iPad sound control, loud or off

2018 iPad Pro 11-inch. The volume control on this iPad has been doing a strange thing. While streaming radio to an external speaker for background music in my office, the volume is either too loud (you could hear it during a phone call), or off. Sliding from Off on the far left to the right, the slider moves about 10-15% of the way before it kicks on too loud. Slider in control panel the same. Button control on side the same.

This was happening earlier, but I would restart the iPad and the finesse of sound returned (sliding even 1-2% produced soft volume and incremental from there). But now restarting is not fixing. No finesse. Either off or too loud.

Any help appreciated.