. One carries the set by gripping the two indentations on either side of the cabinet. A carrying case is available which makes toting it around easier.
Performance is where this radio really surprises. One might expect the sound to be cheap and tinny but once switched on, this radio fills the room with a sound reminiscent of the vacuum tube table sets of the forties. The sound is warm, rich and full of tonal range. Music comes through with round base tones and sparkling highs. Spoken word broadcasts are clear without being harsh. Voices are deep without being boomy. This sound quality is equally present through headphones so there is no tuned port trickery going on. The circuitry really does sound this good.
RF performance is good too. The field effect transistors in the tuning circuit coupled with a precise AFC (automatic frequency control) mean that Fm stations lock in easly and do not drift. AM reception is excellent even in low signal areas. The tuner is sensitive and selectivity is very good. The built-in speaker is high fidelity mono however, when you insert a headset, the FM reception is in stereo. Stereo separation is very wide and static free. Some reviewers hav commented about the lack of volume on the PAL. I find this not to be the case. I can get sufficient volume for talk radio listening by setting the volume control at one-quarter turn. This radio has as much volume as any portable radio with a speaker this size (2-1/2"). It is not a boombox or a home stereo. One's expectations must be reasonable.
The model I am reviewing is called the iPAL because it has a color scheme to complement the iPod MP3 player. The only difference between the iPAL and the PAL radios is the iPAL includes a stereo patch cable for connecting your iPod, CD player or similar device and the cabinet bears no rubberised coating. The PAL radios are offered in eight different colors, have a rubberised coating on the cabinet body and do not include the stereo patch cable although all units have the auxilliary input jack.
Final thoughts: This is an elegant, uniquely styled, high performance portable radio. It is intended for those who love radio as a technology as well as a medium. In leu of bells and whistles it features superior performance through the engineering of Henry Kloss and a build quality that is seldom found in any portable audio product. The Tivoli iPAL is not intended for the masses who judge value on price alone but for the discriminating lover of radio who admires the perfect blend of form and function.
Tivoli + IPod = Awesome May 18, 2003
22 out of 22 found this review helpful
I bought this product to play MP3s through my Ipod at work. However, I also use it to listen to the radio. The tuner is great because I am now able to listen to all of the FM stations in my area. With my old radio, I was only able to get one station at work. I also bought a second Tivoli at home for the same purpose and the battery runs for a very long time without recharging. This gives me the ability to take the Tivoli into any room and also allows me to listen to my ipod without the headphones.
Remarkable Sound in an Attractive Package December 17, 2005
21 out of 21 found this review helpful
I live in Los Angeles where many stations compete and go in and out, especially with the pathetic pig tail antennas that are stuck like a joke in the back of many radios. But the Tivoli has a great antenna and is easy to use. I only wish this radio had digital tuning presets. Also don't be turned off by the one mono speaker. Its sound is clear and brilliant.
Post Script: After owning the PAL for two years, I've come across some pros and cons:
Pros:
1. Can be used with an Ipod.
2. Rechargeable battery and rubber casing make it good for outside use.
3. Speaker sound is good for radio of its size.
Cons:
1. No digital tuning so it's not always easy to know what station you're on.
2. AM (MW) sensititivy is only average. (The best AM available is ironically on the cheaply priced GE Superradio III which boasts an 8-inch interal AM ferrite antenna, twice the size of all competition.)
3. For 50 dollars less you could get an Eton S350 Deluxe which has analog tuning and no presets but features SUPERIOR FM sensitity.
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