As said, how such a sophisticated machine can sound like an old bag of spanners, I don't know! On the one I had you could take your own CD in and listen to that on headphones, or just (as I did) have Radio 2. Mine was for my shoulder, so head was 'in' the machine, don't know if you can wear headphones if you are having your head done. I just laid there and kept my eyes closed too. Just the noise that is a bit disconcerting, but you soon get used to it.