Snade
humble AK member
This is just for fun.
The contenders:
Zenith AM / FM table radio, circa 1955, Chassis 7C05, 7 tubes, made in Chicago, paid $15 at thrift store.
Tivoli Model One, AM / FM table radio, circa 2006, designed by Henry Kloss, made in China, priced new at about $120.
A look inside the Zenith - 7 tubes, all original
The Tivoli Model One with wood cabinet
Things got ugly during this shootout. I had to separate the contenders.
Reception:
The Zenith is over 50 years old, but it still does a great job pulling in FM stations with the internal antenna. "The Automatic Frequency Control" does a good job locking in the stations.
The Tivoli also does a fine job, but on my test of WFMT, the classical FM station here in Chicago, the reception drifted a bit on the Tivoli. The Zenith kept it locked it.
AM reception on the Zenith was also a bit better. An edge to the old Zenith for reception with both radios using their internal antennas.
Sound
I'm expecting the Zenith to have that warm, full "tube" sound and it does sound good. In particular, talk radio stations on AM have a rich sound to the human voice - very pleasing.
But next to the Tivoli, something is missing with the Zenith. The Zenith lacks detail in the midrange. It is very noticeable next to the Tivoli. I put on some jazz on FM and the Zenith just does not have any detail in the mids. Sounds flat when compared to the Tivoli.
Also, the Tivoli has a lot more low-end punch.
The Tivoli sounds more "tube-like" than the Zenith with that rich, detailed and full sound. A clear edge to the Tivoli making music.
Controls
Both radios have a very similar set of controls. The Tivoli has a tuning light that glows brighter when tuning into a station. The Zenith has a wider tuning band and you can better control tuning into a station. No clear winner here.
Looks and Fit and Finish
Both radios have plastic knobs and a wood cabinet.
The Zenith looks beautiful but is big and bulky compared to a modern radio.
The Tivoli has an elegant, simple design.
The metal chassis and tube design of the Zenith are impressive. This puppy was built to last and it has - over 50 years and still ticking.
I'm old myself, so I give a slight edge to the looks of the old Zenith.
__________________________________
Overall Score / Shootout Winner
One of these radios is going into my winter man-cave - a spare bedroom where I watch TV and listen to the radio.
And the winner is .....
The Tivoli Model One, it just sounds better than the beloved Zenith.
The Zenith goes back into the basement. He's not happy about that.
Cheers, Snade
The contenders:
Zenith AM / FM table radio, circa 1955, Chassis 7C05, 7 tubes, made in Chicago, paid $15 at thrift store.
Tivoli Model One, AM / FM table radio, circa 2006, designed by Henry Kloss, made in China, priced new at about $120.
A look inside the Zenith - 7 tubes, all original
The Tivoli Model One with wood cabinet
Things got ugly during this shootout. I had to separate the contenders.
Reception:
The Zenith is over 50 years old, but it still does a great job pulling in FM stations with the internal antenna. "The Automatic Frequency Control" does a good job locking in the stations.
The Tivoli also does a fine job, but on my test of WFMT, the classical FM station here in Chicago, the reception drifted a bit on the Tivoli. The Zenith kept it locked it.
AM reception on the Zenith was also a bit better. An edge to the old Zenith for reception with both radios using their internal antennas.
Sound
I'm expecting the Zenith to have that warm, full "tube" sound and it does sound good. In particular, talk radio stations on AM have a rich sound to the human voice - very pleasing.
But next to the Tivoli, something is missing with the Zenith. The Zenith lacks detail in the midrange. It is very noticeable next to the Tivoli. I put on some jazz on FM and the Zenith just does not have any detail in the mids. Sounds flat when compared to the Tivoli.
Also, the Tivoli has a lot more low-end punch.
The Tivoli sounds more "tube-like" than the Zenith with that rich, detailed and full sound. A clear edge to the Tivoli making music.
Controls
Both radios have a very similar set of controls. The Tivoli has a tuning light that glows brighter when tuning into a station. The Zenith has a wider tuning band and you can better control tuning into a station. No clear winner here.
Looks and Fit and Finish
Both radios have plastic knobs and a wood cabinet.
The Zenith looks beautiful but is big and bulky compared to a modern radio.
The Tivoli has an elegant, simple design.
The metal chassis and tube design of the Zenith are impressive. This puppy was built to last and it has - over 50 years and still ticking.
I'm old myself, so I give a slight edge to the looks of the old Zenith.
__________________________________
Overall Score / Shootout Winner
One of these radios is going into my winter man-cave - a spare bedroom where I watch TV and listen to the radio.
And the winner is .....
The Tivoli Model One, it just sounds better than the beloved Zenith.
The Zenith goes back into the basement. He's not happy about that.
Cheers, Snade