Tivoli Audio Model One BT: The Three Knob Radio, Updated

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There is something calming about a radio with three knobs. No app, no menus, no software updates, just turn it on and tune. The Tivoli Audio Model One BT is a modern version of that idea. It keeps the classic tabletop radio look, a wood cabinet with a big tuning dial, and adds Bluetooth so you can stream from your phone when the station you want is not on the air.

Who makes it

Tivoli Audio makes tabletop radios, wireless speakers and portable audio. The Model One is its signature AM and FM radio, and the Model One BT is the same design with Bluetooth wireless streaming added. Tivoli describes it as starting with a handmade wood cabinet that is both beautiful and an ideal acoustically inert housing, meaning the box itself adds as little unwanted vibration as possible.

What the Model One BT is

The Model One BT is a mono tabletop radio. Tivoli says its tuner brings clarity to many of the weakest stations, and that behind its simple look sits technology for better sound and reception than anything else near its size. With just three knobs, it calls the radio the antithesis of today's ever more complex electronics.

• Tuner: amplitude modulation and frequency modulation (AM and FM)
• Wireless: Bluetooth streaming
• Inputs: 3.5 millimeter auxiliary input
• Outputs: stereo headphone output and a stereo REC OUT line level output
• Speaker: one 3 inch full range driver, 6 watts output, bass ported, mono
• Cabinet: real wood veneer finishes
• Size: 4.5 by 8.375 by 5.25 inches, 4.14 pounds
• In the box: radio, manual, power supply and external FM antenna

Why it is cool

The design is beautifully restrained. A wood cabinet, a speaker grille and three knobs: that is all you see. It looks at home on a kitchen counter, a bookshelf or a nightstand, and it does not shout for attention the way many speakers do. It is the kind of object that suits a home with mid century furniture or a minimalist room.

The tuner is the heart of it. If you still enjoy local stations, talk radio or a late night jazz show, a sensitive analog tuner makes a real difference. Turning the dial to find a station is part of the pleasure.

Bluetooth makes it a daily driver. When there is nothing on the radio, pair your phone and play podcasts, playlists or audiobooks through the same speaker. The auxiliary input means you can also plug in a turntable preamp, a portable player or a TV.

The REC OUT jack is a nice detail for tinkerers. It sends a line level signal out, so you can record radio shows or feed a larger system. The headphone jack lets you listen privately late at night.

Where it works best

The kitchen is the natural home for a radio like this. It is small enough to sit beside the coffee maker, and morning news or a favorite station makes breakfast feel calmer. It also suits a bedside table, where the headphone jack lets you listen late without waking anyone, and a home office, where a little background music helps the day along.

For the best reception, try a few positions in the room and use the external FM antenna that comes in the box. Moving a radio just a short distance, away from other electronics or closer to a window, can make a real difference to a weak station.

Who should buy it

Buy the Model One BT if you love radio, want a simple kitchen or bedside speaker, or are buying for someone who does not want to deal with apps and smart assistants. It is also a lovely gift for parents and grandparents.

Look elsewhere if you want stereo sound, room filling volume or a battery powered portable. This is a mono radio that plugs into the wall, designed for clear voices and warm music at home. If you never stream, the plain Model One offers the same radio without Bluetooth.

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