diff --git a/openpilot/sunnypilot/selfdrive/ui/docs/custom_audio.md b/openpilot/sunnypilot/selfdrive/ui/docs/custom_audio.md
index 095fb789ca..05d0a5266b 100644
--- a/openpilot/sunnypilot/selfdrive/ui/docs/custom_audio.md
+++ b/openpilot/sunnypilot/selfdrive/ui/docs/custom_audio.md
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ Put short **48 kHz, mono, 16-bit PCM WAV** files in `/data/media/0/custom_audio/
 
 Each gear change plays `<gear>.wav`: `park.wav`, `drive.wav`, `sport.wav`, `reverse.wav`, `neutral.wav`, `low.wav`, `brake.wav`, `eco.wav`, or `manumatic.wav`.
 
-- Entering a gear starts its audio from the beginning at full volume, with no fade-in.
+- Entering a gear starts its audio from the beginning at 25% volume, with no fade-in.
 - Changing gears cuts the previous audio without a fade-out. If the new file is missing or invalid, playback stays silent.
 - Returning to a previous gear restarts its audio from the beginning. Staying in the same gear does not replay it.
-- While any alert sounds, custom audio keeps playing and fades to **50% volume over 50 ms**. Afterward it fades back to full volume over **150 ms**.
+- While any alert sounds, custom audio keeps playing and fades to **half its normal level (12.5%) over 50 ms**. Afterward it fades back to 25% over **150 ms**.
 - Alert volume is unchanged. Custom audio may be reduced further to prevent clipping when both sounds are loud.
 - Startup and recovery from unknown/invalid gear data or data gaps establish a silent baseline.
 
diff --git a/openpilot/sunnypilot/selfdrive/ui/soundd.py b/openpilot/sunnypilot/selfdrive/ui/soundd.py
index f2e936376a..8bd53718f7 100644
--- a/openpilot/sunnypilot/selfdrive/ui/soundd.py
+++ b/openpilot/sunnypilot/selfdrive/ui/soundd.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class SounddSP(Soundd):
     super().callback(data_out, frames, time, status)
     alert_data = data_out[:frames, 0]
     alert_peak = float(np.max(np.abs(alert_data)))
-    custom_data = self.custom_audio.player.render(frames, alert_peak > 0)
+    custom_data = self.custom_audio.player.render(frames, alert_peak > 0) * 0.25
     custom_peak = float(np.max(np.abs(custom_data)))
     gain = min(1.0, max(0.0, 1.0 - alert_peak) / max(custom_peak, 1e-9))
     alert_data += custom_data * gain