Speakers Reviews

The Tivoli Model Two is, without a doubt, the best purchase I have ever made. This unit is insanely good. Having heard the Model One, I decided to purchase the Model Two and the Model Subwoofer. The Model One is an outstanding mono table radio but the Two is better than just a stereo version. There is no remote, no blinking LED's or LCD display. Just the best sounding small stereo system I have heard outside of a Nakamichi system that goes for the price of a used car. Sounds are reproduced clean, clear, and with the addition of the sub, rich and warm. Don't let the small size fool you, this system will fill the room with music. The tuner is excellent, as it should be given the high tech components and geared dial. Setup is a breeze. Plug box b into box a. Plug box c into box a. plug boxes a and c into the wall. You're good to go! If desired plug a cd player into the aux port on box a and hold on. The quality is uniformly excellent and the appearance is an extremely nice retro look that will go great with all but the most modern of decors. For a price of about half of it's more famous competitor it is without a doubt the best deal I know of in small audio. No it can't replace large components for big rooms or home theater but then it's not supposed to. It's made to do one thing: produce great sound from a small package and that it does supremely. If you're in the market for small audio, look no further. You have found sonic nirvana.

I was looking for a mini "shelf system" for my office. Started by going to circuit city and best buy and looking at what they've got. Either the stuff was ugly and plasticky, sounded mediocre, or so full of gimmicky led's and stuff as to render it undesirable. The only exception was a nice onkyo unit, but at $400 that was more than I wanted to spend.

Then i started reading reviews of the Tivoli model two and it sounded like it fit the bill. Brought it home today (i splurged the extra $80 for the sub-woofer) and I absolutely love it.

Great radio reception which should work well in a steel office building, and have my ipod connected via the docks 1/8" line out to the aux in on the radio.

Absolutely a perfect fit.

Pro's
1. great value for the $
2. really solidly built-quality feel of all, especially the tuning knob
3. subwoofer is well done and tuned just right... definitely spring for it if you can afford.
4. terrific styling
5. great sound-especially from such small speakers, and absolutely unbelievable stereo separation.
6. aux input selection on the front, and every other input option you need is on the back.

Con's
1. (and this is really minor), it's a little hard to see the station #'s because of the colors chosen, but dialing is mostly a feel thing anyway.
2. the model one comes in many cool color combos, too bad the model two doesn't as well.

This is truely an incredible system. First thing you'll notice is that this is a heavy little box, which is good, because being light weight is a sign of cheap electronics. I just can't believe how this system can generate sound quality that fills the room.

In comparison, I have an Aiwa bookself system that cost me $400. And this Model Two Radio actually provided clearer and fuller sound. I have a Digital Dolby system which totals around $2,000. The Model Two was no match for that. But hey, that's not a fair comparison.

Get it if you want a great sounding system for your room and don't want to have giant system running wires everywhere.

I will be getting another on for my other rooms.

how my god!, such unbelivable sound!, if heaven had a sound system it would surly use this speakers. I use them in my home studio, and my music never sounded better. It produce such accurate and precise sound for every music gener. defently Worth the money for this sound quality. They also got a very beautiful and classic look that will look just great in any part of your house.

I have spend considerable amounts of time in audiophile boutiques in various parts of the country and been astounded by some of he pricing involved in stereo equipment. These speakers are easily the best "value for money" I have purchased in a long time. They are beautiful finely crafted solid speakers with a sound quality that is clear, transparant, yet very warm. If you guard your budget carefully and aim to stretch your dollar for audiophile quality- then this is your speaker. Enjoy. HFG.

A little bigger than other bookshelf speakers so you can't exactly hide these, but the sound is wonderful, rich, detailed and good low frequency... perhaps not the best for rock or rap, but perfect for anything else. AND they are as good looking as any speakers I have seen, with a pleasing vintage style

how my god!, such unbelivable sound!, if heaven had a sound system it would surly use this speakers. I use them in my home studio, and my music never sounded better. It produce such accurate and precise sound for every music gener. defently Worth the money for this sound quality. They also got a very beautiful and classic look that will look just great in any part of your house.

I have spend considerable amounts of time in audiophile boutiques in various parts of the country and been astounded by some of he pricing involved in stereo equipment. These speakers are easily the best "value for money" I have purchased in a long time. They are beautiful finely crafted solid speakers with a sound quality that is clear, transparant, yet very warm. If you guard your budget carefully and aim to stretch your dollar for audiophile quality- then this is your speaker. Enjoy. HFG.

