Model Two® Stereo

21 Reviews

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Written by Brett
3/13/13

Outstanding sound, design, service

It says "table radio," but my Model Two is my main stereo system. When I moved into a small downtown condo, I downsized my stereo system too. I'm a classical music critic, so accurate acoustic sound is very important to me, and the Model Two supplies all the strength, warmth and clarity I need in listening to classical, jazz, rock and every other kind of music. It easily fills the space with gorgeous sound.
I connect it directly to my computer, or run it remotely via an old Apple Airport Express router, which essentially converts the Model Two into wireless speakers controlled by my computer, iPad or iPhone via the Remote app. That makes the lack of a remote control less annoying.
In a small space, there's no room to hide ugly stuff, and the fact that the Tivoli colors and minimalist midcentury mod design match my adjacent Mac setup and other decor is a welcome bonus, but really, it's the rich sound that matters.

Finally, budget buyers should realize that you're buying not just a radio and stereo / computer speaker set up -- but also responsive customer service. I originally ordered my refurbished Model Two from Tivoli's Outlet Store, but the right channel wasn't working when it arrived. Tivoli immediately emailed me a prepaid return label, and a few days later, a brand new, not refurbished, Model Two arrived, and it's working beautifully.
With so many people moving back to the city these days to enjoy its cultural offerings, the Tivoli Model Two provides the ideal combination of power and clarity for smaller living spaces.

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Design	5 out of 5
Features	4 out of 5
Ease of Use	5 out of 5
Audio Quality	5 out of 5

Brett's Profile

• Location: Portland, OR
• Age: 52
• Gender: M

Written by harismohammed
11/30/12

it's beautiful and it.s one of the best

it's just amazing...

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Design	5 out of 5
Features	3 out of 5
Ease of Use	5 out of 5
Audio Quality	5 out of 5

harismohammed's Profile

• Location: united arab emirates
• Age: 52
• Gender: male

Written by Bob
11/30/12

Model two

Exactly what I was looking for. Straight AM/FM. Very clean classic rich look. Have only owned for 1 month and amp went out. Took it back to Fred's audio in Portland and they replaced the unit. Hope this does not happen once warranty expires in 11 months.

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Design	5 out of 5
Features	5 out of 5
Ease of Use	5 out of 5
Audio Quality	5 out of 5

Bob's Profile

• Location: Portland Oregon
• Age: 54
• Gender: M

Written by Bob
11/30/12

Model two

Exactly what I was looking for. Straight AM/FM. Very clean classic rich look. Have only owned for 1 month and amp went out. Took it back to Fred's audio in Portland and they replaced the unit. Hope this does not happen once warranty expires in 11 months.

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Design	5 out of 5
Features	5 out of 5
Ease of Use	5 out of 5
Audio Quality	5 out of 5

Bob's Profile

• Location: Portland Oregon
• Age: 54
• Gender: M

Written by The Old Doktor
4/20/12

OUTSTANDING !

Having spent most of my life buying
very good music systems, when this came out in 2001, having already purchased 9 Model 1, I knew it would be great. Henry Kloss, RIP never did things wrong ! I also purchased the sub-woofer which
is still with this system with it's little antenna on the mantle of one fireplace. Picking up stations up to 80 miles away. Cannot say enough about this fantastic little system.

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Design	5 out of 5
Features	5 out of 5
Ease of Use	5 out of 5
Audio Quality	5 out of 5

The Old Doktor 's Profile

• Location: Belvedere CA
• Age: Too old
• Gender: Male

Written by John J
10/5/11

Excellent

When we moved to our new house 2 years ago, we needed a small, unobtrusive stereo for our living room. Big black boxes of audio equipment would not meet the WAF (wife approval factor). I wanted something that looked beautiful and sounded fantastic. The Model 2 has been a dream. Easy to use, beautiful to look at, small, compact, and simple to attach an iDevice. It's a perfect small room system with big sound.

