Solved it
Well, I seem to have sorted the loud startup sound.
By unplugging my external speakers and lowering the volume before shut down, this seems to inform the iMac to set the startup sound to a low volume. When I've done this with the external speakers plugged in, it makes no difference.
Cleverly, after plugging the external powered speakers back in after startup. the startup sound remains low volume and the external speaker volume has no bearing on the startup sound.
Chris
Well, I seem to have sorted the loud startup sound.
By unplugging my external speakers and lowering the volume before shut down, this seems to inform the iMac to set the startup sound to a low volume. When I've done this with the external speakers plugged in, it makes no difference.
Cleverly, after plugging the external powered speakers back in after startup. the startup sound remains low volume and the external speaker volume has no bearing on the startup sound.
Chris