PANASONIC KX-TC1460W Cordless Telephone

Rating:
Summary: Excellent clarity
Review: I purchased the Panasonic KX-TC1460W after reading about it in the Consumer Reports magazine (Oct. 02 issue), which ranks it second in the 900Mhz category. (A Uniden model is rated #1 but I already have a similar model.) I bought the phone so I could leave the handset in the basement, without having to rush upstairs each time I need to answer the phone.

This no-frills, white plastic model has proved itself to be an excellent choice. The voice clarity is simply top-notch. I've called home from various cell phones, and each time I can hear my parents' voices very clearly, without any interference. (There's a 20-channel manual selector if you need to change the channel yourself.) The phone itself is also very easy to use, with separate Talk and End buttons like most current cordless phones. Programming the auto-dial was a breeze, and I didn't even need to read the user's guide to figure it out. (Your mileage may vary. :D ) The base station is also an example of simplicity: there's just a "page" button which you use to page the handset, e.g., to locate it.

The only gripe I have regarding the phone is it doesn't look as high-quality as an older Panasonic model I had. Both were made in China, but the older model, which I gave to my grandma, felt solid while this one feels a bit flimsy. The handset is also not as comfortable to hold as the older model. But nothing has gone wrong with the 1460 in the 6 months I've been using it heavily, and battery life is still excellent compared to the old Panasonic and the Uniden when they were at the same age.

There's a twin model 1460B, which is just a black version. A note regarding 900Mhz vs. 2.4Ghz: according to Consumer Reports, there's NO clarity difference between the two types of cordless phones; in fact, some 900Mhz they tested -- including the 1460 -- sounded BETTER than 2.4Ghz phones. But most 900Mhz phones (again the 1460 included) are analog phones, so if you want improved privacy protection, you might want a 2.4Ghz phone which is typically digital and encrypts the signal between the handset and the base station.

Rating:
Summary: Bang for the Buck
Review: Really good phone for the price. Beautiful reception, even living in the city with a lot of cross-talk. No frills, but that's OK.

Rating:
Summary: not too happy with this one
Review: We purchased this phone and have been disappointed with it. You can't hear very clearly and feel like you are straining your ears to hear the other person talk (not static) it sounds like the other person is very far away. The battery also doesn't last long off the hook. So I guess you get what you pay for.