A little bigger than other bookshelf speakers so you can't exactly hide these, but the sound is wonderful, rich, detailed and good low frequency... perhaps not the best for rock or rap, but perfect for anything else. AND they are as good looking as any speakers I have seen, with a pleasing vintage style

I have had a set of these hooked up to my 13" television in my kitchen for several years now and have been more than happy with the sound. Have gotten comments on the sound, as well (good). So when I saw them on sale Open Box at the CSW web site for $25 with free shipping, I immediately ordered them. Hooked them up to my old Mac and there they will stay until the machine dies or is replaced. Just terrific sound.

My ONE complaint is that the on/off is on the back of the sub, an inconvenience, especially since I do not always like to have the speakers on. However, for $25 and this kind of sound, I am happy to deal with it.

I strongly recommend these as long as you don't mind the on/off's placement.

I bought these speakers four years ago to go with my "new" computer. I have since gone through three computers, but I refuse to trade in these speakers. They continue to deliver clean, crisp sound. This system far outpaces most of its rivals, including many that cost several times as much. You absolutely cannot go wrong with Cambridge Soundworks.

I really like these speakers- who needs more clutter on their desk? these deliver really good sound, and are priced right. a great value, and they make all of my boring work much more enjoyable

I bought my system about a month ago. For a non-wireless system it was a very painless setup. As other people mentioned, the default settings don't have any drama, but once you adjust it, the sound is gorgeous. I like simple equipment that just works and this is it - not a lot of bells and whistles, I don't need the whole audiophile ability to tweak every note - this has just a few great settings to switch between that sound good. My only complaint is the lack of inputs on the back. You can only hook up a DVD and a VCR, nothing else. I like to play music off my computer through my stereo, but to do so, I'd have to swap cables. The remote is crowded with buttons that are useless unless you own other Sony equipment. Use your universal remote instead. All in all, WELL worth the price!

I was looking around town for a decent sorround sound system and this caught my eye,5 speakers 1 subwoofer and the reciever for just over 200 dollars. They had a store demo so I gave it a listen and was quite surprised. There were two systems hooked up to the T.V., this one and a $350 sony system.Out of the two this one sounded the best,Rumbling lows great clarity and the perfect ammount of speakers for a medium large to large room. It was just overall a great buy for the price. I purchased it, took it home and I must say it has done wonders for My homes sound quality. when watching DVDs not only do i hear the sound but I feel it. Highly recommended.

ok so youre looking for a home theater system to top off your big screen,dvd and whatever else you have and you think to your self the only way to get a nice sound and high volume is to get bose speakers and a 700 watt 7.1 system well youre wrong see this is the cheapest priced home theater system ive ever seen or heard that doesnt suck its great ill tell you this,this system is gonna give bose a run for its money it acctually sounds better than bose (just my opinion though) but ill tell you the subwoofer isnt much for super large rooms mainly because its passive (not powered)but i got to the store after i saw it in a magazine not expecting much and turned it on went through the menu to turn it to my sound preferences and it blew me away

The Wharfedale Diamnond 7.1 Bookshelf speakers are a great value. For their small size and price they produce excellent sound. Pros: Small size, lightweight, easy set-up, excellent sound reproduction overall. Cons: rear-ported so they must be placed at least 6" from the wall or sound is negatively affected, some bass tones are muddy (but I noticed it only because I was listening for it), and some of the high tones come off as slightly "tinny."

[...]

I agree with most of the reviews here. The 7.1 is just right for my apartment and produces great sound. I paired them with a Wharfedale Atlantic center [...], and have Bose 141s as my rear surrounds. They are all hooked up to a Sony STR-DE475 and they make lovely music together. :-)

Was surprised to see the size - I was actually expecting it to be smaller. The workmanship is good and the speaker really feels solid. The speaker grills though are a bit 'flimsy', but then again, that's no big deal for me.

I'm happy with this purchase and plan to eventually upgrade to a full blown Wharfedale speaker system soon. Overall, a good value bookshelf speaker.

These speakers are a great value, and they really sound well for their price and size. They seem to do well on all kinds of music and speach. I gave my pair away, and missed them so much that I purchased a pair of 7.2 LTD as replacement. The 7.1s actually sound much better in my opinion. Normally, I listen to Linn Ninka speakers, which are in a different league altoghether, but I really enjoy the 7.1s for a change. I have played them very loud at parties, and have not manage to break them yet, however some of the partiers tried cranking dr dre, odb, motorhead and othen speaker unfriendly music at very high volumes. When my friends succeed in breaking the 7.1s I will definitely get another pair or two as replacement. May even get a matching sub with them. Only wish they had an active version for the laptop or ipod.

