A disclosed system and method dynamically controls the perceived volume of a stereo audio program including left and right channel signals. The system includes a dynamic volume control that operatesto maintain a perceived constant volume level of the stereo audio program; and an excessive spatial processing protection processor configured and arranged for controlling the level of a difference signal, created as a function of the right channel signal subtracted from the left channel signal (L−R), relative to the level of a sum signal, created as a function of the right channel signal plus the left channel signal. The excessive spatial processing protection processor processes the audio signals so as to control the difference (L−R) signal relative to the sum (L+R) signal. A system and method are also provided for dynamically controlling the perceived volume of a stereo audio program including left and right channel signals.