diff --git a/client/public/version.js b/client/public/version.js
index a648b9b..909432c 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 R190";
+window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.22 R191";
 // 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/audioEngine.ts b/client/src/audio/audioEngine.ts
index 69b38b4..df6c7ab 100644
--- a/client/src/audio/audioEngine.ts
+++ b/client/src/audio/audioEngine.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ type SoundSpec = {
 };
 
 type OutputMode = 'stereo' | 'mono';
+const SPATIAL_RAMP_SECONDS = 0.2;
 
 export class AudioEngine {
   private audioCtx: AudioContext | null = null;
@@ -300,7 +301,7 @@ export class AudioEngine {
       const gainValue = mix?.gain ?? 0;
       const listenGain = Number.isFinite(peer.listenGain) ? Math.max(0, peer.listenGain as number) : 1;
       const panValue = mix?.pan ?? 0;
-      peer.gain.gain.linearRampToValueAtTime(gainValue * listenGain, this.audioCtx.currentTime + 0.1);
+      peer.gain.gain.linearRampToValueAtTime(gainValue * listenGain, this.audioCtx.currentTime + SPATIAL_RAMP_SECONDS);
       if (peer.panner) {
         const resolvedPan = this.outputMode === 'mono' ? 0 : Math.max(-1, Math.min(1, panValue));
         peer.panner.pan.setValueAtTime(resolvedPan, this.audioCtx.currentTime);
diff --git a/client/src/audio/itemEmitRuntime.ts b/client/src/audio/itemEmitRuntime.ts
index 89510b1..410eab5 100644
--- a/client/src/audio/itemEmitRuntime.ts
+++ b/client/src/audio/itemEmitRuntime.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ type EmitSpatialConfig = {
 const ITEM_EMIT_BASE_GAIN = 1;
 const SUBSCRIBE_PRELOAD_SQUARES = 5;
 const UNSUBSCRIBE_HYSTERESIS_SQUARES = 8;
+const SPATIAL_RAMP_SECONDS = 0.2;
 
 /** Maps a 0-100 speed control to playback-rate range used by emitted audio. */
 function resolveEmitPlaybackRate(raw: unknown): number {
@@ -223,10 +224,10 @@ export class ItemEmitRuntime {
       const gainValue = mix?.gain ?? 0;
       const panValue = mix?.pan ?? 0;
       const emitVolume = volumePercentToGain(item.params.emitVolume, 100);
-      output.gain.gain.linearRampToValueAtTime(gainValue * emitVolume, audioCtx.currentTime + 0.1);
+      output.gain.gain.linearRampToValueAtTime(gainValue * emitVolume, audioCtx.currentTime + SPATIAL_RAMP_SECONDS);
       if (output.panner) {
         const resolvedPan = this.audio.getOutputMode() === 'mono' ? 0 : Math.max(-1, Math.min(1, panValue));
-        output.panner.pan.linearRampToValueAtTime(resolvedPan, audioCtx.currentTime + 0.1);
+        output.panner.pan.linearRampToValueAtTime(resolvedPan, audioCtx.currentTime + SPATIAL_RAMP_SECONDS);
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/client/src/audio/radioStationRuntime.ts b/client/src/audio/radioStationRuntime.ts
index 25d2ca6..0834102 100644
--- a/client/src/audio/radioStationRuntime.ts
+++ b/client/src/audio/radioStationRuntime.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ type RadioSpatialConfig = {
 
 const SUBSCRIBE_PRELOAD_SQUARES = 5;
 const UNSUBSCRIBE_HYSTERESIS_SQUARES = 8;
+const SPATIAL_RAMP_SECONDS = 0.2;
 
 export class RadioStationRuntime {
   private readonly sharedRadioSources = new Map<string, SharedRadioSource>();
@@ -295,10 +296,10 @@ export class RadioStationRuntime {
       });
       const gainValue = mix?.gain ?? 0;
       const panValue = mix?.pan ?? 0;
-      output.gain.gain.linearRampToValueAtTime(gainValue, audioCtx.currentTime + 0.1);
+      output.gain.gain.linearRampToValueAtTime(gainValue, audioCtx.currentTime + SPATIAL_RAMP_SECONDS);
       if (output.panner) {
         const resolvedPan = this.audio.getOutputMode() === 'mono' ? 0 : Math.max(-1, Math.min(1, panValue));
-        output.panner.pan.linearRampToValueAtTime(resolvedPan, audioCtx.currentTime + 0.1);
+        output.panner.pan.linearRampToValueAtTime(resolvedPan, audioCtx.currentTime + SPATIAL_RAMP_SECONDS);
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/client/src/audio/spatial.ts b/client/src/audio/spatial.ts
index a6aee29..b24ff7b 100644
--- a/client/src/audio/spatial.ts
+++ b/client/src/audio/spatial.ts
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ export function resolveSpatialMix(options: SpatialMixOptions): SpatialMixResult
   }
 
   const volumeRatio = Math.max(0, 1 - distance / effectiveRange);
-  let gain = baseGain * Math.pow(volumeRatio, 2);
+  const shapedVolume = volumeRatio * volumeRatio * (3 - 2 * volumeRatio);
+  let gain = baseGain * shapedVolume;
   const clampedX = Math.max(-range, Math.min(range, dx));
   let pan = Math.sin((clampedX / range) * (Math.PI / 2));