Frequently Asked Questions

1. What size are the inputs and outputs on your radios?


Our jacks are 1/8 inch stereo mini in size, even the mono model one
headphone jack is a stereo jack but only mono will be heard.

(We don't put on any better connector such as 1/4" or even the
yecchbiquitous RCA.)




2. Why don't you publish factory specifications for the Tivoli Audio
radios?

Specifications alone are not a measure of how an audio product sounds.
The best way to determine whether or not you like the sound of our
radios, and whether they receive the stations you enjoy, is to try
them. When purchased direct, you have 30 days to return the radio for a
refund for any reason. If purchased through a dealer or catalog, please
consult their return policy. Check our website for the latest
independent reviews.

(Specs? You want specs? Why, so you can give us ****? We don't
actually want our product compared to anyone else's.)



3. Did Henry Kloss really design the Tivoli Audio radios, or did he
just license his name?

Our radios are Henry Kloss' creations. If they've got his name on
them it was his design. He never licensed his name but was in fact one
of the owners of Tivoli Audio.

(Yes, Henry Kloss, Inventor of Boston Bland and the great dumber-down
of the audio hobby for consumos. Douchebag.)


4. How can I make my own adjustments or modifications?
Our radios are not user serviceable, please be aware that modifying
your radio beyond it's original design will void your warranty as
well as change the performance of the unit beyond the original design.

We also do not sell service manuals due to our liberal warranty policy
if we cannot repair the unit we will replace it if it was purchased
from us or any authorized dealer. Should you be experiencing any
problems with your radio please call us during the work week 9-5 EST
toll free at 877.297.9479 or send us an email with your serial number
and model number handy.

(We don't sell service manuals because we are lazy and cheap and also
many of our boards are undocumented contract manufacture by people who
don't speak English and besides you are a dumb consumo and you can't
read a schematic.)



5. I'm pleased with the reception, but is there anything I can do to
improve it?

The supplied FM antenna, though basic, should provide better reception
in cases where the internal antenna does not suffice. Remember to flip
the rear antenna switch from internal to external when using an
external antenna. For optimal performance, place the radio and/or
antenna near a window or outside wall. For optimal AM reception, try a
wireless AM antenna from Radio Shack or Terk.



6. Will the radios receive digital radio?

No. Digital radio is a new format similar to satellite TV. The multiple
channels are broadcast via satellite. You must have a digital radio
receiver and pay a monthly subscriber fee. The radios, like all other
current tuners, will receive only analog broadcasts.

(Our foreign customers have DAB, but we are too insular to talk about
that, and we have Sirius.)

7.Do you sell "B stock" or refurbished models?

No, nor do we authorize any dealer to do so. If a unit does not meet
our exacting standards, we will not sell it, even at a discount.



8.Some stations I tune in do not exactly match the frequency on the
dial. Is this normal?

Yes. Precise calibration is difficult, but every effort is made to
accurately calibrate the tuning dial before it leaves the factory.
However, some play is to be expected as a result of shipping. The amber
tuning light is your best indicator for when a station is properly
tuned.



9. Sometimes I hear noise through my radio's speaker or I experience
reduced reception. What could be causing this?

The tuner is highly sensitive and thus vulnerable to noise. Other
electronic devices such as florescent or neon lights, major appliances,
CD players, or even an electric blanket may be the culprit. Be sure not
to plug the radio into an electrical outlet shared by any of these
devices and move the radio further away from these devices. Also,
buildings made of concrete, steel, or aluminum siding will hinder
reception.



10.Other than the above, how can I improve my reception?

First a word about AM, FM, and reception: Although FM stereo provides
higher fidelity than AM, its signal has a shorter range and is
susceptible to multipath. Multipath occurs when an FM signal is
reflected, causing multiple signals which arrive at your radio at
slightly different times. This results in hiss and noise. In some
cases, the signals partially cancel each other, reducing the overall
signal strength. Multipath is caused by houses, tall buildings, hills,
mountains, water towers, bridges and anything else that may obstruct
the FM signal from reaching your radio. AM uses a simple, mono,
long-range signal, but it suffers from poor fidelity, static, and is
susceptible to inclement weather. Some AM stations may come in clearer
at night when their signals bounce off the earth's ionosphere and
travel long distances. Other AM stations received during the day time
may not be received at all at night because the Federal Communications
Commission requires many AM stations to operate at reduced power at
night or cease broadcasting altogether so as not to interfere with
other AM stations' signals.

For improved AM reception, we recommend an indoor, wireless AM antenna
such as Terk's AM Advantage (Terk, 800.942.8375). This is the best
indoor AM antenna we know of.

For FM the power cord is an extension of the internal FM antenna, so
try moving the power cord as well. Or, try an indoor, amplified
antenna, or an FM dipole antenna.

