Tivoli Audio just rolled out new 1970s-inspired colorways for the Model One BT, and let’s be honest—it looks like they raided the paint aisle of a Canadian Tire in 1977. The new Model One BT is available in Poppy Red, Golden Hour Orange, Highlighter Yellow, Avocado Green, and Navy Blue, all paired with a walnut cabinet. Yes, you read that right – Avocado Green.
Because nothing says “I’m living my best retro life” like a color that screams “I eat avocado toast every morning and watch reruns of The Brady Bunch like it’s the pinnacle of 1970s culture.” Go ahead, embrace that oddball shade that’s as fashionable as a green kitchen appliance and as trendy as pretending you didn’t just take a #selfie with your latte.
The Model One BT still delivers where it counts. Bluetooth 5.0, that classic analog tuner feel, and the kind of warm mono sound that makes yacht rock and AM talk radio equally seductive. The real wood cabinet does a solid job of minimizing resonance—plus, it smells like your uncle’s stereo console if you close your eyes.
Reception-wise? Let’s call it “period correct.” If you grew up wrapping tin foil around an antenna just to catch CFNY out of Toronto, you’ll feel right at home.
This thing isn’t just about audio—it’s a vibe. The kind you’d get from a shag-carpeted basement with a lava lamp on one side and a stack of Gordon Lightfoot records on the other.
Subtle and mid-century modern like the striking new Tivoli SongBook Max Speaker (New.ordinary Edition)? Yeah, not quite.
Sound
Look, let’s be real – this mono speaker isn’t here to pretend it’s something it’s not. It’s all about that pure, analog sound that’s as close to the real deal as you can get without having to spend a small fortune on a turntable and a mountain of vinyl. Thanks to a heavy-magnet long-throw driver and a frequency contouring circuit, it adjusts the output like a pro, giving you that sweet, musically accurate tonal balance and bass that actually sounds like music, not just noise.
Controls
Forget the confusing mess of buttons and settings. This is about simplicity. One knob to power it on and pick your source, one to control the volume (duh), and a 5:1 ratio tuning dial to pull in even the weakest radio stations—because let’s face it, we all need a little help when we’re trying to catch that station in the middle of nowhere.
Connectivity & Playback
Okay, so if AM/FM radio isn’t enough for you, don’t worry, you’ve got options. Connect your Bluetooth-enabled device and stream music wirelessly like it’s 2025 or use the auxiliary line input for a more traditional experience. And if you’re feeling extra retro, there’s a headphone jack for when you just want to be alone with your music—no judgment, Jack Tripper.
“Do Not Adjust Your Set—These Colors Are Real, Questionable, and Approved by Martha Stewart’s Parole Officer and Bosch’s Eyebrow
Poppy Red:
Bold. Loud. Zero apologies. Poppy Red doesn’t whisper “accent”—it kicks down the door like Bosch with a warrant. It’s the color that says something happened here—and Martha Stewart’s just trying to cover it with a vase.
Avocado Green:
The color of every 70s kitchen mistake and your mom’s “maybe I’ll use it someday” casserole dish. It’s vintage charm with a suspicious edge—Bosch is in the corner, arms crossed, asking if this was a design choice or a silent scream.
Highlighter Yellow:
Subtle? Never heard of it. This 70s-inspired retina-melter brings crime-scene chic to your gear. It’s nostalgia with a siren, not a whisper—Bosch would squint, Martha would shrug, and your room just got a whole lot louder (and somehow cooler).
Golden Hour Orange:
Why blend in when you can glow like the sun just punched your living room? This 70s fever-dream hue channels peak postmodern chaos—like your furniture was picked by someone high on disco and color theory. Bosch would raise an eyebrow. Martha? Already matching napkins.
Navy Blue:
Navy Blue—because sometimes you want your space to say “Wall Street confidence” with just a hint of leisure suit swagger. It’s not just blue, it’s the color of 70s deals, stiff drinks, and the faint smell of Aqua Velva lingering in the air. Bosch would park in your spot just to assert dominance.
Key Features:
- Bluetooth 5.0 for modern-day streaming without modern-day ugliness
- Analog AM/FM tuning, because sometimes knobs just feel better
- Auxiliary input if you’re still clinging to your iPod like it’s 2005
- Real wood cabinet, available in retro finishes that smell faintly of nicotine and polyester
- Compact enough to sit beside your dad’s vintage ashtray set
The Bottom Line
If you’re someone who can’t even figure out how to set up a vinyl record without Googling it, then the Model One BT might just be too much of a throwback for you. This is for the folks who remember when M*A*S*H was peak television, and the only streaming was flipping through channels until you found something decent.
It’s got a knob for power, a knob for volume, and another to tune into your favorite AM/FM station—so if you’re a Gen Z-er who thinks a dial is just an ancient relic from the Brady Bunch era, you might be in for a challenge.
Where to Buy:
- $219.99 at Tivoli Audio (retro colors)
- $179.99 at Amazon (regular colors)
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Anton Stewart
May 5, 2025 at 12:58 pm
“It’s the color that says something happened here—and Martha Stewart’s just trying to cover it with a vase.”
Too funny but also true. Who came up with these atrocious colors. Go back to design school.
Ian White
May 5, 2025 at 1:56 pm
I actually don’t hate the red. I sorta like the blue for a bathroom — which I really can’t explain because I’m not photographing my new bathroom. If they made this in the same mid-century finish as the larger Songbook Max that I just covered — I would buy one for each of the 3 bathrooms.
IW
ORT
May 6, 2025 at 12:52 am
I no longer listen to terrestrial radio and I am no fan of BooToof except maybe as headphones. Maybe. These radios look nice but in this day and age I must play the sage and recommend a WiFi Radio by Grace Digital.
They make excellent table radios with WiFi, Chromecast and even the beformentioned BlooToof. I own and have given as presents to family and friends about 10 or 12 of their radios over the years. I don’t give junque.
I have also owned a few of Tivoli’s radios and they are a fine, albeit tepidly terrestrial choice but there is something to be said for having a radio that works when the WiFi goes out. And colorways aside, these new models are quite fetching.
The ORTacle at Helfi
Ian White
May 6, 2025 at 11:05 am
ORT,
Indeed they do. Fetching was not my first response. Unless we switch out the “F” for another letter. 🙂
I do like the Navy Blue. May need to get that one for the bathroom. Why can’t they make one in bronze or a nice teak?
I.W. Stewart (no relation)