Tivoli Audio iYiYi (white)

Manufacturer: Tivoli Audio Part number: iyiyiws

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CNET Editor rating:
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Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 2 reviews

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Product series; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: While its sound didn't blow us away, the iYiYi offers improved bass over the iSongBook and decent features in an attractively styled package.

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CNET editors' review

Tivoli Audio iYiYi (white)

price range: $299.99 - $399.00

Reviewed by: David Carnoy
Edited by: John P. Falcone
Reviewed on: 12/11/2006
Updated on:03/11/2008

The good: Attractive design; clock with alarm (wake to iPod songs); supports Radio Data System (RDS) text feeds from stations that offer them; iPod charges while in dock; auxiliary line-in; included remote offers more than basic control over your iPod.

The bad: Expensive; bass could be stronger; no bass and treble controls; no video output.

The bottom line: While its sound didn't blow us away, the iYiYi offers improved bass over the iSongBook and decent features in an attractively styled package.

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Editors' Note: The rating on this review has been lowered from 7.0 to 6.7 due to changes in the competitive marketplace.

First we had the Wii, now we have the iYiYi. The first is a game console, the second is Tivoli Audio's latest iPod stereo system that includes and AM/FM clock radio. Aside from its unique name (pronounced "aye-yai-yai"), the system offers some key distinctions from Tivoli Audio's last iPod dock-equipped radio, the iSongBook: the iYiYi offers a sturdier one-piece design, and for compatible stations it displays information such as the station and the artist. Like the iSongBook, the iYiYi is available in white or black for $300.

One advantage of the iSongBook is that it can be stocked with six standard or rechargeable AA batteries for easy transportability. In contrast, while the comparatively beefy iYiYi is certainly movable--it's 7.36 inches high by 11.88 wide by 8.66 deep, and weighs 6.5 pounds--the AC-only system isn't designed for travel. That said, its power transformer is internal, so there's no big wall wart on the end of the power cord. It's also an all-in-one stereo unit, as opposed to the somewhat clumsy detachable speaker of the iSongBook.

We've always liked the look and feel of Tivoli Audio products, and the iYiYi retains the old-style world radio look seen in earlier products. In fact, you can imagine Tivoli Audio's designers working off the notion of joining two iPALs side-by-side to come up with a stereo version of that monaural system.

In addition to sharing design elements, the iYiYi offers many of the same features found on other Tivoli Audio radios as well: 10 radio presets (five AM, five FM), sleep and snooze timers, an alarm clock function (wake to the radio, an iPod, or a beeping tone), and an LCD readout. If you don't have an iPod--or you've got an older, nondocking version or a Shuffle--you can jack in to the iYiYi's line-in port. Alternately, you can opt to use the mixing input, which allows you to hear an external source (say, your computer) along with whatever else is playing. There's also an audio line-out jack (although no video), plus a headphone jack on the front.

Radio fans will appreciate the Radio Data System (RDS) text feeds from stations that offer them. As you listen, the name of the station, as well as the artist's name and the track info, scroll across the small but easy-to-read blue-backlit LCD. You can toggle RDS off if the scrolling text--including the occasional radio-station promotions--annoys you. The blue backlight on the LCD can't be toggled off, but there's a built-in light sensor that adjusts the backlit display according to the ambient lighting conditions. Finally, Tivoli Audio throws in a card-size remote that not only allows you to skip forward or rewind songs but also to jump ahead or back through albums and playlists, as well as tune into radio stations and adjust volume levels.

The iYiYi has a digital AM/FM tuner that does a good job of pulling in stations using the internal antenna. But if you're looking to pick up smaller stations, you can attach the included external antenna (it's basically a long wire), or even connect to a more elaborate rooftop antenna if you'd like.

We weren't all that impressed with the sound of the iSongBook, though a small portable system such as that one certainly requires some trade-offs. Because of its increased depth, we were expecting--excuse the pun--bigger things from the iYiYi. We were partially rewarded, but we didn't necessarily feel that iYiYi distinguished itself, on a performance standpoint, from some of its $300 competitors. Like a lot of these systems, the iYiYi delivered nicely in the midrange and high end, but fell short in the low end and doesn't seem to feature any special digital trickery to widen the soundstage (there is no SRS mode or even bass and treble controls). However, while it did lack the super deep bass needed to thump out R&B, it performed better than many systems in the midrange and treble. For instance, we listened to a couple tracks off Primus' greatest hits CD, They Can't All Be Zingers, on both the iYiYi and the iHome iH52 (the latter being half as expensive but including a separate subwoofer) and although many of the tracks were bass heavy, we felt definitely preferred the iYiYi because of its more detailed sound. While we can't recommend the iYiYi to those who love booming bass, we think a lot of people will enjoy its nuanced sound.

