harry potter and the sorcerer's stone book report ideas

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone Novel Study: Lesson Plans, Resources, & Activities

Gearing up for a Harry Potter novel study ? If you’re looking for engaging novel study resources for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone that go beyond just another boring list of chapter comprehension questions, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, I’ll share resource recommendations, free teaching ideas to kick off and wrap up your book unit, and some helpful information about the book, the first in the Harry Potter series. By the time you’re done, you’ll have everything you need to implement an amazing novel study unit using this text that students love!

Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone Summary

In J.K. Rowling’s magical world of wizardry, we meet Harry Potter, an ordinary boy who discovers he’s anything but ordinary on his eleventh birthday. Rescued from a dreary existence with his neglectful aunt and uncle, Harry is whisked away to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, he learns he’s not just any wizard, but the famous Boy Who Lived, known for surviving an attack by the dark wizard Voldemort as a baby.

As Harry navigates his first year at Hogwarts, he befriends loyal Ron Weasley and brilliant Hermione Granger. Together, they unravel the mysteries surrounding the hidden Sorcerer’s Stone, a powerful magical artifact. Along the way, they encounter quirky professors, magical creatures, and challenges that test their courage and friendship.

But as they get closer to uncovering the truth about the Sorcerer’s Stone, they realize they’re not the only ones searching for it. Dark forces lurk within Hogwarts, and Harry’s bravery will be put to the ultimate test as he faces his greatest foe.

Will Harry and his friends succeed in protecting the Sorcerer’s Stone from falling into the wrong hands? Or will Voldemort’s sinister plans come to fruition, plunging the wizarding world into darkness once more?

Pre-Reading & Post-Reading Ideas to Engage Learners in Your Harry Potter Novel Study

Finding engaging activities before and after your novel study can make a huge difference in student buy-in and recall. I wanted to share some of my favorite free and low-cost activities to use with H arry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone so you can add a little “magic” to your novel unit.

Pre-reading Activities to Use with your Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone Novel Study

Before you start reading, you’ll likely want to lay the groundwork for the unforgettable experience that awaits your readers. The pre-reading phase of your novel unit is an opportunity to ignite curiosity, spark imaginations, and build anticipation for the wondrous tale that lies ahead. Therefore, choosing an engaging pre-reading activity is an important part of getting readers excited about the book.

Here are 5 super fun activities that promise to captivate your learner’s attention and set the stage for an immersive journey into the wizarding world during your Harry Potter novel study. From magical sorting ceremonies to potion-making escapades, these ideas are designed to engage learners of all ages and backgrounds.

• Sorting Hat Ceremony : Kick off the book club or novel unit by leaving a letter for your class similar to the one Harry receives on his 11th birthday. Welcome them to Hogwarts, and hold a Sorting Hat ceremony, where each student is sorted into one of the four Hogwarts houses. This sets the stage for friendly competition and camaraderie among club members. Students can complete the sorting quiz here .
• Magic Wand Making : Before you begin your novel study, start with a fun craft activity where students can create magic wands using materials like chopsticks, glue paint, and glitter. This hands-on experience will get everyone excited about the magical world of Harry Potter.
• Magical Creature Showcase : Spend a day diving into and discussing mythical creatures from the Harry Potter series, such as unicorns, house-elves, centaurs, hippogriffs, and dragons. Students can create posters to share interesting facts about their favorite creatures.
• Hogwarts House Banner Design : Divide students into groups representing each Hogwarts house (or use their houses if you’ve done the sorting process) and have them design banners featuring their house colors and symbols. Hang the banners in the classroom to create a Hogwarts atmosphere during the novel study meetings.
• Book Trailer Viewing : Show students a book trailer or clips from the Harry Potter movies to pique their interest in the series. Discuss the themes, characters, and settings depicted in the trailers and how they relate to the books.

These activities are a fun way to engage learners, and since most students have some familiarity with the book they will get them excited without spoiling the story.

Post-reading Activities for Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone

After your Harry Potter novel study, it can be fun to add an activity or two to wrap up the experience for learners. These post-reading activities are designed to extend the magic of Harry Potter beyond the reading experience, allowing students to immerse themselves in the wizarding world through hands-on projects, interactive challenges, and creative endeavors that make connections.

