Panasonic KX-NT500 Office Phones – A Tech-Mag Review…
Panasonic KX-NT500 is a whole series of office telephones, and it can be hard to find the right model to suit your personal business needs. The Tech-Mag team as complied a list of the best models with price comparisons and their own expert advice on each…
The Panasonic KX-NT500 series consists of six corded IP phone models with varied features and abilities. For example, this range includes both executive and standard IP phones, with a fair difference in price and features, though the entire series is known for its efficiency and easy-to-use designs in line with Panasonic’s consistently good reputation.
As Panasonic states itself: “(this series) will take you to a new dimension in audio experience through excellent HD quality audio on every phone, combined with easy access to powerful supportive features and applications. The sleek, ultra-modern design, available in both black and white colour options, works well with any office decor.”
As much as the above is rather positive advertising text, there is actually decent HD quality on these phones and there has been a fair amount of design talent involved in making them easy to use/change settings/install. As for working well with any decor, they only come in black and white, so we’ll accept that.
Let’s first take a look at the executive models
KX-NT560 – Executive IP Phone
This is one of the higher end business phones from this range, and gains a lot of its popularity from its superior set of features including being Bluetooth enabled. As with all phones in this Panasonic series, there’s an electric hook switch (EHS) built into the phone, essentially connecting a wireless headset to the phone.
Its LCD displays with intuitive ‘User Interface’ offer fast access to phonebooks and features. This offers a range of portability and comfort as frequent users are able to move around freely, without being tied down by handsets. The KX-NT560 also supports Bluetooth headsets. They are perhaps more suited to a larger business as they tend to cost about £270 reseller price, so it is certainly top of the range, but being affordable for a smaller business or a business trying to cut costs is quite another matter.
Features:
- 4.4-inch LCD display with backlighting
- 36 freely programmable function keys
- High-quality wideband voice transmission
- Eco mode
- Plantronics EHS-compatible
- Integrated Bluetooth
- 2x 1 Gb Ethernet ports, PoE
- Available in black and white
- Pure performance – Attractive design: Panasonic offers a wide line-up of IP terminals with an ergonomic design for all use.
| Reseller | Price |
|---|---|
| PMC Telecom | 204.00 |
| 1st Rate Comms | £219.00 |
KX-NT556 – Executive IP Phone
Another from the executive range, the Panasonic KX-NT556 hosts a range of options to suit a medium/larger business or small business with high requirements. The KX-NT556 IP telephone delivers a well-designed professional performance. As with the KX-NT560 – thanks to excellent HD quality audio, combined with easy access to powerful supportive features and applications. The sleek, ultra-modern design, available in both black and white colour options, works well with any office decor.
Packed with a host of features, the KX-NT556 also has a gigabit LAN/PC port meeting the increasing requirements of office IP networks. It’s self labelling feature makes the initial setting and remote maintenance easy and manageable. It also supports DSS connectivity for operator-type users. There is a lot to consider with this level of office telephone as such a high feature level could prove a little pricey for a smaller company, but thankfully Panasonic also has more standard models in this series to cover more or less all grounds.
Features:
- 6-line backlit LCD display
- 12×3 self-labelling, flexible CO buttons
- 2 gigabit Ethernet port (1000 Base-T)
- Power-over-Ethernet (PoE)
- Eco mode
- Plantronics EHS-compatible
- Available in black and white
It’s worth noting that up to 36 numbers can be registered. Since the numbers are displayed on the screen, a paper label is not required.
| Reseller | Price |
| PMC Telecom cheapest option | £175.00 |
| Headset Store | £278.00 |
KX-NT553 – Executive IP Phone
“A range of options to suit your business. Maximum performance delivered via a gigabit connection.” (Panasonic website).
This is actually very true, it is indeed a varied phone will lots of options and it’s one of the better business phones on the market – as it’s an executive IP phone it may or may not be within your price range, as they tend to be around £160 each from the resellers.
The KX-NT553 IP telephone delivers exceptional professional performance thanks to competitive HD quality audio, combined with easy access to powerful supportive features and applications. The sleek, ultra-modern design, available in both black and white, works well with any office decor.
The KX-NT553 offers best-in-class audio quality, meaning fewer repeated conversations and misheard calls. Coupled with Enhanced Echo Cancellation and an Expanded Acoustic Chamber, the KX-NT553 delivers a superior audio experience to users over handset, speakerphone and optional headsets. It also features wideband-compliant, hearing aid compatible handsets, and built-in, high-quality speaker and microphone.
