This fountain makes a very pleasant water noise; I notice the noise of the motor very little or not at all. In sunlight the falling water and the detail of the "rocks" are beautiful. In the dark, with a little bit of imagination, the lights in the base of the fountain look like an aurora.

The fountain does splash somewhat. A few pieces of screen tape (the stuff you use to patch a window screen) seem to help contain it. Mainly, just put the fountain on top of something that can get wet, and don't panic - the splashing seems like a lot at first, but then evaporation catches up. An occasional wipe with a towel, or turning the fountain off for a little while to let things dry out, takes care of the rest.

Be sure to connect the fountain to an accessible outlet, since unplugging it is the only way to turn it off. Other than that, enjoy your tiny waterfall!