Here are 12 fun post-reading activities you can add to your lesson plans after you wrap up your novel study:

• Wizarding World Travel Brochure : Have students create travel brochures for different locations in the wizarding world, such as Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and Hogsmeade. They can include descriptions, attractions, and illustrations to entice visitors to these magical destinations.
• Book vs. Movie Comparison : Organize a discussion or writing assignment where students compare and contrast the book with its film adaptation. They can analyze differences in plot, character development, and visual representation, and discuss which version they prefer and why.
• Wizarding World Debate : Divide students into teams and hold a debate on a topic related to the Harry Potter series, such as the importance of bravery versus intelligence, or the ethics of using magic. Encourage students to support their arguments with evidence from the book.
• Quidditch Match Simulation : Set up a Quidditch match simulation using modified rules and equipment to fit the classroom or schoolyard. Divide students into teams representing different Hogwarts houses and let them experience the excitement and teamwork of playing the beloved wizarding sport.
• Harry Potter-themed Art Exhibition : Host an art exhibition featuring artwork inspired by Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Students can create and display drawings, paintings, sculptures, or digital art depicting scenes, characters, and magical elements from the book.
• Create a Class Spell Book : Provide students with blank notebooks or journals and encourage them to create their own spell books inspired by the spells and charms in the Harry Potter series. They can invent new spells, write incantations, and illustrate their magical creations.
• Wizarding World Cookbook : Challenge students to create a wizarding world cookbook featuring recipes inspired by the food and drinks mentioned in the Harry Potter series. They can research and adapt recipes for butterbeer, pumpkin pasties, and other magical treats.
• Write Your Own Epilogue : Encourage students to imagine what happens to the characters after the events of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and write their own epilogues or short stories. They can explore the characters’ futures and speculate about their adventures beyond the first book.
• Harry Potter Shoebox Parade : Organize Harry Potter Shoebox parade where students can create shoebox floats representing various scenes from the story. Attach string and pull them along to create a parade. Put the scenes in order to create a “parade” that retells the story. Encourage creativity and teamwork as they design and decorate their shoebox floats.
• Wizarding World Comic Strip : Have students create comic strips or graphic novels inspired by scenes from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. They can use illustrations and dialogue to retell key moments from the book, adding their own artistic interpretations and creativity.
• Magical Creature Zoo Role-Play : Assign each student a magical creature from the Harry Potter series and have them role-play as caretakers responsible for caring for their assigned creature. They can research their creature’s habitat, diet, and behavior to create a trifold or diorama. Use the finished products to create a “zoo” of these creatures and allow your caretakers to share with other classes or learners.
• Hogwarts House Cup Challenges : Divide students into teams representing each Hogwarts house and organize a series of challenges or competitions inspired by the book. Challenges could include trivia contests, relay races, puzzle-solving challenges, and more.

Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone Study Guide

So we’ve covered what you might do before and after your Harry Potter novel study, but what about the actual novel unit itself? Each of my over 300 novel units comes with an instructional guide to help you quickly and easily plan your daily lessons. In addition, you’ll find the PDF printables and access to digital resources to help you cover the key reading comprehension skills and vocabulary associated with the text in a student-friendly format that won’t overwhelm learners.

This Harry Potter novel study includes everything you need for a three-week (15-day) novel unit designed to focus on a single comprehension skill and text-based vocabulary word each day to maximize student learning. Here’s a taste of what’s included in this novel unit:

What’s included in this novel study unit?

Reading comprehension skills and strategies addressed:.

A single daily response focus helps you plan for meaningful instruction and review. Rather than bouncing between 5 different skills at a surface level, you can focus on a single skill at a deeper level to ensure students truly understand and can apply this to their reading.

Here are some of the daily comprehension focus skills covered in the Harry Potter novel study:

• Text analysis  and responding to literature
• Exploring  character traits & development  through events of the plot
• Making  inferences and drawing conclusions  based on text clues
• Analyzing  point of view  & its impact on the reader.
• Exploring author’s craft related to foreshadowing, suspense, & descriptive detail
• Examining the purpose and meaning of figurative language

Sample of Text-Based Vocabulary Studied through this Novel Unit:

The instructional guide outlines both academic vocabulary students need to know to respond to the comprehension/discussion question of the day and the daily text-based vocabulary word students will study each day.

Here are just a few of the text-based vocabulary words students learn through this Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone novel study unit:

• disgruntled

Purchase the Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone Novel Study and Get Instant Access

When you purchase the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Novel Study PDF from Differentiated Teaching, you’ll receive all the following resources in a downloadable format:

• Foldable trifold brochures
• Cut & paste journal prompts for interactive notebooks
• Weekly word of the day flip books for text-based vocabulary
• Easy-to-follow directions for printing & prep
• Instructional planning guide
• Answer keys

More About the Book

What is the reading level of this text.

