Tivoli iPAL AM/FM Radio

First: I am not an audiophile. I can't really tell if the highs are too bright or if the mids are too muddy. That being said, the iPal sounds fantastic to me. You'd expect portable speakers this size to sound underpowered and tinny, but the sound comes out surprisingly deep, full and balanced. Every time I turn it on, my mouth turns up in a slight smile because it sounds great and is well designed.

For me, the best part of this unit other than the sound is the design: The simple retro-styling really appeals to me. The controls consist of three knobs: an FM/AM tuner, AM/FM/Off selector, and a volume knob. That's it...no digital readout, no multitude of buttons to confuse and distract. There's one LED that glows green to tell you it's on, or flashes green to tell you the battery needs to be charged. The back has a port for the power jack, an audio out for headphones, and an audio in; thoughtfully, each of the ports on the back have attached covers. Also on the back is a telescoping FM antenna that folds discreetly away when not in use. Simple, clean, easy: I love it..

The most touted feature of iPAL (and its distant cousin the PAL) is the quality of the built in AM and FM tuner. The tuner dial, which dominates the front of the radio, uses a mechanism that moves the tuner slower you turn the knob. The net effect of this is that even in areas with many FM stations, it's easy to find the one you're looking for. The documentation for the iPal also mentions it's automatic frequency control that locks onto the strongest part of the signal you're listening to, making for easier tuning. Whatever it's doing, it works. The tuner works as advertised, and sounds great.

Physically, the iPal feels solidly constructed, although I wish they would have used more metal than plastic. Using the tuning knob is a great tactile experience, although the knob itself feels a little cheap. I think Tivoli could have benefited a little from the Apple aesthetic and used more brushed aluminum.

Again, the sound is great. I use it primarily with my iPod as a portable speaker; it sounds great indoors and out, and I am consistently amazed that such wonderful sound is coming from a such a small unit. This unit is a little more expensive than other stuff that's out there, but the sound makes it worth it. Turning it up all the way distorts the sound, but that seems like par for the course for speakers this size. Keeping the volume knob under 70% seems to keep it sounding good for me.

The downsides:

* The AM/FM/Off selector should really be an AM/FM/AUX/off switch. If the aux source is plugged in, that's what it's going to play from. If you want the radio to play, you have to reach around and unplug it. I guess it's sticking with the simple aesthetic, so I understand their decision, but it's a little irritating.

* It's pricey. Now that I have one, I know that it's worth it, but initially, it took a long time for me to take the plunge.

* There's no way to charge the iPod. Now, I realize this one really isn't fair, since it's not exactly supposed to be an iPod-exclusive speaker, but having one would make it a must-have for every iPod owner.

* Available only in silver and white. This one really isn't fair either...if I wanted colors, I would have just bought the normal PAL, which is available in a whole spectrum of colors.

* One speaker, only mono sound. Stereo doesn't matter to me, but if this is important to you, you should obviously think about it a little.

I previously purchased a set of ThinkOutside BoomTube portable speakers (review here: http://www.epinions.com/content_235873472132); however, I wish I had just skipped those and went straight to the iPal.

I bought the iPal because I was looking for a battery powered speaker for my iPod. The iPal sounds great, and the quality FM tuner is a great bonus. If you're looking for either a great sounding radio, or a great sounding portable speaker, something you can move easily from the kitchen to the deck to the beach, then this is exactly what you've been looking for.