May 102013
Sangean WR-2 Digital AM/FM Tabletop Radio, Walnut
- Compact tabletop AM/FM radio with walnut-finished wooden enclosure and front-firing 3-inch speaker
- 7-watt amplifier and acoustic bass compensation system deliver warm, room-filling audio
- Advanced RF/IF electronic circuitry clearly reproduces distant AM/FM stations
- Full-range adjustable treble and bass controls; Radio Data System (RDS) support
- Auxiliary input jack for connecting iPod or MP3 player; measures 9.5 by 4.5 by 6 inches (W x H x D)
Digital AM/FM Table Top Receiver designed to provide exceptional audio reproduction utilizing a special acoustically balanced enclosure combined with a enhanced frequency response speaker and Sangean’s advanced audio circuitry providing the sound and features of a large home stereo system.Boasting an acoustically balanced wooden enclosure and an enhanced front-firing 3-inch speaker, the Sangean WR-2 tabletop radio offers the sound and features of a living room system in a cabinet that fits conve
List Price: $ 169.00
Price: $ 110.62
Warm Speaker Sound and Great AM,
This is a very appealing clock radio with digital readout that gives you name of song, artist, and other information as you listen. The mono aural speaker is warm and full. The radio is attractive, solid and well-built, evincing nothing cheap or plastic-laden. The AM is very good. Most FM stations come in strong. But hard-to-get FM stations like 89.3 from Pasadena (I live 40 miles away in Torrance) requires that I move the FM antenna, but this is not a big deal, just a nitpick.
Most listeners will love the WR-2. But if you’re a radio buff like I am and enjoy the outstanding FM reception of the Grundig S350, the Kaito 1101 and 1103 models (called Degen in China), then I’m afraid the WR-2 will disappoint. To be fair to the WR-2, the more expensive Bose radio suffers the same problem of mediocre FM reception.
Another important point: Because this radio has a remote control, it works great in your computer office. You can keep the WR-2 six feet or so away from your computer and avoid interference as you toggle stations and volume with your remote.
Post Script: Make sure to turn on the external antenna switch in the back of the Sangean. It improves reception by tenfold.
Update: I bought a second WR-2 (in black) three years after the first and get excellent FM reception so apparently the radio has improved in newer models. New rating: 5 stars.
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Attractive and rich sound,
I researched a lot of clock radios, including models from Tivoli, Boston Acoustic, Cambridge Soundworks, Bose, Proton/Sangean, and decided on this unit for the following reasons: stereo headphone jack; line in for MP3; front(vs. top-mounted) 3″ speaker; programmable, digital tuning; digital clock. To my mind, it is oxymoronic to expect stereo speakers on a compact clock radio–the unit is on my night table and I am not sure how I can perceive stereo separation given that configuration; however, I do desire stereo headphone capability, which the unit delivers. When I lived in New Hampshire, I had very few stations to listen to, owing to poor reception, in spite of the external FM antenna. Now that I am in the metro Boston area, I do not find reception to be an issue. I have never been able to set my clock automatically with the RDS, but the other features, i.e. song title, artist, radio station work satisfactorily. I think the sound of the unit is superb, but it would be interesting to do a side by side aural compare with some of the above-mentioned units.
A couple of complaints:
1)Alarm set/disable is needlessly complicated. Yes, I know how to do it, but any system that requires you to consult the user’s manual for a refresher on how to disable the alarm…well, all I can say is give me a toggle switch (virtual or otherwise).
2) The display defaults to the radio frequency. I think this is ill-considered: I rarely change stations, so I know what I’m listening to; on the other hand, I don’t know what time it is until I toggle to time on the display. I don’t get that.
The other day my wife and I were busy with a project in the bedroom–installing Container Store closet systems–and I played my Dell Jukebox MP3 player through the unit. I have to say, it really delivered; the sound quality was quite high.
All in all I am very pleased with this purchase and do believe it gives me all that I want–good sound, compact design, nice appearance–at a reasonable price.
Dick
Sharon, MA
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Warm Speaker Sound and Great AM,
This is a very appealing clock radio with digital readout that gives you name of song, artist, and other information as you listen. The mono aural speaker is warm and full. The radio is attractive, solid and well-built, evincing nothing cheap or plastic-laden. The AM is very good. Most FM stations come in strong. But hard-to-get FM stations like 89.3 from Pasadena (I live 40 miles away in Torrance) requires that I move the FM antenna, but this is not a big deal, just a nitpick.
Most listeners will love the WR-2. But if you’re a radio buff like I am and enjoy the outstanding FM reception of the Grundig S350, the Kaito 1101 and 1103 models (called Degen in China), then I’m afraid the WR-2 will disappoint. To be fair to the WR-2, the more expensive Bose radio suffers the same problem of mediocre FM reception.
Another important point: Because this radio has a remote control, it works great in your computer office. You can keep the WR-2 six feet or so away from your computer and avoid interference as you toggle stations and volume with your remote.
Post Script: Make sure to turn on the external antenna switch in the back of the Sangean. It improves reception by tenfold.
Update: I bought a second WR-2 (in black) three years after the first and get excellent FM reception so apparently the radio has improved in newer models. New rating: 5 stars.
Was this review helpful to you?
