Sangean WFR-20 WiFi Internet Radio & Media Player
by Sangean
List Price:
Our Price: $224.36
You Save: $74.64 (25%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $220.76 (click here)
Category: CE
See more digital camera details and other models
Digital product summary information
Manufacturer: SangeanModel: WFR-20
Color: High-gloss piano black
Product features:
- Wired or wireless connection
- Infrared remote control
- Large, easy to read 3 line display
- High quality full-range stereo speakers
- Play your music collection from your computer
Digital camera reviews of Sangean WFR-20 WiFi Internet Radio & Media Player
Digital camera Review: A Slightly Mixed Blessing
Summary: 4 Stars
Internet Radio is a very useful medium, and the Sangean seems to be a well-built, good-performing radio. It's good-looking, and its audio quality is adequate, unless you're a critical music listener. If there ever was a bug from backlight noise getting into the headphones, that problem seems to have been solved; on my unit, at least, the headphones work fine. Internet radio is more complicated than ordinary radio, and a bit of technical ability is needed to set the radio up--after that, it is fairly easy to use, at least for preset stations. I also have an Acoustic Energy internet radio, and in general (and despite two years' opportunity for progress) the Sangean works about equally well.
But there are some ways in which this product could be improved. The main unit has just one single control knob--no other switches or push-buttons--so everything has to be done by scrolling through menus. Some reviewers seem to like this (one said it had a certain "zen" quality) but I find it a nuisance, and in practice one has to constantly use the remote control, which has a more normal set of buttons. The remote control imposes its own discipline: for one thing, you have to find it, and then the radio has to be positioned in such a way that the signal from the remote can be received.
A great feature of internet radio is on-demand listening of previously-broadcast programs. The Sangean delivers this feature, but only after a tremendous amount of scrolling through menus with its single knob. If there is a way to set up a push-button on the remote to do this job, I have been unable to find it. What's more, if you want to listen to a program that was broadcast today (rather than yesterday or earlier) you have to download today's new station list. And this requires--would you believe it?--unplugging the radio from the AC wall plug and plugging it in again. Clumsier engineering can scarcely be imagined! In addition, the radio--like other computers--tends to crash occasionally, perhaps because one has issued too many commands in too short a time. Sometimes one gets an error message for no apparent reason, and occasionally the radio fails to boot up when power is turned on. After a certain amount of re-plugging and coaxing it finally comes on. This tends to detract from one's feeling of confidence.
Some of these problems--like having to download each day's station listings--may be inherent in the internet radio medium. But at least it should be possible to perform routine operations without pulling the power plug from the wall! I would guess that in the next few years, internet radios will become smoother and easier to use. Meanwhile the Sangean does a fairly good job, and it is probably as good as anything you can buy at this time.
Summary of Sangean WFR-20 WiFi Internet Radio & Media Player
Listen to over 10,000 Internet Radio Stations and stored media, wireless or wired, fulll range stereo spkrs.,The Sangean WFR-20 Wi-Fi Internet Radio offers direct access to over 6,000 internet radio stations and 21,242 on-demand streams in 250 locations from 60 genres. This allows you to drill down your search quickly and conveniently from your radio. You can also use your favorite web browser and a computer to search for specific stations and upload those stations to your radios. The "MY Stations" folder allows quick and easy access to your most desired stations. Don't find your favorite internet station on the list? Just submit the station to the website and it will be researched and added to the list, available for all of the current 14,000+ subscribers. Don't have a computer? Not a problem with the WFR-20. It still provides you access to the same internet radio stations and is designed to work as a completely independent stand alone unit anywhere in your home, office or dorm. All you need is a broadband internet connection and a wired or wireless router. Used in conjunction with your wired/wireless networked computer and Windows Media Player you have full access to your digital media library using the UPnP Server, or simply your Microsoft Shared File Folder function in MP3, AAC, WMA, FLAC, Real Media, and AIFF formats.
Radios
Cameras and Photo
Most talked about in Sangean
Sangean WFT-1 Internet Radio Component TunerSangean; Sangean; Sangean; Electronics; Receiver or Amplifier
Price in other shops:
Sangean DT-180 AM / FM Pocket ReceiverSangean; CE
Price in other shops:
Sangean DT-220A AM/ FM Stereo Pocket Size Radio with Self-Storage HeadphonesSangean; CE
Price in other shops:
Sangean AM/ FM Stereo/ SW 1?10 Analog Tuning Worldband RadioSangean; Apparel
C. Crane Sonido RadioSangean; Release date: 2006-09-29; CE
Price in other shops:
Sangean SR-3 AM/ FM Pocket Size ReceiverSangean; CE
Best price: $20.15
Price in other shops:
Sangean America DT-210 DT-210 AM/ FM Digital Tuning Pocket RadioSangean; Sangean; Sangean; Electronics; Network Media Player
Best price: $39.84
Price in other shops:
Sangean ATS-505P FM Stereo/ MW/ LW/ SW PLL Synthesized World ReceiverSangean; CE
Best price: $107.59
Price in other shops:
Sangean AM/ FM Multi Powered Water Resistant Emergency Crank RadioSangean; Apparel
Sangean WFR-1 Table-Top WiFi Internet Radio with FM-RDS (Dark Brown)Sangean; Sangean; Sangean; Electronics; Receiver or Amplifier
Best price: $239.00
Price in other shops:
Similar digital cameras
Grace Digital GDI-IR2500 Wi-Fi Internet radio Featuring Pandora, NPR On-Demand, Sirius and i-Heart RadioGrace Digital; Grace Digital Audio; Grace Digital; Electronics; Speakers
Best price: $106.65
Price in other shops:
Sangean CL-100 Table Top Public Alert Certified S.A.M.E. Weather Hazard Alert RadioSangean; Release date: 2010-06-16; CE
Price in other shops:
Clore Automotive JNC660 1700 Peak amp 12-Volt Jump StarterClore; Clore Automotive; Clore; Misc.; Automotive Parts and Accessories
Best price: $118.00
Price in other shops:
Logitech Squeezebox Radio Music Player with Color Screen (Black)Logitech, Inc; Logitech; Logitech, Inc; Electronics; Speakers
Best price: $149.99
Price in other shops: