Why does volume knob sensitivity vary?

[eversio11]

I apologize if none of this makes sense to you non-high people out there.

How come on some electronic components, especially older ones, the volume knob sensitivity is lower than newer devices? Like, I just bought new computer speakers and if I move the volume knob up just half a centimeter it will be extremely loud. But on my old speakers, I would have to turn the knob at least half way to get up to a decent listening level.

Just wondering

[Gohan Ryu]

Depends on how many watts the amp puts out. The more power your amp puts out, the more sensitive the volume control will be.

This thread reminds me of Spinal Tap...

Nigel: This is a top to a—you know, what we use on stage, but it's very, very special because if you can see...
Marty: Yeah...
Nigel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look...right across the board.
Marty: Ahh...oh, I see....
Nigel: Eleven...eleven...eleven....
Marty: ..and most of these amps go up to ten....
Nigel: Exactly.
Marty: Does that mean it's...louder? Is it any louder?
Nigel: Well, it's one louder, isn't it? It's not ten. You see, most, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You're on ten here...all the way up...all the way up....
Marty: Yeah....
Nigel: ...all the way up. You're on ten on your guitar.. where can you go from there? Where?
Marty: I don't know....
Nigel: Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?
Marty: Put it up to eleven.
Nigel: Eleven. Exactly. One louder.
Marty: Why don't you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?
Nigel: ..........these go to eleven.