Turn down sound level for headphones further down

Ubuntu rocks :)
I would like to be able to turn the sound level for headphones further down. At the moment when I attempt to turn it down with the short cut, 'Ctrl + arrow down', I only achieve that the sound disappears. I can turn it up all right, but the lowest level is to high for me, have to wear my head phones with a distance to my ears.
I have tried to turn on alsamixer in a shell, but it does not seem to have control over the system, maybe that has got something to do with this Entrepid Ibex that I am using? It also appears that the system audio control keys of this Dell Latitude 110L are not in control of the headphone level.
looking forward to your replies