Plantronics Cordless Headset Phone - CT14..
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168 of 173 people found the following review helpful.
By Steve28804
I received apparently one of the first Plantronics CT14 cordless headset telephones, and the bottom line is that there are no big surprises, which means I like the telephone given that I had high expectations in view of my previous experience with Plantronics quality. I did not have either of the previous models, CT12 or CT10, so I cannot compare to those. However at my office for a number of years I have been using a CS10 cordless headset system which works with a multi-line telephone, and I have become quite addicted to using a headset. Based on what I think is an objective test, the audio quality and volume of the CT14 are superb. The way I test that is to call my own voicemail and, during the same call, switch between various telephones while leaving a message. Then I listen to the recorded message, again switching among various telephones. That lets me hear the quality for myself, without relying on a person I am talking to for a report.
One characteristic I am pleased to see included is that it is possible to chain dial from recorded numbers in the "phonebook." Thus, when I use a calling card with a 1-800 access number I can then access the PIN in the phonebook to have that dialed as well, followed by the number of the person I am calling. With some other telephones, after you have used the "phonebook" and the call is in progress, the directory scrolling keys change to a different function (e.g. volume) and all the remaining numbers must be dialed by hand.
A negative thing I have to say about the CT14 is that there is a higher level of background noise than I am accustomed to, which I suspect (but do not know for sure) is an inherent part of the DECT 6.0 technology which uses a single frequency band for both sides of the conversation, and uses time division duplex. So, digitally, a lot is going on behind the scenes, and I think I am hearing digital artifacts. This is mitigated somewhat because there is ample volume. So the volume can be turned down, which reduces the background noise, while still being able to hear the person on the other side. At some point I may compare to another DECT 6.0 telephone, or attempt to see what Plantronics has on this issue. (Update: I called Plantronics and a very pleasant rep assured me that the background noise I am hearing is not normal. The background should be quiet. He gave me an RMA number to send back the telephone for a replacement, but before I do that I am going to try the telephone someplace else. It is possible there is some sort of electrical interference unique to my house. Now that I finally have this telephone, I am very reluctant to part with it for any length of time. I really like it.)
Earlier complaints regarding the predecessor CT12 concerned interference with Wi-Fi networks, and it seems clear that is not a problem with the CT14. The CT14 operates on a different frequency band (1920-1930 MHz versus 2400-2500 MHz), and that is an advertised feature of the CT14.
Update December 4, 2011: After 2-1/2 years the CT14 remains my favorite telephone, although I am currently doing without it due to a second failure of the headset cord, and am waiting for a possible replacement from Panasonic. Thus the cord on the headset is definitely a weak link in this design where, with flexing eventually either the person at the other end can't hear you, or you can't hear the other person. This happens even though I am careful, and something I do not experience with my CS10 at the office, which is still going strong after perhaps 7 to 10 years, despite being a discontinued model, and despite being used much more than my CT14 at home. My point is that Panasonic evidently has taken shortcuts with the design of the headset cord for the CT14 compared to the CS10. The headset itself sounds very good, up until the time the cord fails. (At least one time I was able to get a replacement headset directly from Panasonic through a cumbersome process on their website for less than a "Spare M170 Headset CT14" from amazon.com; currently waiting to see price and availability now that my first replacement has failed, like the original.)
Regarding the background noise issue, that has never been resolved. The replacement telephone Plantronics sent had exactly the same problem, and my last letter to them (in June of 2009) has apparently been ignored. Until I am convinced otherwise, I will assume the background noise is a design issue, and something that a person just has to live with.
54 of 57 people found the following review helpful.
By Nor'easter
The CT14 Plantronics Cordless Headset Phone is the new version of the Plantronics CT12 which I have happily used for the last six years. I expected that the CT14 would be an all around improved cordless headset phone with more features and even better sound quality than the CT12. The CT14 does indeed have more features but my experience with the new CT14 is that its predecessor- the CT12- was on the whole, a better headset phone with better sound quality. This was very surprising and disappointing for me.
