GSMArena feature lab: Enter new goodies

Enter new goodies

GSMArena team, 05 October 2007.

Speakerphone loudness test

Having a handset with a nice loudspeaker is a definite plus for almost every user. Most modern handsets have a speakerphone function, sometimes advertised as a built-in hands-free. Having the voice of the other calling party sounding loud and clear is obviously a must. Teenagers on the other hand like to use the loudspeaker to listen to music on their own outings or get-togethers (yeah, we know the sound quality sucks). But stepping out of these scenarios, you would hardly need us telling you that every phone is as good as its ringing. After all, that's its primary job - alerting you of incoming calls.

So one way or another, whether you use it for fun, conference calls or just for plain ringing, there is one single thing that's important - loudness. We've never dug into that in our reviews besides the casual subjective remark of whether the handset ringing is loud or not, but we decided it's time we took a more scientific approach.

So we got ourselves a nice piece of equipment - a digital noise/loudness meter in order to start measuring objectively that all-important aspect of modern handsets - how loud is the loudspeaker in realty.


Our noise/loudness meter

The equipment in question is not a high-end one, but we really don't need one. All we need for our reviews is a way to measure the maximum (peak) loudness level that our handsets reach.

So, for the record, here is how our test setup goes. We do our tests in a quiet room taking sound measurements with the handset loudspeaker facing the microphone at a distance of exactly 1 m. We do three different tests. For each test we make several consequent measurements - we usually disregard the highest and the lowest readings and we take the average value of the rest. The three tests are as follows:

1) A phone ringing. We use an old-school ringtone, resembling the ringing of an old phone. It seems that most phones do well when we use it.

2) Pink noise. We use a sample of pink noise. Our readings with it are pretty indicative on how well the handset loudspeaker would fare with common music. Teenagers would surely appreciate the handset that will allow them to crank up the volume as high as possible.

3) Human voice, male. This is an important test, since if you tend the use the loudspeaker for speakerphone purposes, loudness is really important, no matter if you are at the conferencing room, or in your car.

So, all this pretty much sums it up nicely. Let us just point out that this test is not about the quality of the sound produced by the loudspeaker. A mild, relatively deep sounding loudspeaker that soothes the ear won't do well in this test. But, all we are after is pure loudness levels - it's our hunt for the loudest phone, ever.

