Good quality corded phone

May 5, 2005 12:05 PM

I'm looking for a good quality, pretty basic corded phone.

I've heard a lot about the high-quality sound of the old Western Electric desk phones. I have an old rotary wall phone myself and it sounds great. More modern phones with extra features that I want seem to have poor sound quality.

I'd like to find a reasonably priced ($40) corded phone with great sound, some speed-dial buttons, speaker phone, and redial. Bonus for some kind of visual alert that I have new voice mail.

I've found three decent phones on epinions, but I'd like to gather more data and hear personal experiences.

(Feel free to post if you've had great cordless-phone experiences as well, but right now I'm leaning toward trying one of the 900 MHz Uniden EZI996 phones mentioned in this thread.

posted by jacobsee to Technology (12 answers total)

we hated out last 2 cordless phones, and finally got a uniden, and are pretty content with it.
posted by chr1sb0y at 12:19 PM on May 5, 2005

We have some pretty decent phones. An old AT&T trimline (from before they got cheap) still graces an end table in our house. In addition, we have a couple of 900mhz cordless DSS phones that are a few years old and going strong. The older cordless phone is a Panasonic. I've replaced the battery but that's it. The other phone is a Uniden EXA3955 that I purchased on Ebay a few years back. Sound quality is on a par with the Panasonic.

Unfortunately, I don't think anybody makes 900mhz DSS phones these days. DSS is Digital Spread Spectrum, which hops channels rapidly and makes your phone conversations relatively secure. Without it, I believe a common radio shack scanner can pick up 900mhz phone conversations.

The only cordless I would avoid is Sony, based on reviews I've read

You can generally find good deals on phones on Ebay if you know what you're looking for. A quick search yields a bunch of Western Electric corded Trimlines.
posted by SteveInMaine at 1:11 PM on May 5, 2005

My 2 $20-or-less cordless phones from Wal-Mart have outlasted my parents' 2 $70-$100 cordless phones. Both of their phones would barely hold a charge after 2 years. My last one lasted at least 5 years. I'd say I got my $20 worth.

I can also second the Uniden 900MHz...it's one I have.

Just watch where you buy...my sister got a cordless at Staples for $50 and the next day found the exact same model online for $17.99. She took it back, obviously.
posted by IndigoRain at 1:52 PM on May 5, 2005

I don't have much to add, other than that Panasonic makes great phones, and most GE phones are good too.
posted by zsazsa at 1:56 PM on May 5, 2005

Response by poster: Anyone with thoughts on a good quality corded phone with speed-dial buttons, speaker phone, and redial?
posted by jacobsee at 2:01 PM on May 5, 2005

I have a Vtech corded phone with caller ID display, a new call indicator (not voice messaging, but new calls), call log, and speed dial. It was free after rebate at Staples. I think they normally go for $15. Nice phone, good feel, takes 4xAA (rechargeables work great).
posted by aberrant at 2:14 PM on May 5, 2005

Oops. Sorry. No speaker phone.
posted by aberrant at 2:15 PM on May 5, 2005

Try the Nortel Vista home phones - the sound quality is the best I have heard. They are solid, rugged phones with speed dial and redial. Speakerphone model is Nortel Vista 350. Search a bit and try eBay too.
posted by bright77blue at 2:18 PM on May 5, 2005

Response by poster: Vtech corded phone with caller ID . . . takes 4xAA (rechargeables work great).

what are the batteries for? if you could note the model number I would appreciate it, thanks!
posted by jacobsee at 2:30 PM on May 5, 2005

Jacobsee: the batteries are to power the call log and LCD display (you can actually scroll through the log of incoming calls if you've got caller ID. It's also got date and time stamps, and if you put in your area code, you can also one-touch dial from the call log, essentially returning calls from folks whether they've left you a message or not). Model number is VT1122. Manual is here. I see Staples has it now for $16.99.

Again, no speakerphone -- sorry for missing that requirement.
posted by aberrant at 4:48 PM on May 5, 2005

Um. You might want to verify that one-touch return call feature. I might be getting this confused with my vtech cordless phone. (Sorry.) In any case, it does store incoming numbers and date/time of calls.
posted by aberrant at 4:51 PM on May 5, 2005

Response by poster: cool, i'll check it out. thanks for the info. speakerphone probably isn't an absolute must for me.
posted by jacobsee at 7:07 AM on May 6, 2005