Features:
- 3-line backlit LCD display
- 12×2 self-labelling, flexible CO buttons
- 2 gigabit Ethernet port (1000 Base-T)
- Power-over-Ethernet (PoE)
- Eco mode
- Plantronics EHS-compatible
- Available in black and white
A built-in Electronic Hook Switch (Plantronics compliant) port allows the KX-NT553 to have access to the Plantronics range of DECT enabled headsets. This offers portability and comfort, as frequent users are able to move around freely, without being tied down by handsets. Up to 24 numbers can be registered. Since the numbers are displayed on the screen, a paper label is not required.
| Reseller | Price |
| Viking | £185.00 |
| PMC Telecom | £181.71 |
KX-NT551 – Standard IP telephone
So, we’ve discussed the “executive” models as part of the Panasonic KX-NT500 series review, and the KX-NT551 is one of the standard IP phones. Don’t be fooled by its name; it’s still a high quality office telephone with many of its own features, there are just less of them, and it is offered as a more affordable option.
Features:
- 1-line backlit LCD Display
- 8 flexible CO buttons
- 2 gigabit Ethernet port (1000 Base-T)
- Power-over-Ethernet (PoE)
- Eco mode
- Available in black and white
The KX-NT551 offers best-in-class audio quality, meaning fewer repeated conversations and misheard calls. Coupled with Enhanced Echo Cancellation and an Expanded Acoustic Chamber, the KX-NT551 delivers a superior audio experience to users over handset, speakerphone and optional headsets. It also features wideband-compliant, hearing aid compatible handsets, and built-in, high-quality speaker and microphone.
| Reseller | Price |
| Smart Teck | £107.32 |
| PMC Telecom | £101.41 |
KX-NT546 – Standard IP Phone
Panasonic offers a wide line-up of IP terminals with an ergonomic design for all use, and this is certainly no exception. The KX-NT500 Series IP telephones take you to a new dimension in audio experience through excellent HD quality audio on every phone, combined with easy access to powerful supportive features and applications. The sleek, ultra-modern design, available in both black and white colour options, works well with any office decor.
Packed with a whole host of features, the KX-NT500 Series IP telephones could not be simpler to use. The phones have large alphanumeric displays, Bluetooth module built in (*1) providing wireless headset support, easy navigation key and a 2nd IP port to reduce desktop cable clutter.
Large, clear LCD display with intuitive User Interface offer fast access to phonebooks and features.
A built in Electronic Hook Switch (Plantronics compliant) port allows the KX-NT500 series IP Terminals to have access to the Plantronics range of DECT enabled headsets. This offers a range of portability and comfort as frequent users are able to move around freely, without being tied down by handsets.
Features:
- Standard IP Phone, 6 lines display
- 6 lines display with backlighting
- 24 freely programmable function keys
- High-quality wideband voice transmission
- Plantronics EHS-compatible
- 2x 100Mb Ethernet ports, PoE
- Available in black and white
- Pure performance – Attractive design: Panasonic offers a wide line-up of IP terminals with an ergonomic design for all use.
| Reseller | Price |
| PMC Telecom | £204.00 |
| 1st Rate Comms | £214.80 |
KX-NT543 – Standard IP Phone
This is very similar to it’s KX-NT500 series cousins – and perhaps is one of the most popular choices. PMC Telecom actually kitted out their entire office with these phones and said they’ve been exceptionally happy with them:
Managing Director Paul Conway said: “I ordered a batch of these phones based on a recommendation and they’ve been exactly what we needed. There are cheaper corded phones on the market but these are worth spending on. There’s a fair amount on internal communication in the office between upstairs and downstairs, and they’re perfect for that.
“I’d recommend them for a small to medium business.”
Packed with a whole host of features, the KX-NT500 Series IP telephones could not be simpler to use. The phones have large alphanumeric displays, Bluetooth module built in (*1) providing wireless headset support, easy navigation key and a 2nd IP port to reduce desktop cable clutter.
High Definition “HD” Audio
The KX-NT500 series of IP terminals offers ‘best in class’ audio quality, meaning fewer repeated conversations and misheard calls. Offering Wideband High Definition Audio as standard across the range, the KX-NT5xx series offer G.722, G.711, G.726 and G.729a Codecs. Coupled with Enhanced Echo Cancellation and an Expanded Acoustic Chamber, the KX-NT5xx series of IP terminals offers a superior audio experience to users over handset, speakerphone and optional headsets. The entire range features wideband compliant, hearing aid compatible handsets, and built-in, high quality speaker and microphone.
- LCD Display
- Electric Hook Switch
- ECO Friendly
- 3 lines display with backlighting
- 24 freely programmable function keys
- High-quality wideband voice transmission
- Plantronics EHS-compatible
- 2x 100Mb Ethernet ports, PoE
- Available in black and white
| Reseller | Price |
| 1st Rate Comm s | £162.00 |
| PMC Telecom | £156.00 |
KX-NT505 – IP DSS Console
Easy Expansion for enhanced professional use
- 48 DSS buttons, to be used in full flexibility
- Direct Station Selection
- Pre-Programmable One Touch Number dialing
- Frequently used features
- Busy Station Signalling
- Direct connected to the KX-NT553/ KX-NT556
- Maximum of 4 DSS console per phone can be connected
- Available in black and white
- The sleek, ultra-modern design, available in both black and white colour options, works well with any office decor.
