diff --git a/client/public/version.js b/client/public/version.js
index 141ead1..29627ad 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 R183";
+window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.22 R184";
 // Optional display timezone for timestamps. Falls back to America/Detroit if unset/invalid.
 window.CHGRID_TIME_ZONE = "America/Detroit";
diff --git a/client/src/main.ts b/client/src/main.ts
index f991c17..b33d637 100644
--- a/client/src/main.ts
+++ b/client/src/main.ts
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ const SYSTEM_SOUND_URLS = {
 const FOOTSTEP_SOUND_URLS = Array.from({ length: 11 }, (_, index) => withBase(`sounds/step-${index + 1}.ogg`));
 const FOOTSTEP_GAIN = 0.7;
 const TELEPORT_START_SOUND_URL = withBase('sounds/teleport_start.ogg');
+const TELEPORT_START_GAIN = 0.1;
 const TELEPORT_SOUND_URL = withBase('sounds/teleport.ogg');
 const WALL_SOUND_URL = withBase('sounds/wall.ogg');
 
@@ -1128,7 +1129,7 @@ function startTeleportTo(targetX: number, targetY: number, completionStatus: str
   stopTeleportLoopAudio();
   activeTeleportLoopToken += 1;
   const loopToken = activeTeleportLoopToken;
-  void audio.startLoopingSample(TELEPORT_START_SOUND_URL, FOOTSTEP_GAIN).then((stopLoop) => {
+  void audio.startLoopingSample(TELEPORT_START_SOUND_URL, TELEPORT_START_GAIN).then((stopLoop) => {
     if (!stopLoop) return;
     if (activeTeleport && loopToken === activeTeleportLoopToken) {
       activeTeleportLoopStop = stopLoop;
@@ -1443,10 +1444,11 @@ const onAppMessage = createOnMessageHandler({
   sanitizeName,
   randomFootstepUrl,
   playRemoteSpatialStepOrTeleport: (url, peerX, peerY) => {
+    const gain = url === TELEPORT_START_SOUND_URL ? TELEPORT_START_GAIN : FOOTSTEP_GAIN;
     void audio.playSpatialSample(
       url,
       { x: peerX - state.player.x, y: peerY - state.player.y },
-      FOOTSTEP_GAIN,
+      gain,
     );
   },
   TELEPORT_SOUND_URL,