diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
index a946a19bd9..922790ebc5 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
@@ -207,18 +207,23 @@ void Avatar::render() {
             renderBody();
         }
 
-        // render sphere when far away
-        const float MAX_ANGLE = 10.f;
+        // render voice intensity sphere for avatars that are farther away
+        const float MAX_SPHERE_ANGLE = 10.f;
+        const float MIN_SPHERE_ANGLE = 1.f;
+        const float MIN_SPHERE_SIZE = 0.01;
+        const float SPHERE_LOUDNESS_SCALING = 0.0005f;
+        const float SPHERE_COLOR[] = { 0.5f, 0.8f, 0.8f };
         float height = getSkeletonHeight();
         glm::vec3 delta = height * (getHead()->getCameraOrientation() * IDENTITY_UP) / 2.f;
         float angle = abs(angleBetween(toTarget + delta, toTarget - delta));
-
-        if (angle < MAX_ANGLE) {
-            glColor4f(0.5f, 0.8f, 0.8f, 1.f - angle / MAX_ANGLE);
+        float sphereRadius = getHead()->getAverageLoudness() * SPHERE_LOUDNESS_SCALING;
+        
+        if ((sphereRadius > MIN_SPHERE_SIZE) && (angle < MAX_SPHERE_ANGLE) && (angle > MIN_SPHERE_ANGLE)) {
+            glColor4f(SPHERE_COLOR[0], SPHERE_COLOR[1], SPHERE_COLOR[2], 1.f - angle / MAX_SPHERE_ANGLE);
             glPushMatrix();
             glTranslatef(_position.x, _position.y, _position.z);
-            glScalef(height / 2.f, height / 2.f, height / 2.f);
-            glutSolidSphere(1.2f + getHead()->getAverageLoudness() * .0005f, 20, 20);
+            glScalef(height, height, height);
+            glutSolidSphere(sphereRadius, 15, 15);
             glPopMatrix();
         }
     }