Speakerphone testVoice, dBPink noise/ Music, dBRinging phone, dBOveral score
Acer Liquid 72.0 72.5 83.5 Very good
Acer neoTouch 64.6 65.7 75.8 Average
Acer Stream 63.6 65.6 75.8 Average
Apple iPad 66.5 65.8 69.7 Average
Apple iPhone 1G67.2 60.266.6Below average
Apple iPhone 3G66.1 62.171.7Below average
Apple iPhone 3GS69.5 69.571.7Good
Apple iPhone 465.1 66.260.3Below Average
Asus P75075.7 69.566.5Good
BlackBerry Curve 8520 69.8 68.7 76.0 Good
BlackBerry Curve 890075.7 66.675.3Good
BlackBerry Bold 900070.0 66.668.9Average
BlackBerry Storm 950075.8 65.072.7Good
BlackBerry Storm2 952072.2 66.372.9Good
BlackBerry Torch 980065.9 65.865.5Below Average
Dell Streak70.1 75.780.8Very Good
HTC Aria 74.9 73.8 83.8 Excellent
HTC Smart 74.9 73.5 80.9Excellent
HTC Desire 75.2 75.7 85.5 Excellent
HTC Desire Z 72.7 72.7 82.5 Very Good
HTC HD2 75.7 72.8 78.0 Very Good
HTC Hero76.7 71.977.7Very Good
HTC Legend78.0 74.379.7Excellent
HTC Magic70.3 69.579.3Very Good
HTC MAX 4G70.1 80.666.6Good
HTC Tatoo 75.1 66.6 75.9 Good
HTC Touch75.7 75.785.5Excellent
HTC Touch2 75.7 75.7 82.7 Excellent
HTC Touch Cruise68.8 66.674.2Good
HTC Touch Diamond66.7 75.966.0Good
HTC Touch Diamond269.1 66.676.7Good
HTC Touch HD77.7 73.776.7Excellent
HTC Touch Pro74.9 69.773.7Good
HTC Touch Pro274.6 70.078.1Very Good
HTC Tytn II76.0 75.782.7Excellent
HTC Wildfire74.3 66.675.7Good
LG BL20 71.8 70.6 81.9 Very Good
LG BL40 New Chocolate 73.2 69.5 78.3 Very Good
LG Cookie T300 75.7 70.3 76.7 Very Good
LG Cookie 3G T320 75.2 70.5 79.9 Very Good
LG E900 Optimus 7 66.6 66.7 75.7 Good
LG GC900 Viewty Smart75.7 69.576.5Very Good
LG GD510 Pop 76.6 76.2 85.0 Excellent
LG GD550 76.3 73.7 76.3 Very Good
LG GD880 Mini 67.7 66.5 76.1 Good
LG GD900 Crystal73.2 71.673.5Good
LG GD91060.7 61.766.1Below Average
LG GT400 Viewty Smile72.6 66.277.9Good
LG GT540 Optimus 73.2 66.7 75.7 Good
LG GM360 Viewty Snap 74.6 69.5 77.0 Very Good
LG GW300 78.6 75.7 80.7 Excellent
LG GW52077.1 74.882.7Excellent
LG GW620 67.8 69.5 83.7 Very Good
LG KC55074.9 73.582.8Excellent
LG KC910 Renoir71.9 65.672.0Good
LG KP500 Cookie78.1 75.782.7Excellent
LG KF51069.5 66.569.7Average
LG KF60066.6 66.678.1Good
LG KF70072.8 71.779.2Very Good
LG KF750 Secret75.6 72.782.8Excellent
LG KF900 Prada77.1 75.782.1Excellent
LG KG80070.7 71.775.7Good
LG KM570 Cookie Gig75.1 69.582.7Good
LG KM900 Arena70.9 68.278.3Good
LG KS2066.1 70.664.9Average
LG KS36070.9 68.278.3Good
LG KT61066.7 68.881.6Good
LG KU990 Viewty72.068.877.8Good
Motorola Flipout69.764.669.2Average
Motorola RAZR2 V866.3 65.781.9Good
Motorola MILESTONE 71.1 66.1 75.9 Good
Motorola MILESTONE XT720 66.2 65.8 77.0 Good
Nokia 2710 Navigation Edition 71.0 65.6 75.7 Good
Nokia 2730 classic 69.6 65.8 71.2 Below average
Nokia 3120 classic69.669.571.3 Good
Nokia 3500 classic65.965.775.7 Average
Nokia 3600 slide67.766.775.7Good
Nokia 3720 classic71.4 66.676.1Good
Nokia 5130 XpressMusic74.2 66.671.3Good
Nokia 5220 XpressMusic73.768.575.7Good
Nokia 5230 65.8 60.3 66.7 Below average
Nokia 5250 76.0 72.7 83.5 Excellent
Nokia 5310 XpressMusic64.862.075.9 Average
Nokia 5320 XpressMusic74.366.678.3Very Good
Nokia 5530 XpressMusic70.6 69.775.7Good
Nokia 5630 XpressMusic68.6 65.776.0Good
Nokia 5730 XpressMusic68.7 61.775.1Average
Nokia 5800 XpressMusic75.766.568.5Good
Nokia 6110 Navigator65.965.872.9Average
