- Compatibility: iPod classic 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, 5.5G; iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G; iPod touch 1G; iPhone 1G
- High Fidelity Stereo Sound with Detachable Speaker for Six Feet of Separation
- Recharges iPod and Recharges NiMH/NiCAD Batteries for Portable Use
- Remote Control of iPod with Play List Management, Wake to iPod/AM/FM/Beep Tone
- Exceptional AM/FM Tuner for Precise Reception in North America and World Wide use
One BIG disadvantage...this doesn't have a kickstand or good support, so it is prone to tip over and spill out the Ipod from the dock. Make sure you have a safe surface to but this baby on...I am waiting for the iSoundbook case to come out for further protection...If it's like the case for the IPal it will be yet another bit of ingenious design...
This is also very expensive. Significant more than the other Tivoli Ipod products, but the stereo design and excellent charging options make it worth it...
It could be somewhat improved by offering a remote that could change between modes...as it is you have to turn the switch to AM, FM or Ipod/Auxillary before the remote will work. The remote has a nice feature (much better than Apple's IMHO) which allows you to move to the next playlist on your Ipod...
All in all, this is a great, innovative idea. To me it's much nicer than the Bose offering because it's portable with battery power, has a superb AM FM radio, and offers better stereo separation...And sound wise, I think it's a touch better in clarity...though the Bose seems to have a bit more bass...
Buy Tivoli Audio iSongBook Portable Music System for iPod -White/Silver Now
I've owned the iSongbook for two days and am thrilled with the sound. The FM radio comes in with perfect clarity for most stations (even with the antenna down and locked in place). The AM is also a big improvement. I bought the iSongbook for the combination of (1) Improved sound for a small bedroom stereo replacement; (2) a clock/radio need; (3) portability and convenience; and (4) iPod connectivity. The radio meets the test on all accounts. (1) Sound: For a table top unit, the speakers give a great balance with a very musical bass sound (better for jazz, classical and pop and not as much for the Who, etc.). For jazz recordings, the bass will walk and drums and cymbals fill the rhythm with very satisfying clarity. Try Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Collossus and you won't believe what you're hearing. Generally, a great recording will be captured by this unit regardless of the genre. Remember how much you loved clear sounding mono recordings? An old Dizzy Gillespie disc (Dizzy's Diamonds) sounded crisp but the big band crescendos could be a little shrill which may be a function of the particular remaster of these recordings generally. Voices come through beautifully!! Try anything from Paul McCartney on the original "Yesterday" "Fixing a Hole" or "She's Leaving Home" to any Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday or Louis Armstrong. Tony Bennett's more recent "The Art of Romance" played at a volume setting of 18 to 21 out of 30, sounds like an audiophile playback-no exaggeration. Piano music sounds very tonal and will deliver more resonance than you may be used to on many listening devices let alone a small portable. Put the speakers closer together and the bass tightens yet still produces a nice soundstage. (2) The clock radio is adequate. There is no snooze function when the alarm source goes off, but, if you wake to the alarm instead of radio or the iPod, it does go off and on for 60 second intervals repeating for one hour. Others have complained there is only a 20 minute sleep timer, instead of a choice of increments up to an hour or two, but you can workaround that, at least with the iPod sleeptimer up to the 2 hours Apple provides. However, if you use the longer sleep timer this way, you won't be able to wake to the radio and the unit will remain on all night without any sound. Without an audio source, the power consumption should be small. Some don't like the fact the clock can't be read without pressing the light button on the unit. This is a tradeoff for those who complain that most clock radios have strong lights that cannot be dimmed. I could keep the unit by the bedside and the light button would be fine, but I prefer to keep the unit across from the bed for a better room filling sound. The alarm function works with any of the selected AM, FM or iPod sources off the unit, or it can be activated off the iPod's alarm if the unit is left on overnight. The iPod alarm is especially useful if the iPod sleeptimer is used to obtain a longer than 20 minute cycle. You cannot use the sleeptimer with one function and wake to another source. These inconveniences are easy to look past because the unit still provides enough or more selectivity for sleep/wake functions compared to many simple clock/radio units; (3) For portability, this unit is the most gorgeous design I've seen yet. The main unit detaches from the extra speaker if desired and may be ported separately like Tivoli's Songbook radio (except it also has the iPod dock built in). It fits in almost any briefcase and is something I just may take back and forth to the office, particularly for those longer workdays. The built-in battery recharger is fantastic and allows using this unit on the go without a cord. You can only switch between audio sources by a knob on the unit. This isn't a problem if you keep the unit near your bedside or your desk, but an inconvenience if you want to rely more on the remote (which can change volume, songs, albums and playlists, but not the radio/iPod/Aux function). Tivoli also sells dedicated carry bags for the Songbook and iSongbook. Depending on how you want to port the unit (with or without the extra speaker) you can choose either carry bag; (4) iPod connectivity through a clever pull down dock on the side is a handsome minimalist design. A separate cable for 1/8" to 1/8" connectivity isn't needed as it is for the Songbook single speaker radio. Charging the iPod is very fast when the A/C adapter is plugged in. A 1/8 