diff --git a/client/public/version.js b/client/public/version.js
index 29627ad..3b88f0a 100644
--- a/client/public/version.js
+++ b/client/public/version.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // Maintainer-controlled web client version.
 // Format: YYYY.MM.DD Rn (example: 2026.02.20 R2)
-window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.22 R184";
+window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.22 R185";
 // Optional display timezone for timestamps. Falls back to America/Detroit if unset/invalid.
 window.CHGRID_TIME_ZONE = "America/Detroit";
diff --git a/client/src/audio/itemEmitRuntime.ts b/client/src/audio/itemEmitRuntime.ts
index aed906d..6eed849 100644
--- a/client/src/audio/itemEmitRuntime.ts
+++ b/client/src/audio/itemEmitRuntime.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { AudioEngine } from './audioEngine';
 import { connectEffectChain, disconnectEffectRuntime, type EffectId, type EffectRuntime } from './effects';
 import { normalizeRadioEffect, normalizeRadioEffectValue } from './radioStationRuntime';
 import { resolveSpatialMix } from './spatial';
+import { volumePercentToGain } from './volume';
 
 type EmitOutput = {
   soundUrl: string;
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ type EmitSpatialConfig = {
   facingDeg: number;
 };
 
-const ITEM_EMIT_BASE_GAIN = 0.3;
+const ITEM_EMIT_BASE_GAIN = 1;
 const SUBSCRIBE_PRELOAD_SQUARES = 5;
 const UNSUBSCRIBE_HYSTERESIS_SQUARES = 8;
 
@@ -218,8 +219,7 @@ export class ItemEmitRuntime {
       });
       const gainValue = mix?.gain ?? 0;
       const panValue = mix?.pan ?? 0;
-      const emitVolumeRaw = Number(item.params.emitVolume ?? 100);
-      const emitVolume = Number.isFinite(emitVolumeRaw) ? Math.max(0, Math.min(100, emitVolumeRaw)) / 100 : 1;
+      const emitVolume = volumePercentToGain(item.params.emitVolume, 100);
       output.gain.gain.linearRampToValueAtTime(gainValue * emitVolume, audioCtx.currentTime + 0.1);
       if (output.panner) {
         const resolvedPan = this.audio.getOutputMode() === 'mono' ? 0 : Math.max(-1, Math.min(1, panValue));
diff --git a/client/src/audio/radioStationRuntime.ts b/client/src/audio/radioStationRuntime.ts
index 102f346..34d2eb6 100644
--- a/client/src/audio/radioStationRuntime.ts
+++ b/client/src/audio/radioStationRuntime.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { HEARING_RADIUS, type WorldItem } from '../state/gameState';
 import { EFFECT_IDS, clampEffectLevel, connectEffectChain, disconnectEffectRuntime, type EffectId, type EffectRuntime } from './effects';
 import { AudioEngine } from './audioEngine';
 import { resolveSpatialMix } from './spatial';
+import { volumePercentToGain } from './volume';
 
 export const RADIO_CHANNEL_OPTIONS = ['stereo', 'mono', 'left', 'right'] as const;
 export type RadioChannelMode = (typeof RADIO_CHANNEL_OPTIONS)[number];
@@ -265,8 +266,7 @@ export class RadioStationRuntime {
       }
       const streamUrl = String(item.params.streamUrl ?? '').trim();
       const enabled = item.params.enabled !== false;
-      const mediaVolume = Number(item.params.mediaVolume ?? 50);
-      const normalizedVolume = Number.isFinite(mediaVolume) ? Math.max(0, Math.min(100, mediaVolume)) / 100 : 0.5;
+      const normalizedVolume = volumePercentToGain(item.params.mediaVolume, 50);
       const effect = normalizeRadioEffect(item.params.mediaEffect);
       const effectValue = normalizeRadioEffectValue(item.params.mediaEffectValue);
       this.applyEffect(output, audioCtx, effect, effectValue);
diff --git a/client/src/audio/volume.ts b/client/src/audio/volume.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d695cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/audio/volume.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+/** Converts a 0-100 slider value into gain using a perceptual smoothstep curve. */
+export function volumePercentToGain(value: unknown, fallbackPercent: number): number {
+  const raw = Number(value);
+  const normalized = Number.isFinite(raw) ? Math.max(0, Math.min(100, raw)) / 100 : Math.max(0, Math.min(100, fallbackPercent)) / 100;
+  // Smoothstep keeps 0->0, 50->0.5, 100->1 while easing low/high ranges.
+  return normalized * normalized * (3 - 2 * normalized);
+}
+