Nokia 6210 Navigator74.970.179.2Very Good
Nokia 623376.269.570.7Good
Nokia 630367.9 65.372.3Average
Nokia 6500 classic74.775.783.8Excellent
Nokia 6500 slide74.272.878.2Very Good
Nokia 6600 fold66.762.164.6Below average
Nokia 6600 slide66.766.664.6Below average
Nokia 6600i slide66.5 66.269.5Average
Nokia 663069.764.466.5Below average
Nokia 6700 classic75.1 66.675.7Good
Nokia 6700 slide 75.5 65.8 82.7 Very Good
Nokia 6710 Navigator75.8 67.775.7Very Good
Nokia 6720 classic70.8 80.566.3Good
Nokia 6760 slide67.7 66.275.1Good
Nokia 7900 Prism66.766.269.7 Average
Nokia 8600 Luna73.066.666.1Average
Nokia 8800 Arte66.766.566.5Bellow Average
Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte66.666.666.6Bellow Average
Nokia 8800 Gold Arte70.8 69.966.9Average
Nokia C375.866.677.5Very Good
Nokia C568.565.673.5Average
Nokia C668.061.777.3Average
Nokia C766.665.875.9Good
Nokia E575.166.275.7Good
Nokia E5068.261.575.7Average
Nokia E5167.065.771.2Average
Nokia E5266.6 64.675.7Average
Nokia E5566.5 62.174.6Average
Nokia E6364.662.169.0Below Average
Nokia E6666.966.166.8Bellow Average
Nokia E7069.066.370.0Average
Nokia E7168.066.576.2Good
Nokia E72 65.7 60.2 66.3 Below average
Nokia E7564.6 60.765.9Below Average
Nokia N7870.766.675.7Good
Nokia N7966.665.871.7Average
Nokia N875.866.282.7Very Good
Nokia N8168.867.875.7Good
Nokia N8270.261.265.9Below average
Nokia N8567.065.571.8Average
Nokia N8667.5 64.975.2Average
Nokia N9577.366.678.0Very good
Nokia N95 with stereo widening79.576.575.7Excellent
Nokia N95 8GB75.766.270.5 Good
Nokia N9677.376.078.1Excellent
Nokia N9772.8 67.375.8Good
Nokia N97 mini 68.8 66.7 83.6 Very Good
Nokia X2 80.2 75.7 84.7 Excellent
Nokia X3 65.7 66.2 66.6 Below average
Nokia X3-02 75.1 66.6 75.7 Below average
Nokia X5-01 76.7 67.1 78.9 Very Good
Nokia X6 69.2 66.7 72.5 Good
O2 Cocoon65.165.778.0Good
Palm Pre71.368.080.3Very Good
Qtek 850065.765.766.2Below average
Qtek 860078.073.579.7Excellent
Samsung Armani69.764.671.0Average
Samsung B270081.375.782.8Excellent
Samsung B5310 CorbyPRO75.869.781.1Very Good
Samsung C3300K Champ75.268.870.7Good
Samsung D78074.266.677.3Good
Samsung D880 Duos66.265.066.0Bellow Average
Samsung B772274.367.676.3Good
Samsung B761066.666.572.7Average
Samsung D90076.875.978.0Excellent
Samsung E25071.964.769.8Average
Samsug F110 Adidas68.965.873.5Good
Samsung F48066.366.675.7Good
Samsung F49073.569.774.7Good
Samsung F70073.369.175.2Good
Samsung G400 Soul69.773.584.7Very Good
Samsung G60066.365.777.5Good
Samsung G80070.766.673.6Good
Samsung i45070.772.775.5Good
Samsung i55073.866.678.1Good
Samsung I5500 Galaxy 573.166.676.0Good
Samsung I5700 Galaxy Spica66.662.175.7Average
Samsung I5800 Galaxy 373.766.672.3Good
Samsung I5801 Galaxy Apollo71.766.671.3Good
Samsung i60067.266.375.7Good
Samsung i62075.773.682.9Excellent
Samsung I7500 Galaxy72.666.676.3Good
Samsung i78078.975.777.5Excellent
Samsung I8000 Omnia II74.9 73.575.7Very Good
Samsung i8510 INNOV878.975.777.5Excellent
Samsung I8700 Omnia 766.166.670.6Average
Samsung i9000 Galaxy S66.665.966.6Bellow Average
Samsung i900 Omnia70.264.875.2Good
Samsung L70077.970.077.0Very Good
Samsung M320076.178.384.7Excellent
Samsung M5650 Lindy73.169.177.8Very Good
Samsung M7500 Emporio Armani73.7 66.675.7Good
Samsung M7600 Beat DJ75.7 75.777.8Excellent
Samsung M8800 Pixon75.769.682.1Very Good
