Sangean H201 AM/FM Digital Shower Radio
by Sangean
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List Price: Our Price: $59.99 You Save: $39.01 (39%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $52.79 (click here) Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sangean H201 AM/FM Digital Shower Radio
Customer Review: A Great Shower Radio
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased the Sangean AM/FM Digital Shower Radio about two months ago. Previously I have owned the Sony ICFS79W Weather Digital Shower radio and it worked well for me for about six years, but the top of the radio was made out of a material that cracked over time and the radio simply wore out. I had it hung from the shower door when I owned it.
When I was researching radios I knew I wanted something different than the Sony, simply because the Sony wore out too quickly for my taste. The review here is comparing the Sangean radio to the Sony since this is my only frame of reference. This review also must take into account that I have only owned the radio for two months.
I purchased the Sangean radio based on the reviews on Amazon. In the photo the radio looks cheap but when it arrived I was surprised at the size of the radio and the weight. This is a substantial unit. I liked the sleek design and I really liked the wall hanging attachment that was included. I mounted the radio up above my head and next to the shower head because the vents in the speaker point down and I thought that this would provide me with better sound.
The radio was easy to program. The buttons are sturdy and feel like they will last longer than the Sony. The radio is intuitive to use and there are five presets for AM and five for FM. Since I am a creature of habit the radio is usually on one preset station. The only minor complaint I have is that when you turn on the radio the clock is not present and there is no way to tell what time it is. I can turn off the radio and the clock immediately comes on.
The sound is also more substantial than the Sony. It has a deeper base sound and for one speaker produces a pretty nice sound for the shower. The volume buttons (there is an up and down) work well and it is easy to find a setting loud enough to be heard over the shower and quiet enough not to wake up the rest of the house.
The only thing I did not understand is the light on the side of the radio. It is like a miniature miner's helmet light and in the shower it really serves no purpose. I imagine if you took this radio out on a boat it could come in handy some way. This radio also comes with a strap, which I attached, and you could theoretically hang it over the shower. I simply mounted the radio on the included wall mounting unit so the strap itself is redundant to me.
I would highly recommend this radio to anyone looking for a solid, well-built and nice sounding system.
Customer Review: Great quality...built for long term use
Summary: 5 Stars
I love having a radio in my shower & I used to have the shower/CD/radio from The Sharper Image. It was okay, but it just stopped working after about 6 months of use. I was disappointed because it was expensive ($100) & didn't seem to have the staying power I was hoping for. I had put the Sony ICFS79W shower radio on my Christmas wishlist & didn't get it. That was a blessing in disguise because I ended up doing a bit of research on this product & bought this one when I didn't get the Sony. All I can say is this is a great product. If you're doing research on which one to buy, I can tell you I've done a ton of research - GET THIS ONE! =)
Like the other reviews indicate, this product "feels" like quality. It's definitely a solid build & seems built to last. The reception is pretty good, but I do think that reception will depend more on your location than the radio. I live in a hilly portion of Southern California so it's "hit & miss", but I get all the stations I like. The sound is great & it's pretty much what I expected from a shower radio.
There are a couple of bonus features that I'd really like to point out: 1) A lit display that displays the time when you're not tuning the radio 2) A timer feature - You can turn the radio on & set the timer (with the push of a single button) to turn the radio off automatically. You can set it to countdown to whatever time frame you'd like. This is great if you're using it in the shower/bathroom while you're getting ready. You can just "set it & forget it" 3) The handle on the back - it rotates out of the back & is perfect for hanging over a shower rod (you don't have to remove or adjust the shower curtain rod - simply rotate the handle over it & you're set) 4) Lastly, Sangean is labeling this as "waterproof" & "it floats" - to me, this is a sign of quality that they're standing behind their product & also that it's meant to get wet. You can take it to the beach or even on the boat & you'll be good to go.
Overall, this is a great radio for the shower or for taking to the beach/on a boat/outdoors. There are a lot of reviews & the average (at the time of this writing) was 4 1/2 stars - it's for good reason.
Customer Review: Best quality you can find; solid and built to last a lifetime
Summary: 5 Stars
The first thing I noticed when this arrived was how solidly it was packaged, and then how solid and slick the plastic is. It is compact, but for it's size it was far heavier than I expected. Most electronics today are flimsy, and this it definitely not flimsy. It reminded me how sturdy things used to be made; it wasn't long before I realized it was not overpriced at all. It feels like there is no hollow space inside, and it's light enough I mounted it onto the wall without concern to stud placement.
