I Hope This Is a Legit Sangean WR-12 Review and Not a Plant

From Amazon Review. This reviewer has no other reviews. I do hope it's legit:

I emailed Sangean and they sent the following reply.

Me:
I understand that the first batch of WR-12 radio's had issues. If I purchase a WR-12 from Amazon today will I receive "the new and improved WR-12
" that you reference in your comments post on Amazon reviews?

Hello all. This is Bob from Sangean America Inc.
I'm happy to inform you that we are now shipping the new and improved WR-12.
It now passes Sangean's stringent quality control. The FM tuning and audio problem found in earlier WR-12's has been corrected.
If you would like to swap your original unit with the new WR-12, you may return it to Amazon.com, or contact us. Please accept our apology for any inconvenience this may have caused you, and many thanks to our loyal customers.

Sangean:
Mr. ......,

Thank you for your interest in the WR-12.
Yes, all the units sold by Amazon are now the new and improved units.

Sincerely,

Bob Polhamus
Customer Service Rep
Sangean America, Inc.

My unit seems to function fine. The sound is clear and the radio locks stations in as it should. I have the WR-2 and WR-11. So far I like the WR-12 out of the bunch.

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Comments

[Tony Wunsch]

Aloha. My name is Tony and I am an old time radio lover and I live in Honolulu. I have a similar story where a Sangean customer was sent a new radio. My WFR-28 died in February 2013 after 6 months - would not connect to the internet. I've read where others had similar issues with this internet radio. I called Sangean USA and they told me to ship it back. They sent me a new one. No complaint about that. Works fine. Mahalo!

[nathanjr]

After I sent my Sangean WR-12BT back a couple months ago I picked up first a Proton 420 and then a 300. The Proton 300 really is nice, I'm glad it lived up the legendary status you all have bestowed upon it.

But of course I've been looking at the KLH 200 as well. Maybe I'll by the extra Proton 301 speaker and bring that unit home, then pickup a KLH 200 for work. At this rate I'll have a table radio and a portable in every room.

[Derrick]

The review is not a plant. I reviewed the item to be helpful.

[herculodge]

Thanks, Derrick, for the clarification. How does the radio fare on AM?

[Derrick]

I will test it on AM tonight. I leave it on FM all night while I sleep. I may do a Youtube video. I am thinking about a Tivoli One. Yes or no and why.

[herculodge]

A YouTube video would be great. I had a horrible WR-12 from the first batch. It left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm curious if the WR-12 is as strong in reception as the analog WR-11.

[Tom Welch]

Speaking of review plants, I have a new book on Amazon , check it out http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CD4B16I

[Ed S]

Well, since we're pimping books, here's mine--

http://www.amazon.com/Ed-Strnad/e/B000APIFRU/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1366256449&sr=8-2

[StarHalo]

No to the Tivoli One; it's been overshadowed by every table radio that came after it. Even the old, long-discontinued Boston Acoustics Recepter supersedes the Tivolis, and that was over a decade ago. Sangean is definitely where it's at for [new] table radios right now.

[Derrick]

Ok, on no to Tivoli. I have most of the Sangean table tops. I am resisting the urge to buy a “hi-tech” radio, Bluetooth, USB ect… I do not think that Bluetooth and USB will work 5-10 years from now. One of the things that I like about radio is that equipment purchased many decades ago will still work. No firmware or Operating system to upgrade. Other than Sangean, what other table top radios are out there to explore? Also what are the best portable radios?

[Ed S]

Other than Sangean, you have sets from C.Crane-- the CC Radio tabletop for example. In portables, their CCR-SW and CC-EP are quite good.
Boston Acoustics used to make great models, the solo and the duo, but were beset with QC issues. I have a BA duo that is still working fine, but I had to go through a couple bad units that would get fried AM sections.

[Tom Welch]

Ed, now I know how you keep yourself busy. I wish I never sold my KLH.

[Ed S]

Tom, good books you have there. I think your MBA jargon book could crossover into the humor category.
Which KLH did you have? I had the 200 and a Model 1a. Both good sets.

[Jaranath]

I'm afraid Sangean's problem may have spread to the WR-11.

I've been shopping for a decent tabletop with aux input for a while now. Based on the comments and articles here, and Amazon reviews, I went with a WR-11 rather than the 12, appealing as the 12 seemed.

Unfortunately the WR-11 that I received appears to have the same sound issues so many have described in the WR-12. AM, FM, Aux, all are bass-heavy and muffled. I haven't spent much time listening on FM to test the drift issue many have mentioned, but the sound is definitely poor.

Given Derrick's comments here and the Amazon review update, I'm taking a chance and ordering a WR-12 from Amazon (note: Specifically FROM Amazon, not a slightly cheaper Amazon partner, since the Sangean rep vouched for "all the units sold by Amazon"). I'm hanging on to the WR-11 for now for comparison purposes...let's hope that I'll only be returning the WR-11. I'll let you know what I find and write some Amazon reviews accordingly.