 Do
you remember the days when steam ruled the world and kids could play
football in the park using jumpers for goalposts? ahhh those were
the days but now its all Play stations, mobile phones and MP3
Players.
Well how about a combination of ye olde world charm and up to the
date MP3 technology? That's what the Tivoli iPal can offer all in
one Apple Ipod like enclosure. We were introduced to this little
gleaming white unit when connected to a colleagues Ipod earlier this
week, at first its tempting to snicker at the retro styling and its
easy to think that this box could not possible do the expensive Ipod
to which it is attached justice.
So you'd be wrong, for the iPal is made by Tivoli a well
respected audio manufacturer and makes of the PAL range of FM tuner
/ speaker combos, the iPal is a specifically styled version for
connection to your Apple Ipod, simply plug in your pod to the
auxiliary input and the iPal will run for some 15 - 20 hrs which is
more than even the 4th generation Ipod can manage.
The real shock of the Tivoli IPal is the audio level and quality,
our recent test of the
Altec Inmotion system had prepared
us little for this rich, warm and lets face it loud sound! a few
double takes later the smirks were wiped of our faces as we all
scrambled to have a closer look at the IPal which was doing the
connection Ipod such justice.
While the Inmotion system does a good job and has a perfect slide
in connection for your Ipod, the iPal relies on a lead to connect
and does not have a cradle, instead its a little more heath Robinson
to connect but it's really worth the perceived effort as the sound
is fantastic considering this is a battery powered unit measuring
just 94w x 159h x 99d mm. It's not wonderfully portable either, at
least not in the same league as the
Creative
Travelsound units we had last week, an at 905 grams it is
a heavy unit.
The IPal hangs onto the full FM tuner functionality for which
it's sister units have won many awards, the automatic frequency
control (AFC) locks onto the centre of an FM stations transmission
for the best reception and the dial is a nice precise piece of kit
to operate. You could also use the iPal's FM capabilities to hook up
to an iTrip or other Ipod FM sender if you really wanted to lose the
cable but we wouldn't advise that considering the loss in audio
quality.
Priced at £120 the Tivoli iPal seems an expensive buy but for
real audiophiles this unit is the closest we've found to proper
portable HiFi to plug up to an MP3 player and best of all this one
even matches your beloved Ipod....
More Audio Accessories -
[ Up ] [ Logic3 iStation ] [ TDK Outloud CD wallet with integrated speakers ] [ Creative Travelsound ] [ inMotion iMmini ] [ JBL On Stage ] [ inMotion IM3 Review ] [ Moshi iPouch ] [ Monitor Audio i ] [ Podgear Pocket Party ] [ Podgear Houseparty ] [ TruePower iPod Battery ] [ Zen Micro Traveldock ] [ Logitech MM28 Review ] [ Belkin Tunecast ] [ Griffin iTrip Auto Review ] [ Belkin Tunebase ] [ Logitech Z-10 Speakers ] [ DLO Homedock Deluxe Review ] [ Oregon Scientific iBall Review ] [ iTrip Nano Review ] [ Altec Lansing IM5 Review ] [ iPod Radio Remote ] [ Apple iPod HiFi Review ] [ Intempo IDS-01 Speakers ] [ Inmotion IM4 Speakers ] [ Griffin IFM ] [ inMotion IM7 Review ] [ Bose SoundDock Review ] [ Stripy iPod Speakers ] [ Tivoli iPal ] |
