I can reproduce the exact same behaviour using an USB adapter with C-Media Electronics chip (0d8c:000c).
Volume is muted from 0% to 34%, unmutes at 35% and is very loud already at 40%. At 70% it is at maximum loudness.
Kubuntu 11.10, Linux 3.0.0-12-generic, ALSA 1.0.24
I can reproduce the exact same behaviour using an USB adapter with C-Media Electronics chip (0d8c:000c).
Volume is muted from 0% to 34%, unmutes at 35% and is very loud already at 40%. At 70% it is at maximum loudness.
Kubuntu 11.10, Linux 3.0.0-12-generic, ALSA 1.0.24