After a lot of searching, I've found the perfect bathroom radio for my place: the Henry Kloss Tivoli Audio PAL. I don't have an electrical outlet in the bathroom, and so I was looking for something battery powered, with decent reception, water-resistance, and an input for an MP3 player. The Tivoli's got all of that (including a built-in, replaceable NiMH battery that delivers 18h of playback per charge), and is just plain beautiful to look at, besides. It sounds
great, and managed to tune in a number of weak/ multiphase FM channels that the other radios in the store couldn't get at. It also goes plenty loud -- surprisingly so, for such a little package -- without distortion which is just the thing for staying tuned into the news while the shower is going. It comes in a variety of handsome colors, and would work just as well on the porch, poolside, or back yard.
Link
the latest
latest episodes
AM/FM???
Noooooo! DAB only for me.
I was looking for a way to play MP3s in the shower, and found the perfect one. It's from Brookstone, has a usb drive waterproof compartment, AM/FM, digital tuner with presets. The sound is good, the performance is good.
It's an elusive unit, the brookstone site doesnt have them listed, but I did find a pic.
I'm suprised the market isn't flooded with something like this.
It's around $50.
http://www.brookstone.com/bs_assets/images/shop/thumbnail/535401_t.jpg
The PAL is a ridiculously wonderful piece of equipment. I bought one years ago, wanting something that could take aux input and be easily toted out to the garden, off to the park or beach... wouldn't have dreamed that a clunky little mono speaker could make me so happy, and ended up buying lots of other Tivoli gear for myself and family members over the years.
The Dutch Tivoli office had a PAL case contest last year. They asked people to submit concepts for a case that the PAL would fit inside. The shortlisted entries toured the consumer-electronics show circuit in different shows worldwide.
Here are the results. (In Dutch)
http://www.tivoli-audio.nl/palcase/
More (in Dutch)
http://www.tivoli-audio.nl/palcase/images/press/music_emotion.pdf
I asked for and received one (in red) for Christmas a couple years ago, and it is indeed a great little unit. So simple, so portable, sounds superb. No one I show it to believes its sound is coming from that single little speaker. Highly recommended. The aforementioned AUX input is a great feature, too.
What in the **** is a "multi-phase FM channel" ?????? Is it Terminology-Invention Day in .... ??
(No electricity in the bathroom? Transylvania?)
I can say the tuner on my Model One (similar, though not waterproof) is awesome, and the sound is expansive.
I've got one of the Tivoli PALs as well (in fact, got it from Brookstone a while back, floor model, for $37 -- that deal was delicious!). Fantastic, but I use it for the living room rather than the bathroom.
Here's what I use as a bathroom radio: wonderfully water resistant, cute, and reasonably powerful:
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ICF-S79V-Weather-Shower-Radio/dp/B00000DM9W/
The Sony ICF-S79V, which also includes a dedicated weather band. Takes 3 C batteries, but man, they last almost a YEAR.
- gabu
The Sangean H201 is water resistant, handsome, and gets great reception. I've had it for over 7 months, and the battery indicator is still 100%. I think the sound is decent enough for the shower (where the sound of the running water makes it hard to listen anyways) and it's 1/6th the price.
http://www.amazon.com/Am-fm-Digital-Shower-Radio/dp/B000I3F91O/ref=sr_1_1/104-6428419-4595116?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1194642064&sr=1-1
I adore(d) the Tivoli PAL, but fair warning... mine suffered hugely from GSM interference from my phone. I finally switched to a different set of speakers and the problem went away.
I've been using this shower radio for several months and I really like it. The MP3 is only 32mb, enough for about six songs, but as a radio (FM only) it's great.
Re: Electricity in the bathroom
In the UK you are not allowed electrical sockets (except special ones for shavers) because 220v + water = dead people.
Ditto on Gabu's recommendation of the Sony ICF-S79V shower radio. I listen to mine for about half an hour every day and the 3 C batteries last a long time, definitely more than 6 months. It has a hanging strap I used to hang it from my shower head so I can change stations in the shower, something you can't do with the Tivoli in most showers.
We have one of these in the bathroom:
http://www.pure.com/Products/Product.asp?Product=VL-60775
Charge it up once a fortnight - hey presto - DAB while you wash (& it can amplify an MP3 player too). Handsome & Heavy!
Yep, we have a PAL in our bathroom at home and even in the office bathroom at work. They sound great and the battery lasts for quite a while!