Hearing Safety Issue with MacBook Pro default FULL VOLUME settings

[warmtone]

Mac does so many things well but the audio side is a continuing disappointment.

(See my post on the frustration of using a high end Ayon DAC on this same device (MacBook Pro 2011 running High Sierra)because of a "missing" OS USB driver.) Windows 10 works fine!

My next issue is the the MacBook pro pumps FULL VOLUME every time I connect headphones - resulting in annoying ear busting levels.
There seems to be no way I can lock the volume to a sensible level as it goes back to FULL VOLUME every time I reboot.
I am using Sony 1000M3 connected directly to the headphone socket.

If I use an alternate compatible outboard DAC like the Audioquest Cobalt the situation is even more hazardous.
Changing the audio output feed to Digital via USB results in the volume again defaulting to FULL VOLUME
Because this DAC has an inbuilt amp the resulting levels to the headphones are an unacceptable health hazard.

Is there some way to overcome the above issue?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

None of my Macs have done this. Every time I connect through the headphone jack or over Bluetooth, the volume is back to where I had it previously set.

You should reset your NVRAM/SMC/PRAM on the MBP and then try again, this is not normal behavior.

 

[ferrarr]

Can you test with a new user account? Create a brand new user account on your Mac, and see the problem continues with the new user account?

 

[MacInWin]

Doesn't happen here, either. Something must be screwy in your setup.

 

[warmtone]

Thanks to all who have responded above.

Glad this is not normal - my iPad Pro doesn’t behave like this either.

I will try the NVRAM/PRAM reset and if that doesn’t work set up a new User Account as suggested.
The only thing I will mention that is unusual is I had a SSD drive failure and have recently installed a new one.
Samsung EVo which worked fine. I restored from a Time Machine back up without a hitch.