diff --git a/media_server/services/audio_analyzer.py b/media_server/services/audio_analyzer.py
index 3b6afbf..1ce6df7 100644
--- a/media_server/services/audio_analyzer.py
+++ b/media_server/services/audio_analyzer.py
@@ -284,7 +284,18 @@ class AudioAnalyzer:
                     counts = bin_ends - bin_starts
                     bins = (cumsum[bin_ends] - cumsum[bin_starts]) / counts
 
-                    # Normalize to 0-1
+                    # True loudness from time-domain RMS, mapped via dB
+                    # so the VU needle reflects actual program level — not
+                    # the per-frame-normalized spectrum.
+                    rms = float(np.sqrt(np.mean(mono.astype(np.float64) ** 2)))
+                    if rms > 1e-6:
+                        db = 20.0 * np.log10(rms)
+                        # Map -60 dB..-6 dB to 0..1 (typical music range)
+                        level = max(0.0, min(1.0, (db + 60.0) / 54.0))
+                    else:
+                        level = 0.0
+
+                    # Normalize bins to 0-1 for spectrum display
                     max_val = bins.max()
                     if max_val > 0:
                         bins *= (1.0 / max_val)
@@ -295,9 +306,10 @@ class AudioAnalyzer:
                     # Round for compact JSON
                     frequencies = np.round(bins, 3).tolist()
                     bass = round(bass, 3)
+                    level = round(level, 3)
 
                     with self._lock:
-                        self._data = {"frequencies": frequencies, "bass": bass}
+                        self._data = {"frequencies": frequencies, "bass": bass, "level": level}
 
                     # Throttle to target FPS
                     elapsed = time.monotonic() - t0
diff --git a/media_server/static/js/player.js b/media_server/static/js/player.js
index 8ab91d2..5df8de4 100644
--- a/media_server/static/js/player.js
+++ b/media_server/static/js/player.js
@@ -807,7 +807,11 @@ const VU_LEVEL_ATTACK = 0.7;   // Fast climb so the needle catches musical hits
 const VU_LEVEL_RELEASE = 0.25; // Faster fall so it swings between hits, not pins
 
 function readAudioLevel() {
-    if (!frequencyData || !frequencyData.frequencies) return null;
+    if (!frequencyData) return null;
+    // Backend sends a true loudness signal (RMS-derived dB, 0..1).
+    // The bins are renormalized per frame so peak-of-bins is useless for level.
+    if (typeof frequencyData.level === 'number') return frequencyData.level;
+    if (!frequencyData.frequencies) return null;
     const bins = frequencyData.frequencies;
     if (!bins.length) return null;
     let peak = 0;
@@ -823,21 +827,20 @@ function startVuWobble() {
     const tick = () => {
         const needle = document.getElementById('vuNeedle');
         if (needle) {
-            const slider = document.getElementById('volume-slider');
-            const vol = slider ? Number(slider.value) || 0 : 0;
-            // Volume slider modulates how loud the audio could be;
-            // multiply against the captured level so muting drops the
-            // needle even though the source is still playing.
+            // Loopback capture is post-volume on Windows/macOS, so the
+            // measured level already reflects the output knob — no extra
+            // (vol/100) attenuation needed.
             const audioLevel = readAudioLevel();
             let target;
             if (audioLevel != null) {
-                // Real audio: scale by output volume & apply attack/release
-                // smoothing for analog-feeling ballistics.
-                const wanted = audioLevel * (vol / 100);
-                const k = wanted > vuLevelSmoothed ? VU_LEVEL_ATTACK : VU_LEVEL_RELEASE;
-                vuLevelSmoothed = vuLevelSmoothed * (1 - k) + wanted * k;
+                // Real audio: apply attack/release smoothing for
+                // analog-feeling ballistics.
+                const k = audioLevel > vuLevelSmoothed ? VU_LEVEL_ATTACK : VU_LEVEL_RELEASE;
+                vuLevelSmoothed = vuLevelSmoothed * (1 - k) + audioLevel * k;
                 target = -22 + vuLevelSmoothed * 44;
             } else {
+                const slider = document.getElementById('volume-slider');
+                const vol = slider ? Number(slider.value) || 0 : 0;
                 const base = -22 + (vol / 100) * 44;
                 const mag = Math.max(2, Math.min(14, vol * 0.16));
                 const t = (performance.now() - vuWobbleStart) / 1000;