Tivoli speaker

[Kees]

I bought a Tivoli Model One radio and am really suprised about the sound quality.
Any idea about what speaker is used?

 

[loninappleton]

Surprised pleasantly or otherwise?

I've wondered what was in there too.

 

[Kees]

I was suprised positively.
Looking for small speakers I found that there is a lot about the Tangband W3-871 S on the internet and I ordered 2 pieces.

I am planning to put them in a bass-reflex enclosure of 5.8L and tune this at 75Hz as this is what simulations advise.

 

[loninappleton]

So what's in the Tivoli is still unknown?


google > zaphaudio


For info on the Tangband W871's in br enclosure.
Zaph/John also has a newer favorite in that size range
with enclosures designed.


There's lots on the small TB's but after a variety of
tests on my own, I've only heard them right on
open baffle.


When put in a desktop size enclosure, they always
sound boxy and pretty much nowhere.


Here at DIY audio there was thread on using TB's
2 per enclosure with a tweeter facing upward and
a ported box. This looked to me like a
workable solution for a desktop style small
enclosure maybe mounted on lightweight stands which
would open up the sound.

Lastly, the earliest research I did on the TB's was
from _audioXpress_/_Speakerbuilder_ magazine in which
the TB's were installed in very small enclosures with
open backs. I never built those but all the enclosures
shown were quite small as well.


A TB designed with the "Bose effect" just crossed my mind
but I'd have to look it up. It was a VTL design meaning
a small cabinet with a folded line length.

 

[audio3chung]

Hi All,
I wonder anyone one has try to rebuild a box for the driver in the Tivoli Two. I realy like this tiny driver, and still don't know if they were made by Tivoli!!
Best regards,
CHOW

 

[gpapag]

Hi all
I had the Tivoli at the bed side table very close to my ears listening at very low level and I had observed that the middles were “dirty” and the bass excessive and boomy.
When listening from a distance and at higher level, these problems were not obvious (in fact boomy bass is an attribute that “sells” on this size of radios)
I opened it up, treated the cone with a dilluted plasticizer (two coatings), filled the internal volume of the box (not around the x-former) with fiberglass and stuffed the bass reflex tube with dacron.
Now, mids are much cleaner and bass not boomy but pronounced and tight.
Removing the protective screen from the front side of the speaker is another step forward.
Regards
George

 

[audiosteve]

I have both a Tivoli Model One and Boston Acoustics Receptor.
To my ears the Receptor is smoother sounding and has a more extended low end. If you want to reverse engineer something, I'd suggest targeting the Receptor instead of the Tivoli. In either case you can be sure that some type of EQ is also used. It is not just the box that accounts for the sound.

 

[gpapag]

Hi audiosteve

In either case you can be sure that some type of EQ is also used. It is not just the box that accounts for the sound.

I was also quite sure that this is the case (judging from the amount of bass).
That's why I didn't bother running an impedance curve on the speaker-box combination and I applied the remedies in an experimental way instead.

Regards
George

 

[Dumbass]

In either case you can be sure that some type of EQ is also used.

Tivoli says as much in their sales literature.

 

[celt]

AFAIK, they are made by Foster/Fostex. At least, that's whats in my Model One.

 

[stokessd]

I have a Tivoli Model 2 attached to my PC as the speakers for it (retired from another use), and a model 1 radio in my office. They are OK, but the receptor radio on my nightstand is really much better to my ears, I'm in agreement with audiosteve.

I've got a bunch of pictures of the guts of my model 1. And I can take acoustic measurements of my model 2 if I am talked into it. I'll upload the pics of the model 1 shortly


Sheldon

 

[stokessd]

Here's a couple pics I took of the Tivoli radio a few years ago. I should have taken more pics of the driver itself.

http://quadesl.com/photoalbums/Audio/Tivoli_Model_2/albumIndex.html


Sheldon

 

[celt]

I'll try to find the pics of my Model One and post them. The port on mine is mounted on the bottom of the wood enclosure and mine doesn't have the bucking magnet on the driver.

 

[celt]

Okay, here's mine. Note that its from the first production run and is slightly different from the current versions.

 

[celt]

And a pic of the front of the driver.

 

[celt]

And a pic of the radio.

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

Hi all
I had the Tivoli at the bed side table very close to my ears listening at very low level and I had observed that the middles were “dirty” and the bass excessive and boomy.
When listening from a distance and at higher level, these problems were not obvious (in fact boomy bass is an attribute that “sells” on this size of radios)
I opened it up, treated the cone with a dilluted plasticizer (two coatings), filled the internal volume of the box (not around the x-former) with fiberglass and stuffed the bass reflex tube with dacron.
Now, mids are much cleaner and bass not boomy but pronounced and tight.
Removing the protective screen from the front side of the speaker is another step forward.
Regards
George

Good advices, thank you therefore.

Who can post detailled schematic diagrams of the various versions? I need it for service and for checking various enhancements.
And who knows the manufacturer brand from China ?

 

[celt]

The speaker was made by Foster aka Fostex. Have no idea who manufactured the radio for Tivoli.

 

[tiefbassuebertr]

In my own device is the AM/FM/IF receiver IC TEA5710 from Philips in use:
http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/datasheet/philips/TEA5710.pdf

 

[celt]

I'm fairly certain the Philips IC you mentioned is the same used in my Tivoli. You can expand the picture in post 14 and almost read the markings on it.