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Analogue Audio Conferencing Phones

Polycom Star Shaped Phone - Conference Buying Guide Help

Analogue Audio Conferencing Phones
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Polycom Star Shaped Phone - Buying Guide Help

Polycom are one of the market leaders in audio conferencing products and have a vast range of different models. One of the most popular audio conference phones in Polycom’s range is a star shaped phone called the Polycom Soundstation 2.

As the name suggests the Polycom Soundstation 2 is the next generation of Polycom’s Soundstation range, and has the very latest audio conferencing technology. Each point of this star shaped telephone has a microphone to capture the users voice, and a high quality speaker in the centre.

The microphones and speaker on the Polycom Soundstation 2 are fully duplex. This means they can both work at the same time allowing conversation to flow naturally. There are a number of different Polycom star shaped phones in the Soundstation range, which are as follows.

Polycom Soundstaion 2 Basic

This is the entry level model in the Polycom Soundstation 2 range. It is an analogue phone so will work on any ordinary BT line. Also the Polycom Soundstation 2 Basic has the same audio quality as some of the more expensive models, just not some of the features.

Polycom Soundstation 2 Basic Conference Phone

Polycom Soundstation 2 Basic

Polycom Soundstation 2

The standard version of the Polycom Soundstation 2 has an LCD screen which shows you the number dialled, and is caller display compatible so will show the incoming number. It is only slightly dearer then the Basic which does make it a good option and makes this a Phone and Headsets Star buy.

Polycom Soundstation 2 Conference Phone

Polycom Soundstation 2

Polycom Soundstation 2 Expandable

The Polycom Soundstation 2 expandable has the ability to add extra microphones. It is ideal if you are using this on a long boardroom table for example. The microphones can then stretch to either end making it easier for callers to hear people speak. Also you don’t have to buy the microphones at the same time as the phone if you want to keep down costs.

Polycom SoundStation 2 Extra Microphones

Polycom SoundStation 2 Extra Microphones

Polycom Soundstation 2 Wireless

Many meeting rooms do not have a telephone line, so the Polycom Soundstation 2 wireless allows you to plug into the nearest phone line and place use it in another room. It has a range of up to 50-60m indoors and has the same audio quality as a normal Soundstation 2. The Polycom Soundstation 2 wireless is also a great option if you do not want cables draped over an expensive boardroom table.

Polycom Soundstation 2 Wireless Conferencing Phone

Polycom Soundstation 2W Wireless

 

 

What is Wideband Audio Conferencing? - Buying Guide Help

Analogue Audio Conferencing Phones
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What is Wideband Audio Conferencing? - Buying Guide Help

We have seen a few audio conferencing products that advertise wideband audio conferencing, but few actually explain what the benefit is. One such product that advertises wideband audio conferencing is the Polycom Soundstation VTX 1000 audio conferencing phone.

Polycom Soundstation VTX 1000

Polycom Soundstation VTX 1000 Audio Conferencing Phone

We could explain how wideband conferencing works with a few phrases of technical jargon, but this wouldn’t be the Phone and Headsets way.

Have you ever spoken to someone over the telephone, and then when you have met them in person they sound different. It’s because when you speak to someone face to face your ear can pick up more of the low and high parts in their voice. Normally a telephone can not transmit all of these sounds, so is working in a narrowband. So a wideband telephone sends through a larger bandwidth and more of the sounds for you to hear.

As a stand alone conference phone the Polycom Soundstation VTX 1000 is one of the best. However to reach the wideband conferencing mode you actually need two units, one at each end of the call. This is because when the two phones send the wideband sound down the telephone line they have to compress it so it will fit. Once at the other end the second conference phone then unpacks this sound and plays it through the speaker.

(Wideband Image)

When using wideband conferencing sounds that are sometimes similar are much more distinctive. For example normally on a call when saying a postcode people have to ask if it’s S or F, or even M or N. In wideband mode these sounds become much more distinctive and easier to understand.

To get the most out of the Polycom Soundstation VTX 1000 there is also a Subwoofer that will help deliver that extra depth in sound.

 


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