Tivoli Audio’s PAL BT is a Radio For the 21st Century

By Mark Jessen - News Published: 1 Nov 2022, Last Updated: 6 Jun 2023

It’s only been a couple of generations ago since families would gather around a radio to listen to broadcasts—both for information and for entertainment. Relatively recent advancements have allowed that role to be filled by television and, on the audio side, by streaming services. Still, there’s something nostalgic about having a radio to listen to, and that’s where Tivoli Audio is making a real impact. The brand’s PAL BT radio uses a retro design to provide nostalgia, but these handy additions rely heavily on modern tech to provide excellent audio performance.

Tivoli Audio PAL BT radio | Image: Tivoli Audio

The Tivoli Audio PAL BT radio offers 16 hours of battery life, so you won’t be tethered to a wall with a power cord. It also offers Bluetooth 5.0 pairing, so you can listen to any content you want, not just whatever comes over the airways. The nostalgic factor comes in with an AM/FM dial that lets you tune in to your favourite station. This tuner is so accurate that you’ll discover channels that you’ve never heard before, even if you do turn on the radio whenever you get into your car.

In terms of design, your grandparents and perhaps even your parents will recognise the look and feel. The large tuning knob resides about to smaller knobs used for input source and volume. The speaker is below that. Speaking of the speaker, you’ll get mono sound out of it, but a sound quality that is still impressive, even if it’s not stereo or surround sound. The audio is crisp and the bass full and rich.

Picking up radio stations is accomplished via a telescopic antenna, though you can also make use of the auxiliary inputs for other sources of content. Tivoli Audio offers the PAL BT radio in black, white, red, and blue. The speakers are priced at AUD$299—which may seem a bit pricy for an old-school radio, despite the modern tech backing it up. Still, the quality is there, and the experience is worth the investment.

Check it out

Tivoli Audio PAL BT radio | Image: Tivoli Audio

Mr Mark Jessen

Mark Jessen studied English at Brigham Young University, completing a double emphasis in creative writing and professional writing/editing. After graduating, Mark went to work for a small publisher as their book editor. After a brief time as a freelance writer, Mark entered the corporate world as a copywriter. These days, his hours are spent mostly in proofing and editing, though he continues to create content for a wide variety of projects. In 2017, Mark completed UCLA's Creative Writing Certification. A prolific writer, Mark has over 20 years of experience in journalism.

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