My 13 yr old told me this was her favorite Christmas gift last year (no joke). The sound quality is impeccable. I have never needed the antenna (soft wire type - stores neatly in the battery compartment); glad it doesn't have the chrome telescoping type that breaks off easily. Ours is mounted in the center of the house, and we haven't taken the antenna out; I'm happy it's out of sight. It looks very modern and upscale.
I am frankly amazed how long the batteries last; the (2) D-size batteries last 7 months, and that's with at least 1-hour per day usage (loud); I am underestimating as we actually use it a lot more than that. We use it at the park, lake, on picnics, while gardening, in the garage, on the patio, camping, track meets etc.
I think the only feature they should have included is an alarm clock. The siren/alert is very loud (for safety), and it would have been a very effective sound for an alarm clock. Since they included a sleep timer it would be a selling point. The bright built-in flashlight is also a nice bonus for this radio. I always know if the power goes out all the flashlights in the house will be lost or dead, so this is what I intend to use in an emergency. It is a thoughtful safety feature.
At first I felt this was a bit pricey, but I challenge you to find a model with comparable features at this level of quality; this is the most solid piece of electronics I have owned in all my life, no exaggeration. This is worth every penny, and more. I was a Sony loyalist, but today I am searching for other Sangean products. I am hopeful they sell an alarm clock.
Hey if it makes a teenage girl happy, it's got to be great, right?
Customer Review: Excellent battery life
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this radio 6 months ago to replace a broken Sharper Image shower radio we had been using for several years. The sound quality and FM reception are comparable, or better, then the SI unit.
The biggest surprise to me though is the battery life. Between me and my wife we listen to this radio 40-50 minutes a day (we listen while we're getting ready, not just while in the shower). The SI radio took 4 C size batteries and would last maybe two months before needing replacements. This radio, which takes 2 D size batteries, has been in use for 6 months and just yesterday lost the first bar off of the 3 bar power meter. That is fantastic! One of the things I hated about the old radio was how frequently I had to replace the batteries. At this rate I'll only have to replace the batteries in this one once a year.
In addition to the battery life I also like the large display and the fact that it displays the time even when the radio is off. (my old one only displayed the time when the radio was off, which was annoying)
Anyway I think is a great product and I highly recommend it.
Update: It has now been just over a year since I purchased this radio and it's still running on the original set of batteries. It's starting to alternate between the last bar and empty, so it's probably going to die any time now, but I think a year on one set of batteries is pretty fantastic. Especially considering my old one required replacements every 6-8 weeks.
Also to the people who complain it's too big. I hung mine right on the tile using the little adhesive pads they provide and it's been holding on ever since. I was a little worried at first that they wouldn't hold the weight, but a year later and they're still holding strong.
Customer Review: High quality radio
Summary: 5 Stars
This radio is well designed, has quality construction written all over it, and has excellent sound for a radio of this type on both AM and FM stations.
You can easily attach this to your shower wall without drilling or screws. The radio comes with double sided mounting tape and a wall bracket; I also used Liquid Nails glue and let the bracket set on my shower for 24 hours before putting the radio on it. It is very easy to take the radio on and off.
Unlike other shower radios, the batteries are easy to change (it takes 2 D batteries, that are not included), setting presets for favorite stations is a breeze, and all of the buttons are large and easily accessible. There is also a battery indicator to let you monitor the status of the battery.
The radio is supposed to float and be waterproof, which would make it an ideal pool radio, though I have not yet tested that. There is an innovative sturdy fold away plastic carrying handle, and a carrying strap is also included. For good measure, if there is a power failure and you need a flashlight, there is one built into the radio.
My previous shower radio was from the Sharper Image, but I like the Sangean much better. It is easier overall to operate, has a better display, and the sound is great. I have read some of the negative reviews, and can only say that I have not had any of the problems described. I would recommend this product to a friend in a heartbeat.
Update December 8, 2010: I have now been using this radio for 16 months for my daily showers and it works great. The sound is crystal clear and the display is very easy to read. This is definitely the best shower radio that I have owned.