I am very happy with my purchase. It is replacing a more expensive micro HiFi which undoubtedly had more volume - but then I rarely used that volume as I usually listen with headphones. Yes. This item has a headphone socket. It also plays tapes - which I still have quite a lot of and wish to still enjoy playing. The radio is easily tuned and there is an extendable aerial at the back. I listen to classics - instrumental and piano - on it, as well as the spoken word. It gives good quality sound - not at all tinny. It can be a bit fussy if your CD's aren't clean enough. It seems to have drifted into the bedroom on a regular basis and though it is certainly very light and portable to bring back into the living room each day, I'm a bit lazy. So I'm thinking of buying another one.