After so many years I had such high hopes...
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- Music by Fran Blanche -
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I just repaired a mint condition model one that I picked- it had a bad SMD component which prevented the speaker amp and headphone from working. Tuner was fine as confirmed via the rec out port. I replaced all the electrolytic caps with Japanese caps along with the TDA amp chip (which gets quite hot).
The model one in this video appears to have a shield plate on the transformer, and it has all through-hole ICs for the headphone and eq, whereas mine has SMD ICs and resistors and caps on the bottom, and no transformer plate. The model one sounds pretty similar to the old fashioned Zenith solid state table radio, which is a nostalgic sound for me.
You are reviewing a mid-range single-speaker AM/FM radio that is USED and over 22 years old. You are so disappointed in the quality but need to acknowledge the age, etc., At 22 years old, you expect this to be like new? Kloss/Tivoli offers some fantastic equipment. Don't give it a bad name due to it being used, etc.
You seem to miss one important thing. Pls let us know op-amp it uses.
Fantastic Radio. Looks right, functions Right, Sounds better than it should, and you can have a conversation with it running.
I bought one new, then 3 more for gifts. From a now-defunct DC area retailer. We’re about $100 each then. Bought 2 more later but $149 each. All had a little pig-tail antenna. In big radio markets – not needed.
One of my original ones went kaput – power supply issue. Supposedly “unfixable”.
Your used Model One – sounds awful – compared to mine!
I have 1 model 2 and 2 sirius models with 2 extension speakers. I have had problems with power supplies and cords to 1 speaker. Beautiful sound sub woofer is a little weak,
Had one. Intermittent tuner and nothing to write home about.
thanks fran. I think i a good review on tool manufactuers radios, eg: milwaukee, dewalt, bosch. perhaps a future video? thank you for your efforts.
A directional FM antenna will help a lot. Maybe an old BIC Beam Box might have a positive effect…
Hi Fran, I bought a similar, but older Model 1 from Ebay and my experience was very similar, (dissapointing.) My hearing isn't as good as it was 70 years ago so audio quality is very important to me and this radio was lacking! It does look good on the shelf though. If you can find an older GE Super radio II with seperate woofer and tweeter I think you'll be very happy! I have three (back-up for a back-up) as they are getting more expensive and scarce. These radios have excellent selectivity, sensitivity, and audio quality is the best I've found!
Cheers, Rich
It could be using a pot to tune the FM (the pot changes voltages applied to varicaps, which change capacitance). Like others have said either run the tuning dial up and down multiple times or use isoprop inside the tuning cap/pot to clean the contacts. Unfortunately you cannot use contact cleaner nor deoxit because it leaves a permanent residue on the tuning gangs and this throws the alignment out.
Great video Fran. I always wanted one of those. Maybe yours had a very hard life. I have a Boston Acoustics Recepter radio that sounds wonderful. They only made them for a short time unfortunately.
Learn to pronounce "Tivoli", please. And do your research – new Model Ones are NOT "well over $200". They sell for $179 from Tivoli's website. And the 5:1 geared tuner is one of its features, not a failure. Not sure why you didn't know about a known problem with Model One tuners. They develop dirty potentiometers resulting in scratchy tuning. Tivoli's answer is to turn the radio on, turn the volume all the way down, and vigorously turn the tuner back and forth for 3 to 5 minutes – likely redistributing the lubricant and cleaning the dirt pot. Not a permanent solution, but it works for a while. Overall, your review of an old radio is quite shallow.