cokemaster: I didn't notice this with our PSTN or cellphones (both GSM and CDMA) with either Telecom or Vodafones hold music.

Niel: Since you have posted this in the WxC forum please clarify if you are referring to the music from WxC, or to music in general over a VFX connection? If specific to WxC, well I have phoned them only once or twice but never got to hear any music as they answered very quickly even at peak time. If over VFX, then there was a post recently about the volume in general being too loud and then Phil informed us about the gain setting in the latest firmware.

In general, the music would be played at 0dB (or -3dB, for this post simply pick a number near maximum) to get maximum SNR but most people do not talk that loud into handsets. Also handsets pick up normal speech at lower than 0dB, because who determines how loud is 0dB anyway (dB is a relative scale)? They have to leave headroom for people with loud voices. But the guys making the "on-hold music playing things" get very theoretical and simply plays the music at 0dB since that is what it "should" be. If they were making it as a consumer item, then it would be more practical but technically not "ideal".

Actually I prefer the music to be slightly loud, as I can put down the phone and continue my work until the music stops (or put the phone on my shoulder).

Typically (modern) cordless phones will not sound so loud, because they have restricted RF bandwidth to utilise and so have compressors implemented. Also have to comply with emissions testing which is easier when using a limited bandwidth (but that is probably getting too technical).

Maybe if they played some uplifting classical music.......as long as it didn't put you to sleep.

Anyway It was just a general comment.
Also the good thing with WxC you aren't on hold for very long