Plantronics has made an excellent name for itself in the cordless headset phone market with innovative products and customer service/technical support which is second to none in my opinion. Unfortunately, the Plantronics CT14 disappointed me in the two most important areas- sound quality and the comfort of the headset.
Even though Plantronics CT14 uses a DECT 6.0 system which is supposed to block out audio interferences, I found the phone to have a constant, low level background noise with intermittent snaps and crackles. I would rate the CT14's sound quality as mediocre. By comparison, the older CT12 is has superior sound quality with interference present only when I was near a microwave that was on.
The headset supplied with the CT14 can be used in two ways- over the ear and over the head. I initially tried using the over the ear configuration. Quite frankly, I couldn't stand it. It hung off my ear in an extremely loose fashion with the microphone coming to rest under my chin and the headset just flopped around. I then switched configurations to "over the head" with an attached band which sits on top of the head- this is how I have used the CT12 for six years. Although the CT14 over the head configuration is very stable I was very disappointed to find that it is so tight that my ear begins to hurt after about thirty minutes. In comparison, I can use my old Plantronics CT12 over the head apparatus for many hours with no discomfort at all. Maybe the CT14's over the head headset needs breaking in and will loosen up with time, but I doubt this. No break in period was necessary for the CT12. I have taken the headset from my old CT12 and put it on the CT14. That solved the comfort issue but it doesn't speak very well for this product.
In conclusion, the CT14 seems to be a step backward from its predecessor, the CT12. However, for someone who has no experience with the previous model- the CT12- the CT14 would probably get a higher rating than I am giving it. Sound quality is very subjective and others may find the CT14's sound quality to be just fine. My problem is that I have a previous Plantronics cordless headset phone to compare the sound to, thus the criticism. ThePlantronics CT14 does have a much improved and wonderful variety of features and it is just so liberating to have a cordless handset phone. Since beginning use with the CT12 in 2003, I have often said to those with conventional phones that once you experience a hands free cordless telephone in your home, there is no going back to a regular phone where you have to use your hands (or worse yet, your shoulder) to hold the phone. I can talk on the CT14 while working with my computer and I can walk around my home with no restrictions while not straining my neck or hands. It is definitely an addictive experience. Also on a positive note, the CT14 has excellent battery life, a terrific manual, the telephone unit is small and very portable (you can slip it in your pocket or use the attached belt clip) and overall it is very easy to use. Even though I'm disappointed in some ways with the CT14, I would still purchase another Plantronics cordless headset phone in the future as I do believe Plantronics is the best brand on the market.
96 of 106 people found the following review helpful.
By Erniesma
I got a CT12 (unless it was a CT10) back in 2000. I loved it: it saved my neck from the pain associated with tilting my neck to hold a phone between my shoulder and my ear. The sound quality was great. The phone worked whether docked in its charger or while roaming the house. The sound quality was exceptional. the only problem I ever had with it was that I dropped it all the time and finally, after years of abuse, I killed it. (In fact, I had two of these phones between 2000 and 2010, when I finally decided I couldn't squeeze anymore life out of the second one, also a victim of falls.) Compared to the older models, this CT14 is a terrible disappointment. I'm using it in the same location, yet now there is a constant irritating sound in the background. And it cannot be used while docked in the charger. May not sound like a big issue. But to answer these phones, one has to get the headset on, then press the talk button before the call goes to voicemail. With the old model, those were the only steps. With the CT14, there is a 3rd step -- pull the phone out of the charger, get the headset on, then press talk. It's not so easy to do that quickly, especially when the headset plug can pull out of the phone quite easily. Also, if you're using the phone and inadvertently put it back in the charger because you're using it while sitting at the desk where the charger is, the phone disconnects the call. If it does this because of some danger of the phone blowing up or giving me cancer while in use and in the charger, I'd be interested to know. Otherwise, it just seems like a design flaw. My rating of this phone is particularly low because I loved the older model so much. It was a revalation. This one is terrible by comparison. (If you never had the older version, this one might not frustrate you as much as it does me. But really, I am not okay with the terrible sound quality.)
Nice phones but bad battery life.
