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(XM also has 3 classical channels, later on when Sirius & XM merge there will probably still be 3 classical channels). Also, it has a very limited "sleep" mode - only 20 minutes, and to get it into that mode you have to traverse the menu system - impossible to do from across the room with the remote because you can't see the menus from that distance.Also worth noting: I am using an external antenna (the "SIRIUS Outdoor Home Antenna", bought from [.]., very easy install) and the signal cuts out once in awhile - this may be due to some large trees in the line-of-site to the satellite sometimes block the satellite. (For a bedside/bedtime radio I see no need to buy the extra speaker for stereo sound).With Sirius of course you get whatever music/news/talk you'd like.
Amazing limitation. Yet the signal strength meter shows "3 bars" (of 9) for the terrestrial signal - I live in Seattle where Sirius apparently has ground repeaters - so why should it ever cut out due to not seeing the satellite.Still, I'm very happy with the radio. The remote does have a mute function.
This will be just a brief review, and only of the Sirius part of the radio - I haven't used the AM/FM part.The radio is small, and beautiful, and has absolutely terrific mono sound. The biggest flaw is a direct result of the design - internally this is a digital satellite radio bolted on to Tivoli's standard analog radio: The remote control doesn't control volume. 5 stars for sound + looks, then subtract one star for the annoying lack of volume control on the remote.
I'm using it exclusively for the 3 classical channels (and maybe the 24/7 All Elvis All The Time channel every once in awhile). The programming is very good.However, there are a few flaws to be aware of with this radio.
great if you have line of sight to the north otherwise you wont get a signal.
What an amazing sound out of such small speakers. The collection of products for both Sirius and XM looks like the over-designed, comic book props in Star Wars movies. Indeed, almost too good since it really points up the excessive compression used by both satellite and commercial FM broadcasters. Let's hope with the merger of the two satellite services they make more of an effort to create better looking, more functional hardware AND clean up their sound quality. But, again, given the various compression artifacts on Satellite radio (and the compression is often horrible on talk-only channels) this may be about as good as you dare get.
And I don't even have the subwoofer speaker accessory. I did invest in a serious outdoor Sirius Antenna prior to the arrival of the Tivoli, so it was just a matter of plugging it in. Wow. It's easy to program.
At this price point, it would have been nice if there's been a time-shift feature, sort of a digital VCR (DVR) feature to record shows you want to hear later.The remote is pretty awful for such an expensive radio, it's just a cheap "membrane" type remote. You won't notice this difference until you play an uncompressed CD or MP3 file from your iPod through the AUX port on the Tivoli. This is basically the Tivoli Model 1 with a Satellite function tacked on as an afterthought.The huge, bright, multi-line display is awesome at providing all of the information you want at a glance, with a minimal amount of annoying left-to-right scrolling. The Tivoli Model Satellite is the one exception to the ugly, under-performing Satellite Radio rule. I have no doubt that one reason for the slow adoption of Satellite Radio by consumers is the lousy hardware.
The FM and AM sections worked fine without any external antennas. As just a radio it should last 10-20 years if you're trying to justify the high price tag. Even the car radio's are clunky. It's impressive that they include a serious external AM antenna - something I haven't seen packaged with table radios since the 1970s, and then only expensive "audiophile" models.As noted by others, the Satellite and AM/FM functions aren't at all integrated. Will Sirius be around in 10-20 years.
I mean, what are they thinking. They're totally dysfunctional. I have no problem that they didn't include a CD player. It's the best audio you can get for satellite, possibly short of a console deck connected to studio monitors. While the display does automatically adjust to ambient light (a feature that can be turned off and on) it may be too bright for the bedside table for some people.The Tivoli Model Satellite is to radio what a beautiful 52" flat panel plasma display is to HDTV. An integrated mechanical device would only shorten the useful life of the unit.
Inexplicably I got a real remote with my Kenwood Sirius car radio (what good a remote does in the car is beyond me). We also hear talk of HD radio coming to AM/FM (but then we've heard about HDTV for 20 years too and it's still not here). I'd rather they have half as many channels with better sound and produce better programs that are re-run several times a day.
I don't know. Nothing as elegant as an iPod, with the possible exception of Pioneer's portable radios for XM. Unless you have space limitations, it's kind of a waste to spend so much money on a radio only to have mono sound, so plan on buying the (right channel) speaker for stereo.
It's got a great "Memo" feature to capture the name and artist of 20 songs you'd like to look up later. The sound is about as good as it gets. The Sirius section works great.
The Tivoli tuner picks it up beautifully and I still have the auxillary input jack available for my Ipod. Let me say that I love Tivoli radios. Both Sirius and XM (take your choice) are offering free radio receivers with a subscription that you will have to get anyway to use the Model Satellite for Satellite Radio reception. I'd sit tight and explore other means as I have of enjoying satellite radio through the wonderful sounding Tivoli line.
XM will probably take over some of Sirius' programming but no one knows if a receiver designed to pick up Sirius signals will work after that point and be able to be used to pick up XM broadcasts. You could end up with a very expensive but obsolete radio before the end of the year. The two will run separately for only the rest of the year and then Sirius will cease to be. One other thing if you haven't heard Sirius Radio has had "serious" financial troubles and has been bought out by XM.
The Model Two comes with two speakers right off the bat. You don't even know it's there. I love the warm and rich sound from such a well designed and sexy cabinet but please save yourself the money and pick up a free satellite radio receiver along with a Tivioli Model Two Radio instead of the Model Satellite. The whole Sirius receiver is only 4" X 3" X 1".
I have a Model Two and a Sirius receiver that I can set to transmit on any FM frequency I choose. You can save yourself $100.00 outright by buying the Model Two instead of the Model Satellite and save $160.00 if you would plan to buy the matching stereo companion speaker for the Model Satellite. This gives you plenty of money left over to buy the Tivoli Model Subwoofer which I have and highly recommend.
for this radio) I found this radio exceeded my expectation and would recommend it as the "best in class". I have both Sirius and XM and frankly the quality of the music on Sirius (See a technical review on [.]. Remember this is a developing market and the selection of table top radios are limited. In the world of tabletop sat radios, the selection is very limited. This is by far the highest quality on the market and it is also self contained with the speaker.
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