Tivoli Audio Model One Digital Review - Gen 2 Of This Premium Brand Smart Speaker Is Better Than Ever
Tivoli Audio is no newcomer to the audio space, having been in the market place since 2000. And its latest entry, the Tivoli Sound Model I Digital Gen 2, recently sent out for review, goes a long manner to showcase expertise that but decades of feel can impart.
The biggest selling points for this smart speaker are the design language, audio quality, and the plethora of features. Of course, as we'll hash out, there are at least a few areas on both where I was disappointed. But setting those bated, this is ultimately a fantastic speaker that most would detect to be well worth its toll.
And so how does the Tivoli Model One Digital Gen 2 stack upwardly to its competition nether review? Let'south swoop in and take a closer look.
Tivoli Model One Digital is a masterclass in intelligent, thoughtful blueprint
The combination of real wooden panels, cloth material for the speaker grille, and metal accents made generation two of the Tivoli Model 1 Digital a joy to use during this review. For the request toll, information technology's hard to imagine a ameliorate arrangement of premium materials. Or at least that'due south going to be the case for those who love the retro-stereo aesthetics it brings with it.
Regardless, aesthetics and build quality are areas this smart home-connected speaker really shines. And the materials, feel, and functionality of it isn't really washed justice by the images here.
On the quality forepart, the visitor's focus appears to have been both the screen and speaker. Albeit, non just because the former of those occupies the right-manus side of the device in a square panel format. While, conversely, the speaker occupies almost the other one-half entirely.
The display shows time data, even when turned off, besides as the status of connectivity in the upper row. Information technology likewise showcases exactly what's playing in larger digital characters. And so the interface hither, in terms of visuals, is exactly as I'd expect any high-cease stereo to exist.
Conversely, the speaker grille blends seamlessly in with that, as does the power button/book knob. The latter of which is centered between the material and the display in the bottom half of the cabinet. Both the ability/volume knob and the larger, ring-style knob surrounding the brandish are firm and clicky. But each also turns smoothly and effortlessly.
As hinted higher up, the larger knob serves multiple purposes here. It'southward used for controlling playback, including turning for seeking stations, rewind, fast-forward, skipping songs, likewise as clicks to select from pre-prepare radio stations in FM mode.
Similarly, the power/volume knob and button, with single-tap actions, works to bicycle through input modes.
Around the back, things are more subdued. Understandably so, since most users won't always be looking at that side of this gadget. The rear console is effectively i flat, black plastic console. The just real adornments are the model designation and branding elements. But that panel includes ports for service (micro USB), an Aux cable, power cable, and buttons for setup and muting the arrangement.
That's besides where you'll find the robust FM radio cable. The connector in that location attaches just like a coaxial cable. And that equates to a firmer fit with less jostle. But also aids in the quality of the indicate this speaker can capture and the onetime-school artful. Better still, Tivoli Model One Digital Gen 2 doesn't just come in the "Walnut" coloration shipped out for my review. Information technology also comes in blackness or white colorations, without losing whatever of its corking aesthetics.
Tivoli Audio Model Ane Digital audio is good but is it $350 good?
Of form, since Tivoli Audio'south Model 1 Digital Gen 2 is a home smart speaker, there's aught to say in this review virtually battery life. It's hardwired to the wall. And at that place's no waterproofing or dust proofing to speak of either. But at that place is quite a lot that tin be said about the audio quality. And not all of that is going to exist adept.
It'south important to notation hither that all of the tones were nowadays and accounted for. And there was quite a scrap of power behind them likewise, despite this speaker's somewhat atomic size. That's in every song and genre I tested this speaker through — and virtually every input manner I tested. With the sole exception to that beingness FM radio. Although that manner really performed much amend and with more clarity than I had expected for my region.
The real effect arises when comparing this smart speaker to others, some of which are in a different — and lower — price class.
My current primary audio setup for my upstairs living room is comprised of two Google Nest Audio speakers. Those are priced at around $99 per speaker and are paired together with smart dwelling house integration. Of course, the audio output from that arrangement doesn't quite live upwards to the Model One Digital. The latter offers more stable leveling, rest, bass oomph, and clarity. But the departure here isn't necessarily stark and I can push my Google smart speakers louder.
But, while hardly perfect, that arrangement is besides around $150 less to buy than Tivoli's offering. And, as noted above, the sound here is great. Information technology just isn't quite the leap frontward I had expected going into this review of Tivoli Audio'southward Model 1 Digital Gen two. The virtually noteworthy comeback, in fact, seems to exist that audio stability is near perfect, especially when comparing at lower and college volumes.
