The NPR Radio by Livio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Livio NPR radio is an internet radio that is dedicated to locating and storing "favorite" NPR stations from nationwide sources. Additionally, it's possible to access 16,000 worldwide streaming stations (Livio's information) that are not NPR affiliates.
Shipment was prompt, and the radio responded appropriately upon installation. The wi-fi connection required some minimal expected procedures, and it worked as intended. I read one reviewer elsewhere who complained about the poor quality sound from its 3" speaker. Well, that's a big "DUH," IMHO. I would not have bought the radio to listen only through its built-in speaker. When I read that it had stereo audio outputs, I fully intended to play it through my existing home stereo system, and in that setup it sounds good. The radio's own speaker is an adequate monitor speaker, but I doubt that it's intended to be the primary aural output.
Through my wi-fi connection the drop-outs and re-buffering procedures have been nearly non-existent. I experience mostly uninterrupted good stereo sound. If I didn't have wi-fi, I can connect to my DSL modem with the ethernet cable that's included in the package.
My main complaint (preventing 5 stars) is the poorly organized instruction manual that accompanies the radio. One audio connection diagram is clearly wrong, and it's contradictory to a correct one on a facing page. A procedure is introduced on one page and obscured by information that is not helpful, but 2 pages later clarifying information is found. I called those flaws to the attention of a tech support person who said he would pass the information up the line.

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About the NPR Radio by Livio: This stand-alone radio automatically connects to the internet and makes NPR stations, programs, content, and podcasts accessible to morepeople, in more places. Sets up in minutes. Searches for NPR programming by genre, location or keyword.The world's first and only product dedicated to providing unparalleled access to NPR's robust selection of programming options without a computer, the NPR Radio by Livio features an exclusive NPR menu that allows users to search, find and bookmark their favorite NPR programming with the touch of a few buttons. Easy access to NPR member stations and their featured content, podcasts, and live streams is now available anywhere an Internet connection and a power source are available, played through the radio's own speaker or on a home stereo system. The NPR Radio by Livio sets up in minutes and requires no registration or programming fees. It also includes free access to the more than 16,000 Internet radio stations available through Reciva

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Livio Internet Radio Featuring Pandora (WiFi only, Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)There are a lot of buzz about HD radio being the wave of the future. I tried an HD radio, and let me tell you, this internet radio has HD completely beat! I live in an area with poor reception for local stations, and I was tired of having to listen my favorite station through my laptop. Within minutes of taking the radio out of the box, I was connected to my favorite station but then I started exploring. I couldn't believe what I found! The radio connected to my Pandora account seamlessly. I've added stations to Pandora on my laptop and they appear on the radio within seconds! Controls on the radio link to Pandora for "thumbs up" or "down." Fantastic. But the really amazing thing is the intuitive interface that provides access to countless (there must be tens of thousands) of radio stations from around the globe! The interface is so intuitive that the stations can be selected either by region or by genre. All with no buffering! Incredible! For these features, I am deleriously happy with my purchase.
For all of its exceptional qualities, the sound quality is disappointing. With one speaker, the bass is truly lacking (and I don't like heavy bass). The sound doesn't seem "full." There are jacks in the back to connect stereo speakers but I'm not sure how that would work or whether I want to go through the effort. I bought this radio based on a review in the Boston Globe. They mentioned the Squeezebox Boom as having the highest quality sound. Of course, that radio was significantly more expensive and doesn't have Pandora controls. Neither radio has an iPod connection and they don't have back-up batteries. Neither has iTunes tagging (seriously?!).
All in all, I'm very happy. When they develop a radio with audiophile-quality sound, I'll be in line to buy one. Hopefully, wifi/internet radio will really take off. I'd love to have a receiver for my home stereo (since that sends sound throughout the house).
January 2010 edit: I keep this radio in my home office. I still love, love, love it. Recently, I bought a Squeezebox Radio for my bedroom. This edit is to compare the two. I love both of these radios, but for different reasons. The Livio has quality throughout. The two standout features are the controls and the link to Pandora. The radio is so easy to set up and use! The controls are clean and uncluttered. The Pandora Thumbs-Up/Thumbs-down is easier on the Livio than it is on the computer. I also love the interface to find stations by genre. It just works so intuitively for me. On the negative side, it does not have an alarm clock built in. Otherwise, I would have bought one for the bedroom as well.
Now, the Squeezebox Radio: Also easy to set-up. The interface is a bit more daunting than the Livio. More options = more controls to tweak. As other reviewers have mentioned, the presets disappeared the first time the alarm went off. After resetting it, things have been fine. The alarm clock works well. Although the specs don't mention a back-up, I have found that if the router is out of commission, the alarm will still go off, just to a tone from the radio, rather than from the internet radio station. Other people have mentioned that the clock gets too dim at night. Not for me! I am so grateful that my bedroom is now reasonably dark at night! My old clock lit up the joint to the point that I used to cover the clock. Now, it's just right. Plus, the brightness level can be manually adjusted. Funny, someone elses complaint is one of my favorite features. The interface and controls are also more baffling than the Livio. Still OK, I just prefer the very clean controls on the Livio.
As for the sound, this would be a matter of preference. The sound in the Livio is a bit flatter. It seems to be missing some mid-range and higher range. The Squeezebox sound is bright and bold but is lacking in the low range. All in all though, I really like the sound on the Squeezebox. Especially for a small radio. I hope that these comments are helpful to someone looking at these two radios.

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Stand-alone radio automatically connects to the internet and makes NPR stations, programs, content, and podcasts accessible to more people, in more places. Sets up in minutes. Searches for NPR programming by genre, location or keyword. The first and only dedicated device to offer Pandora's signature "thumbs up, thumbs down” controls on both the front panel and a remote, the Livio Radio puts you in command by allowing you to customize the music and programming you receive across any genre, from anywhere in the world, without a required monthly fee and independently of a computer. The Livio Radio makes Pandora accessible to more people, in more places. The Livio Radio, through Pandora and the Music Genome Project, gives its users the power to be their own personal DJ, one that actually pays attention to what listeners like and dislike. With its sleek design and set of features, the Livio Radio goes beyond providing access to free, personalized Internet radio available through Pandora. In the home, office, or anywhere a power source and a wireless internet connection meet, it's a stand-alone radio that connects quickly and plays Internet radio programming through its own speaker. The Livio Radio does not require access to a computer interface or a mobile phone for everyday operation.

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