In addition to the Toniebox, there are now exciting alternatives for children to listen to music and radio plays.
For parents with small children it is not a trivial question: How do I make music and radio plays available to my child? Cassettes are easy to use, but a bit outdated. CDs are more complicated, less resilient and also outdated. There are many radio plays and children’s songs on Spotify and other music streaming services. However, you cannot just hand a small child a smartphone. The modern answer are so-called jukeboxes that children can operate themselves.
Tony’s tonie box
The Toniebox has been the market leader in Germany since it was introduced in 2016. The concept is as simple as it is effective. Children put so-called “Tonies” on the box and can use them to listen to music or radio plays. The highlight: the small figures correspond to the content that is activated by placing them on the box. A Benjamin-Blümchen-Tonie, for example, starts a radio play, another character in turn an album with popular children’s songs.
Easy operation
Children only have to place a Tonie of their choice on the marked area on the Toniebox and playback starts. By pressing the “ears” on the box, they can change the volume. A slap left or right on the box rewinds the playback or skips forward.
Parents must first set up the box via smartphone. A Toniecloud account and internet access are required. There they have the option of limiting the volume and loading new content onto the Tonies. This can be your own mp3 files for the so-called creative Tonies or new radio play sequences for Tonies you have already bought. The new episodes are in the Toneaudio library available for download.
Robust housing
Although the Toniebox is recommended for children from the age of three, many parents buy it much earlier. So it is all the better that the box is resistant. The lack of a display and the padded frame ensure that bumps and falls cannot harm the Toniebox.
The box is loaded with a supplied station. An alternative charging option is not available. That’s annoying – for example when you go on vacation and forget the station. After all, according to the manufacturer, the Toniebox should last up to seven hours on one battery charge.
Extensive offer
Since the jukebox has been on the market since 2016, the range has grown to a considerable extent. There are now more than 300 Tonies and new ones are constantly being added. With a purchase price of just under 100 euros for the box and 17 euros per Tonie, the manufacturer is well paid for the pleasure. After all, new episodes from the audio library are significantly cheaper with prices starting at 6 euros.
Who is the Toniebox suitable for?
Even one-year-old children can handle the Toniebox thanks to its extremely simple operation. In addition, the Tonies are also suitable as play figures and therefore also have a use apart from music and radio plays.
However, one barrier to entry is the high purchase price for both the box and the figures. After all, children can borrow Tonies from many public libraries. Another advantage of the Toniebox: many songs and radio plays are also available in English.
Although the Tigerbox seems like a direct competitor to the Toniebox at first glance, the concept is fundamentally different. Because although the direct playback of music and radio plays via so-called “Tigercards” is possible, the focus is on the streaming service called “Tigerticket”. This gives children access to more than 10,000 radio plays and songs.
Touch operation and internet connection
Unlike the Toniebox, children have to control playback via the integrated touch display. The Tigerbox is recommended for ages three and up, and children have to be that old to understand the controls.
By inserting the tiger ticket and an active Internet connection via WiFi, the little ones have direct access to all 10,000 titles. This can quickly become overwhelming, which is why parents can also download individual titles via smartphone and disconnect the Tigerbox from the network. You can also set an age range to limit what is on offer. Parents can also limit the volume in the app.
It is also easier to use tiger cards, which work in a similar way to tonies. Simply insert it and playback will start automatically. It is annoying that the Internet access must be active for the first playback.
The Tigerbox is charged via USB-C and is therefore also suitable for use when travelling. It should last about 6 to 8 hours on one charge.
Tiger ticket, tiger cards and wild cards
The Tigerticket is available for one, three, six or twelve months. The twelve-month option is the cheapest for around 75 euros, resulting in a monthly price of just under 6.20 euros. The regular tiger ticket for one month costs just under 10 euros. Practical: The Tigerticket is not automatically extended, so there are no further costs after the end of the term.
Tiger cards are available from around 6 euros, but the most expensive titles cost as much as 20 euros. Nevertheless, the prices are on average below the competition from the Tonies. The range of individual Tiger Cards is also smaller – after all, parents should rather opt for the Tiger Ticket.