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Design	5 out of 5
Features	4 out of 5
Ease of Use	5 out of 5
Audio Quality	5 out of 5

John J's Profile

• Location: San Francisco
• Age: 51
• Gender: M

Written by Rob Hoffman
12/29/10

12v user on a cruising sailboat...

I've never liked most audio systems available for boats, as they are mostly just over-priced car systems. I use the Model 2 with both the sub-woofer and the CD player. I also use the aux input for our TV/DVD sound and my I-pod selections...all running from the boat's 12v system through a filtered and stabilized power supply. It sounds amazing on most types of audio, but the bass can distort if over driven. If the input sources are set "flat", it does much better and the bass is controllable via the sub-woofer's adjustment. Although it's not a "marinized" piece of electronics, if it is protected from the elements and used inside, it seems to do just fine...with far better performance and looks than a car unit.

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Design	5 out of 5
Features	5 out of 5
Ease of Use	5 out of 5
Audio Quality	5 out of 5

Rob Hoffman's Profile

• Location: Various
• Age: 68
• Gender: M

Written by shankbone
5/19/10

M2: Model Two Stereo - A Radio Like No Other

I'm in my 40s, and have owned a lot of stuff, including at least half a dozen stereo units over the years. I've now pared it all down to the essentials, and the Model Two is exactly what I want my whole life to be like.

First of all, the sound is astonishing, especially with the added subwoofer. Jazz, funk, rock, classical, this system does a remarkable job filing space with clear, beautiful sound. I run it off my mac or iphone as much as using the radio. The Tivoli makes my high-quality audio files sing.

Secondly, and almost as important, the Model Two is the best looking thing in the room. The beauty and simplicity of the boxes set the tone for the whole place. It makes my place better even when it's off.

For what it does, this is the best value of everything I own. Thank you, Tivoli.

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Ease of Use	5 out of 5
Features	4 out of 5
Design	5 out of 5
Overall	5 out of 5

shankbone's Profile

• Location: Boston, MA
• Age: 45-54
• Gender: Male

Written by ChiJ1185
1/19/10

M2: Model Two Stereo - Best Purchase Ever!

It doesn't matter if I'm having a party for my artsy friends or if the guys are over for a drink. All of my friends love the Model Two Radio for it's design and sound quality. Also, because of its affordability, I had absolutely no problem buying a second one after my ex-roommate decided to steal my original one. This is a must have for anyone that admires brilliant sound as well as sleek style.

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Ease of Use	4 out of 5
Features	4 out of 5
Design	5 out of 5
Overall	5 out of 5

ChiJ1185's Profile

• Location: Virginia Beach, VA
• Age: 18-24
• Gender: Male

Written by bcithaca
1/7/10

M2: Model Two Stereo - Great, except...

The Model Two is beautiful to look at and listen to. What sound comes out of the 2 little units.

I am disappointed that the control labels are hard to see. The indicator and tuning dials need to be back lit or otherwise made more visible. This is tolerable only because we plan to primarily use the companion CD player.

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Ease of Use	2 out of 5
Features	5 out of 5
Design	5 out of 5
Overall	4 out of 5

bcithaca's Profile

• Location: Ithaca, NY
• Age: 55-65
• Gender: Female

Written by DBAdmin
11/3/09

M2: Model Two Stereo - Among the Best

The Model Two is one of the best sounding table radios you will ever hear. The sound is full, clean and detailed. The tuner will pull in stations you didn't know were there. This was one of the last designs by the late Henry Kloss (co-founder of Tivoli Audio, AR, KLH, Advent, and Cambridge SoundWorks). It has only two downsides: it won't play shake-the-walls loud (what did you expect?) and the faceplate lettering is very hard to read in dim light.

Add the Model Subwoofer and Model CD and you have a top quality small stereo system, not just a table radio. The combination makes an excellent stereo for a small apartment or dorm room, and a very good second home system (that's how I use mine).

