Sangean WR-7WL Wood Cabinet Mini Bluetooth Speaker with FM Tuner and Aux-in Walnut/Wood

I was led to this item by the Wirecutter review, which did not disappoint me.I am not an audio-tech or radio-stuff aficionado or expert in any way at all. AT ALL. But this radio is just what I wanted and didn't know how to describe. Great audio — great reception with no setting up of external antennas or anything — very very nice audio with no fiddling — and oh my goodness SO CUTE! And it fits in the teeny tiny spot I needed it for.It's smaller (by like half) than any radio-alarm-clock I've ever had! I've owned smaller basic radios, but never with this kind of audio quality.Simplest possible set-up. (I did go find a longer USB-A cord in my cable-dumping-ground, aka electronics-stuff-drawer, than the one packaged with it, to accommodate the distance to my nearest electrical outlet.)Really pretty and tactile-ly satisfying because of the real wood veneer (ooooohhh). Re the veneer — it's described as “walnut” but is just not as dark brown as I would expect Walnut to be, which is fine by me. More like Maple or Light Oak. Very medium-to-light-brown wood. (Lovely, but not as dark as the description might lead you to expect.)Excellent analog controls (dials!) make it so easy to use. After years of trying to use worn-out old ancient radios and/or streaming apps on phone or tablet, this hits the sweet spot for me, and I'm tickled pink. YAY!TLDR: Way more expensive than you NEED for a basic radio, but 100% worth the cost anyway, because it receives well, is easy to use, and is aesthetically delightful.

I truly feel privileged to get to write a review for this wonderful radio. It is without question a five-star item as long as the buyer has the right expectations, which I'll explain momentarily.First, it's important to note the size of this unit. The pictures I've seen did not give me a true sense of how small this is, but it's roughly the length of a stick of butter. The on/off switch and volume dial are about the width of a pencil eraser. I like the size a lot and feel that it will work perfectly on a bedside table, which is the reason I purchased it.The design is the most outstanding feature of the radio, in my opinion. It carries over the same high-quality fit and finish as other Sangean table radios. I feel that the design of this radio is an improvement on the venerable Sangean WR-11, as I like the WR-7's backlit radio dial and the satin finish on the dark cherry unit. If anyone from Sangean reads this, know that I would also be an immediate buyer of a full-size version of the WR-7.Here is where I feel that buyers should have appropriate expectations. Sangean tunes their radio speakers to yield a FLAT frequency response. The sound is akin to studio monitor headphones which can be disappointing to those who are expecting huge bass. If you are looking for overemphasized bass, Sangean is not the brand for you. If, like me, you appreciate a flat frequency response, you will love the sound of this radio. As a former radio station sound engineer, I love being able to hear each FM station's unique processing characteristics on this radio. Those who listen to talk or sports radio will enjoy how balanced voices sound. Music on the Bluetooth connection has a clean, neutral sound which can fill a moderately-sized room when the radio is placed in an optimal location. If you're not initially happy with the sound, give the radio some break-in time and play with the placement of the radio in your room. Note especially that I said "room;" I feel strongly that this radio should not be used outdoors.The battery life is most impressive and far exceeds other Bluetooth speakers I've previously owned. Note that the battery will take some time to charge and will thus require the user to plan accordingly for long-form listening. Also note that while plugged in, there will be some interference on FM signals which is no fault of Sangean. Performance on the radio is best when the FM antenna is plugged in and the unit is running on battery power.Kudos to Sangean for designing an outstanding another outstanding table radio.

I bought this for a specific purpose. I wanted an external speaker for a computer that would not take up much space on my desk, but also wanted a radio. Here's what's so great about this.I have it on my desk. I have a stereo mini (3.5mm) male to male cable from the audio jack on my computer into the AUX of this radio/speaker. I have another computer as well, and it's connected to the bluetooth on this radio/speaker. So, now I can change sound from radio (FM only, though), to one computer (on AUX) or to the other (on Bluetooth) without unplugging anything. Just by turning the little selector switch. (Tivoli, take note: Sangean does not make you unplug a cable that's in AUX before you can listen to the radio again.)The speaker is small so you are not going to find booming base. But the sound is full and pleasant. It's really great for voice and it's really quite good for music as well.Yes, the volume and selector for source controls are pretty small, but they are actually very easy to work. The radio tuner is surprisingly good. It tunes way easier than I expected and the reception is exceptional. For example, one station I like on AM (this radio only has FM) also have an FM signal but it's a weak one in this city. Honestly, I cannot pull that FM signal in with any of my Tivoli radios but it pulled it right in and nailed it on this little Sangean. On other FM stations with reasonable strength, it of course works flawlessly. With or without the little antenna attached (A wire you plug in). I have a lot of radios because I am into them. This is the best FM tuner of any radio I have. I'm amazed by it.One other thing about the bluetooth. On my computer (a Mac) I use iMovie to edit videos. On other bluetooth speaker, I have been unable to use iMovie and have voice sync okay while doing it in terms of the audio. Not this little device. The audio sync is dead on with my Mac. I'm really amazed by that.So, I've had this a short while. We'll see how it holds up over time, but it seems super sturdy, very well designed, and is very pleasant to use and listen to. I am about to buy a second one for the office.If you are uncertain about this radio/speaker, just pause a moment and do an internet search on it. There are many reviews by various people who regularly review gear and especially by radio nuts. The reviews are uniformly stellar.[I have no association with Sangean and am receiving nothing for this review, btw. I think I'm likely to buy yet a third one for another desk I use a lot. I like it that well.]