Hifi manufacturer Sangean believes the market for tabletop radios in Australia is alive and healthy, judging by the launch of its WR3 tabletop stereo radio, a standalone unit with in-built speakers.

The unit is small but produces rich sound, according to Sangean, and users can listen to CDs in the built-in CD player, AM and FM radio, or iPod and MP3s connected via USB.

The Sangean WR3 is designed in such a way that all the features are either inbuilt or hidden from view, according to the company, with no visible buttons, but instead a full function slim line IR remote control, no bigger than a credit card, which controls the entire system.

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The Sangean has built-in speakers and a CD player.

A pull down door on the front panel reveals access to the SD card slot and USB jacks, while the 3.5mm stereo aux input jack, line output jack and headphone jack are all located out of sight on the rear panel.

According to Sangean distributors, Canohm, the market for radios in Australia will grow rapidly in the lead-up to digital radio in 2009 – and will continue to grow after this.

“The radio market is growing and will continue to do so particularly after Jan 09 when digital audio broadcasting comes in. It is a booming market. The WR3 won’t become obsolete because analogue isn’t being turned off for another 15 years,” said sales manager at Canohm, Cameron MacKertich.

The unit features Sangean AcoustaCase technology and 3D audio projection technology, which allows the WR3 speakers to produce superior level surround performance, bass response and clarity, says Sangean.

It comes in high gloss piano black and retails for $599.