What I like about Sangean is that, unlike most radios that are built cheaply, Sangean offers high build quality, especially its Sangean WR-2. Now Sangean is offering another table top radio, the WR-11. Unlike the digital WR-2, the WR-11 is analog and should offer strong competition to the Tivoli Model One.
You can buy the WR-11 as a pre-order for $89.99 on J&R. It should be available in mid-September.
My thanks to Tom for the update.
I wonder if it's a WR-1 with only cosmetic changes.
The J&R website's description even refers to the new radio as "the WR-1".
Posted by: Mike W | August 28, 2008 at 06:10 AM
J&R apparently cut and pasted the WR-1/WR-11 typo from Sangean's own site :
http://www.sangean.com/product.php?model=WR-11&prod_id=57
Posted by: Mike W | August 28, 2008 at 06:13 AM
A rebadged WR-1 with a new look? That's terrible since the WR-1 is known to have substandard AM.
Let's hope they stuck the PR-D5's AM antenna in that thing. Otherwise, it's a dog.
Posted by: jeffrey McMahon | August 28, 2008 at 08:23 AM
On the Sangean USA website, all references to the WR-1 have been removed. So the new WR-11 does replace the WR-1 and frankly I could care less how the radio performs on the AM HATE RADIO band. The review of the WR-1 on Amazon have been very very positive.
I noticed that Sangean fixed the on/off sequence on the new WR-11 (Off, FM and then AM). I will call Sangean today and get the scoop on this radio.
Posted by: Tom Welch | August 28, 2008 at 09:09 AM
Tom, I listen to sports radio 710 and 830 so I've got to have my AM.
Also Leo Leporte, the Tech Guy, is on 640 as is Dr. Dean Edell. AM is a lot more than the vitriol of hate-mongers.
Posted by: jeffrey McMahon | August 28, 2008 at 09:17 AM
Must...resist...the...urge to ...buy.
Hey, on LA AM we have KTLK, as well as KGO SF 810 on better receivers at night. Mike Malloy is a hoot.
Posted by: Ed | August 28, 2008 at 09:40 AM
My mother who lives in Bay Area said there has been a huge scandal on KGO. Some host was taken off the air for sordid charges I don't care to mention on this blog.
Am I missing a lot on KTLK? I never listen to it.
Posted by: jeffrey McMahon | August 28, 2008 at 09:59 AM
I just got off the phone with Sangean USA, the WR-11 (Eleven) is basically the same radio as the WR-1 but will only be available in Walnut, as opposed to Walnut, black and clear.
The WR-11 will be stores by mid September.
Posted by: Tom Welch | August 28, 2008 at 10:12 AM
I'd love to know if its AM, if the same as the WR-1's, is as bad as those Amazon reviews say it is.
Posted by: jeffrey McMahon | August 28, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Tom, to make sure my memory served me well, I looked at the Amazon reviews again and this time I didn't see the weak AM comments, so perhaps its AM is fine after all. One reviewer even wrote that its AM was better than his Tivoli Model One.
Posted by: jeffrey McMahon | August 28, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Tom, I remember now: Ulis of RadioIntel told me the AM was weak, but he never tested it; his friend Rus did.
I've got 50 dollars of Amazon coupons. When it's available on Amazon (I assume through J&R for 90 dollars), I should be able to get it for 40 dollars and I'll do a review.
Posted by: jeffrey McMahon | August 28, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Jeff: I plan to buy the WR-11 next month, may be my last radio...but I've said that many many times before.
I noticed that the Sangean DT-400W continues to get positive reviews on Amazon.
Posted by: Tom Welch | August 28, 2008 at 10:54 AM
I'll make sure to test my WR-11 in the piano room where there's no interference. I've learned my lesson.
Posted by: jeffrey McMahon | August 28, 2008 at 11:15 AM
hey, how do you get amazon coupons? thanks.
Posted by: kr | August 28, 2008 at 11:40 AM
KR,
I have an Amazon Visa credit card, which accumulates points toward coupons. Since I do a lot of Amazon shopping, it works for me.
Posted by: jeffrey McMahon | August 28, 2008 at 11:48 AM