This is the stereo I've been looking for for a few years. Let's you rock out with just your iPhone, or CD's. A little big but worth it. Why you cannot find anything remotely like this in stores is a mystery. Best buy, target, walmart sell crap stereos to plug your mp3 into and the sound is awful. weak. quiet. Not this big boy. Love it in a big room, love it outside by the pool. Sounds fine with batteries, haven't had long enough to gauge their life expectancy.