Since different schools use different leveling programs, here is the information about the book for the most commonly used programs. This can help you decide if a Harry Potter novel study is right for your readers, or if the book might be better for a read aloud.

• Grades: 4-6
• Guided Reading Level: V
• DRA Level: 40-50
• Lexile Level: 880L
• Accelerated Reader: 5.5

How many pages is the book? Chapters?

The paperback version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is 320 pages long. It has 17 total chapters.

What genre is the text? Any concerning themes to be aware of?

This is a fiction book that falls under the umbrella of fantasy. It has strong themes of magic and witchcraft, which may not be suitable for all audiences. There is a level of danger and some violence in the books between the protagonists and antagonists. These are presented in a way that has been written to be appropriate for upper-elementary readers. It is important to note that as the series goes on this increases as the two sides eventually end up at war.

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Writing a Book Report

-- in the harry potter saga --, making your report easy.

There are six completed SCARP notes (Spark Notes, Cliff Notes or Book Summaries) for the Harry Potter Books; namely: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Philosopher's Stone), the Goblet of Fire, the Order of the Phoenix and the Half-Blood prince, and Deathly Hallows Others are in production.

You will notice that they are the most complete and extensive of any on the web and have meticulously been authored to include all of the major plots and sub-plots. Some phrases have been highlighted which mean they are a "key component" of the saga. Also, some phrases have been marked with quotes, to indicate they came directly from the books, and can be used to add "color" to the report that you write. There are also many "definition" links on selected words.

As with all summaries like these, they must be read very carefully; because, most sentences contain at least 3 -5 thoughts! Think of SCARP notes like someone having read the book thoroughly, underlining all the key parts, then printing a list of only the underlined parts.

We know that a book report usually requires a fair amount of time to complete. There are ways to shorten the difficulties, however. If you follow the steps below, along with your teachers instructions for style, you should be able to complete your report with a minimum amount of difficulty.

[When you're finished, Email me a copy (and the grade you received) and I will acknowledge your effort on this site and, if you desire, try and post access to it for others to see.]

Steps to a great book report or theme.

Here are the steps in using this site to write your report:

• Read the book-- It must be said that there is no substitute for actually reading the book. Do not, under any circumstances, write a report from only viewing the MOVIE. All of the movies have been so severely condensed and altered that it is not difficult at all for a teacher to spot a "movie report" from a book report.
• Follow your teachers instructions for style-- Highlight his/her instructions into a "find list" of items which you should look for while you are reading. Or you could write them on a sticky note to remind yourself as you read.
• Then... Read the SCARP notes -- Each sentence is so full of information that you will probably read it more slowly; but, each 30 page book chapter, is summarized in about 3 paragraphs! A great time savings. If you have read the SCARP notes carefully, you should understand the book and all the important subplots.
• Use 3 by 5 cards, or paper-- to write down the items you are looking for - or the exact location of where to find them. Also, while you are at it, record any interesting character names, word definitions or quotes which would add more "color" to your report.
• Use the "Harry Potter's Pensieve" companion web site for additional reference. For example use the "Description" page -- to find character names in much more colorful detail. The descriptions come from ALL of the books, so be careful to look at the book source listing and only quote from the correct book number. For example looking up "Harry Potter" will reveal all the descriptions given about Harry, in all the books. You can also find more information about him in his listing on the "Persons" page.
• Give credit where it is due-- Be sure and correctly give the reference to this web site in your "list of references." The correct citation, in the MLA format, is given below: Scarpin, Robert R. "SCARPnotes for Harry Potter and the **book title here**." Harry Potter's Pensieve.com. **date you accessed it here**. http://potter-scarpnotes.DJmed.net/

Using the above approach will improve your grade -- in addition to helping you understand the book a lot better.

Visit Dr. Scarpin's SCARP blog today for comments and questions.

Or, SCARP mail this page to a friend

---------------

Harry Potter, its characters and insignia are Copyright © by and Trademarks (TM) of JK Rowling and other entities. This site and it's content is Copyright © by Corporate Medical Consulting, LLC.

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Essay & Project Ideas

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

J. k. rowling, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Introduction

Harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone: plot summary, harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone: detailed summary & analysis, harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone: themes, harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone: quotes, harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone: characters, harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone: symbols, harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone: theme wheel, brief biography of j. k. rowling.

