To set the maximum volume strictly above 153% in Debian GNOME, you need to both enable the over-amplification feature and adjust the PulseAudio volume limits. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Enable Over-Amplification in GNOME: Run this command in your terminal to allow volume above 100%:

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   gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.sound allow-volume-above-100-percent true

   This enables the slider in the GNOME sound menu to go beyond 100%, but by default, it only goes up to 153% in the GUI.

2. Increase the Maximum Volume Beyond 153%: The 153% limit is a PulseAudio soft limit. To go beyond this, you can use the pactl command. For example, to set the volume to 200%, use:

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   pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ 200%

   Replace 200% with your desired percentage. Note that this change is not persistent and will reset after a reboot or if the audio device is changed.

3. Make the Change Persistent (Optional): To make the higher volume persistent, you can add the pactl command to your startup applications or create a script that runs at login.

4. Using pavucontrol: Install pavucontrol if not already installed:

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   sudo apt install pavucontrol

   Open pavucontrol, go to the "Output Devices" tab, and manually set the volume above 153% by typing in the value.

Warning: Setting the volume too high can cause distortion and potentially damage your speakers or headphones. Use with caution.

If you want the volume keys to control the full range (e.g., 0%–200%), you may need to remap the keys or use a script, as GNOME’s built-in volume control does not natively support ranges above 153% without additional configuration or third-party toolsmail.gnome.org+2.

Would you like help with scripting or remapping the volume keys for this purpose?