diff --git a/sndiod/sndiod.1 b/sndiod/sndiod.1
index a531c44..d2f9c8f 100644
--- a/sndiod/sndiod.1
+++ b/sndiod/sndiod.1
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ Reducing the volume in advance allows a client's volume to stay independent
 from the number of clients as long as their number is small enough.
 18 volume units (i.e. \-6dB attenuation) allows the number
 of playback programs to be doubled.
-The default is 127 i.e. no attenuation.
+The default is 118 i.e. \-3dB.
 .It Fl w Ar flag
 Control
 .Nm
diff --git a/sndiod/sndiod.c b/sndiod/sndiod.c
index 1ca0bdc..d043f62 100644
--- a/sndiod/sndiod.c
+++ b/sndiod/sndiod.c
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	/*
 	 * global options defaults
 	 */
-	vol = MIDI_MAXCTL;
+	vol = 118;
 	dup = 1;
 	mmc = 0;
 	hold = 0;