Historical Context of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Other books related to harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone.

• Full Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
• When Written: 1990-1995
• Where Written: Manchester, England; Porto, Portugal; Edinburgh, Scotland
• When Published: 1995
• Literary Period: Contemporary
• Genre: Children’s fantasy, children’s fiction
• Setting: England; Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
• Climax: Harry finds the Sorcerer’s Stone and prevents Voldemort’s return to power.
• Antagonist: Voldemort, Professor Quirrell, and Draco Malfoy
• Point of View: Third person

Extra Credit for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Beginning with the End. Rowling has stated that within the first year of writing the Harry Potter series, she wrote a sketch of what one of the final chapters of the seventh book might be.

Harry Potter and the Dead Languages. As of 2018, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone has been published in 75 other languages, including Latin and Ancient Greek.

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Novel Study

• By Gay Miller in Book Units

April 6, 2020

9. Problems

Have students solve a number of math problems using the order of operations and colors.

(Red + Green) x (Blue + Orange) =

2(Brown + Green) x 6(Yellow – Purple) x 4 =

10. Remainders

Divide the beans between a group of students to find the remainder.  Change the number of students in the group and divide the beans again.

11. Mean, Median, Mode

Use the different colors in the bag of beans to determine the mean, median, and mode.

Teaching Idea #3 – Origami Golden Snitch

Teaching idea #4 – wizard objects puzzle.

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• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,...

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Book 1

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Book 1 by by J. K. Rowling

• Genres: Fantasy
• paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
• ISBN-10: 133829914X
• ISBN-13: 9781338299144
• About the Book

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, Book 1)

By J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, Book 1) Book Club Questions PDF

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Harry Potter — J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone: Book Review

J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone: Book Review

• Categories: Harry Potter Harry Potter and The Sorcerer'S Stone

About this sample

Words: 1793 |

Published: Sep 12, 2018

Words: 1793 | Pages: 3 | 9 min read

Works Cited

• Campbell, J. (2008). The hero with a thousand faces. New World Library.
• Golden, M. (2001). Archetypes of wisdom: An introduction to philosophy. Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
• Kastenbaum, R. (2004). Encyclopedia of death and dying. Macmillan Reference USA.
• Kidd, D. C., Castano, E., & Cohen, N. (2013). Reading literary fiction improves theory of mind. Science, 342(6156), 377-380.
• Lev Grossman. (2007). The Boy Who Lived Forever. Time.
• Naithani, S. (2012). J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Novels: A Reader's Guide. Bloomsbury Publishing.
• Parry, S. (2013). The Monomyth and Harry Potter: A Hero's Journey. Journal of Literature and Art Studies, 3(10), 789-797.
• Rowling, J. K. (1997). Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Bloomsbury Publishing.
• Tolkien, J. R. (1965). The Lord of the Rings. Houghton Mifflin.
• Vogler, C. (1998). The writer's journey: Mythic structure for writers. Michael Wiese Productions.

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Harry potter and the sorcerer's stone book club ideas.

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Embark on a magical literary journey with your Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone book club! Discuss wizarding wonders, host a sorting hat ceremony, or brew potions-themed drinks. Dive into the enchanting world of Hogwarts with trivia nights and wand-making sessions. Let the magic of camaraderie enhance your reading adventure! "Your comment is like a burst of confetti, adding joy to our blog. Each word is a brushstroke on the canvas of conversation, creating a vibrant tapestry of ideas. We eagerly await your next insight, as your contributions light up our digital world. Thanks for being our comment superstar!" juvenile reckless driving virginia

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Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

For people who want to enjoy an intriguing, fast paced novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the perfect book to read. It keeps you involved throughout the book as most chapters have cliffhangers at the end. This novel is the first of the seven famous Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling.

The book is about 11 year old Harry Potter, who receives a letter saying that he is invited to attend Hogwarts, school of witchcraft and wizardry. He then learns that a powerful wizard and his minions are after the sorcerer’s stone that will make this evil wizard immortal and undefeatable. Harry decides to go after the sorcerer’s stone before the wizard reaches it, but his loyal friends, Hermione and Ron don’t let Harry face this danger alone.

