Sprint Upstage (Samsung SPH-m620) Review - Audio Quality
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Alfredo Padilla Published on April 10, 2007 Comment on this |
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Although the upstage is being sold as a music device, it’s still a cell phone at heart, which is why we do extensive testing on the audio quality of the phone portion of the device. To do this, we use the same equipment that audio professionals use; a HATS (Head And Torso Simulator) combined with a professional audio analysis package called Soundcheck. The HATS simulates a human head and torso, including how sound reflects from the head and shoulders. Highly calibrated microphones inside the ears capture the sound in the same way that the human ear does, and a speaker in the mouth simulates the human voice. This device is controlled by the Soundcheck software, which is produced by a Boston company called Listen Inc. For more on how we test, see here.
We found that the audio quality of the Upstage was generally good, with frequency response that only dipped outside of the limits we use very slightly. This means that it receives and transmits speech mostly clearly, although there are a few glitches that pose some minor issues.
Sound Receive Frequency Response (8.34)
The Sprint Upstage performed well on our tests of the sound it receives (such as someone speaking to you on the phone); the frequency response of the phone (represented by the blue curve) was mostly within the limits defined by the standard we used (shown by the red lines). The raph goes from low frequencies (think Barry White) at the left to high frequencies (think choirboy) at the right. It did dip outside the limits on a couple of spots at the lower end, and the curve was far from the smooth shape of an ideal phone. In particular, the two peaks imbetween the limits at the lower and upper end of the limits indicate it boosts these frequencies at the cost of the frequencies in the middle, which could make some voices a little difficult to understand; if some frequencies are overwhelmed by others, it can make it difficult to understand what the person on the other end is saying.
But this is a relatively minor issue, and the overall performance of the speaker of the Upstage in reproducing phone calls is impressive, especially given the small size and depth of the speaker in this thin phone.
Sound Send Frequency Response (7.36)
The Upstage also did a creditable job in picking up, compressing and transmitting what the user says; the frequency response curve of the sound that the Upstage sends (the blue line) is mostly within the limits that the standard we use sets. It is, however, a little heavy on the bass; the standard calls for the bass response of phones to be a little lower and tighter than the higher frequencies, but the Upstage has a pretty flat response across the spectrum. This could lead to voices sounding a little boomier and bassier than on other phones. But again, this is a relatively minor issue that should not pose too much of a problem for users.
Handset Side Tone (6.1)
Side tone is how cell phones let you hear your own voice; they inject a small amount of your captured voice back into the speaker, so you can hear yourself speak and judge how loud your own voice is. How much of this captured sound they pass back is critical; the standard calls for -18db, but we measured the Upstage as being a little lower, at -21.9dB. That means that the Upstage passes back a little less than the standard calls for, but only by a very small amount. You might find yourself talking a little louder than normal, but you can still hear your own voice when using the Upstage.
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