Sangean WFR-28 Rechargeable Portable WiFi Internet Radio
Our radio station began streaming after much research into “best methods” and “least proprietary” so we could reach the most people. We purchased a “Logitech Squeezebox” internet radio for giveaway at our local community expo to celebrate the new service, and had a great response to that contest. Meanwhile, I needed something a bit more “portable” for our remotes when we're in “iffy” signal areas for FM without using a smartphone, and hoped to find a radio with good sound and nice features. I found it in this Sangean WFR-28
FM reception: quite good for reasonable distance from high powered stations, even under the blanket of our 5kw of AM and 250 watts of FM (translator) at our studios. I have not tried the FM tuner outside our blanket of RF, but can only imagine it gets even better.
Sound: Excellent for a small radio! Perfect for bedside, kitchen, wherever you may have previously enjoyed stations on a PC but don't want to be tied to the laptop or PC for listening! It has settings for equalization so you can tailor the sound, including separate bass, treble and even the old “loudness” contour on/off. Very nice. No complaints on sound. It's not a hugely powerful amplifier, but more than enough for background in a normal sized room, especially with the EQ set for more than “flat”.
Versatility: If the volume is not enough, there's a “line out” 1/8” stereo jack, and what's really neat is this comes separate from the headphones out! You can feed an external amp and enjoy full stereo from internet stations independent of the volume and headphones. Also adding to the versatility is the stereo “line in” which renders in nice “mono” on the radio's speaker and this is selectable from the “mode” button, so no constant plugging and unplugging is needed! This is a nice change from many radios offered these days where the audio source is switched by the physical plugging-in of a device, and this also means longer life from the “aux in” jack.
Display: Easily readable, while adjustable for contrast, I've left this at factory preset.
Presets: Like most radios, dedicated to the “function” at the time. For instance, all the FM's are at once, all the “internet” ones are at once, cannot intermix function presets. (this would be a nice update in software, someday.) You can, however through the online registration add new stations easily, and can store them in your own nameable banks, like “international” or “local” or “Michigan” and still put them in as presets from each of those categories!
FM antenna: Nice “bold” diameter at bottom, well made.
Time update: Automatic through FM (limited areas, assumed..since this would be an RDS service) but did well on our “normal” network automatically and quickly when turned on!
Not yet tested:
USB audio player with protected top-mounted plug in (rubber seals out day to day dirt)....
Rechargeable batteries. It has this option for NiMH and built in charger. Charges through AC adapter automatically.
Setup: takes a bit of patience, but once you get the feel of when to use the “tuning knob” on the side and when to use “forward/backward” buttons, adding your secure network info takes only a few minutes, but needs to be done for each network, even if the passwords are the same. (not really any different than a standard PC in this regard.)
The unit held its memory of stations even with no power and no batteries, so once its set, no worries of transporting without batteries or reasonable periods without power. (longest time without power here is one day, by the way and all memory was held.)
Hoping for long life out of this unit, and will be getting the batteries to have for times when no AC is available.
Overall: Excellent “first” and very versatile FM radio with 'net capabilities. GREAT to have for travel if your local station is on the web, or if you work in a place with limited reception of FM signals.
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From the manufacturer
Established in 1974
SANGEAN Electronics has been engineering and manufacturing world band radios, portable pocket radio equipment, and other advanced audio equipment for over 40 years.
SANGEAN Electronics has established a reputation for manufacturing the highest quality and performance products in the consumer electronics industry. We’ll continue to strive for the best to achieve maximum success for our customers.
The Quintessential SANGEAN Experience on a Modern Retake
SANGEAN WFR-28
What comes to your mind when you think of a classic SANGEAN radio? Good signal reception, reliable hardware, or a straightforward user interface? If these are your answers, then the new WFR-28 will not disappoint you! It also comes with some extra tricks up its sleeve that make radio relevant in the modern era.