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Ease of Use	5 out of 5
Features	4 out of 5
Design	5 out of 5
Overall	5 out of 5

DBAdmin's Profile

• Location: Decatur, GA
• Age: 55-65
• Gender: Male

Written by egr1982
10/28/09

M2: Model Two Stereo - Multipurpose Model Two

I was frustrated with so called 2.1 Computer speakers (two tiny speakers plus an overpowered sub), and all of the ridiculous cords from them running all over my desk. I purchased the Model Two to replace my computer speakers and so I could pick up some of my local favorites while using my computer.

The Tivoli Model Two has been perfect. It looks great in my office, sounds fantastic with everything from classical to classic rock to computer games, and with the mix-in input it allows me to listen to the radio and hear sounds coming from my computer at the same time. Exactly what I wanted.

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Ease of Use	5 out of 5
Features	4 out of 5
Design	5 out of 5
Overall	5 out of 5

egr1982's Profile

• Location: Waco, TX
• Age: 25-34
• Gender: Male

Written by Tabascom
10/24/09

M2: Model Two Stereo - Happy Several Years On

I've had my Model Two for several years now, and it has served nicely as my main sound system during that time. Its compact, classy looks go with just about any décor, and are eye-catching without being distracting. I've been generally happy with the sound quality, though playing MP3s through it can sometimes result in fairly harsh highs. I've song back and forth on getting the subwoofer for this unit, but at least for now feel that the bass is perfectly adequate for my needs. Again, it's a nice unit, and one I hope to keep with me for years to come.

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Ease of Use	5 out of 5
Features	5 out of 5
Design	5 out of 5
Overall	5 out of 5

Tabascom's Profile

• Location: Bay Shore, NY
• Age: 35-44
• Gender: Male

Written by AStudent
10/24/09

M2: Model Two Stereo - Very Pleased

I received this radio as a gift 3 years ago along with the Model Subwoofer (also reviewed). The tuner is excellent, but poor radio stations have made the system act almost exclusively as a set of PC speakers. The Model Two was my first step into higher quality audio and has revealed to me the magic of mid-tones. Plenty of sound volume here too, but I don't have to use it to satisfy. It takes care of me through hip-hop, fingerstyle guitar, and indie pop. Seems like it will continue to do so for quite a while as well.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Ease of Use	5 out of 5
Features	4 out of 5
Design	4 out of 5
Overall	5 out of 5

Written by MikeP
10/21/09

M2: Model Two Stereo - Model Two

As a mini shelf stereo system, it's hard to find fault with the Model Two.

Although a bit slim on features by design, the functions it does have are executed nicely. Tuning is accurate due to the turning ratio on the dial. Aux-in, mix-in, headphone-out, and subwoofer-out add to the versatility.

The sound quality is very full and balanced. This isn't a big air-moving speaker and won't produce sound you can feel, nor is it a small-sounding cheap tinny speaker. It's pretty much just right, and that's really the point.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Ease of Use	5 out of 5
Features	3 out of 5
Design	5 out of 5
Overall	5 out of 5

Written by salpiner
10/20/09

M2: Model Two Stereo - Pure Class in Sight and Sound

I purchased the Model 2 in a combo pack with the Model CD. I use it in my office-at-home, and never want to leave. As beautiful to listen to as it is to look at. You just can't go wrong with Tivoli products. I should know; I own 5 of them!

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Ease of Use	4 out of 5
Features	4 out of 5
Design	5 out of 5
Overall	5 out of 5

salpiner's Profile

• Location: Seattle

Written by ProfessorDJF
10/15/09

M2: Model Two Stereo - Bass problems when using CD player

I've tried three of these units with the Tivoli CD player and all have the same problem - when you play certain types of CDs that have very low bass sounds, such as bass guitar, you get distorted bass. Very frustrating because in all other respects the unit has fine audio quality.
Also, the unit needs a remote control and a way to turn off the main unit, bass unit and CD player with one switch.

