Quick verdict
A bedside radio with real wood, Bluetooth and a remote, and a clear step up from a basic clock radio. For a digital table radio with a bigger speaker, see the Sangean WR-22WL.
The Sangean RCR-40 is a wood cabinet clock radio with Bluetooth, a remote and a battery backup. It is made for the bedroom or home office, and it is one of the few clock radios that deserves to sit next to a proper table radio.
What you get
Two 3-watt, 2.5-inch full-range speakers and a bass reflex tube drive the sound, with adjustable bass and treble. Bluetooth 5.0 includes NFC pairing, and there is an auxiliary input plus two front USB ports for charging a phone. The AM antenna is an 80mm ferrite bar with an FM pigtail antenna, and the FM band supports RDS. A light sensor dims the display automatically, with four manual dimming steps as well. You get up to 18 presets, two alarms with the Humane Wake System, a battery backup that protects your time and presets during an outage, and a remote.
What I like
The large rotary knob gives it a satisfying, mechanical feel, and the display is easy to read at night without lighting up the room. The sound is better than most clock radios, with a warm, full tone, and the bass and treble controls help keep it in check. Bluetooth pairs easily and the remote is a comfortable size.
Things to know
Plan to spend some time with the manual. The menu uses the main knob like a mouse, and a few functions, such as the sleep timer, are not obvious at first. One owner points out that the alarm buzzer is really a high pitched chirp that some people have trouble hearing, so waking to the radio is the better choice. There are no external antenna terminals, and the batteries for the backup and the remote are not included. Customer ratings sit at about 4.0 stars, with some buyers reporting display problems and others finding the price high.
Bottom line
If you want a bedside radio with real wood, Bluetooth and a remote, the RCR-40 is a good fit and a clear step up from a basic clock radio. If you want a digital table radio with a bigger speaker, the WR-22WL is the next stop.
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