Here are a few specs we’d like to toss around:
- Internet Radio with Over 15000 Stations
- Built-in Dual Band WiFi Antenna
- iOS & Android Compatible
- Spotify Integration
- USB MP3 Playback (AAC+/WMA compatible)
- 7 Default EQs and 1 Customizable EQ Setting
- 2.4” High Resolution TFT LCD Display
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Access 15,000+ Stations WorldwideWith Frontier Silicone as the portal, you can seamlessly access countless radio stations and podcasts from around the world. Save your favorite stations under “My Favorites” on the radio menu. |
Your Music, Your ChoiceComes with 7 EQ settings, including Flat/Jazz/Rock/Movie/Pop/News and one customized EQ to adjust the bass and treble level. |
iOS & Android App ControlControl the radio functions from anywhere within the vicinity of your Wi-Fi network. Control the station, source selection, volume and a bunch of other settings from the other side of the room. Works on both Android and iOS. |
Compare with similar items
This Item  Sangean WFR-28 Internet Radio / FM-RBDS / USB / Network Music Player Digital Receiver with Color Display |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | — | $69.95 | $79.99 | -12% $119.99 List: $136.98 | -6% $169.99 List: $179.99 | $119.99 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Monday, May 6 | Get it as soon as Monday, May 6 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 8 | — | — |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| User interface | ||||||
| Sound quality | ||||||
| Sleep mode | ||||||
| Remote Control | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| Sold By | — | LEMEGA US | OceanDigital Tech | C. Crane | Grace Digital Factory Direct | OceanDigital Tech |
| power source | Battery Powered | DC | Battery Powered | Corded Electric | AC | AC |
| supported bands | 5 tire | FM | FM | Internet Radio Only | 2-Band, 5-Band | FM |
| connectivity tech | Wireless | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, IR | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| hardware interface | usb | usb, 3 5 mm audio | usb c, 3 5 mm audio | 802 11 bgn | 802 11 acbgn, bluetooth 5, ethernet | 3 5 mm audio, bluetooth |
| display type | VFD | TFT | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD |
| frequency | 108 MHz | — | 108 MHz | — | 108 MHz | 108 MHz |
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Sangean WFR-28 Rechargeable Portable Wi-Fi Internet Radio
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Close enough to perfect
I am a late convert to the wonder that is internet radio. Living as I do in a rural area, radio reception is kinda sketchy, and even my beloved Sangean PR-D5 can't pick up everything consistently. For that matter, my mighty CCrane CCRadio 2e has issues with some stations, in particular the lower power FM affiliate that carries our local AAA baseball games.What to do? Well, internet radio is the obvious choice, but an Echo Dot isn't exactly portable, and a tablet's tiny, tinny speakers aren't robust enough. But a portable internet radio? One like the PR-D5? That would be the perfect choice, wouldn't it? Well, yes, actually, it would, and that's what you have here with the WFR-28:* A perfectly suitable digital FM tuner, for the times you just need an FM tuner.* An internet radio player, for all those other times.* A seemingly infinitely expandable Favorites list, via Frontier Nuvola.* An mp3 player, for heaven's sake...plug in your USB thumb drive and play your own stuff.* An AUX port...listen to various and sundry through your big speakers.* Built-in Spotify, if you're a subscriber.* A line out jack. Haven't figured what to use this for yet, maybe for a recorder?* A mobile app, UNDOK, which serves as a remote control for the Internet Radio.* And of course it can serve as an alarm clock if you want it to.It does all of these things, and it sounds good doing it. Looks good too, as all the Sangean products do. As I noted, I still love my PR-D5 (in the included picture, the WFR-28 is at left, my over ten year old PR-D5 is at right) and will probably continue using it forever...but...I mean, internet Radio! Like Steely Dan says in their song "FM"...no static at all! It's a whole new world opening up. Thousands upon thousands of stations from across the globe loaded with content I could not even have dreamed of. Better still, you have the ability to create lists and sublists of favorites, just like your radio was a web browser!But don't think by these glowing notices that the WFR-28 is perfect. It isn't. For one thing, the manual is...let's say, lacking. I get it, things change, and features available in Europe might not work in the US. But some of the things listed do not appear on my own machine. A Brightness menu, for example. Or a backlight timer. Also, the font size on the display is so small, those of us with failing vision may have to don readers to see it. Sure would be nice if it could be adjusted.But these are minor gripes. It's close enough to perfect. Add to all of this the fact that it uses standard D batteries. What's more, you can opt for rechargeables...and the radio will charge them if it's plugged in! To me, this sort of thing is all amazingly cool. This is one of those things we were promised when we entered the Space Age (along with a jet pack, which I am still waiting for.)Sangean has done a very nice job with this unit, and I'm glad I opted for it. Being a Sangean, I expect I will eventually be handing it down to my son to enjoy many years from now.
Top reviews from other countries
Mauro Castillo
Un producto de nicho, extremadamente raro.
Reviewed in Mexico on May 4, 2019
Mauro Castillo
Reviewed in Mexico on May 4, 2019
Por un lado, es un buen radio, con el añadido que es capaz de reproducir radio por Internet
Por el otro, creo que es la única empresa que hace este tipo de radios...
Y es ahí donde esta el problema, no tengo con que compararlo.
- Es mas caro que un teléfono sencillo al que le instales una aplicación de radio por Internet y absurdamente mas costoso que un radio "normal"
- Es mucho muy barato en comparación con un equipo Hi-Fi
Y es ahí el problema, para poder recomendar este tipo de productos puesto que no se le puede recomendar a cualquiera.
Los acabados son exquisitos, los botones y la mayoría de las funciones han sido pensadas con amor, funcionan de manera clara y precisa.
La forma en la que reproduce la música es exquisita, se escucha fenomenal, tanto con la bocina como con los audífonos, pero no dice que sea Hi-Res por ningún lado.
Se escucha muy bien pero no puede reproducir formatos de música lossnes, puro lossy, no he tenido problemas con MP3 a 320 kbps, de todos modos tampoco tiene sentido que sea Hi-Res si de cualquier forma las estaciones de radio trasmiten a una completamente aberrante e inaceptable calidad de 32 kbps y en MP3
Al final no me arrepiento de mi compra, si quieres un radio fifí con la habilidad de reproducir tu estación favorita por cualquier medio, FM o Internet la cual escuchas varias horas al día , este es tu radio.
Se aprovecha mucho mejor si escuchas radios por Internet en "alta definición" (Los cuales ni existen, son formato lossy, que no te engañen amigo, pero busca estaciones que trasmitan por lo menos a 256 kbps)
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Gurbir Singh
A must have connect to the world
Reviewed in India on October 31, 2019Gergan
- the radio use alkaline or rechargeable batteries - the speaker is very good, clear voice
Reviewed in Canada on January 14, 2017
