Origins of Tivoli Audio ®

Tivoli Audio ® was started by Tom DeVesto, a respected and established leader in the audio industry, with the goal of bringing simple to use, high-quality audio products to the consumer at reasonable prices. His thirty-year association with Henry Kloss includes senior management positions at Advent and Kloss Video, and co-founding Cambridge SoundWorks. As the CEO and head of research and development at his former company, Tom was responsible for the development of many of today's best-selling hi-fi and multi-media products.

Tom is uniquely qualified to introduce Henry Kloss' designs. Every Tivoli Audio ® product is manufactured in our own factory, which affords us exceptional quality control. Our products represent a level of sound and quality unequalled in their price range. Words cannot accurately convey what makes our products so special. These audio sensations make elegant, distinctive gifts for Christmas, Father's Day, weddings, graduations, birthdays, housewarmings, and other special occasions.

"For nearly 30 years," says DeVesto, "I've been bringing Henry Kloss’s products to market. His latest product, the Model One table radio is so impressive I started a company to sell it. Simple, elegant, the Model One delivers optimum sound quality while pulling in more stations than conventional radios."

Henry Kloss, Legendary Audio Designer

Henry Kloss' refusal to be constrained by budgets, deadlines, and trends has resulted in some of the best sounding audio products ever made. His long love affair with audio began back in the early 1950's when, as a student at M.I.T., he began building speaker enclosures for fellow students who wanted to exploit the sound of live FM broadcasts of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. After co-founding Acoustic Research in 1952, he helped develop the first acoustic suspension loudspeaker, which forever changed the way audio was reproduced.

Next came KLH and the Model Eight, the first highly sensitive FM table radio, now a highly sought-after collectible. Ten years after at Advent, Henry brought to market one of the first projection televisions (which later earned him an Emmy), and one of the first consumer cassette decks with Dolby B noise reduction. Kloss Video entered the picture in 1977. In 1988, Henry co-founded Cambridge SoundWorks with long-time associate Tom DeVesto, offering factory direct savings in hi-fi and multimedia speakers. In 2000, at the age of 70, Henry emerged from retirement to once again team-up with DeVesto to produce the critically acclaimed Model One table radio. His classic Tivoli Audio designs stand as a permanent testament to his passion for fine audio, simplicity, and value. Henry passed away in January, 2002, but he lives on in the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Did Henry Kloss really design the Tivoli Audio ® radios, or did he just license his name?
2. Do you recommend using a power strip when listening to these radios?
3. Is it normal for the tuning light not to light as often on the AM band?
4. Your radios use cell phone technology. How does that work?
5. What size are the inputs and outputs on your radios?
6. I'm pleased with the reception, but is there anything I can do to improve it?
7. Other than the above, how can I improve my reception?
8. What can I do to improve Sirius reception on my Model Satellite?
9. Will placement of the table radios affect the sound?
10. On certain stations the radio station frequency doesn't precisely match the position of the analog tuning knob. Is this normal?
11. How should I care for the wood cabinet (on the Sirius Satellite Table Radio)?
12. How do I connect an iPod, MP3 player, or portable CD player to my Tivoli Audio ® radio?
13. Can I add speakers to my Tivoli Audio ® radio?
14. How much battery playback time can I expect?
15. What is DAB?
16. How can I access Sirius Satellite radio?
17. Can I connect a turntable to my Tivoli Audio ® radio?
18. Can I run my Tivoli Audio ® products off of a 12V Deep Cycle Marine Battery?

Q: Did Henry Kloss really design the Tivoli Audio ® radios, or did he just license his name?
A: Henry was one of the owners of Tivoli Audio ®, and he never licensed his name. If one of our products has Henry’s name on it, he was involved in its design.

Q: Do you recommend using a power strip when listening to these radios?
A: A power strip with surge protection is a wise investment. Power strips with noise filtration may also help filter out interference from other household electronic products.

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

Q: Your radios use cell phone technology. How does that work?
A: Our radios utilize a Gallium Arsenide Metal Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (GaAs MES-FET). 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. Please note that 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.

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Q: What size are the inputs and outputs on your radios?
A: Our jacks are 1/8 inch (3.5mm), stereo mini in size.

