Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

I've become frustrated with the poor quality of radios in clock radios. We really enjoy listening to the news when we wake in the morning, and the poor sound quality and reception of the clock radios you'd find at Best Buy or Target makes them unacceptable choices.

Based upon the stellar reviews this Sangean radio received, I decided to give it a shot. And the radio doesn't disappoint! The reception is far better than any other clock radio I've had in recent years; the sound quality is amazing for everything from jazz to news.

The user interface for the alarm, however, is amazingly byzantine. The process of setting (and turning off) the alarm is so convoluted, I need to refer to the manual each time I change it. Setting the alarm, for example, requires that two different buttons be pressed in sequence, and for different lengths of time, before you set the time for the alarm! Turning off the alarm requires the same sequence, until you get the alarm icon blinking, which - after two seconds, disappears - indicating that the alarm is off. Bizarre.

The clock itself gets short shrift in the design. It's difficult to read from an angle (such as on the bedside table), and the clock isn't the default when the radio is on; you actually need to press the display button to bring up the clock. So, when you awake to the radio in the morning, the Sangean thinks you'd rather know what frequency you're on than what time it is.

I don't see enough critiques of this convoluted alarm process in these reviews. I imagine that may be due to the compelling quality and sound of the radio. It's fantastic! So, if you're planning on purchasing this clock radio principally as a radio, go for it! But, if you need the clock and alarm functions, you may want to look for another option.

My old alarm clock radio recently bit the dust, so I started a search for an upgrade. I initially looked at the Bose, but stumbled upon Sangean radios. I usually listen to NPR and jazz in the evening, and the Sangean seemed to fit the bill. Plus, I really like the design. And the price. Amazon got it to me in 3 days with free shipping, and I haven't been disappointed with the radio's performance. It has great sound, and the remote control is great for the other side of the bed (when you don't want to reach over your partner to turn it off).

A couple of things to consider, however. The backlight on the readout is adjustable, but the lowest setting is a bit bright for a dark room. Fortunately, the brightness control is right on the front. I just turn off the backlight before drifting off to sleep. The backlight also has separate setting for when the radio is "off" and "on." Another thing. The radio does not display the time when it is on. This is so broadcast digital data can display while playing (e.g., for stations with data broadcasting, the display scrolls the name of the station, title of the song, etc.). It would be nice to see the time when you wake up (and after you hit snooze a few times), but it's not a big deal. Just touch the "display" button on the front, and the radio switches to display the time. We also have an analog clock on the opposite bedside table. And yes, there is a snooze function (5 min.), although the product info doesn't mention it. You activate it by touching any of the buttons on the front. Sangean has also thoughtfully designed the alarm volume to gradually increase as it comes on, so you aren't jolted awake.

All said, I would recommend this radio. It looks great and performs well. For the price, I'd say it's a great buy.

I've owned the Boston Acoustics Receptor radio for about a year, and knew that any other competing table radio would have some big shoes to fill. This Sangean WR-2, now for an even lower cost than the Receptor, is a more-than-adequate contender. In fact, given the choice to keep just one of these two, I'd go with the WR-2. The sound is amazing, even at flat EQ levels (i.e. the default tone settings). But with a pretty impressive range of bass and treble adjustments, this unit provides very crisp sound with a substantive amount of bass to back it up.

The RDS feature is charming, the clock and alarm options are on-par with with the Receptor, and the AM/FM reception is, in my very unscientific testing, the same as BA's radio. This WR-2 is a little bigger, but the finish and appearance more than compensate for that. The I/O's on the rear of the unit offer a record-out jack, which the Receptor doesn't. I'm not sure I'll ever find the application and determination to use it, but it's a pleasure to know it's there.

This unit, like just about everything else made today, has a standard 1/8 inch input jack that will play any audio device you can hook up to it, though marketed almost exclusively to MP3 players and iPods. And, like just about everything else made today with this kind of input, the volume you get from your battery-operated audio device is silly; so soft you're required to turn both units up to at least 75% for audability. But that's to be expected. A far better use for this input, however, is a more robust device, say your DVD player via a simple RCA stereo-to-mono 1/8 inch plug. The sound is full and abundant, and through this radio in aux mode, sounds terrific even if it's not in stereo.

Perhaps my favorite feature on the WR-2, and what gives this an easy lead over the Receptor, is the full-function remote. You can set this unit up across the room from your bed and still use the remote to turn off the alarm in the morning.

