ESPHome speakers keep their mute setting when someone adjusts the volume. Setting the level to zero stays silent, including on setups with a configured minimum volume or a separate audio converter. One failure could bring sound back when someone pressed volume-down again after reaching zero, while the player still reported that it was muted.
Software-controlled speakers also fade between volume levels, removing clicks when volume or mute changes. A full mute takes about a tenth of a second. Automations need to account for the separation: setting volume to zero no longer reports mute or fires mute and unmute triggers. A speaker connected to an audio converter should control its mute setting itself.
Kevin Ahrendt contributes the coordinated changes alongside Carrie Watts and rexmoriarty, who each make their first contribution to ESPHome.