Sangean WFR-20 WiFi Internet Radio & Media Player by Sangean
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Digital camera reviews of Sangean WFR-20 WiFi Internet Radio & Media Player
Digital camera Review: A good quality radio
Summary: 5 Stars
I have just recently purchased a Sangean WFR-20. Here are my initial thoughts. (I will update this posting with additional information, if necessary).
Sound Quality: Good dynamic response for such a small unit, at both low and high volume levels. The unit has a reflex port on the rear which boosts the bass. There is also a noticeably good stereo separation on high bit-rate streams (e.g Radio Paradise).
Build Quality: Heavy duty case**, very solid and sturdy construction. My only minor criticism is that the 'tuning' knob is slightly wobbly, and taints an otherwise robust design.
Software Quality: The radio uses the Reciva software. This is reliable, but seems a tad buggy. For example, when attempting to load "My Stations" while simultaneously listening to a Podcast, it displays a menu load error; Of course, this is not a fault of the WFR-20 itself, and I am certain that firmware quirks like this will eventually be resolved by future `online' firmware upgrades. The Reciva website is easy to use, and I had no problem registering and setting up my radio's station, stream and podcast lists. The Reciva forums are also a good source of information, for example if you have questions regarding setup, connection to Premium streams etc ...
Usability: I found the navigation of the menu system to be straight-forward, using either the `tuning' knob or the remote control. The instructions are almost redundant because the menu system is quite intuitive. The three line display is sufficient to browse station/tracks lists and the horizontal scrolling feature effectively allows long track names to be displayed. That said, I am aware that some less tech-savvy users might disagree with this analysis; the radio's features are not quite as simple as a normal table-top FM/DAB unit, and the display is not what I would consider to be large, or crystal clear. So beware if your fingers are a little stiff, or your eyesight is a little tired,
Connectivity: I had no problems setting up the WFR-20, on our home network. I use a WRT54G Linksys with WEP in B/G mixed mode. After initial configuration I was able to instantly access, browse and play Internet Radio stations and access my WAV encoded music library (Twonkymedia on an NSLU2).
Cost: The WFR-20 is what I would consider to be an expensive unit, when compared to other Reciva based radios. Shop around, because you may find a bargain!
Conclusion:
I am very happy with the WFR-20. It provides me the access to the BBC listen again/on demand streams, which is the primary reason for the purchase. While expensive, the sound quality is better than I expected and the unit has a definite quality feel ... reminiscent of early transistor radios in Bakelite cases! I would recommend the WFR-20 as a good WiFi table-top radio, with any caveats previously mentioned. Internet Radio is still in its early stages, and I would consider this to be a great table-top radio to enjoy the new technology!
** Regarding the case material: I believed this to be plastic when I first wrote the review, however I stand corrected! (Please see first comment). 11/22/07
Digital camera Review: A very sound investment (sorry about the pun)
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this radio to listen to UK radio (I am an expat living in the US): BBC, Talksport and Virgin (now Absolute) which are all available via the in-built reciva software.
Setting up is easy, sound is very good for a small unit.
The UI could be better but this does not really spoil my enjoyment of the radio.
My expectations were relatively low, I just wanted something more convenient than listening to the radio via my computer and this certainly has hit the spot. I just turn it on, select one of my presets and it starts playing within 5-10 seconds generally. I procrastinated quite a lot about buying this radio but I am very pleased I made the investment.
I can not comment on the other features such as receiving a station not included in the reciva network.
Digital camera Review: A wonderful product
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a British expat in the US. I wanted to listen to what I consider to be the world's best radio station, BBC Radio 4, so I bought this. It was up and running within five minutes of being taken out of the box, it usually connects to stations very quickly, and the sound is superb. I already have a Bose Wave radio which I suspect is not going too get much use any more. I also like being able to listen to BBC programmes after they are broadcast.
I rarely buy electronic gadgets, but this one has tangibly improved the quality of my life.
Digital camera Review: AWESOME RADIO!!!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I just received my radio yesterday, and it took less than 30 minutes to set it up plus setting up an acct with Reciva.com, and I was off and running. Having moved from Calif to the midwest, I am now able to listen to all my old radio stations that I missed terribly without using my computer.
The sound is perfect, I highly recommend this radio to anyone who desires a quality product. camera Review: All that I wanted
Summary: 5 Stars I ordered this radio after doing a great deal of on-line research, frustrated that American retail electronics stores for the most part don't stock internet radios, thus leaving consumers without an opportunity for in-store inspections. The radio arrived this afternoon, I had it configured within minutes of opening the box, and it's playing splendidly in the background as I write this. The sound quality is much better than I expected for this size unit (though I'd hoped for good sound given this price). Another pleasant surprise is that the navigation is much simpler than I'd expected, given the solitary knob that controls everything. AND, this radio performs much better as a media streamer than most products currently on the market for that purpose. After fooling around with radio stations for a while, I started streaming music from my immense collection on a hard drive in another part of the house -- One selling point is that the Sangean can play lossless files in the FLAC format -- On the whole, this item surpassed all my expectations.