For clarity, the audio quality here is approaching what I'd phone call 'audiophile'. Although at that place were a few songs where the depth of audio appeared to drop during playback. Which could bespeak to 1 or 2 frequencies where this speaker is weaker than I'd look. Although that'southward going to be difficult to objectively pivot downwardly over a short review period.
Most users aren't going to notice a massive divergence between this speaker and much more expensive speakers, bated from volume. This speaker has volume to spare and easily filled the upstairs level of my domicile, with plenty of that being audible downstairs likewise. Albeit, not quite as powerfully as I'd accept liked.
The question of whether or not the extra greenbacks for the Tivoli Audio offering is going to be worth it remains. And that's something that won't be decided on audio quality lone. That's with one added caveat for those in the market place for a $250 to $500 speaker. Summarily, you could certainly do a lot worse than the 2nd-generation Model One Digital.
Special features abound but connections weren't actually what I'd hoped they'd be
Now, as noted already above, Tivoli Audio's Gen ii Model One Digital is a smart speaker priced at $349.99. That's approximately $250 more than Google's Nest Audio. And, for the nigh role, the features and audio here more than account for the added price. But there are several glaring issues with the features hither too.
Almost notably, and the biggest caveat for me and the fashion I have my smart dwelling house ecosystem fix, there are no mics on this gadget at all. And information technology doesn't take Google Assistant built-in either. Those exclusions are, summarily, undeniably immense. Especially for anybody who wants a higher-cease, truly smart speaker. I couldn't straight ask this speaker to play annihilation at all. Integration with Google Home extends merely to the power to cast to the speaker.
What that meant, in my real-globe use, is that I needed to either apply my phone to control the speaker via vocalisation or use another smart device. Then, while I was able to control it via a Google Home speaker in the same room, that felt like it defeated the purpose, to begin with.
The other features and connectivity here are, in a word, extensive. And they each piece of work exactly as I'd have wanted. In fact, to my ear, there wasn't much departure between using Bluetooth, Aux-in, and Chromecast. At to the lowest degree not enough difference that well-nigh users would notice it. Only that one missing characteristic kept me from truly falling in dear with this speaker at its asking price.
Now, there are some upsides to the way the features have been implemented likewise. Every bit noted already, Aux-in, Bluetooth, and Chromecast are options. And Tivoli includes FM radio hardware too, consummate with an extendable antenna. And Tivoli ensured that all of that can readily be controlled using the touch-wheel surrounding the display face.
That method for control works simply fine, for the well-nigh part. But the controls on-device merely aren't as intuitive as I'd have hoped either. I actually needed to go in and really read the manual on a couple of occasions. Of grade, that isn't likewise large an issue for those who will be using Tivoli Model One Digital Gen 2 in the long run. And getting everything connected but took a few moments, at any charge per unit. But it's worth being aware of the learning bend that many users volition encounter here.
But my it was an issue for me during this relatively short-term review of Tivoli Model Ane Digital Gen two. So in that location is going to exist a learning curve there.
For intuitive control, nosotros need to look closer at the included remote. As shown in the pictures in the hardware segment above, that provides 1-printing access to just about all of the features included with this speaker. And it does bear witness convenient for use outside of the in a higher place-mentioned Chromecast support.
Is Tivoli Sound Model I Digital Gen. 2 worth the greenbacks?
Ultimately, whether or not Tivoli Audio'south Model One Digital Gen 2 is worth the asking cost will exist subjective. From my perspective, this smart speaker comes and then close to perfection for its cost bracket that it would be irresponsible not to recommend it for anybody's shortlist.
With that said, every bit this review shows, Tivoli Audio Model One Digital Gen two isn't perfect either. And that's summarily not because of the audio quality. While that could have been improved to some extent, it was better than I'd expected, given the speaker'south size. And given its price. I would take liked to see a flake more depth in the audio and better-standardized controls. And more importantly, admission to an AI assistant on-device. Simply that'south a personal stance.
Additionally, the pitfalls that were there from my perspective could exist beneficial to at least some users. After all, not everybody wants a speaker that'due south listening to every word they say. The added Chromecast feature does ensure that Wi-Fi playback is possible from a huge variety of services. And that'southward setting aside support for FM radio, Aux-in, and Bluetooth.
Overall, the audio quality and connectivity options only fell slightly brusk of what I'd hoped for. But not far enough to make this speaker less worthy of its price tag. In fact, this speaker will be well worth the cost if it does only so happen to accept the features you're looking for. That'due south even more pertinent if you're not looking for a true AI-enabled smart domicile speaker. Or explicitly looking for i without the AI.
Source: https://www.androidheadlines.com/2021/07/tivoli-audio-model-one-digital-gen-2-review-premium-smart-speaker.html
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