Splitting your cable TV wire and connecting it to the rear external
antenna jack may not automatically improve reception. Most cable
companies require you to call them to activate this service and some
charge a monthly fee.

Please note that even the most sensitive tuners cannot receive a signal
that isn't there. If you're attempting to receive a station's
signal that doesn't reach your listening area, no tuner or antenna
will help.



11. Do you recommend a power strip?

A power strip with surge protection is a wise investment for any
audio/video equipment since power surges are not covered by the factory
warranty. One with noise filtration might also help filter out noise
from other household electronic products.



12. Is it normal for the tuning light not to light as often on the AM
band?

Yes. It requires a much stronger signal on the AM band than on the FM
band for the amber tuning indicator to light, so it is not unusual for
the light to be out when an AM station is tuned.



13. Will placement of the table radios affect the sound?

Yes. Placing your radio in a cabinet, bookcase, near walls/counters or
other hard surfaces will artificially inflate the bass. Placement can
also affect reception.



14. How should I care for the wood cabinet?

Regular dusting should suffice. If you must use a wax, a liquid polish
is best, but use it sparingly. Spray-on waxes are not recommended. As
the cabinet is real wood it will darken over time.



15. Your radios use cell-phone technology. Is it safe?

Yes. The Gallium Arsenide Metal Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor
(GaAs MES-FET) used in our radios does not pose a health hazard.
Gallium is a byproduct of smelting metals, chiefly aluminum and zinc,
and is actually rarer than gold. Gallium Arsenide is a superior
alternative to Silicon for producing solid state chips. This transistor
is better at handling multiple strong signals than integrated circuits
or bipolar transistors (used in most other radios). The Model One was
the first radio to use this technology in an FM tuner.
Almost all electronic devices, including cellular telephones, emit some
degree of electromagnetic radiation (EMR), but there have been no
scientific-based studies proving this poses a health hazard.

16. What type of headphones can I use?

Stereo headphones should be used with all of our radios; they use the
standard 1/8 inch jack. If you are using headphones with the Model one
radio you still use stereo headphones because this is what the jack
accepts but your sound will be in mono. A monaural ear piece will not
work with the Model One only a stereo ear piece. You can always check
your set with the number of rings around the tips, two rings indicates
stereo.

(God forbid we should provide a 1/4" jack.)

17. I can still hear my radio thru the headphones when shut off, is it
defective? What's going on? The Model one as with many current audio
products, is not completely off when shut off. The internal power
amplifier and LED's are switched off but there is still a trickle of
power going to the unit. This is done to avoid clicking and popping
when you turn it off and on. Its just a few watts something that wont
even change your electric bill.

18. Can I use my radio bought here in the US in another country? If so
what should I be aware of and what equipment do I need?
You should be aware that products bought in the US have valid US
warranties. Should a service or exchange be needed we ask that you
contact us for an authorization number to send the unit back to us for
repair or replacement. If you are overseas and purchased a unit in the
US from an authorized dealer and service is needed, you'll need to
contact us with the details as well as pay for shipping of your unit in
and out of the US.

(The correct power supply is a secret mystery and of course you must
use ours. And because you are a stupid consumo we know you don't have a
bench supply. Further, foreign prospects must take a high hard one on
price bu buying from their local distributor no matter his pricing
structure.)

If you purchased a product in the US that will be used in Europe, we
recommend that you contact the local Tivoli Audio distributor to
purchase the proper power supply for that country.

19. Can I purchase accessories for my radios from your website?
Currently we do not sell any accessories online, please call our toll
free number 877.297.9479 to purchase these, we accept payment with a
credit card.

20. I have the Model One radio and want to connect my MP3 or a portable
CD player to it, can I do this? And what do I need?
Yes, you can play any portable device thru any of our radios to fully
take advantage of the great sound. The cable you need no matter what
device or which radio is a 1/8 inch stereo mini to a 1/8 inch stereo
mini, commonly found at Radio Shack for a few dollars. The way to
connect is thru the headphone jack on your walkman, portable MP3 or CD
player into the AUX input on the radios. With the Model One and PAL
there is no aux switch as with our stereo radios so you'll need to
physically plug the connection into the radio. This will cut the signal
from the tuner to speaker and let you play your connected device,
regardless what band your radio is set at, AM or FM it'll work the
same. To reconnect and listen to the radio again you'll need to
remove the connection from the back of the unit.

21. Other then the clock what are the differences between the Model
Three and Model One?
The M3 has many bonus features that the Model One does not have. The
clock with alarm is the obvious difference but also features an AUX
position on the front selector knob. This allows one to use a MP3
player, walkman or CD player with the M3 and leave it connected, no
reason to fuss with wires and cables day in and day out.

