Magazine
Phoenix Audio Technologies Quattro 3 MT303 Conference Speakerphone
10/29/2012 By: Henry Thiele
www.phnxaudio.com • Retail Price: $649.95
The Quattro3 (Q3) is a high-quality conference
speakerphone designed to be used in combination with a
computer, tablet, or smartphone. It is only 7” in diameter
and weighs less than 2 pounds, making it highly portable
for those that need to turn any room or classroom into
a conference room. The Q3 utilizes multiple noisecancelling
microphones paired with a solid speaker powered either by
the computing device or the included power cord to provide excellent
sound quality on both ends of the call.
Quality and Effectiveness: I tested the Q3 with Skype, Google
Hangouts, and attached to my smartphone and found it worked just
as well as a traditional speakerphone in small or large rooms. Power
can be drawn from the device, external power source, or an internal
battery, making it possible to take the Q3 anywhere. The Q3 is a
perfect all-purpose speakerphone that is effective in any setting. It
is solid in construction and does not have much on it that could
break, making it a perfect device to check out and take
out anywhere in a school. Plus, it’s versatile and
can be used with any number of mobile
devices, including an iPad or tablet.
Ease of Use: This is an easy enough
device to use with a classroom
computing device or smartphone
to turn any room into a conference
room. It connects through USB
or a 3.5mm headphone jack, so
anyone can set it up and use
the technology with ease.
It is a plug-and-play device
that is intelligent enough to
follow the conversation as it
goes on in the room, so once it is connected there is nothing to think
about.
Creative Use of Technology: There are a couple of features that
make the Q3 innovative. First, the flexibility to use nearly any device
to facilitate a conference call makes this a great tool to have in any
school. Plus the ability to add on multiple units to expand the reach
of the call could be incredibly powerful. One could chain together
up to 15 units (using an additional power source sold
separately) and fill an enormous room with a
close-knit conference experience.
Suitability for Use in a School
Environment: This would be
a great device for bringing
in guest speakers or hosting
virtual fieldtrips via Skype
or Google Hangouts. Usually
attempts to bring virtual
guests into a classroom are
restricted by sound more than
video and the Q3 eliminates the sound
variables. The fact that you can use the Q3 to have a call
and not have to hunt down a physical phone jack makes it perfect for
schools where wireless internet is accessible.
TOP FEATURES
• Integrates with nearly any device.
• Ease of use with common web-based
communication tools.
• Size and portability paired with expandability
to meet the needs of any setting.
OVERALL RATING: Overall, this is a solid
device meant to fill
the specific need of
conference calls.