In a brief report, iLounge speculates that the discrepancy may stem from Apple's decision to relocate the tablets' built-in microphone port from its original position besides the headphone jack on the first-generation iPad to the top-center of the device, above the FaceTime camera in the new models.
As such, the microphone on the WiFi models rests within the device's aluminum housing while the microphone port on the 3G models finds itself embedded in the plastic antenna strip positioned in the same place on the GSM and CDMA to reduce interference in 3G communications.
"Perhaps due to this change in materials, the Wi-Fi model offers markedly cleaner audio than that of the 3G, which sounds slightly muffled and echo-prone as a result," the report states. "Curiously, we found the GSM 3G modelâs audio to be slightly preferable to that of the CDMA model, which seemed to suffer the issues more severely."
The issue is said to be most noticeable when the user is holding the iPad 2 in its traditional orientation, with the screen and FaceTime camera facing the user. AppleInsider recently published its First Look at the new iPad 2 ahead of its formal, in-depth review due in the coming days.
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Hmmm...
"Perhaps due to this change in materials, the Wi-Fi model offers markedly cleaner audio than that of the 3G, which sounds slightly muffled and echo-prone as a result," the report states. "Curiously, we found the GSM 3G model?s audio to be slightly preferable to that of the CDMA model, which seemed to suffer the issues more severely."
I'm not sure I buy this. I just did a test recording using Fire on my Verizon 3D iPad 2 and the sound was crystal clear, even from the person speaking across the room from me.
Hmmm...
I Hmmmm.. too. This would mean, when I buy the 3G model I will have to drop all this high quality audio recording projects ?!?
I Hmmmm.. too. This would mean, when I buy the 3G model I will have to drop all this high quality audio recording projects ?!?
You're kidding right?

Just get something like this, which works with the iPad.
In a brief report, iLounge speculates that the discrepancy may stem from Apple decision to relocate the tablets' built-in microphone port from its original position besides the headphone jack on the first-generation iPad to the top-center of the device, above the FaceTime camera in the new models.
Is it still a speculation? I do hope iLounge tested this issue with more than just three iPad 2s (which they own for their review).