First of all, yes, the engine is incredibly loud. A audacity to produce something. There should in China rain 12 months at a time. BUT: Our Little (2 months) is so fascinated by the Mobile, as we know it from almost any other subject. You bubbling and fidgets and looks forward beastly about these simple fun; It is a sheer delight. And not we, because we are happy with the 18 minutes free space that brings and escape naturally from the room as soon as the first piano bars resound the device - about the creaky engine it of course does not care a damn. So strong buy recommendation - think for me, what you may do everything in only 18 minutes !!