Samsung M8910 Pixon1275.7 72.877.3Very Good
Samsung P1000 Galaxy Tab66.7 64.668.6Below Average
Samsung S3650 Corby75.7 72.077.1Very Good
Samsung S5230 Star82.7 76.080.2Excellent
Samsung S5620 Monte75.7 69.775.7Very Good
Samsung S7220 Ultra b71.2 67.076.7Good
Samsung S7230E Wave 72369.0 66.674.9Good
Samsung S733075.168.775.7Very Good
Samsung S735074.9 69.075.6Very Good
Samsung S7550 Blue Earth75.7 66.576.0Good
Samsung S8000 Jet75.5 68.177.9Very Good
Samsung S8300 UltraTOUCH70.1 66.775.7Good
Samsung S8500 Wave69.8 66.675.5Good
Samsung U60066.766.275.3Good
Samsung U800 Soul b65.965.975.8Average
Samsung U900 Soul69.766.371.1Average
Sonim XP181.876.282.7Excellent
Sony Ericsson Aino66.566.275.9Good
Sony Ericsson Aspen71.066.675.7Good
Sony Ericsson C51074.175.782.7Excellent
Sony Ericsson K77068.768.876.2Good
Sony Ericsson C70275.875.782.7Excellent
Sony Ericsson C90165.1 65.769.5Below Average
Sony Ericsson C90268.872.278.2Very good
Sony Ericsson C90565.766.173.8Average
Sony Ericsson Elm61.661.369.8Below Average
Sony Ericsson G50277.775.774.8Excellent
Sony Ericsson G70569.171.777.7Good
Sony Ericsson Hazel65.662.366.5Below Average
Sony Ericsson K66074.566.675.7Good
Sony Ericsson K85071.075.775.7Very good
Sony Ericsson R306 Radio71.368.980.3Very good
Sony Ericsson Satio71.866.178.2Good
Sony Ericsson T30365.566.573.5Average
Sony Ericsson T65075.775.783.7Excellent
Sony Ericsson T70069.572.780.6Very Good
Sony Ericsson T70774.881.675.7Very Good
Sony Ericsson Vivaz64.859.869.1Below Average
Sony Ericsson Vivaz Pro69.265.672.6Average
Sony Ericsson W30271.668.676.7Good
Sony Ericsson W50875.582.776.0Excellent
Sony Ericsson W59580.676.786.7Excellent
Sony Ericsson W71569.971.981.8Very Good
Sony Ericsson W76067.865.373.5Average
Sony Ericsson W89069.678.272.7Very Good
Sony Ericsson W90271.071.575.7Good
Sony Ericsson W91077.570.782.7Excellent
Sony Ericsson W96072.373.576.7Very good
Sony Ericsson W98070.275.775.7Very good
Sony Ericsson W99566.166.075.7Average
Sony Ericsson XPERIA X175.566.682.7Very good
Sony Ericsson XPERIA X266.565.669.6Average
Sony Ericsson XPERIA X867.866.667.8Average
Sony Ericsson XPERIA Pureness69.966.678.0Good
Sony Ericsson Yari75.769.576.7Very good
Sony Ericsson Yendo68.766.677.5Good
Sony Ericsson Zylo65.766.578.1Good

And one final remark so you can interpret our readings better. We measure sound loudness in decibel (dB). Bear in mind that the decibel is a logarithmic unit, which means that a reading of +3dB represents roughly twice more power. Although power itself doesn't have a direct relation to our test, it just comes to show that even a slight difference in readings might mean audibly louder results.

Finally, as we do all this with the mobile user on mind, we would really like to know how helpful our effort is. We hope the new features are bringing extra value, but with them our reviews take longer to complete. And we're hoping to strike the right balance between added functionality and timely serving our audience. We welcome any of your feedback on how useful and relevant our add-ons are. Your opinion matters to us.

Reader comments

I'm nothing like y'all 😎😭😭 I'm nothing like y'all 😎😭😭 I'm nothing like y'all 😎😭😭 I'm nothing like y'all 😎😭😭

No it doesn't

  • Anonymous
  • 15 Nov 2017
  • YQ%

Does the audio quality test results include earpiece speaker as well?