Tivoli's clever integration of features like Satellite Radio and good looks into their tabletop powered speakers has made their products some of the more popular ones on the market. With the arrival last year of Vita Audio's R1 DAB, they have some competition. Their aim "to design and build products that we ourselves would be proud to own" and to develop high-performance products with "intuitive operation and utilities that are of real benefit rather than frivolous features that may seldom be used" are the kind of values we can get behind—and their philosophy comes through in the new R1 DAB. Using a 'RotoDial' interface, tuning channels (including the U.K.'s Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) system), switching between inputs and setting alarm and clock functions are all intuitively executed. A front-mounted LCD panel displays info about broadcasts (RDS or Radio Data System) and time and a headphone and an auxiliary jack (also on the front) make it easy (unlike Tivoli's iPal's rear inputs) to connect external devices like mp3 players. For better sound gold-plated RCA inputs in the rear take advantage of their state-of-the-art loudspeaker design. The R1 DAB is available in walnut and cherry veneer, grey and red (pictured), which Paul Smith sells for £180.
