Internet radio is a fascinating world to explore, but in my house, the exploration began and ended in front of a computer screen.
Now there’s a fashionable alternative — one that provides a richer sound than dinky PC speakers, a portable approach to where you listen and another twist: Italian design.
Tivoli’s NetWorks Global Audio System streams Web radio data from a wireless (or wired) network into a handsome rectangular box that sports a four-line LCD readout and 3.5-inch front-firing speaker.
The NetWorks can access a dedicated Net portal that locates stations worldwide, and helps you select what you like. Some of the radios have an FM tuner as well.
The NetWorks comes in a range of colors and styles. Some models are part of the “Cappellini Collection,” done up with the help of the furniture designer, Giulio Cappellini, and made with high-gloss lacquered finishes in shades of blue, green and brown.
Of course, the price of the NetWorks equals its stylish pedigree: $600 for the mono version. Add a stereo speaker and it’s $100 more. Stephen Williams