I bought the white finish model, and while is looks great, I've found myself wondering if the wood-finished one would've looked better. That's entirely subjective, though, and at the end of the day, I'd love this radio regardless of what it looked like.

The cost is absolutely a value for this radio, and I'm now trying to convince myself that there's somewhere else in the house that could use a great radio so I can buy another one.

I just bought the WR-2 in white finish for a bathroom remodel that I am finishing up. I already have one with walnut finish, purchased almost three years ago. The sound quality and features are about as good as you could find on a radio these days. Reception on the AM band is very good - something missing in most radios for the last several decades. Having jacks for both auxiliary input and output is great, enabling mp3 player playback and recording. The remote works as intended, but is small and easily misplaced (I probably won't need it in the bathroom). Separate backlight dimmer settings for ON and OFF is a nice feature. The RDS is useful as well. While the white finish on the new unit will blend nicely with ceramic tile, the walnut finish is more attractive/appropriate for most applications. This radio is fairly heavy, which I think reflects it's quality.

As has been mentioned in other reviews, it's not the most straightforward design for clock setting or other user settings - don't loose the manual. Also, the clock tends to run a little fast. But I bought this as a radio - not a clock or alarm clock, so that's why I give it 5 stars.

We live in a rather dead area for FM reception and unfortunately, this included our favorite easy-listening FM station. I wish I had a refund for every FM radio we have purchased only to find the reception very bad and full of static. The Sangean WR-2 solved our problem - reception is great, tone is superb. Well worth every penny.

After being disappointed with my HD radio experimentations, I decided on this white Sangean -- my decision being based largely on the customer reviews here. I'm very pleased: sound as good as "HD" as far as I'm concerned. I can't believe people buy radios like that flimsy Boston Acoustics Receptor thing.

I use the the WR-2 in the bedroom, where the adjustable brightness is ideal. Overall, well built, great sound, large display, handy remote. Solid. What else do you need? The white model is very sharp.

But was hesitant ordering a white WR-2 when the classic wood grain version had been around longer with so many satisfied owners. Reading one reviewer's post that the cabinet is not solid wood (instead wood veneer over particleboard) boosted my confidence but I still feared the possibility of ending up with a WR-2 with a white but cheesy finish. Buying things over the internet without touching and handling in person can be risky. Having recently unboxed my new WHITE WR-2, I am writing to say I am overwhelmingly pleased with my decision; you couldn't pay me to take the wood grain cabinet now. You would never know the cabinet is wood other than the solid weight and feel of the radio; the finish appears to be a high grade white plastic (presumably with wood underneath). Absolutely Beautiful!

Originally I was shopping for the CC radio (made popular by advertising on Art Bell's program) but after reading reviews that identified problems with the display and memory buttons decided to review all radios I was able to find online (there are hundreds) and pick the best to meet my needs. I chose the WR-2 because it is fairly unique not having any buttons or knobs on the top or sides and advertised as having decent AM reception (I mostly use my radio bedside and listen for about an hour as I fall asleep at night and only rarely as an alarm clock. I will post again after I have a chance to become more critical of it's features and possible shortcomings. For now I'm still dazzled with the appearance and simple layout of controls/features that according to my extensive internet search are relatively unique to this particular handsome radio.

I had read all the reviews and decided to buy one of these for my dad (in silver). He absolutely loves it, but it is true that he looks at another clock at night for the time. He turns the backlight off on this clock.

I decided to get one for myself (white), and when it arrived I was stoked. It sounds fantastic, it's of a really good quality, etc. Too bad I can't sleep with it in my bedroom! The reviews complaining about the backlight are dead-on. The lowest-level backlight keeps me awake at night and casts an eerie light on the room (imagine going to bed with your computer monitor on). The mid-level backlight is bright enough to wake me up before the radio sound does.

And this brings me to my only other complaint: When you wake up to the radio, you cannot see the time. If you're the type who wants to lay in bed and listen to the news for a few minutes, you had better hope they tell you what time it is.

This is an awesome radio, but I'm considering selling it (too late to return it at this point). Unless I buy myself another clock to look at in the dark, I simply won't get any sleep.

Recently I had to "give up" on a 35 year old KLH radio that was magnificent. After looking at several products, I purchased the WR-2 Sangean. Very compact, very clean lines, outstanding sound for a radio of this size - and it can be accessed either "manually" or by remote. It's pick-up of remote FM stations is as good as I've found in our location. A very, very nice radio especially or the modest price.