Radio Reviews

I'll mildly disagree with the other reviewer - yes, the effect is subtle, and while it's a pleasant enough add-on, it's not really worth investing in. I really wanted to keep the overall visual impact of the system to a minimum. To be honest, for $80, it doesn't do enough to warrant being the largest single element in the system. Yes, you can toss it on the floor or next to the couch, but it's still littering up your area someplace, and the ever-so-slight improvement of low-end bass isn't really worth the price. It's actually a credit to the Kloss line that this thing is fairly extraneous; I get very good bass performance out of the existing Model Two/Model CD setup I have, and I guess I was expecting that if they could extract that much low-end tone from the M2 speaker, they'd really punch out some bass from the subwoofer. Not the case. Try the M2 setup first; if you're really starved for more bass and have a spare $80 burning a hole in your pocket, give it a try, but I'd let the stock M2 setup grow on you first. Not a bad product; just not up to the standard set by the rest of the HK line.

The Tivoli Model Two radio sounds great all by itself, but the Model Subwoofer gives it just a touch more oomph at the bottom end that makes it even better. I had serious doubts about the performance of a "subwoofer" with just a single 5.25" speaker, but this little thing really works. Lows have more volume and impact, but the subwoofer doesn't call attention to itself, or misbehave by sounding tubby.

The effect is subtle, and won't necessarily show up on all material, but in my installation, music from Robert Cray to Mannheim Steamroller to David Sanborn benefitted from the sub's contribution. The small cabinet is easily hidden if need be, but looks good enough to be placed out in the open, too. The volume control is useful for tailoring the sound to its location.

You can get along quite well without the Model Subwoofer, but once you listen to it, you'll be glad you spent the eighty bucks.

The sound is very good for the size of the speakers, but not as good as a Bose radio we have. The major fault I find is with the radio reception. It does not pick up the more distant signals that our Bose radio easily picks up. The CD and Tape mechanisms seem to function well, but only time will tell regarding long-term reliability. The 3-mode equalizer is limited to Rock (high and low frequency ranges), Pop (voice and mid-range frequencies), and Jazz (emphasis on the low range frequencies). Overall, this unit is an adequate sound system for those not demanding the highest sound quality and not requiring static-free reception of the weaker AM and FM radio signals.

You will like it if you buy it. Don't hesitate

This wonderful CD player/alarm clock allows you to either wake up to the CD in the player, the radio station of your choice, or a buzzer. The snooze button can be controlled to allow one-minute to thirty-minute snoozes. You can set two alarms, and it allows you to shut it off during the weekend without having to reset the alarm when the weekend's over. All in all, if you're looking for a good alarm clock with the added convenice of a cd player and radio, and don't want to put too big of a dent in your wallet, the CE-255 is an excellent choice.

Below is the basic list of the good and bad things I, as a picky shopper, have noticed:

PROS:
-CD PLAYER/RADIO/BUZZER
-BIG DIGITS
-RESONABLY PRICED

CONS:
-DOESN'T HAVE "GRAD-U-WAKE" (MEANING THE SOUND DOESN'T START OFF SOFT AND GRADUALLY GET LOUDER)
-MANUAL TUNING, NOT DIGITAL

I have bought several different types of 2 way radios. I have found that these are simple to operate. My kids prefer this model. Only prob that i have found is that everyone and there dog no matter what radio model they have can communicate.

Nice little FRS. Very basic 14 ch & 38 subcode, very compact, foldable antenna is a nice feature, especially for work use, it does not get in the way. Durable also, I bought this for one of my emps, he dropped it a couple times & it still works great, a few scratches though.

The volume level isn't too loud, but acceptable. There is no channel lock, or channel scan. But these 2 features are not necessary for work use. Also it takes 4 AAA batteries, compared to 3 in some other Audiovox or other companies FRS.

But for the price, it's cheap & very handy to have. I think this is an older model Audiovox, but they work really good, no real complaints, since I knew what this FRS is all about.

I've purchased 6 of these radios. They work very well and have the added bonus of being very small. I have not found any smaller. Great for taking along on vacation trips to let the group split up and stay in contact. Great in big department stores or sporting events, too -- your group can split up and stay in contact. Good battery life -- fresh batteries last for several days of 24 hr use. 14 channels x 38 subchannels each is enough to find a clear channel even in large crowds, like theme parks. Range is good. Have used them when staying in different hotels to keep group in contact. Simple to use -- children can use them. Good value for price. Great for security and safety purposes for you group.

These Audiovox have met our expectations. They have a great range - not any bleeding of channels so far (even in the mall) and they are lightweight and compact. We used these in our cars on our 700 mile move last month, and they worked great on the interstate (no CB interference and we even took them into the rest stops as a safety feature). My only complaint is that the belt clips are not very flexible, and both clips broke fairly easily (within 2 months). I would recommend these if you're looking for an inexpensive 2 way radio system.

Tips: Remember, even though this unit is an "FRS/GMRS*" radio, you need to get a license to use it from the FCC. An FCC GMRS license is currently $75 for 5-years, and is available online. Dual FRS/GMRS radios require an FCC license even though you may only want to use the FRS channels.

Pros: Quality manufacturing, and good look-and-feel for such an inexpensive radio.

Many useful features (e.g., Scan, NOAA WeatherRadio built-in, VOX mode option [i.e., Voice-Only-Transmission...no pushing of "talk" button], Dual Watch mode [i.e., "watch" 2 channels simultaneously], Call Ringer selection [like on your cell phone]).

Fairly easy to operate (although you'll want to familiarize yourself with all its operations before putting it to the test in the field).

Removable belt clip.

Cons: Not rugged-ized. It's made of some kind of hard plastic, and has no rubbery outside covering. Although of quality manufacture, it may get banged-up more than a rugged-ized radio.

No battery charger I can find [even on the AudioVox website], and it has two metal contacts on the bottom that 'look' like recharger contacts. So, you have to use disposable AAA batteries, or charge your own rechargeable batteries outside the unit. [This 'con' is a nit, in my opinion.]

No other accessories (e.g., leather case, swivel belt clips, etc.) I can find [even on the AudioVox website] other than a generic set of headphones. [This 'con' is a nit, in my opinion, too.]

Conclusion: A very nice radio for the price.

*FRS = Family Radio Service. Best for use with your family on informal outings. No FCC license required for FRS-only radios.
GMRS = General Mobile Radio Service. Best for more formal use [although business use not permitted], like a road rally, or bicycle competition, or the like, and slightly longer distance. Requires an FCC license, and can only be used with your family and close relatives. Friends need their own license according to FCC rules.

For most people, an FRS-only 2-way radio is a better choice for an informal, infrequently-used "walkie talkie"; you get [nearly] the same functionality without the need to get licensed.

I really like Sirius in the week I have had it. It does have a couple of limitations - I drive through redwoods and the tall trees block the satillite signal - but in open space it offers a great choice of good radio. Best of all will be live transmissions of NFL games this fall. This particular Model of the Dock does not come with the FM transmitter and is misrepresented on Amazon as having one. The RCA cable provides the best transmission if you have one on your car radio - mine has a cd player plugin up front, and so this model is fine - but if you do not have a plug, you need the SIRCK1 also available on Amazon. I have one of each for two vehicles. Crutchfield Electronics does a good job of explaining the ins and outs of satillite radio at http://www.crutchfield.com/S-PoBcP2NKj9q/sirius/.