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5

Ease of Use	4 out of 5
Features	3 out of 5
Design	4 out of 5
Overall	4 out of 5

ProfessorDJF's Profile

• Location: Fairview, TX
• Age: 55-65
• Gender: Male

Written by KeWa
10/15/09

M2: Model Two Stereo - Living Room Stereo and TV Speakers

I used to have my Model Two in my office at work. Over the Christmas holidays last year, I brought it home to listen to and set it up in the living room on our antique cabinet. Then we decided to put a 28 inch LCD TV in the cabinet so I hooked the Model Two up to the TV. Then we decided we loved to listen to our iPod in the living room so I leave an iPod cable ready to use on the Model Two (neatly out of site to please my decorator wife). Since the iPod cable is handy, I also use my Pioneer Inno satellite radio with it. My wife loves the look of the radio. Now, we have a gorgeous radio, speakers for the TV, iPod and satellite radio. Watching movies is great with the Model Two sound. My daughter loves to use it to plug in her iPod and listen. The whole family loved the sound as we enjoyed each other's company over the holidays in front of the fireplace. Needless to say, after the holidays, I left the Model Two in the living room and got a Model One for my birthday and took it to my office. The Model One has all the sound I need in my office. I like the sound of the Model Two and Model Three (we have in our master bedroom) better than the Boss Wave radio our friends have. Our living room even has 20+ foot ceilings and the sound is amazing. We can turn it up loud to listen from the kitchen with no distortion. And the radio reception is very clear. What value for the money! And I love the quality wood finish.

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Ease of Use	5 out of 5
Features	5 out of 5
Design	5 out of 5
Overall	5 out of 5

KeWa's Profile

• Location: West Michigan
• Age: 45-54
• Gender: Male

Written by bedofnails
10/14/09

M2: Model Two Stereo - Classy Minimalism

I have had a Model Two system for several years now, and I have to say that it is one of the most refined compact stereos I have ever owned. As a professional designer, I appreciate the use of natural wood and metal, restrained graphics and minimalist analog controls. It's small enough to fit in just about any space available, yet it sounds comparable, if not better, than much larger systems.

The only real complaint I have about it is that there is no way to filter out some of the bass frequency range for late-night listening in a thin-walled apartment complex like mine. Admittedly, having a full-frequency sound is one of the engineering feats of this stereo, and for normal listening situations, the sound is superbly well balanced. However, it's problematic to listen at an intelligible level after a certain hour, as the bass balance is enough to disturb the neighbors. I would suggest that a simple low-cut switch added to the back panel would be a great feature for insomniac apartment-dwellers like myself. One other small issue is that the tuning knob can be a little tricky to adjust, although this may be due to the fact that the radio spectrum is fairly dense where I live.

Overall, this is a very high-quality piece of equipment with a great, classic sense of style. It's a pleasure to have such a well thought-out item in my home, and I am sure I will be enjoying my Model Two for years to come.

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Ease of Use	3 out of 5
Features	4 out of 5
Design	5 out of 5
Overall	4 out of 5

bedofnails's Profile

• Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Age: 35-44
• Gender: Male

Written by bdx3
10/13/09

M2: Model Two Stereo - I Love This Radio

I bought this radio after reading an audio magazine review. I was pleasantly surprised when I set it up. The design is so simple. There's no "gadgetry" you have to fool with.
And the sound is just beautiful. because there is an auxiliary input (with independent volume control) I use it for my computer speakers - looking great on the desk.

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Ease of Use	5 out of 5
Features	5 out of 5
Design	5 out of 5
Overall	5 out of 5

bdx3's Profile

• Location: New York City
• Age: 55-65
• Gender: Male

Written by madadam
10/13/09

M2: Model Two Stereo - kitchen hi fi

I use this more than any radio in my house, always on while cooking/hanging around the kitchen. Dial can be finicky but better looking than digital. With the sub could be a full system; as it is I often plug the ports for bass heavy music to make it a bit less boomy when loud. Looks great, sounds great, highly recommend!

Recommend to a friend? Yes

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Ease of Use	4 out of 5
Features	4 out of 5
Design	5 out of 5
Overall	4 out of 5

madadam's Profile

• Location: Madison,WI
• Age: 35-44
• Gender: Male