We also provide an additional speaker either with or without an
additional clock to change your Model Three into a stereo radio, either
at the time of purchase or later down the road. In addition to the
second speaker we also have a CD player and Subwoofer that compliments
this unit, creating an inexpensive little mini system.

As for the Model One, it's mono and does not have an additional
speaker connection nor does it have the aux option on the front
selector knob as the Model Two and Model Three have. The advantage the
Model one has over the Model Two is that it's available in a variety
of colors as with the other products mentioned they are only available
in one color scheme.

22. Where can I find my card ID number?
For Visa, MasterCard & Discover customers the card ID number is the
3-digit number located on the back of your credit card, usually at the
top of the signature strip.

For Amex customers, look for the 4-digit number printed on the front of
our card. Depending on which card you have, you'll find this number
in small type above your credit cards main number on either the right
or left side.

23. What is the card ID number for their credit card?
The card ID number is a unique security feature of Visa, MasterCard,
Discover and Amex credit cards. By including it with your order, you
help protect your account from fraud and you give us one more way of
being sure your order is legitimate.

24. Can I use my radio bought here in the US in another country? If so
what should I be aware of?
You should be aware that to fully cater to our customers' needs and
for best performance Tivoli Audio designs products with special
attention to each country Safety approval and technical specifications.

Products sold in the US are intended for use in the US territory only.
Should a US product used overseas become damaged as a result of
improper use, such as using an incorrect power supply or running off of
incorrect voltage, such resulting damage is not covered under the
factory warranty.

25. I received a Tivoli Audio radio as a gift from the US can I use it
overseas?
If you purchased a product in the US that will be used in Europe, we
recommend that you contact the local Tivoli Audio distributor to
purchase the proper power supply for that country.. However, Tivoli
Audio takes no responsibility for damages caused by a non Tivoli Audio
product therefore; such resulting damage is not covered under the
factory warranty. For more information please contact your local Tivoli
Audio Distributor.

(No ****ing way will we put a switch on there to change the FM
preemphasis and tell you to use any wall wart giving correct DC output.
So our distributors can deter you from gray market buying you have to
use ours.)

Oops...forgot!

4. How can I make my own adjustments or modifications?
Our radios are not user serviceable, please be aware that modifying
your radio beyond it's original design will void your warranty as
well as change the performance of the unit beyond the original
design.



That's probably why someone would modify it all right.



8.Some stations I tune in do not exactly match the frequency on the
dial. Is this normal?

Yes. Precise calibration is difficult, but every effort is made to
accurately calibrate the tuning dial before it leaves the factory.
However, some play is to be expected as a result of shipping. The
amber
tuning light is your best indicator for when a station is properly
tuned

(Every effort that is short of actually aligning or calibrating the
unit.That would cost money.)



9. Sometimes I hear noise through my radio's speaker or I experience
reduced reception. What could be causing this?



15. Your radios use cell-phone technology. Is it safe?

Yes. The Gallium Arsenide Metal Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor
(GaAs MES-FET) used in our radios does not pose a health hazard.
Gallium is a byproduct of smelting metals, chiefly aluminum and zinc,
and is actually rarer than gold. Gallium Arsenide is a superior
alternative to Silicon for producing solid state chips. This
transistor
is better at handling multiple strong signals than integrated
circuits
or bipolar transistors (used in most other radios). The Model One was
the first radio to use this technology in an FM tuner.
Almost all electronic devices, including cellular telephones, emit
some
degree of electromagnetic radiation (EMR), but there have been no
scientific-based studies proving this poses a health hazard.


17. I can still hear my radio thru the headphones when shut off, is
it
defective? What's going on? The Model one as with many current audio
products, is not completely off when shut off. The internal power
amplifier and LED's are switched off but there is still a trickle of
power going to the unit. This is done to avoid clicking and popping
when you turn it off and on. Its just a few watts something that wont
even change your electric bill.

(Phantom load? Whogivesa****?)



..

21. Other then the clock what are the differences between the Model
Three and Model One?
The M3 has many bonus features that the Model One does not have. The
clock with alarm is the obvious difference but also features an AUX
position on the front selector knob. This allows one to use a MP3
player, walkman or CD player with the M3 and leave it connected, no
reason to fuss with wires and cables day in and day out.

We also provide an additional speaker either with or without an
additional clock to change your Model Three into a stereo radio,
either
at the time of purchase or later down the road. In addition to the
second speaker we also have a CD player and Subwoofer that
compliments
this unit, creating an inexpensive little mini system.

As for the Model One, it's mono and does not have an additional
speaker connection nor does it have the aux option on the front
selector knob as the Model Two and Model Three have. The advantage
the
Model one has over the Model Two is that it's available in a variety
of colors as with the other products mentioned they are only
available
in one color scheme.

