Sangean WR-2 Digital AM/FM Tabletop Radio, Black

by Sangean

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6 x 5 inches ; 5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0009ZAA42
• Item model number: WR-2 Black
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,045 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #90 in Electronics > Portable Audio & Video > Radios

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

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 conveniently in a bedroom, kitchen, or garage. Any discussion of the WR-2 begins with its black wooden housing, which is rich in both appearance and tone. The cabinet's front surface features the speaker on the left side, a series of intuitively placed control buttons toward the bottom, and a generously sized LCD display in the middle with three brightness levels. More importantly, the cabinet teams with the 7-watt amplifier and the acoustic bass compensation system to add warmth and depth to the audio. Complementing the housing is Sangean's advanced RF/IF electronic circuitry, which picks up distant AM and FM stations and reproduces them with unmatched clarity, making music and even talk programs come alive.

Even though the WR-2 is advertised as an AM/FM radio, it offers much more than a standard digital tuner, including a Radio Data System (RDS) that displays short text messages on applicable FM stations, along with support for the Enhanced Other Network (EON) and its traffic information (available in certain regions). And unlike most tabletop radios, the WR-2 lets listeners adjust the treble and bass levels via the variable volume control. In its default mode, the rotary volume knob displays the volume level from 1 to 60. Tap it once, however, and it turns into a full-range treble control, and two taps creates a full-range bass control. Additional features include a clock with an alarm (radio or buzzer), an auxiliary input jack for connecting such devices as an iPod or MP3 player (both of which sound great through the speaker), a recording output jack, 10 memory presets that help you quickly find your favorite stations, and a full-featured infrared remote control.

A final bonus stems from the power backup function, which plays the radio for six minutes during a power failure (great for emergencies) and retains the memory preset and clock values for about an hour. The WR-2 measures roughly 9.5 by 4.5 by 6 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 5.5 pounds.

What's in the Box
WR-2 tabletop radio, detachable power cord, infrared remote control, user's manual.

Product Description

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.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

147 of 148 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Warm Speaker Sound and Great AM, August 20, 2005

By 

M. JEFFREY MCMAHON "herculodge" (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sangean WR-2 Digital AM/FM Tabletop Radio, Black (Electronics)

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.

56 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent FM reception, November 18, 2005

By 

Matt (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sangean WR-2 Digital AM/FM Tabletop Radio, Black (Electronics)

I got the WR-2 from Amazon a week ago. Since the previous reviewer stated the reception is mediocre on FM, I was really worried about the reception for my favorite station, 105.3 MHz, at my apartment. I have several high-end radios, SONY SW77, ICF-2010CGrundig Sat 700 and Sat 800. Both SW77 and ICF-2010 receive the station with a high distortion using the built-in antenna. The reception of Sat 700 and 800 are better, but the signal is somehow unstable with the stereo and RDS (Sat 700) signals flashing. With the included external antenna, the WR-2 can deliver a clear, warm and full sound from this station with stable stereo and RDS signals.

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, elegant, powerful radio. "It just works.", January 22, 2007

By 

Keith Knipling (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sangean WR-2 Digital AM/FM Tabletop Radio, Black (Electronics)

I was looking for a simple, powerful alarm radio, that also accepts AUX in (for iPods, etc.). The three primary radios I considered were the Sangean WR-2, Tivoli Audio Model One, and Boston Acoustics Receptor. Compact size, simplicity, and audio quality were my primary criteria. I looked at the Tivoli and Boston Acoustics "hands on" in a Target. I was quite disappointed with the Tivoli - seemed very cheaply made. The Boston Acoustics felt more solid, but the entire thing is plastic. I bought the Sangean sight unseen, but must say it is clearly superior to the competition. Build quality is exceptional and very solid - high quality wood and metal. The controls are intuitive and the remote is compact, yet fully functional. Audio quality is unmatched. The Sangean supports preset stations (which the Tivoli does not) and features a rich display that the other radios lack (including name of song, artist, and other information).

The Sangean is an elegant and handsome radio that has met all of my expectations. I expect to buy one for the office and maybe a third for the kitchen.