Sanyo M1 Cell Phone Review - Audio Quality
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Alfredo Padilla Published on March 15, 2007 Comment on this |
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We test the audio performance of cell phones using Listen Inc’s SoundCheck software. For more on how we test, see here. This professional audio analysis system uses complex analysis techniques to analyze the sound that the phone produces and captures, simulating the way that your ear and brain picks up and interprets sound. We use this with a Brüel & Kjær Head and Torso Simulator (H.A.T.S),which simulates the acoustics of the human head and ear. This means that our testing accurately mirrors the performance of the phones in real world use. We test the phones in use as a handset (to the ear), and, if included, with a headset. We’ll be adding more tests soon to examine the performance of the speakerphone and further analyze the phone’s performance.
To create a score for the performance of a phone in the frequency response tests, we look at how well the frequency response curve (which shows how well the phone captures or reproduces different frequencies) fits in with limits defined in the TIA-810B standard. This sets upper and lower limits for the frequency response, and a perfect phone would have a curve that runs straight between these limits. Our score is based on how far the phone strays from this line; the further it strays from the ideal, the lower the score.
Handset
Sound Receive Frequency Response (4.76)
Sanyo M1 On Sprint: Handset Receive Frequency Response
This test measures the ability of the M1 to reproduce sounds it receives (such as someone talking to you). The M1 scores somewhat poorly in this test; the frequency response of the phone (shown by the blue line, with the frequency going from low at the left to higher at the right) is significantly off from the ideal between the limits (the red lines). In particular, the phone has too high a response at the bass end of the curve, meaning that voices coming over the ether sound overly boomy and bassy.
Sound Send Frequency Response (8.4)
Sanyo M1 On Sprint: Handset Send Frequency Response
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The M1 did a much better job at sending sound than receiving it; the frequency curve for the sound it sends (such as you talking into the phone) was one of the best we’ve seen, speeding cleanly within the limits without any major bumps. This means that voices sound clear and natural, without the bass or treble ends of the curves being unnaturally exaggerated.
Handset Side Tone (5.38)
Sanyo M1 On Sprint: Handset Side Tone
Side Tone is the small amount of your own voice that phones feed back to you so you can judge the volume of your voice. If a phone provides too much side tone, you end up whispering. Too little, and you increase the volume of your voice to become one of those annoying people who yells into cell phones on buses. An ideal cell phone would provide about 18 decibels of side tone, but the M1 provided a little too much; we measured it at 22 decibels. That’s more than there should be, but the amount is relatively minor: you might find yourself lowering your voice slightly, but it’s unlikely to be enough to cause a problem with being heard.
Pickup Ability (7.0)
The M1 comes with a slightly unusual headset that is composed of two parts: a pair of cheap earbud microphones, and a microphone on a cable that fits between these and the phone. The microphone also has a 2.5-mm plug on the end that plugs into the headphone socket of the M1, located on the left side of the phone body. The M1 headset has a single button on the microphone cable that can be used to answer calls. The phone automatically pauses any music that is playing
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