A third way to play are the wildcards, which work in a similar way to creative tonies. You can save your own mp3s and more on it and play them back on the Tigerbox.
For whom is the Tigerbox suitable?
Due to the more complex operation, the Tigerbox is more suitable for older children, who will benefit from the larger selection for longer. With its touch display, the tiger box simply looks more modern and also fits into the playroom of older children.
Overall, the Tigerbox is just as expensive as the Toniebox at just under 100 euros. Streaming via Tigerticket and the individual Tigercards are considerably cheaper than Tonies. However, the haptic experience is also lost through the figures. The plug-in cards are always more space-saving.
Silvercrest SpeakerBuddy
Discounter Lidl also has a jukebox for children on offer with the SpeakerBuddy. The box should not only undercut the competition, but also offer additional functions such as a night light. So far, however, the selection is a bit meager.
Magnetic coins instead of figures
With the SpeakerBuddy, Silvercrest takes a middle ground between Tonies and Tigercards. The radio plays and children’s songs are stored on plastic coins that are magnetically attached to the box. Playback starts automatically after inserting the coin. Kids can then use buttons on the top to adjust the volume and fast forward and rewind.
After setup, parents have the option of limiting the volume via the app and downloading radio plays for offline use. An advantage over the Toniebox and Tigerbox is the option to set a timer after which playback stops.
Limited offer
With only 40 coins, the SpeakerBuddy does not offer the choice of the Toniebox or even the Tigerbox. After all, many popular titles such as Benjamin Blümchen, Bibi & Tina, Little Polar Bear and Fireman Sam are included.
The coins are not really cheap in comparison either, a single one costs just under 8 euros. After all, the SpeakerBuddy is only half as expensive as the Toniebox and Tigerbox at around 50 euros.
The box comes with at least one creative coin that can be filled with any content via the app. In addition, a number of radio plays are already pre-installed ex works.
Integrated night light
A unique selling point that may be of interest to some is the integrated night light. The brightness can be set via the app.
According to the manufacturer, the box should last up to 10 hours in battery mode at medium volume. It is charged via the USB-C port on the back.
Who is the SpeakerBuddy suitable for?
Lidl offers a cheaper alternative, especially to the Toniebox. The SpeakerBuddy has the greatest similarities with this one. Not only does the box itself only cost half as much, the coins are also 9 euros cheaper than the tonies.
Children, however, might be disappointed by the meager offerings so far. Even if Lidl assures that it is constantly growing, there is a high probability that a radio play you are looking for is not available as a coin. The Toniebox also does not offer the option of simply uploading new episodes to Tonies that have already been purchased.
The SpeakerBuddy could quickly become insufficient and still make it necessary to buy a Toniebox or Tigerbox. Parents should therefore talk to their children in advance to find out whether the offer is sufficient.
Conclusion: This is what music boxes for children can do
| Tony’s tonie box | Tigermedia Tigerbox | Silvercrest SpeakerBuddy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price – box | 99.95 euros | 99.99 euros | 49.99 euros |
| Prize – radio play/music | 16.99 euros | 5.99 – 19.99 euros | 7.99 euros |
| streaming option | – | 9.99 euros for one month 74.99 euros for twelve months | – |
| selection | 300+ Tonies | 10,000+ titles in the streaming offer | 40+ coins |
| steering | About buttons and touch | Via touch display | About buttons |
| apartment | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| battery life | up to 7 hours | 6-8 hours | 10 hours |
| charging port | proprietary | USB-C | USB-C |
| headphone output | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Jukeboxes are the modern way for children to be able to select and play radio plays and songs themselves. Which model is worthwhile for whom depends on the requirements and the budget. The SpeakerBuddy at Lidl is a bit cheaper in comparison, but it also has the smallest offer by far. The Toniebox is the established big player with a large selection and great figures – but also high prices. The Tigerbox with its streaming offer represents a middle way, which is also more expensive to buy, but offers a huge selection for less money. Compared to the other two competitors, however, it is less suitable for small children.
Sources
- Lidl.de (accessed November 2, 2022)
- Tigermedia (accessed November 2, 2022)
- Tonies (accessed November 2, 2022)