I bumped it down one of the decibel notches(can't remember which one it's at now). I'm currently using the input thru constantly and only using the headphone output(long story, I'm never at home and this is the best I've currently got), helped my ears not to keep it at the original factory settings(also helps some semblance of "mixing" my external synth I have plugged in, hehe).
edit: and oh yeah, since I'm in Austin, I gotta 2nd the "Texas sucks" sentiment(although Austin has its moments)