Palm Treo 750 Cell Phone Review - Audio Quality

A rose may smell as sweet by any other name, but a nasty-sounding cell phone can be a real stinker. That’s why we do extensive testing on the audio quality of cell phones using the same equipment that audio professionals use. We use a combination of a HATS (Head And Torso Simulator) and a professional audio analysis package called Soundcheck. The HATS is produced by a Danish company called Brüel & Kjær and is a device that 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.

Sound Receive Frequency Response (8.24)

The Treo 750 performed well on our receive test, which looks at how the cell phone reproduces the sound sent to it (much like someone talking to you over the phone). Most of the curve was within the limits set by the ITU international standards body, but there were a few odd peaks that might affect the sound quality. There are peaks at both the low and high end of the frequency spectrum, which could lead to the low and high frequencies drowning out the middle frequencies, which is where much of human speech lies. But the peaks are not too large, so this would not be an issue for most people.

Sound Send Frequency Response (7.89)

The curve for sent sound (such as you speaking into a phone) is very differently shaped, with the low end of the spectrum not getting as much response as the high end. Although both ends are within the limits, your voice may sound overly trebly to the person on the other end of the line; the frequency response for the higher frequencies is much higher than the lower end.

Handset Side Tone (5.8)

Side tone is how cell phones let you hear your own voice. Phones inject a small amount of your captured voice back into the speaker, so you can hear yourself speak. But the amount of sidetone is critical, and the Treo 700 had a little too muchwe measured it at 22.2 decibels.

Previous    Next
Shop for a wireless plan Shop Carrier Type Minutes $/Min Cost Shop   Close Family 4000 0.0500 199.99 Shop   Close Family 1400 0.0643 89.99 Shop   Close Individual 2000 0.0500 99.99 Shop   Close Individual 900 0.0667 59.99