Q: I'm pleased with the reception, but is there anything I can do to improve it?
A: The supplied FM antenna, though basic, should provide better reception in cases where the internal antenna does not suffice. Remember to change 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. Make sure the power cord and antenna are not bundled together or near each other.

Q: Other than the above, how can I improve my reception?
A: 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 off nearby structures. These reflections create multiple signals which arrive at your radio at slightly different times. This results in hiss, noise, and in some cases, a reduction of the overall signal strength. Multipath is caused by buildings, hills, 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 all together 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. This antenna typically gets the best results with our radios. If a more powerful antenna is necessary, try an FM dipole antenna or amplified indoor antenna such as the Jensen FM25. The best FM reception is often obtained with an outdoor antenna specifically designed for FM (GAM, WINEGARD).

Splitting your cable TV wire and connecting it to the rear external antenna jack on your radio 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.

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Q: What can I do to improve Sirius reception on my Model Satellite?
A: First and foremost, ensure that your Sirius antenna has a clear line of sight to the sky. Any obstructions could cause dropouts or even a complete inability to acquire a signal. As the antenna is weather resistant, positioning it outside could help provide clearer and more consistent reception. In addition, the direction in which the antenna is aimed could help to improve your signal. For the best results, aim the antenna at a 45 degree angle pointing in the direction instructed by the owner’s manual.

Q: Will placement of the table radios affect the sound?
A: Yes. Placing your radio in a cabinet, bookcase, near walls/counters or other hard surfaces will artificially inflate the bass. Some users have reported that placing several layers of tissue beneath the port reduces bass. Placement can also affect reception.

Q: On certain stations the radio station frequency doesn’t precisely match the position of the analog tuning knob. Is this normal?
A: Yes. Each tuner is hand calibrated at the factory but due to the nature of the analog dial, some variation is normal.

Q: How should I care for the wood cabinet (on the Sirius Satellite Table Radio)?
A: Regular dusting should suffice. If you must use a wax, a liquid polish is best only if used sparingly. Spray-on waxes are not recommended. Please keep in mind that the cabinet is real wood so it will darken over time.

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Q: How do I connect an iPod, MP3 player, or portable CD player to my Tivoli Audio ® radio?
A: You can connect an iPod, MP3 player or portable audio device to one of our raios via a 1/8 inch, (3.5mm), stereo mini to mini cable. In order to do so, you will need to connect this cable from the headphone jack on your walkman, portable MP3 or CD player to the Aux input on the radio.

If there is no Aux switch, you’ll need to physically plug the device into the “AUX” jack on the back of the radio when you want to listen to it. This will cut the signal from the tuner to the speaker and let you play your connected device, regardless of the band to which your radio is set. To listen to the radio again, you’ll need to disconnect the device from the back of the unit.

Q: Can I add speakers to my Tivoli Audio ® radio?
A: Yes, but only the self-amplified, stereo type can be used in conjunction with the radio’s headphone output. (These are often referred to as “Multi-media” speakers.)

Q: How much battery playback time can I expect?
A: The length of playing time on battery will depend on two factors:

1. How loud you listen. (The louder you listen the less time you’ll have.)
2. The capacity of your battery.

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Q: What is DAB?
A: Digital Audio Broadcasting, (DAB) is found in many Asian and European countries. It is similar to HD radio in the USA, but DAB is not broadcast in the USA.

Q: How can I access Sirius Satellite radio?
A: You must call Sirius toll-free at 888.539.SIRIUS (7474) and ask them to add the stations to your subscription. There is no charge for this additional programming, but it must be requested. The Sirius Satellite Table Radio is compatible with all additional U.S. programming.

Q: Can I connect a turntable to my Tivoli Audio ® radio?
A: Yes. However, in order to convert the low-volume and equalized phono level into the standard-volume line level, you will need a phono preamplifier. Phono preamplifiers are available at most electronics stores.

Q: Can I run my Tivoli Audio ® products off of a 12V Deep Cycle Marine Battery?
A: Yes. Just make sure that you connect the positive and negative terminals of the battery to the correct terminals on your Tivoli Audio ® product. Appropriate connectors are available at electronics parts stores. All Tivoli Audio ® products with a 12 Volt DC input use the center pin for the positive connection from your battery.

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