For you guys with Sprint, you can do the mod I outlined here.
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/htc-touch-...r-clearer.html
The cover blocks the speaker because of the other carriers phones battery covers aren't designed with holes where as the Sprint is, but they probably use the same paper backing on the cover, so the holes are covered.
My speaker is VERY loud and I don't even have it turned all the way up, I have the volume not maxed to keep the speaker from distorting and one day breaking.