This book is full of fantasies and imagination like at one point, Harry Potter is asked to catch a flying golden ball while flying on his broomstick. Eventually Harry Potter stands on his broomstick and tries to reach for the ball, but he falls off the broomstick in a very tense moment. He unexpectedly throws up the golden ball winning the game for his team.

Harry Potter and a sorcerer stone is a good book to spark joy and imagination for anyone, regardless of age. But I would say it is most enjoyable for elementary school students, who can very well relate to the fantasy world. So I would say that it is a must read for younger audiences, but it’s a good read in general.

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My Kids Finally Convinced Me to Watch ‘Harry Potter’ and…Oof, I Have *Thoughts*

Don’t @ me, internet.

I will start by saying I’m sort of a known grump. I don’t like barbeques (it stresses me out when people don’t sit down to eat at the same time). I have no great love for Rocky Horror Picture Show. (Too chaotic! Who wants to watch a movie at midnight anyway?) And I really, really don’t get fantasy. Lord of the Rings ? I would rather watch paint dry for 11 hours and 26 minutes. Game of Thrones ? Well, that one goes against another one of my grumpy dislikes: unnecessary nudity. Star Wars? Look, I’ll watch if there’s Mark Hamill, I will not if there’s Adam Driver.

So it should come as no surprise that, until this year, not only had I never read a Harry Potter book, I had also never watched a Harry Potter movie. In my defense, I was 16 when the book came out in the U.S., and deeply into Ani DiFranco and combat boots, not Draco Malfoy and invisibility cloaks.

But then, 25 years later, a curious thing happened. I had children. And they wanted to read Harry Potter . In fact, they wanted me to read it aloud to them. (Fun fact: grumpy people are quite adept at doing British accents.) And so, I rolled up my sleeves and read them Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone , chapter by chapter, over the course of a few weeks. And I liked it! While not as a funny as Lemony Snicket or as emotionally-intelligent as Beverly Cleary, I appreciated the world-building, the levity and the plot twists and turns that truly surprised my 7- and 9-year-old. I get it, I thought. I understand why this is a thing.

The next logical step was to watch the 2001 movie, starring a pint-size Daniel Radcliff . After all, the world is obsessed with the films. Surely I’d be equally charmed. Reader: I was not.

Where to begin with the drudgery that is this two-and-a-half hour movie? Well, for starters, it’s two and a half hours . When we’d reached the thirty-minute mark and still hadn’t met a sorting hat, I knew I was in trouble. Then there’s the humorlessness. In the book, there are some genuinely funny moments that are all but erased from the film. For instance, when the Weasley twins try to send Harry a toilet seat or, as my son quickly pointed out, Dumbledore’s best line: That he sees himself holding a pair of socks in the Mirror of Erised.

And that’s to say nothing of the dated special effects which bring to mind a creepy Polar Express CGI backfire. Or the vaguely icky and offensive moments: the lack of diversity, the persistent fat-shaming , the banker goblins that perpetuate antisemitic tropes . In fairness, these are relics from the books, proof that J.K. Rowling was problematic long before her now well-known bigotry.

But mostly I was just…bored. The characters, though played admirably by Radcliff, Emma Watson and a whole host of esteemed British actors, feel like theme-park versions of themselves, and the overarching vibe is one of franchise and commercialization. I have never been to Harry Potter World, but I can picture Maggie Smith’s Professor McGonagall furiously ushering me through a line and over to a gift shop. Even the quidditch match—a truly exciting scene in the book—seemed forced, like it was trying to tell you how fun it was without actually being fun.

Though I know I’m in the minority (the film has an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), there were critics at the time who agreed with me. Most notably, fellow-grump Elvis Mitchell at the New York Times who called it “overly familiar” and went on to say that, “the most highly awaited movie of the year has a dreary, literal-minded competence.”

All of which isn’t to say I hated it. I found it serviceable—the kind of kids’ movie you can watch for a bit, then get up from in order to load the dishwasher and browse TikTok. But is that what I was expecting from Harry Potter? Even a grumpy muggle like me had higher hopes.

I Rewatched ‘The Princess Bride’ as a Boy-Mom, and I Had a Stunning Realization

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Follow us online to find out when we launch., spotify gives you instant access to millions of songs – from old favorites to the latest hits. just hit play to stream anything you like..

Listen everywhere

Spotify works on your computer, mobile, tablet and TV.

Unlimited, ad-free music

No ads. No interruptions. Just music.

Download music & listen offline

Keep playing, even when you don't have a connection.

Premium sounds better

Get ready for incredible sound quality.