An ESPHome speaker’s next doorbell, timer or spoken announcement need not be almost silent because music was turned down the night before—or startlingly loud because it was left high. An optional announcement volume applies when an announcement begins while normal media is idle, paused or off.
Announcements over playing music keep the music volume. After the announcement queue and buffered audio finish, the normal level returns; starting music restores it immediately. Mute still keeps the speaker silent, and the setting does not overwrite the saved media volume.