A few months ago I wrote a comparison of several clock radios, which I called The Comfort Radio Wars. I argued that the Sangean WR-2, in spite of its less than stellar FM performance, was on balance the best of the bunch when one considers its great AM and night-friendly ergonomics. But two weeks ago I purchased a Boston Acoustics Horizon Solo and was so impressed with the radio's superior FM, AM and speaker sound that I sold my WR-2 and now use the Horizon Solo by my bed and a second one in my work office. The Horizon Solo is the only radio of dozens I've tried that repels office computer interference enough so that I get 90% of the stations I get at home. I still can't get 89.3 KPCC at the office though it's loud and clear at home. Even my officemates, usually indifferent to my radio obsession, want to go out and buy a Horizon Solo. Therefore, I think the overwhelming majority of radio buyers will prefer the $90-99 Horizon Solo to the $135-150 WR-2. What you might miss in the Solo is that it doesn't have individual preset buttons; instead you have to turn a dial and scroll up and down the 20 presets. For me this is no problem, but if you want the best of both worlds, spend the same as you would on the WR-2 and get the upgraded, dual speaker Horizon Solo, called the Horizon Duo. Another item you'll miss in the Horizon Solo that you get in the WR-2 is a remote control. My computer office has so much interference that I like to play my radios a good 6 feet from my desk and that means I prefer a remote. I therefore use my WR-2 in my office and my Horizon Solo by my bed. Speaker Sound While the WR-2 sounds warm and full from its 3-inch speaker, it pales to the lush, resplendent sound of the Horizon Solo. The Solo has a much bigger speaker and you can hear the difference, but also this radio runs fairly hot. The WR-2 keeps cooler. One important caveat regarding the Horizon Solo: There are many reports of bugs, especially regarding the sleep and alarm features. Since I don't use these functions, this is not an issue for me, but I imagine many will want to consider this. Therefore, the Horizon Solo is not for everyone. 
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I have wanted to buy a Solo, but I just recently purchased a Recepter on clearance. The only things that could justify the purchase are the inclusion of tone controls and a headphone jack. Since my Recepter doesn't seem to have any of the bugs that have been reported in the Solo, I guess I'll stick with what I have. I do, after all, use the radio as my clock radio.
Posted by: Scooby214 | September 06, 2008 at 08:52 AM
I've go the Recepter in the kitchen. I rarely use it. My wife uses it. One of my 2 Horizon Solos is in the kitchen also.
The Recepter would make a good bedside radio but it doesn't have a headphone jack.
Posted by: jeffrey McMahon | September 06, 2008 at 09:15 AM
When I owned the BA Recepter, it would not keep accurate time, usually falling 2 minutes behind every month. This would never happen with a Sangean radio.
Posted by: Tom Welch | September 06, 2008 at 11:10 AM
I've heard that the older Recepters were quite bad at keeping accurate time. I have one of the later Recepters. It keeps accurate time. It also has an AUX input, which the older one didn't have.
Perhaps Boston Acoustics doesn't have the best quality around, seeing as the Recepter and the Solo both have issues.
The radios do sound good, though...
Posted by: Scooby214 | September 06, 2008 at 12:58 PM
The Recepter and Solo, especially the Solo, produce big sound. They do a good job of shielding background noise on AM as well.
Posted by: jeffrey McMahon | September 06, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Guess I'm the only one with a BA Duo. Still like it for its full stereo sound, remote control, ipod dock, and 15 presets. And only what, 40 bucks more than a Solo? It was a no-brainer.
Posted by: Ed S. | September 06, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Is the tuner as sensitive as the Solo's? That's the question. Believe me, if I didn't already have a JBL iPod cradle, I would have bought the Duo.
BTW, which radio shack did you find those adapters? The one on PCH or the one at the Galleria?
Posted by: jeffrey McMahon | September 06, 2008 at 02:56 PM
Yes, I had an older BA Recepter.
Posted by: Tom Welch | September 06, 2008 at 03:32 PM
BA told me the same tuner's in the solo and duo.
The RShack on PCH/Beryl....dont all RS's have the same stuff though??
Posted by: Ed S. | September 06, 2008 at 08:40 PM
Ed, I spent a long time inside the Del Amo Radio Shack. Perhaps I'm stupid, but I did not find the adapter you described.
The Solo can be bought for 85; the cheapest I've seen the Duo-iPod is 140. That's a 65 difference. Also the Solo leaves a smaller footprint, especially in the vertical position.
Posted by: jeffrey McMahon | September 06, 2008 at 08:55 PM