inch connectivity is also provided (without the cable) for an Aux device (CDs, etc.) and it can be used to connect to my iMac which I might do for those occasions when I stream a good out of town radio station (like WKCR 89.9 FM in NYC) through iTunes. The remote control is one of the better ones I've seen for a small unit. It allows scrolling of playlists and albums through separate Prev/Next buttons for each. However, my remote was only working to scroll through playlists. The "Albums" function may be defective. Otherwise, I say the unit is the best combination of sound, functionality, design and convenience I've seen yet. I HIGHLY recommend it. Buy the iSongbook instead of the Songbook if you can afford it. It gives you a Songbook with the iPod dock built in plus the extra speaker and remote. You will notice the difference and love all the flexibility and convenience. And that radio sound just can't (and won't) be beat. Five Stars!!!Read Best Reviews of Tivoli Audio iSongBook Portable Music System for iPod -White/Silver Here
Tivoli Audio has scored another major hit with the iSongbook. It is a Model Two with a fully-functional iPod dock and it's totally portable. The sound is amazing for its size or any size for that matter. It competes head-on with the Bose SoundDock, not quite as loud but it can be uncomfortably loud if that's what one wants. Stereo separation is enhanced by being able to move the right speaker six feet away and then reel up the cable to pull the system back together into one unit. Add in a terrific AM/FM-Stereo tuner and the ability to control an iPod via the wireless remote and it's quite a music system. Tivoli got it right.The charging system recharges NiCd or NiMH batteries along with an iPod. When running off external power, the iPod shuts down immediately when switcing the unit off or to AM or FM but wakes and resumes what it was doing when one selects iPod as the source once again.
The sound is simply incredible across the audio range. It has good bass but makes no claim to thumo your house until plates creep off shelves. Like all other Tivoli Audio products it is equally at home with rock and roll or classical or voice. It reproduces it all very well.
Yes, it's on the spendy side but think about that 1980's boom box and what you paid for that. Then think about the lousy sound and the bulk. Now think about a portable "radio" which can slip into a carry-on bag which can charge and access an iPod and deliver sound which competes with products ten times the price. The iSongbook is a great value. It really delivers.
The countdown sleep timer and alarm functions are great. Wake to a song on your iPod or AM, FM or a tone. The blue light which can be activated from the front panel or from the remote makes the display very easy to read from all angles.
The iSongbook is the ultimate iPod accessory and a great stereo system to have in the kithcen, bedroom, office or RV...or all of the above. Just pick it up and take it with you.
Want Tivoli Audio iSongBook Portable Music System for iPod -White/Silver Discount?
Fed up with commercial radio in the mornings, I went looking for an iPod player which could replace my bedside clock radio. After reading all the reviews, I decided on the iSongBook. I justified the cost difference over other options like the iHome by reasoning that I could also use the iSongBook on my frequent travels.Unfortunately, for me, the iSongBook works as neither a clock radio replacement nor a travel companion. The clock numbers are not LEDs, so they are difficult to see. They are just thin black numbers on a grey screen. I like to be able to glance over during the night and see the time immediately, as well as see the time easily from across the room while I am getting ready in the mornings. With the iSongBook, you have to reach over and hit the backlight button every time you want to read the clock in anything but full light. Even in full light, the time is only visible from a couple of feet away.
As for travel, there are two shortcomings. First, it is heavy, particularly the power adaptor. It would add significant weight to a carry-on bag. To be fair, I don't know how it compares to the weight of other portable options. Second, it is not dual voltage, which is essential for me.
If you don't need to see the clock easily, and travel weight and voltage are not an issue, this is a great iPod player. The dock is very handy, I love that it charges the iPod and batteries at the same time, and the sound is excellent, if a bit light on bass. It would be perfect for carrying from room-to-room around the house, at the office, or for using at barbeques, picnics and the beach.
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I had been looking for a way to listen to my iPod without earphones but I wasn't happy with any of the choices until I saw this product. I have a Tivoli PAL radio that my wife and I just love so as soon as I saw the iSongBook I had to check it out. The radio sounds terrific -clear FM reception and a reasonably good AM tuner.The dock connector is near perfect -hidden away when not needed and easily accessible when you want to use your iPod. The iSongBook has a lot of nice features -it will charge NiMh batteries, it will also charge the iPod. When you switch the iSongBook to/from the iPod/AUX setting it will pause and resume the iPod which is a cute touch.
Sound quality is very, very good when both speakers are attached. You lose a lot of bass when you disconnect the right channel speaker and go mono. The sound is very clear and pleasing but it probably won't please bass-hungry hip-hoppers. For most other types of popular music, jazz and classical it's the best sound you'll ever hear from your iPod short of connecting it to your home theater system.
There are a few faults. It's really too expensive to justify except as a luxury item or guilty pleasure (hey, it was my birthday!). It's too big and heavy to pack for biz travel (although I might consider packing it for a vacation). It should really have a handle because it's awkward to pick up and carry around.
All in all, I just love it.
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