Why doesn't the volume control settings allow a greater range (on the low end)?

Question

Maybe my ears are really sensitive, but for every iphone I've had, the lowest volume is not low enough.  My phone is often louder than I want in my headphones even at the lowest setting.  I find myself trying to lower the volume but ending up in silence.  After putting it back up to the lowest setting, I end up clicking down again a few minutes later because it's too loud for my surroundings and situation.  It's a huge volume jump from the lowest setting to completely off, and alot of times the lowest setting is too loud (even with normal buds or headphones).
The volume limiter setting only limits the upper end, but doesn't change the lower end (just makes the 16 set increments smaller in that reduced range).  I know there is also an option to turn down the volume of individual songs in iTunes options, but this problem applies to all aspects of the iphone beyond just my music library (Music apps, Videos, etc.).
Why hasn't apple expanded the lower volume limits?  There has to be a way, or is this not possible?  Can anybody think of a way to fix this problem?

Answer 1

Meg St._Clair wrote:
Look for headsets with a volume control.
I did exactly this for awhile.  I used to have Skullcandy Asyms with the inline volume attenuator (wheel).  They've since discontinued them, and my 5 pairs are having wire connectivity issues.  All their current models have iphone like volume mechanisms.  The problem is most headphones with volume controls tap into the phones own volume control (so the set 16 volume increments).  I also looked into using a dongle attenuator, but having the dongle hanging off the phone is just awkward and not easily adjustable.
I don't know why there can't be some form of internal attenuator option, or some other way of extending the lower range of volume.
Does anyone else have this problem of the iPhone being too loud in semi-quiet environments?