Holy Disappointment! Our First Sangean WR-12 Buyer Says It's a Dud!

 

I bought a Sangean WR-12, expected to arrive from Amazon next week, but I may have to return it based on Emmett's initial impressions:

I got my Sangean WR-12 today and, as I suspected, it's not the BlueTooth model that was advertised.  Unfortunately, the missing BlueTooth capability wasn't the only disappointment.  The sound and sensitivity are also very disappointing.  I had hoped the Sangean would be a replacement for my aging Proton 300 as pictured, but it pales in comparison to the old Proton.  

The sound on the Sangean just seems muddled no matter how I adjust the treble and bass.  I have a bit of a cold that I thought maybe affecting my ears, so I asked my daughter what she thought of the sound.  She said it sounded "off."  

As for the tuning, I could not tune in nearly as many channels, in AM or FM, as my Proton.  I made sure it was set to external antenna, and I positioned the antenna every which way and still no improvement.  

When I called for a return label, the customer service rep offered me a discount if I wanted to keep it.  Even at $50 less, I plan to return it.

Maybe I got a dud since it is one of the first off the assembly line.  I am eager to get your thoughts on the Sangean when you receive yours.

Comments

[moogbass]

You guys have saved me the trouble of ordering and returning this lemon. Thank you. My guess is the under performing Sangean was designed by younger engineers simulating the circuit performance using computer software. The electrical engineer gurus that actually knew the craft of radio circuit design are either retired or deceased. I'll stick with the classics too. No one has ever been less than impressed with the sound coming from my JVC RCM70 boombox (1981), and it pulls in magnitudes of AM and FM stations with ease. Also, I've heard the same good reports on the Proton. However, if interested in buying, make sure the seller takes a picture of the grill cloth frame removed for you to actually see the speaker components. The foam around the woofer speaker can deteriorate with age.