Panasonic KX-TG5240M 5.8 GHz Expandable Cordless Phone

Rating:
Summary: horrible sound quality
Review: A friend spent a long time deciding what new cordless system to purchase to replace his older Siemens 2.4Ghz system. He excitedly ordered this phone from Amazon when it was available and set it up right away without any issues. Then he started making phone calls. He must have called me about a dozen times one day to test out the sound quality. Every time he called me it sounded horrible. It sounded as though he was on an old bad quality cell phone. He was garbled and hard to understand. And that's sitting in the same room as the base station. He called Panasonic support and they recommended that he move the base station further away from other electronics, like the computer. He did this and still no improvement. So he is now returning the Panasonic phone and buying the Uniden TRU8885. Will have to see if that one is any better.

Rating:
Summary: Your friends will hate you
Review: Everbody I talked to hated this phone, they wanted to know what the problem was, even when I was right next to the base unit! I took it back for a refund. I saw another reviewer had the exact same experience, so ask your callers about the quality of the sound within your return period.

A couple of other things I didn't like:
* only 2 digits for remote access code.
* No message waiting indicator for central station voicemail. I have voicemail as a backup and would like an indicator for this.

Rating:
Summary: The very bad kills the very good!
Review: First the good: The features are extensive and relatively easy to use. The user-interface is clean. It does not interfere with WiFi, and it perfect for almost everyone.

Now the bad: The sound quality experienced by the CALLER is dreadful. Syllables are garbled, eaten, and mashed with a meat cleaver. Received sound is fine.

I loved the unit, but all my friends (callers) hated it with a passion, and I returned it for a full refund because it was within the 30 Day period. Forget the 1 year warrantee, which forces you to deal with Panasonic. You will get a refurbished unit with the same design flaws.

Rating:
Summary: Poor sound quality
Review: I have used this phone for 1 week now. Here are what I have experienced:
The good:
1.Very easy to use menu system
2.Speaker phone on both base and handset
3.No interference with wireless computer network
4.NM-Hi battery

The bad:
1.Poor sound quality, a lot of background static noise. My 6-year old 900MHz phone has far better sound quality. Really surprised and disappointed by this.
2.Tried two headphones, none worked well. The GE brand one didn't work at all. The Panasonic one worked better but the other party still complained couldn't hear well.
3. No caller ID panel on the base station. The little panel on the base is only for message box etc.
4. No ringer on/off switch on the handset.

Overall, it's not worth the money. The sound quality is just too bad.

Rating:
Summary: Are Techs from Uniden writing bad reviews here?
Review: My brother owns this phone. I'm the one who gets to listen to this Panasonic transmit the voice. I don't understand some reviews that state the sound quality is bad. It's just the opposite. The phone sounds very much like a good corded phone...on both talk AND receive. No noise, just clear good sound.

I write this because I recently purchased Uniden's newest 5.8 phone. I read so many glowing reports about it's sound quality. After all, once you finally stop "playing" with these phones..it's the sound quality and comfort that really matters...at least to me.

The new Unidens on the receiver end DO sound great and plenty loud. BUT if you have voice mail at work or even on your cell phone...just leave yourself a message with the Uniden. You'll see the transmit quality is HORRIBLE...dark, muffled, like a cheap cell phone. Back to the 5200 series Panasonics...they sound GREAT on both send and receive. Don't buy HALF a phone...like the new Unidens. Mine went back to Staples! Make sure you listen to both send AND receive on your new phone. If you buy a Panasonic 5200 series...you'll have about the best sounding cordless out there...

Rating:
Summary: Better than the 5100 series
Review: The 5240 series improves on the excellent 5110M ( the previous generation). Things that are better :

1. Smaller handset design.
2. Better battery.
3. Backlighting better, and display sharper.
4. Talking caller ID is neat.
5. Ability to download contacts form Outlook to the phone (through a paid service).
6. Call quality about the same as the 5110 series (I strongly recomend that you check out those reviews as well).

Negatives :

1. No LCD on the base. However, talking caller id helps.
2. The voice enhancer can make people sound funny. Then again, turning it off is a metter of pressing one button.

Bottom Like :

This is the best 5.8Ghz set you can buy.

Rating:
Summary: Great Phone
Review: This is a great phone with features that are easy to set up and use. If you haven't experienced the joy of talking caller ID yet - this is a fine way to start. I don't know why all phones don't have it.