They are both reputable systems. The Panasonic does tend to price out a bit higher than many others, but the TDA is Panasonic's flagship system.

You really should not be looking at as much the price as you are the dealer and their credentials. Some dealers charge more than others due to their level of expertise, more expansive product line offerings, licensing and training. I know that Panasonic does not allow the sale of the TDA product line without factory certification that's fairly expensive to the dealer. I am not sure about NEC's training policy. If a competing dealer doesn't have all of these under their belt, that might be a big part of the price difference.

There's also a big difference between hiring experienced installers who know how to make the system do what you want as opposed to those who just try to come up with a less expensive offering.

The key in purchasing a telephone system is in evaluating the dealers. Check references and credentials. Remember that you are entering into a long-term relationhip with them, so make sure that you know who you are dealing with, not just the product and price. Good luck with your evaluation process and by all means, feel free to check back with us if you have any additional questions.

Ed Vaughn, MBSWWYPBX