This speaker is an excellent example of over-complicating a simple thing. The speakers themselves are great - when they worked. The problem is that the volume controls are touch-sensitive and apparently it is really easy to short them out - I did it by putting my already playing iPod in the On Stage dock when it also was turned on. The result was that the speakers maxed out. I immediately pulled out the iPod and tried to mute the resulting static as well as lower the volume, but to no avail. If JBL had merely put a regular volume control instead, it probably would not short out (and been easier to tell what the volume was set to). If only I had paid heed to the other reviewers on Amazon.... If you have to have these, definitely wait until they are redesigned, otherwise you'll be returning them as well.