Customer Reviews

Panasonic KX-TG5632M 5.8 GHz FHSS GigaRange Digital Cordless Answering System with Dual Handsets

5 star:		(109)
4 star:		(46)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Note for all who read this review: make sure to read the reviews for Panasonic KX-TG5631S as well, which is a single-handset version of the same phone. Also, you may be interested in older reviews for Panasonic KX-TG5432M and Panasonic KX-TG5431S, since the main difference is in the advanced features. I have been using this two-handset phone for two weeks and this is the best phone I have had for 10 years. Previous phones from Panasonic were disappointing, primarily because of mediocre voice and greeting quality. This is not the case for KX-TG5632M at all! In this model the voice quality is really good (and gets even better with "claritiy booster"), the greeting is clear, the message quality is excellent. Talk time is 5 hours, which is below the average, but it is OK for me. There is no interference with Wi-Fi or DSL (with proper filters, of course). Using the large navigator key in the middle, it is easy to adjust the volume while talking.

Replaced a two year old AT&T 5.8 Ghz cordless that I shouldn't have bought anyway. That set replaced a prior Panasonic that we gave to our inlaws. Big mistake. AT&T phones are made by V-Tech and the battery lasted a little over a year. Went back to Panasonic and glad we did. If you'll take a little time with the manual, you can eliminate some of the other reviewer's comments on features, notably the ones that say the ringer cannot be silenced. It can. You just have to remember there are 3 (three!) ringers: one on each handset (each requires you to set the volume to zero) and one on the base that isn't terribly intuitive to silence: you hold down the 'down' volume and then hold it an additional two seconds and that puts it to silent mode. Also the base volume must be set to zero if you don't want the 'Call Screening' (where it plays the incoming caller's message at the last preset volume level) feature active.

You just have to spend a few minutes with the manual.

It abounds with features. I like the ability to assign ring tones to individual callers, but the glowing light on the antenna is a killer feature for quickly identifying a caller if the ringer is off; nice touch Panasonic. Answering machine offers typical features, even has one of the better 'mechanical' voice messages built-in if you don't want to record your own.

Voice clarity features are nice, though they may take a bit to get used to. Panasonic offers both 'Call Booster' and 'Voice Enhancer' on this model. I used the 'Call Booster' and noticed little effect; however the 'Voice Enhancer' is superb; it completely changes the sound quality of a call; try it on speakerphone and be amazed. It does add an electronic quality to the incoming caller/message but the enhancement is so much better, it's worth it. Someone at Panasonic's labs did some study on how to pull this one off. Nice feature.

Range, talk time and durability are typical Panasonic; light-years ahead of V-Tech, AT&T, Uniden and Motorola's offerings. I park the base on a clear plastic mount that sits 1 inch off my cable modem and it doesn't interfere a bit. Routers may be different, so your mileage may vary.

Overall, I would give it five stars but for two quirks, one bad, one being picky. The cheap factor in leaving off a belt clip is just that: cheap. There's no reason to not include a .15 cent part on any phone; that's just unforgiveable to me. But it doesn't change my opinion nor sway my rating. However, the software quirk on incoming calls others have described DOES prevent a five star rating. If you get a call and answer it with handset one, handset two will show that you missed a call. That my friends is a glaring lack of quality control in the software department, nothing less. Make no mistake, it doesn't affect the phone nor impact the phone's durability, but it is an oversight, no matter what excuse Panasonic gives. EVERY OTHER CORDLESS PHONE IN THE WORLD handles this nuance correctly; only this range of 5.8 Ghz Panasonic phones (and there is an entire range of phones Panasonic produces using this handset) has this problem.

Other than that silly software oversight, it's rock solid, durable, clarity is great to fantastic and the range and battery life are good indeed.

Four stars. Five if they'd fix the software glitch and/or just admit they goofed rather than let the consumer be the guinea pigs of testing.

This phone may be a decent value, with good-sounding handsets, but it's so frustrating in actual use. Much better to use is: [...]

For example:

1a. Despite having both a microphone and a speaker in the base unit, the base unit does NOT function as a speakerphone. The handsets do (which is definitely nice), but the handset must be removed from the cradle before use. Thus, if you get a call, you cannot just quickly tap the speakerphone button on the base unit to answer (since the button does not exist). The KX-TG5576M does.

1b. Similarly, because of the lack of a speakerphone in the base unit, one cannot make a quick call without picking up a handset. Having a speakerphone in the base unit effectively provides an additional phone, since it can both make and receive calls without using a handset.

2. Despite knowing the current time, the handsets do not display it. Handsets on the KX-TG5576M do.

3. The handset buttons are not backlit; good luck making a call at night. The buttons on the KX-TG5576M are.

I'm very happy with the sound of the Panasonic GigaRange phones, but the omission of the above features is very frustrating.

