In article ,
MINe 109 wrote:
I took a look at the website and found "PAL Fashion Collection" models
if you think lime or sky blue would be better. :-)
Thanks for pointing that out. Seriously.
The iPAL looks like a good possibility. It's attractive, the footprint
is tiny (3.69" wide x 3.86" deep), the rechargeable battery provides a
lot of flexibility for placement (it doesn't need to be near an electric
outlet), and the reviews on Amazon.com rave about its sound quality. I
think its winning me over.
I don't see a downside to the Kloss/Tivoli: it will work, be attractive
and be relatively cheap. I suppose you could look at the competition
(Cambridge Soundworks, Boston Acoustics) that might give you stereo but
not necessarily more enjoyable sound.
I have a Boston Acoustics Receptor Radio in my bedroom, and love it. It
is a candidate. Its clock and alarm features are superfluous for my
purposes with the new one, so I started looking at the Henry Kloss Model
One, which I expect (based on what I have read) would give me sound that
is at least as good, for a lesser price, at the sacrifice of features I
don't need. (By the way, the Receptor Radio is mono.)
Boston Acoustics' other model, the MicroSystem CD, is $499. I'll pass.
As for the Cambridge SoundWorks, it's considerably larger than the other
candidates, and (based on the pictures) I don't find it very attractive.
Unless its sound quality is significantly superior to the smaller, more
attractive, and less expensive candidates, I think we can scratch this
one from the list.
The Cambridge SoundWorks and Henry Kloss Model Two both offer stereo
speakers and subwoofers. (In the case of the Cambridge SoundWorks, the
stereo speakers are rather close together.) How much of a difference do
these make?
What about the Henry Kloss Model Three? Given my requirements, is there
any reason I should consider this?
You could spend more on a mini
system from Denon or Panasonic, or less on a GE Superadio.
The Superadio seems to have little going for it other than price. It's
bigger and less attractive than any of the Henry Kloss models (including
the iPAL). The reviews on Amazon.com indicate that it has excellent
sound quality for AM radio and talk, and that FM/music is better than
one would expect for such a system, but hardly mind-blowing. Since I'm
interested more in FM/music than in AM/talk, I expect I would get a
better quality experience from one of the Henry Kloss models. (Note
that the Superadio does, like the iPAL, have the ability to run off of
batteries.)
If we're going cheap, I also found the Emerson radios on Amazon. Its
size and appearance resemble that of the Henry Kloss Model One so much
that one would think there should be some legal issues regarding trade
dress. From the reviews, the sound is nothing special, but it's quite
inexpensive. I don't think I need to be that chinchy.
At this point, I'm leaning towards the iPAL. Its looks, size, and
ability to run "disconnected" are all appealing. Unless I can get
clearly superior sound from a system whose price is within shouting
distance of the iPAL's, I think this is the winner.
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