I've owned computers for years but have just recently gotten interested in them as musical devices. I just bought my first three piece speaker set a few months ago ( a cheap Altech300 set)and decided that I'd like something "good" for my new system.

Speaking as someone who bought his first stereo system with a school loan in the 70's I'm just amazed at the sound quality these speakers produce for well under $100. As for the volume and control complaints that a few people mentioned it is true that my son's electric guitar amp is louder. Of ocurse it's three feet tall. And there are very few controls on the speakers themselves which is just fine since every software program that plays music has an equalizer, balance control and such in it. I really don't need to set volume or balance six different ways.

I'm sure there are better speakers out there but with these you are well into the land of diminishing returns. By that I mean you'd need to spend a LOT to improve quality much at all. Get 'em, listen to 'em and see.

After researching for a while which 3 piece speaker system to get for my PC I chose the BA790's. For the price, they are unbeatable, comparable to other systems selling for twice the price. Very clean and natural sound, and the subwoofer is very capable. Two rather small criticisms....1)no treble control (only bass for the subwoofer) and 2)They could use a little more power, but that is only for those who enjoy really cranking their speakers.

I own a set of this BA790 and also BA4800. The thing that I really like about Boston-acoustics is that they sound so natural with every music. The bass level is natural and the sound that is being produced from little sattellites are crisp and natural. Both of the speakers provide matching in both treble and bass. Although BA790 lacks of more power output due to it's size, but when you listen to music.. it's not about how loud it is.. it's about "Quality".

I purchased those speakers to replace the original speakers I got with my Dell computer three years ago. I am very happy with this product. It provides very good value for its price. The installation is quick and easy. It is perfect for a non professional user who just wants to sit by the computer and listed to MP3 files or radio stations. If you turn the volume high you will hear it all over the house but at very high volumes the quality of the sound really begins to diminish so do not expect to have a dance party with those speakers. the sound quality is a little less than my car speakers. 6 months after the purchase - I am still very pleased.

I saw the speakers and thought, it'll be great for my home pc. When I got the package, my pc was with my sister so I thought, I'll connect it to my TV to see the quality of sound it can produce. I hook it up and disconnect the mini-hifi system that I had connected to the TV.

My wife insist that we tried the speakers with the Jurassic Park movie, just to compare it's bass reproduction capabilities. Boy, It sounded much better than the mini-hifi system that was originally in it's place.

After a few more movies and live concerts, I decided that the speakers should stay connected to the TV. The very same day, I went out to get another one, for my PC.

This sound system is very capable of producing excellent quality sound on your computer. I have had no complaints with this system. It was easy to install, easy to hook up, and ready to go in around 10 minutes. Works great in unison with your current computer speakers if you would like. The wired remote control is great as I mounted it to my computer desk for easy control of the powerful subwoofer and satellites. It's a excellent system for a excellent price!...

Although this fine product cannot be shipped to me here in New Zealand, I found the Amazon review and description so helpful that I went out and bought a pair here in Auckland city! It's all systems go for this very fine Wharfedale product. These speakers are clean and open sounding with no hint of 'boxiness', and they have decent bass output. And the real Rosewood veneer finish is just superb. I'm somewhat biased, as these are the third Rosewood colored set of speakers I've owned. You see, I bought the Emerald Center speaker, too! I may be wrong, but I think Wharfedale has become a slight underdog in the marketplace these days and I urge any undecided buyers to heed my words and at the very least audition the Emerald range.

Well, first of all, I should say the speakers look just as good in person as they do on amazon.com. Fabulous!! They really complement the modern furnishing in our house. Also, I visited two major retail electronics stores a few nights ago (Circuit City, The Good Guys). There wasn't a speaker that looked better than the Wharfedales--at any price. And, they had some fairly pricey wood cabinet speakers on display ...

