the satellite is not to big, the front is about a little bigger than a diskette, same as the top, so it is like a diskette all around if u can think of it that way. the volume control for the speakers r in the rear with the sub control too. no on/off button, it is one of those where the speaker volume control turns it on, and there is no headphone jacks on the speakers. pretty compact all together, good for some rear speaker if u need them or if u have a laptop, have it in ur room for those time u want to listen to some mp3s. pretty good for a low end system, not to fancy and it take not that much desk space as others do. heck i bought 2 of them, now i dont have to use headphones