This unit has good, not amazing, sound…not bright, not booming, but more balanced than I have heard from sub-$75 Bluetooth speakers, for example. And, distinctly better sound than the Sangean WFR-28 that uses the same Frontier Nuvola (formerly Frontier Silicon) menu structure. Buyers will benefit from CAREFUL reading of the manual to understand options and features. Those seeming an intuitive device with no learning curve are out of luck.
GOOD:
- Better than average sound, without serious flaws.
- Equalizer function allows tailoring sound as you like.
- Wireless Wi-Fi and Ethernet cable Internet connection options.
- Connectors for Line-Out (to amplifier); Headphone jack in rear (front placement would be more convenient), and Auxiliary-In. Standard stuff, but no skimping. The Aux-In lets you connect your phone or other device with a headphone jack using a 3.5mm audio cable.
- USB option for playing MP3 files, but untested by me.
- You can program FAVORITES into the remote. But, read directions carefully.
- Comes with FM tuner (not all Internet radios do). However, the unit is very susceptible to electrical or perhaps Wi-Fi interference. The noise made the tuner unusable in two of three locations I tried.
BAD:
- The SEARCH function by call letters misses many (most?) FM stations in the USA. You can in the menu PERHAPS find a desired station on the Frontier Silicon lists by category. (Or, you can sign in to the Frontier Nuvola Smart Radio website , but the manual has the wrong URL).
- No dedicated buttons for FAVORITES on the radio. You can however press the FAV button. With careful reading of the instructions, you can populate the list with 10 favorites. This works, but you really must follow the directions.
- No ability to use unit as a wireless speaker via Bluetooth, Chromecast, etc. This will be an issue to those who listen to music using apps on their phones or touchpads and do not want to connect via a cable.
- Steep learning curve to get the most from the radio.
OVERALL: ***1/2. Good sound; lacks wireless protocols (BT, Chromecast, etc.) that would make unit more useful. Auna now advertises Spotify Premium capabilities , but I did not test. SEARCH function fails often. Nice unit with 2004 technology. If you buy this or any Internet radio lacking Bluetooth or Chromecast, you better hope that the underlying service provider, in this case Frontier Nuvola, stays in business. The Frontier Nuvola website is s-l-o-w, but it helps you find stations and add and manage favorites that can be shared among radios in the house.
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