DESKTOP RADIOS

Tivoli Model One

You don't always have room for a full-blown audio system, complete with mongo speakers; sometimes a desktop radio will have to do. Well, you can forget those twenty-buck cheapie models you find at Wal-Mart, and move instead to the Rolls Royce of desktop radios, the Tivoli Model One. This is one cool and classy gizmo, with great sound and great looks, great for both bedroom and office use.

The Tivoli Model One is the table radio that the radio pros use; it was designed by audio legend Henry Kloss. As you would expect from any Kloss-designed product, the Model One is constructed from the highest-quality components and built to exact quality requirements. It's also the height of simplicity, with just three knobs to its name. The big tuning knob is the most important one, of course. It's an analog tuning knob (none of this digital nonsense for the Tivoli folks) with geared-down 5:1 tuning. This means that tuning is incredibly sure and accurate. It even lights up (amber) when you've achieved proper tuning for a given station.

The Model One is an AM/FM radio, of course, with built-in AM and FM antennas. There's also an auxiliary input you can use to connect a CD player or similar device, a record output you can use to record your favorite programs, and a headphone jack for private listening.

Once you have a station tuned in, you can sit back and enjoy surprisingly rich sound. The Model One uses a 3'' speaker, mated with a multi-stage frequency contouring circuit that adjusts the speaker's output over half-octave increments. The resulting sound is full and warm; the Model One's sound is much larger and deeper you'd expect from such a small device. (In fact, it's the sound more than anything that makes this the choice of the pros.)

That great sound comes out of an equally great-looking cabinet. The Model One is housed in a furniture-grade, handmade wood cabinet. (No cheap plastic here.) It's available in cherry, walnut, maple, black, and silver finishes.

Of course, the Model One's single speaker delivers only mono sound. If you want stereo sound, choose the Tivoli Model Two, which adds a separate matching speaker to the main unit, for $159.99. Or if you want to wake up to music, go with the Model Three, which takes a Model One and tacks on a cool-looking analog alarm clock, for $199.99.

Model: Model One Manufacturer: Tivoli Audio (www.tivoliaudio.com) Dimensions: 8 3/8'' (w) x 4 1/2'' (h) x 5 1/4'' (d) Weight: 5.5 lbs. Price: $99.99

Tivoli Model Satellite

If you like the Tivoli Model One and you like satellite radio, check out the Tivoli Model Satellite. This is essentially a Model One AM/FM radio with added SIRIUS satellite tuner, which lets you listen to all that great SIRIUS programming in your bedroom or den. What more can I say? It's a perfect match!

Model: Model Satellite Manufacturer: Tivoli Audio (www.tivoliaudio.com) Dimensions: 8 3/8'' (w) x 4 1/2'' (h) x 5 1/4'' (d) Weight: 6.5 lbs. Price: $299.99

Grundig Porsche Design P7131

If XM radio is more your style, check out this new desktop radio from Grundig and Porsche Design. It combines an AM/FM tuner, shortwave radio, and XM satellite radio tuner, all in a very stylish device. There's also two full-range speakers, a powered subwoofer, and a digital clock radio with his-and-her dual alarms.

Model: P7131 Manufacturer: Grundig (www.grundigradio.com) Dimensions: 8.5'' x 5'' x 5.6'' Weight: 6 lbs. Price: TBA

Polk Audio I-Sonic

Here's another XM radio for home use. Polk's I-Sonic receives XM satellite radio, standard analog AM/FM radio, and the new digital AM and FM HD Radio. It also has a built-in CD/DVD player, and an auxiliary port you can use to connect your iPod or similar device. Connect it to your TV to watch DVDS, or just settle back to listen to practically about any type of audio entertainment available.

Model: I-Sonic Manufacturer: Polk Audio (www.polkaudio.com) Dimensions: 14.5'' x 9.75'' x 4.75'' Price: $599

Cambridge Soundworks CD 740

If you don't much care about satellite radio or high-definition AM/FM, then check out this great-sounding tabletop radio/CD player from Cambridge Soundworks. The room-filling sound comes from a large subwoofer hidden inside a small vented enclosure. The music comes from your choice of AM, FM, or CDs. You can control it all from the front panel, or from the included wireless remote control.

Model: CD 740 Manufacturer: Cambridge Soundworks (www.cambridgesoundworks.com) Dimensions: 4 15/16'' (h) x 14'' (w) x 9 7/8'' (d) Weight: 12 lbs. Price: $349.99