In the final analysis, the iYiYi is a nicely designed iPod speaker system that has a decent set of features that makes it in many ways superior to the identically priced Bose SoundDock. However, the competition in the iPod speaker system space is pretty intense these days, and we would have liked to see the iYiYi distinguish itself a little more in the sound and features department. For instance, the Logitech AudioStation sounds great, and it even features video outputs for the watching iPod videos--though it lacks the iYiYi's alarm functionality. So, while we did like it, we can't quite muster a full-fledged yippee for the iYiYi.

Assistant Editor Matthew Moskovciak contributed to this review.

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Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 2 reviews
My rating: 0 stars

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8 stars

Great design and user interface

by ichor on January 14, 2007

Pros: radio and alarm, sound is good (not great), remote is awesome

Cons: huge footprint, sound doesn't live up to the size

Summary: 9 on design, 7 features, 6.5 on performance

I just got the Tivoli iYiYi but also have had a JBL On Stage ipod speaker for about a year, so

...

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Summary: 9 on design, 7 features, 6.5 on performance

I just got the Tivoli iYiYi but also have had a JBL On Stage ipod speaker for about a year, so that's my benchmark for comparison. The iYiYi looks great, but takes up a relatively large amount of space on your desk. For such a large unit, its bass response wasn't that great, especially compared to the On Stage, which costs about half as much. At the loudest setting, it's not that loud, so consider that if you're getting this to fill up a large room. However, the sound is a lot fuller than the JBL On Stage. At the loudest setting, the unit had no distortion across a wide range of music types.

The unit does look sharp. Controls have crisp response and are clearly laid out. Setting time and alarm is intuitive. The ultra-thin (~1/2")remote works like a charm and you can interact with the ipod through the remote. This integration with the ipod is pretty cool if you don't want to walk up to the unit everytime you want to skip a song. Radio has RDS. It takes auxiliary inputs through the back, so that's a nice feature even if I don't use it currently. Internal FM antenna works well for me, but unit also can be hooked up to an external antenna if you want.

User interface is awesome, but for the moolah, this unit should have a better sound. Also, 5 FM presets is pretty chintzy. I need at least 10! If you're a sound freak, $300 is steep, but I'm not sure if there's anything better out there in this price range with this feature set. Maybe in 2 years....
Updated
I enjoyed the unit more as time went on, but then the unit froze and I was never able to get it to operate again. The clock stayed frozen and the unit didn't take any radio or ipod input. So I returned it and will get something else. For $300 for what amounts to a radio speaker setup with ipod input, I would have expected infallible quality. I don't know if this is indicative of Tivoli quality in general, which is a shame because otherwise, it's a great product.

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

The ultimate compact system awaits you...

by chaztized on September 26, 2007

Pros: Big, clear sound in a compact package. Streamlined design.

Cons: Not as classy in appearance as some of Tivoli's other products.

Summary: If you're looking for big sound and storage of a massive music library in the most compact space possible, you need this plus Pinnacle Audio's Sub-Compact 6" subwoofer ...

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Summary: If you're looking for big sound and storage of a massive music library in the most compact space possible, you need this plus Pinnacle Audio's Sub-Compact 6" subwoofer and an iPod. You won't believe how great a combo this is until you hear it.

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0 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

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Specifications

Manufacturer: Tivoli Audio
Part number: iyiyiws
Description: Wake in the morning to music you select from your iPod. Tune in to your favorite radio stations. Control your music from across the room. The Tivoli Audio iYiYi high fidelity stereo system for iPod is the definitive high-end home iPod player. With a digital AM/FM radio, built-in alarm/digital clock, credit card-sized remote control, blue backlit LCD display, and Radio Data System (RDS) support, iYiYi offers the ultimate listening experience. The iYiYi system connects and charges all dockable iPods. Its precise digital tuner includes five FM and five AM station preset buttons, a 'seek' function, and built-in AM and FM antennas. The backlit display provides information on station tuning, the time, and the 20-minute sleep timer indicator. It all adds up to the ultimate home audio system for anyone looking for iPod and radio control in one unit.

General
Width 11.8 in
Depth 8.1 in
Height 7.5 in
Weight 6.6 lbs
Dimensions (WxDxH) / Weight Details / 6.3 lbs
Enclosure Color White
Available Body Colors White, Black
Speaker System
System Components 2 x Speakers
Connectivity Technology Wired
Additional Features AM/FM tuner, Digital clock with alarm and sleep timer
Speaker System Details
Speakers Included Portable speakers with digital player dock

Connections
Connector Type 1 x Headphones ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
Miscellaneous
Included Accessories 7 dock adapters for iPod, External wire FM antenna, Power cord, Remote control
Remote Control Remote control
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support 1 year warranty

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