Living with the SPP now for a few weeks, I’m finding the muted startup kind of annoying (turn it on, drop a needle, and nothing 
).
The SPP has no volume control; so, it can’t be used without a preamp, which will almost always have a mute function. So, not only is the SPP mute function redundant, but it adds an unnecessary step when playing vinyl.
I would leave it on and unmuted all the time, but the Xmas tree light effect is also annoying — another story.
Why the muted startup?