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Mostly, it's hard not to feel like tivoli is adding an extraordinary premiums to the model three to add what looks like a $10 plastic alarm clock. So far, mine hasn't required a new battery, but at this price I would think it would be reasonable for the clock to run on AC and have a rechargeable battery backup. The whole look is elegantly understated - I don't know why there aren't more products like this. Not that the understatement is always perfect - one niggle is that you'll need to look very closely (even under strong light) in order to read the numbers on the radio dial. Talk about the law of diminishing returns.Despite the underwhelming alarm clock, the tivoli model three is a great radio, and a great-looking unit overall. To be fair, the basics work OK.
I've had my model three about a year now. You'll also find that even a really good analog radio like this isn't entirely immune to signal drift, although my experience is that it requires only the occasional minor adjustment. I do find it mildly annoying that the alarm has no way of differentiating between am and pm - so unless you turn off the alarm in the morning, your alarm will sound needlessly in the evening too. There are some lovely vintage wind-up clocks out there, and the design could have easily captured some of that feel. Some of these shortcomings would be easier to live with if the clock were as good-looking as the rest of the unit. Overall, the radio is exceptional.On the negative side, the alarm clock isn't so much understated as, well, underwhelming. The radio is terrific - the dial accuracy feels like a million bucks, and the sound from the speaker is amazingly full and rich. (It also sounds great with an iPod plugged into it).
The model three adds stereo capabilities to the model one's capabilities (but only if you spend another $75 to add the optional separate speaker - or an eye-watering $179 to add a speaker which includes a second alarm clock). The clock's most annoying feature is that its hands are sufficiently similar in length/thickness, that one has to look very carefully to figure out which is the big hand/which is the small. It's also annoying that the clock runs entirely on its battery. As it is, the clock's design is not off-putting, but up close (which you'll have to be in order to read it), it just doesn't look any more special than a run-of-the-mill plastic battery-operated alarm clock.Finally, there's the value issue. I see some of the reviews say that one must hit the snooze button within 120 seconds or the snooze button shuts the alarm off.
$150 more than the very fine model one. But pricey. I think the price has increased since I bought mine, so it boggles my mind to see that the model three is now $299 - i.e. The unit looks like a million bucks - its nicely understated wood cabinet is to my mind so much more attractive than the plastic radios with digital displays that everyone else sells. Which means that if one wakes up in the night, one has to roll over close to the alarm and double check to see whether the time is, for example, 2:30 or 6:10.
It's incomprehensible that the product's developers would have expected such precision from a user of the unit who was just waking up, but I've never used the snooze feature so it doesn't bother me. But I don't change my radio station much, so that's a minor issue for me. The alarm only sets in 5 minute increments, but I've always found it to be reasonably accurate to those increments, and I've always found it to be reliable.
Are you wondering why I have that as a "CON". That's why I've relegated this very pretty alarm clock to my office instead.3. I've owned the Model Three and the matching subwoofer for more than 2 years. No problems yet. This one mysteriously shuts off by itself in a couple minutes. Sturdy2. Sound is good.
The alarm function isn't as friendly as my >20 year old bedroom alarm clock by Sony. So, for this much money I expect the sound to be completely exceptionally bad ass.2.
So, please do set your standards high as I did:PROS:1. By pointing the speaker up you're missing out on the high/mid range sounds.
I currently use it in my home office. I finally figured out why my Tivoli Songbook sounds much better than my Model Three: the Model 3 speaker is pointed up, not to you (or the middle of the room).
The clock runs solely on batteries.There you have it, this is how it worked out for me. However, when one compares this VERY high-end alarm clock radio to others, you're basically expecting the Bentley of alarm clock radios.
Nice simple design CONS:1.
But I don't use it as an alarm clock at all, and I barely even use it as a clock. The upshot is that the clock still works fine, since it runs off the batteries and not off the AC. I also agree that the radio dial settings are hard to read without bright direct lighting, and that the clock is hard to make out without glasses.So, I use it regularly to listen to the radio, I stream music to is from my computer (using an Apple Airport Express), and I connect my computer to the aux-in when I want to watch movies in bed (amazing sound quality). I agree with the other reviewers. I use my iPhone as my alarm clock and that works just fine for me.My advice: save some money and get a Model One or Model Two. I solved that problem by installing a power switch at the outlet on the wall. I've had my Tivoli clock radio with the outboard stereo speaker for several years, and while I love it for the sound and the looks, I hate it as a clock.My main gripe is that I like to sleep in a dark room, and the backlight on the clock is just too bright. That turns off the stereo, and the clock backlights, but of course renders the device useless as a clock radio, since the audio is disabled.
That said, Tivoli makes a great product.but unless you've money to burn--buy the Model One and get a $12 alarm clock. That's Re'dic'er'us. At $299 what are you getting over the Model One at $149. A $150 analog Alarm Clock ($299-$149=$150).
I found it a real negative that there is no dial illumination - can't use. Purchase , kept for less than a week.
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