The innovative TAICHI UI and high quality volume controller also add value and performance to the entire operating system.

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The music is typical Mario, but it can get a little overbearing at times, especially if you have the volume on the controller turned up.

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The front of controller features bass, treble and volume knobs, a power toggle, LED indicator and a 3.5mm auxiliary jack, while the back features a secondary 3.5mm jack, a powered USB port (allowing for the hookup of Bluetooth-enabling dongles, for example) and a toaster slot for the current and previous generation of AirPort Express routers.

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We think we prefer headphone volume and cue mix knobs on the top of the controller, not the front, but we grew used to it pretty quickly.

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Customers can control the volume or mute with a regular TV remote or with one of the free Sonos Controller apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac or PC.

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Nintendo's Wii U tablet controller thankfully streamlines that process in a small, but tremendously meaningful way: during initial console setup, you're prompted to sync your television and the tablet controller, allowing the tablet itself to control the TV's power, volume, channels, and input directly.

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