Tivoli Audio M3TPE Model Three AM/FM Clock Radio, Taupe/Cherry

Design
The Model Three incorporates the audio and tuning technology of the Tivoli Model Two, while adding a quartz mechanical movement clock and alarm circuitry. Like other Tivoli radios, the Model Three is just over 8 inches wide, 4.5 inches high, and 5.25 inches deep-- about the size of a toaster turned on its side. It fits well on a desk, dresser, or nightstand.

The Model Three's single rotary dial handles tuning for both AM and FM stations. The dial is designed to move between stations at a speed that is a bit slower than the speed at which the user turns the knob-- a 5 to 1 ratio, to be exact. This "ratio" dialing technique makes it far easier to tune stations accurately and quickly. It's a nice touch that sets the unit apart from other desktop radios.

The tuner band selection and volume dials are easy to control and they're well designed for hands of all sizes. A small LED power indicator, as well as an LED that helps determine signal strength, are positioned between the dials. We did have one gripe about the Model Three's controls, though. Unlike the high-contrast labeling we found on the Platinum Series Model One radio, the Model Three's blue-grey lettering atop a taupe background is difficult to read, especially in low-light situations. We found ourselves struggling to see what station we were tuning and what functions we were selecting-- not something most desire on an alarm clock.

Fortunately, the Model Two's clock is easy to read and simple to set. A rotating bezel on the clock's face adjusts the wake time while a single button on the back rotates the clock forward. These methods allowed us to set the clock and wake times with good accuracy. There's also a sleep timer that shuts the radio off after 20 minutes, allowing you to fall asleep to tunes. We were a little puzzled by Tivoli's decision to power the clock by what we initially thought was simply a AA backup battery (the battery is housed in the rear of the unit). In fact, a battery must be used at all times to power the clock as it does not pull juice from the wall outlet. This means that the battery will need to be checked regularly to ensure accurate timekeeping. When the unit is powered by AC, users can wake to the radio. When the unit is unplugged, however, or if the power goes out, the Model Two will deliver a battery-powered beeping alarm.

A single, 3" driver is positioned on top of the unit and is protected by a handsome metal speaker cover. A five-minute snooze button resides next to the speaker for those times when you just can't roll out of bed right away.

The Model Three shares the same back panel ports as the Model Two's, meaning it can serve as the base unit for a more robust Tivoli stereo system. A coaxial antenna jack for the included FM antenna wire is provided, although the Model Three also has an internal FM antenna. Tivoli recommends using the supplied external one for tricky tuning in locales with a lot of closely-spaced stations. There's a handy switch for switching between the internal and external antennae, as well. A standard 3.5mm headphone jack is also provided, as is a 3.5mm auxiliary line in port for plugging in the Tivoli component CD player, the Model CD. For the really techno-savvy, there's also a 3.5mm mixing input that permits audio from your computer to be mixed in with the radio.

Like the Model Two, the Model Three supports the addition of the Tivoli Companion Speaker for full stereo separation, as well as the Model Subwoofer for extended bass range. There's a small balance dial on the rear of the unit if you choose to add the companion speaker, as well as a mono/stereo switch. If you want to use the Model Three as a component tuner-- not a bad idea given the overall quality and accuracy of the tuning circuitry-- Tivoli has provided a 3.5mm output port.

Listening Pleasure
As with the Tivoli iPal portable speaker system, we were initially skeptical about the performance of a small, one-speaker unit that only offers monaural sound. The reality is that most small two-speaker systems don't allow you to place the speakers very far apart anyway, and the Model Three's rich, resonant sound more than made up for its lack of true stereo separation. Plus, the Model Three is a single, elegant box with no annoying speaker cords. While the Model Three does sound better than the iPal, we did notice that the Model Three, quite mysteriously, does not sound quite as good as the venerable Model One. There is faint but noticeable hiss that is not present in the Model One, and we wondered if the Model One's designer, the late Henry Kloss, had less of a part to play in the Model Three's design.

Overall, though, we found the Model Three's sound impressive, especially coming from such a small unit. In most cases, it delivered rich, resonant sound. The Model Three's tuning felt less accurate than the Model One's but we were still able to dial in stations quickly and easily.

As for its function as an alarm clock, the Model Three was spot on. Not a single tester who relied on the unit was late to work!

Pros

• Simple, stylish construction
• Good sound and tuning accuracy
• Nice expansion options

• Clock cannot be powered by AC (battery only)
• Slight hiss when compared side by side with the Model One
• Tuner is slightly less accurate than the Model One's