diff --git a/src/orca/settings.py b/src/orca/settings.py
index d8b433c..3c4ea61 100644
--- a/src/orca/settings.py
+++ b/src/orca/settings.py
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ voicesKeys = {
 
 
 voices = {
-    DEFAULT_VOICE: ACSS({}),
+    DEFAULT_VOICE: ACSS({ACSS.GAIN : 2.0}),
     UPPERCASE_VOICE: ACSS({ACSS.AVERAGE_PITCH : 7.0}),
     HYPERLINK_VOICE: ACSS({}),
     SYSTEM_VOICE: ACSS({}),
diff --git a/src/orca/acss.py b/src/orca/acss.py
index e33cdfd..ddb4d9b 100644
--- a/src/orca/acss.py
+++ b/src/orca/acss.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class ACSS(dict):
     settings = {
         FAMILY :        None,
         RATE :          50,
-        GAIN :          10,
+        GAIN :          2,
         AVERAGE_PITCH : 5,
         PITCH_RANGE :   5,
         STRESS :        5,
