Well, it is now 100 percent dead. Worked fine for several days before it died. I thought maybe the problem had just 'gone away'... but then I turned it on this afternoon and
pop and that was it. Turning it off and on again doesn't work anymore. There is no sound in any mode. So, I go back to
Walmart where I bought it ( before I learned how evil Walmart is...

) and asked them about a return since it had been less than a year. It seems that this sort of product doesn't get exchanged if its past 90 days. It gets sent to the manufacturer for repair (or replacement, I suspect). Oh, joy... more customer service hassles with major corporations. So I guess I'll have to box it up and take it back soon. Then see how long it takes to get it back and how long it works after I get it back.