WE;ve got one of those BT synergy DECT phones at home, with a built in answer phone.

However, it's really really quiet.

Even putting it on speaker phone, full volume, the caller is barely a whisper, and it seems to be getting worse.

Now, this is the second replacement, same model etc, and I'm not about to go for the same one again. Infact, I'd be loathe to buy another BT model at all. It's useless.

I was browsing Comet and came across the IDECT X3i...a bit too "bling" but good range....

The Pansonic 8223 has a tasteful black finish, but large buttons.....useful for those of us with poor eyesight......if a tad E.L.C "My First Cordless Phone".....

Any suggestions/Recommendations on what make/model has the loudest and clearest handset out there?

Must have a digital answerphone in the base and at least two handsets (preferably 3)

I would certainly agree that the BT branded DECT that we had a couple of years back was really quiet.

We have a panasonic now, and like others I have used from that brand they are much better for sound if not a little more basic in features.

Steve

Thumbs up for Panasonic, I personally have Idect x1 and the battery life is rubbish, Sister and parents ahve pansonic and they have good battery life and good volume.

I have a Sagem DECT phone and it is excellent and cheap (£13 from 7dayshop.com) but unfortunately no answerphone (we have a seperate one), although you can register up to 6 handsets.

We have a philips set at home, when on speakerphone they are really loud, have lots of ringtones, and the answerphone can be listened to on the base station, or from the handsets. Another thing is that the phonebook is shared, so you add an entry on one phone and its automatically stored on both.

We've had a few DECT phones, all with varying problems or just difficult to use. I would recommend that when you find a model you are interested in, have a look on the web at the user manual and see how easy it is to use - our last panasonic dect phone with answering machine was a pig to use - you had to know different key codes to play, delete, forward and back messages which drove me mad. At least our latest BT has simple buttons on the base to deal with the answer phone.

We've been through lots in the last few years, and they all seemed to suffer from mains interference, and were quiet. Recently, I had some vouchers to use at Comet, so I got some Panasonic KX-TG7223ES handsets, which have nice big buttons for my banana fingers, have a volume control so you can turn up the sound, and they don't buzz either. I'd recommend them.

Phil

If you need multiple handsets, make sure they support shared address books.

Programming umpteen BT fecking handsets isnt fun

We went through 3 BT DECT handsets within 18months a few years ago, before discovering the wonders of Panasonic.

After the horrors of BT I took a 5 year warranty out on the Panasonic phone 'just incase'

6 years later it's still going strong, with only one battery pack replacement.

I would strongly urge you to buy Panasonic, they might not be the best looking phones but boy do they last!

Can highly recommend the Philips DECT phones. We've had ours for 7 years now, and it's still going strong. The shared address book is a fabulous feature, as is the use of standard AAA rechargeables (not that I've had to change them).

Bagpuss.

our siemens seem allllreeeeeett!!

come on then, bring on the misquotes!

our siemens seem allllreeeeeett!!

come on then, bring on the misquotes!

It's no fun when you're begging for it......

If you need multiple handsets, make sure they support shared address books.

Programming umpteen BT fecking handsets isnt fun

Good point!

Our Panasonics don't have a shared phone book, but you can copy the directory between handsets.

Phil

We have these..

Buy IDECT X1i TWIN BLK | Digital telephone with answermachine - 2 handsets - Specification | Comet

Very good phones IMHO.