I bought the Panasonic KX-TG5632M after trying and returning a Uniden 15198. I loved the Uniden because it had a corded base phone with a huge called Id display, a satellite 5.8 ghz cordless that sounded great, and an answering machine that made my stuttering voice sound better than it's ever sounded on an answering machine. So what's not to love? The Uniden wouldn't match the caller Id to names put into the phonebook. In other words if you received a phone call from a cellular caller whom you know, and have entered into your phonebook as "Jack", the caller ID wouldn't pull the name Jack out of the phonebook- it perpetually says "Cellular Call". As much as I liked the Uniden, I couldn't live with this flaw.

So how does the Panasonic Kx-tg5632m compare? Well to begin with I don't think I sound as good on the answering machine and I don't think the cordless handset sounds as clear- but I'm nitpicking really, it sounds very good. The user interface is more complicated, requiring one to go through menus to do things like listen to my messages, that I did on the Uniden with a push of a button. Many advanced features, such as activating the color coded attenna message alert, aren't even on menu pages, but must be accessed though impossible to memorize access codes. These are ADVANCED features however, and I guess Panasonic felt people wouldn't need to access them often. And being able to delete my messages remotely rather than merely be able to only listen is a definite step up from the Uniden.

I feel like I was shot gun forced into this marriage, and I am still warming up to the Panasonic. When I get home and the antenna is already flashing letting me know I've got messages, I feel that I could grow to love this phone. And the caller ID MATCHES up to 50 (COUNT'EM 50) names from my phonebook. Bye bye Uniden. Hello Panasonic.

I have been a great fan of Panasonic phones, and this one is the best yet. Easy to set up, clear sound, great range, and two handsets. Great for those with wireless 2.4 networks.

Over all this phone works well with my Vonage. The sounds quality is excellent, and I like the ring tones.

I only give this product 4 stars due to several functions of the phone:

1. The phone book you added in 1 phone, does not automatically registered in the other phone. You will have to 'send' your phone book to the other phone.

2. You have to 'clean' the list of incoming calls (from the caller id) in both phones. There is no function to delete it from 1 phone and applied to the other phone. My old v-tech could do this, and it really helps when you have over 30+ calls a day.

3. Related to point #2 above, if you answer call with phone #1, phone #2 will said you 'missed' that call.

I can't even tell you how relieved I am to have finally found a great 5.8 GHz cordless phone! I had replaced a 2.4 with a GE 5.8 and hated it. I recently purchased this Panasonic phone and I cannot believe how much better the quality is! The phone is very well made, the sound is very clear and you have so many options on this phone that I haven't had with others. It allows you to keep a phonebook, you can assign ringers for different callers, choose to have the phone light up different colors when people/different people call. It also has a speakerphone on each unit. It also allows you to conference the other unit in. Unlike my GE phone, when I was speaking with people on this phone they could actually tell it was a different phone! They said I sounded very clear. I like that this unit also has a 'boost' feature and a voice enhancer. The reception is great too! This really is a great phone.

In past I have used a variety of cordless phones. But, I always had an issue with the life of the phone. None of the phones lasted me for more than 1 year and few months. Last time I bought a Panasonic phone. I'm extensively using this phone for over 3 years and no degradation in performance. No stuck keys, no faded voice and not even the weakened battery or non responsive battery contacts (which is a problem with most of the rechargable cordless phones). Best of all is the speaker phone on the handset. This made me fan of Panasonic. This is phone is still working beautifully after 3 years of extensive use.

Now I needed another phone and have limitation of number phone jacks in my house. So I decided to buy Panasonic KX-TG5632M as it has two handsets hook to one line and a possibility to expand further.

The more I'm using phone, the more I get fond of it. This phone has a better look and feel than the my previous Panasonic phone. The voice quality over the speaker with "Voice Enhancer" is extremely good. Best of all it has an intercom feature that is an end to over the floors conversations. Now I can be anywhere in the house and still be able to talk to my wife in the kitchen over the intercom.

I'm impressed by the battery life of the handset. I can pretty much use it without charging for almost 3 days. The 5.8 GHz frequency makes it to work over the long range. I can be out of my house having fun with kids and rest assured that I'm not going to miss a call.

In my opinion this is the best buy for its price with some awsome features and performance.

This was my first cordless phone and it is the best piece of tech i have bought in years. I love the caller ID, the built in phone book, phone locator, speaker phone. You can give callers not only a ring tone but the color on antenna can be set to red, green or yellow, or a combo of all of them to Id a caller.

This phone has made my life so much easier as i never answer calls i dont know and can see who has called me while i was out.

The range is excellent as well, as i have taken phone all the way out to my car on street and signal was still perfect. Battery life is excellent as well.

I have now had this phone six months with no problems.

This Panasonic cordless phone is the finest I have ever owned. The sound is clear and static-free, thanks to digital transmission at 5.8 GHz. The phone functions are well thought out, and the MENU button, two soft keys and a four-direction navigation key make the menu choices intuitive. With a little practice, you can operate most phone functions without referring to the manual.

The batteries are nickel hydride which give above average service between chargings, and they should last longer than nickel cadmiums. The battery level is clearly indicated on the LCD screen, and a text message tells you when to recharge. Charging takes six or seven hours, and a message tells you when it's complete.

The set comes with two handsets and a digital answering system, which makes the price reasonable. Installation is quick and easy with the clear instructions and diagrams provided.