[LAU] digital volume sounds better at 0 dB?

[Bearcat M. Şandor]

Folks,

My system is set up as follows: computer with Asus Essence ST sound card
out to Trends Audio ta-10.1 amp to anthony gallo acoustics speakers.  

In the alsamixer console program i note that the meters turn red as you
get towards the top but i think that's just a pre-set color band and
isn't really telling me anything about clipping or over-driving the
card. More important is the 'dB gain' indicator. Correct?  

I seem to hear that when the dB gain is at 0 (volume at 100%) and i've
adjusted my integrated amp to the same (as far as i can tell) volume
that i would have listed to with the alsamixer control at 70 (dB gain
-18.00)  that the sound is much fuller with better bass.  My mate seems
to hear that as well.

Does this sound right?  Could  it really be that dB 0 sounds better on
this card in a noticeable way or is it just a psycho acoustic trick? Are
digital volume controls a "bad thing"? I think i've read that before
somewhere so again, i may just be psyching myself out.

Getting up to change the volume is a pain, but i might just invest (or
learn how to make) an outboard volume control if it really is that much
better at dB 0.

Bearcat M. Sandor