One Heck Of A Phone
If you need a high-quality 2-line office phone with amazing range reception that will pair with up to four handsets (the maximum), this is your phone. Although this particular model, Panasonic KX-TG6500, is no longer available brand-new from Panasonic, it's still possible to buy one through "fine used merchandise" stores such as eBay. The sound quality is very good, especially with the Voice Enhancer feature which is particularly useful in noisy surroundings, or to the hard-of-hearing among us. What makes this phone especially remarkable is the external antenna on both base unit and handsets, which is far superior to anything with a built-in antenna. The external antenna affords greater range, superior reception, and better clarity, by far. In my experience, this is still the best desk phone anywhere. There are features on the handsets that I will probably never use (the Room Monitor being one such), and others that I find indispensable such as Volume Control, Voice Enhancer, Caller ID, etc. I would, however, encourage caution when buying used units; look closely at the photographs with the listing. Check for faded letters and numbers on the handset keypad which could indicate a unit that needs keypad repair; also verify that the handset with the unit is Model KX-TG650B (the model number will be found on the bottom of the handset, not under the battery as widely supposed). Other model handsets may not pair with the base unit, KX-TG6500. Trust your gut; if the handset is dirty or shows excessive use such as a worn keypad, scratches, etc., you might be better off waiting for something in better condition to come on the market. It'll be worth the wait. I was in too big a hurry, and one of the three handsets I bought was worn out when I got it and now I can scarcely dial out or answer calls on that handset. Bottom line: Base units are still easy to find, and IF you can find handsets in good condition, this is a dynamite telephone system. EDIT: JANUARY 6, 2020. When I wrote the review above, my phone service with a major carrier was operating perfectly on the 3G wireless network. Because 3G was supposed to end in December 2019, I switched to a 4G LTE wireless receiver, and now the Caller ID feature on my wonderful, old Panasonic does not work. Incoming calls on the handsets are shown only as "Incoming call," and the line # (Line 1 or Line 2). When I called my wireless phone company, the tech department said this Panasonic phone is no longer compatible with the newer technology. The incoming number DOES DISPLAY ON THE WIRELESS RECEIVER (in my case it's a T2000), but not the handset. So if I answer the call in another room, on a different handset, I have no clue who's calling.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
