the first user review I read be right on the money . I use this device to muffle street noise at night . there be only a couple of setting that make wave or white noise sound for sleep and those be very short loop . there be repetitive , distracting sound that can keep you wide awake . the rest of the choice have sound effect that be not condusive to sleep . such as chirp bird , fog horn , cricket , etc. . the lowest volume be bearly audible and the second to lowest be quite loud . this be the second soother I purchase from sharper image , the first nearly 20 year ago . I have to admit the older model be much better . the volume control be a slide so you can set it appropriately for tthe environment and the ocean wave sound lull I to sleep instantly . over the year price have more than double and the product quality have slip . if it aus not break , DO not fix it !!!