Sound--these aren't just for looks, after all! A good amount of bass and well defined high-notes. Very nice, indeed, and the best sounding speakers I've ever owned. I am driving the Emerald 97's with a Yamaha RX-570 receiver, 70 watts/channel, connected in a bi-wire configuration. Interestingly, I can now actually play the receiver at full volume (yes, unreasonably loud, but tolerable), something I couldn't have dreamed of doing with my old Acoustic 3311 Series ("white van") speakers. I imagine whoever makes the Acoustic speakers weren't lying about the sensitivity--95 db. The Wharfedale's have a sensitivity of 89 db, and suppose I may need to get a more powerful amplifier to fully realize the speaker's capabilities. Then again, I do live in a condo, and probably shouldn't do anything--like buy a more powerful amplifier--that might encourage me to play music any louder than I already do ;-)

Audiophile garbage aside, I have not heard better speakers at four-five times the price of the Emerald 97 speakers. I got these from UBID when they were selling Wharfedale products daily...but no more...These are being powered by a mid-level Onkyo theatre design receiver and they project a musicality and clarity that you do not find in most $1000 speakers. The base is sometimes a little muddy but usually is extremely defined and mixes well with the ample mids and sweet highs. The "tuned" port is designed well and does not cause the speakers to lose definition or "tightness" that creates a sense of realism (which is what speakers are all about, after all). I don't care where they're made...they are beautifully finished, amazing sounding boxes that can be found for less than $350 delivered (for the pair!). At soft levels they provide details YOU DON'T HEAR ELSEWHERE. At mid levels they are BETTER than just about ANYTHING serious listeners can afford. At high levels they do not distort, they do not blur, they do not disappoint. Poorly mixed tracks will NOT sound good on these speakers. They are large and need space to sound their best. Also try the Diamond 7.2 Anniversary Edition. Possibly the BEST small speaker (I got pairs from UBID for $40 plus shipping) ever produced. Absolutely amazing.

Although this fine product cannot be shipped to me here in New Zealand, I found the Amazon review and description so helpful that I went out and bought a pair here in Auckland city! It's all systems go for this very fine Wharfedale product. These speakers are clean and open sounding with no hint of 'boxiness', and they have decent bass output. And the real Rosewood veneer finish is just superb. I'm somewhat biased, as these are the third Rosewood colored set of speakers I've owned. You see, I bought the Emerald Center speaker, too! I may be wrong, but I think Wharfedale has become a slight underdog in the marketplace these days and I urge any undecided buyers to heed my words and at the very least audition the Emerald range.

Well, first of all, I should say the speakers look just as good in person as they do on amazon.com. Fabulous!! They really complement the modern furnishing in our house. Also, I visited two major retail electronics stores a few nights ago (Circuit City, The Good Guys). There wasn't a speaker that looked better than the Wharfedales--at any price. And, they had some fairly pricey wood cabinet speakers on display ...

Sound--these aren't just for looks, after all! A good amount of bass and well defined high-notes. Very nice, indeed, and the best sounding speakers I've ever owned. I am driving the Emerald 97's with a Yamaha RX-570 receiver, 70 watts/channel, connected in a bi-wire configuration. Interestingly, I can now actually play the receiver at full volume (yes, unreasonably loud, but tolerable), something I couldn't have dreamed of doing with my old Acoustic 3311 Series ("white van") speakers. I imagine whoever makes the Acoustic speakers weren't lying about the sensitivity--95 db. The Wharfedale's have a sensitivity of 89 db, and suppose I may need to get a more powerful amplifier to fully realize the speaker's capabilities. Then again, I do live in a condo, and probably shouldn't do anything--like buy a more powerful amplifier--that might encourage me to play music any louder than I already do ;-)

Audiophile garbage aside, I have not heard better speakers at four-five times the price of the Emerald 97 speakers. I got these from UBID when they were selling Wharfedale products daily...but no more...These are being powered by a mid-level Onkyo theatre design receiver and they project a musicality and clarity that you do not find in most $1000 speakers. The base is sometimes a little muddy but usually is extremely defined and mixes well with the ample mids and sweet highs. The "tuned" port is designed well and does not cause the speakers to lose definition or "tightness" that creates a sense of realism (which is what speakers are all about, after all). I don't care where they're made...they are beautifully finished, amazing sounding boxes that can be found for less than $350 delivered (for the pair!). At soft levels they provide details YOU DON'T HEAR ELSEWHERE. At mid levels they are BETTER than just about ANYTHING serious listeners can afford. At high levels they do not distort, they do not blur, they do not disappoint. Poorly mixed tracks will NOT sound good on these speakers. They are large and need space to sound their best. Also try the Diamond 7.2 Anniversary Edition. Possibly the BEST small speaker (I got pairs from UBID for $40 plus shipping) ever produced. Absolutely amazing.