That's so we can add a few cents to the build cost and a hundred bucks
to the price on the Model Three. Oh yeah, you also get an analog clock.
What's that, you don't want an analog clock? You'd rather have WWV
reception?? You stupid consumo. You'll get WWV when the boy next door
flies to the moon.)

Man, you must have a really really small penis!

wrote in message
oups.com...
Oops...forgot!

4. How can I make my own adjustments or modifications?
Our radios are not user serviceable, please be aware that modifying
your radio beyond it's original design will void your warranty as
well as change the performance of the unit beyond the original
design.



That's probably why someone would modify it all right.



8.Some stations I tune in do not exactly match the frequency on the
dial. Is this normal?

Yes. Precise calibration is difficult, but every effort is made to
accurately calibrate the tuning dial before it leaves the factory.
However, some play is to be expected as a result of shipping. The
amber
tuning light is your best indicator for when a station is properly
tuned

(Every effort that is short of actually aligning or calibrating the
unit.That would cost money.)



9. Sometimes I hear noise through my radio's speaker or I experience
reduced reception. What could be causing this?



15. Your radios use cell-phone technology. Is it safe?

Yes. The Gallium Arsenide Metal Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor
(GaAs MES-FET) used in our radios does not pose a health hazard.
Gallium is a byproduct of smelting metals, chiefly aluminum and zinc,
and is actually rarer than gold. Gallium Arsenide is a superior
alternative to Silicon for producing solid state chips. This
transistor
is better at handling multiple strong signals than integrated
circuits
or bipolar transistors (used in most other radios). The Model One was
the first radio to use this technology in an FM tuner.
Almost all electronic devices, including cellular telephones, emit
some
degree of electromagnetic radiation (EMR), but there have been no
scientific-based studies proving this poses a health hazard.


17. I can still hear my radio thru the headphones when shut off, is
it
defective? What's going on? The Model one as with many current audio
products, is not completely off when shut off. The internal power
amplifier and LED's are switched off but there is still a trickle of
power going to the unit. This is done to avoid clicking and popping
when you turn it off and on. Its just a few watts something that wont
even change your electric bill.

(Phantom load? Whogivesa****?)



.

21. Other then the clock what are the differences between the Model
Three and Model One?
The M3 has many bonus features that the Model One does not have. The
clock with alarm is the obvious difference but also features an AUX
position on the front selector knob. This allows one to use a MP3
player, walkman or CD player with the M3 and leave it connected, no
reason to fuss with wires and cables day in and day out.

We also provide an additional speaker either with or without an
additional clock to change your Model Three into a stereo radio,
either
at the time of purchase or later down the road. In addition to the
second speaker we also have a CD player and Subwoofer that
compliments
this unit, creating an inexpensive little mini system.

As for the Model One, it's mono and does not have an additional
speaker connection nor does it have the aux option on the front
selector knob as the Model Two and Model Three have. The advantage
the
Model one has over the Model Two is that it's available in a variety
of colors as with the other products mentioned they are only
available
in one color scheme.

That's so we can add a few cents to the build cost and a hundred bucks
to the price on the Model Three. Oh yeah, you also get an analog clock.
What's that, you don't want an analog clock? You'd rather have WWV
reception?? You stupid consumo. You'll get WWV when the boy next door
flies to the moon.)

wrote in message

2. Why don't you publish factory specifications for the Tivoli Audio
radios?

(Specs? You want specs? Why, so you can give us ****? We don't
actually want our product compared to anyone else's.)


Have you heard one? I bought one. It sounds good.
Why the beef?

In article .com,
wrote:





2. Why don't you publish factory specifications for the Tivoli Audio
radios?

Why would they? It's a freakin tiny little radio that sounds a tad
better then other tiny radios.



3. Did Henry Kloss really design the Tivoli Audio radios, or did he
just license his name?

Who cares?



4. How can I make my own adjustments or modifications?

What part of tiny little radio don't people understand?





5. I'm pleased with the reception, but is there anything I can do to
improve it?


This is the one thing this little over priced radio does better then
anything else, the ability to pull in stations is better then anything I
have had and why I have one, to listen to NPR in the kitchen when
nothing else I have purchased could.

--
Will Brink @ http://www.brinkzone.com/

My sister bought one, because her previous AM listening rig quit-that
having been a 60s Becker car radio I bought a junkyard in high school
and mounted in a garage sale stereo speaker cab with a small 12 volt
power supply and an 8" speaker from a defunct transistor copy of a
Fender Champ. She took it several places which all refused to look at
it claiming it "wasn't worth fixing". Turned out the bridge rectifier
went open. She claims the tivoli has marginally better sound but
receives only weakly a station which came in fine on the Becker. But
now she has both, as I fixed it.