@unsound @charles1dad
Just for reference, here is a link to loudness levels that studios are recommended to calibrate to when monitoring. The relevant table is ’Room size vs Reference Level’ all the way at the bottom. Note that for the largest space, the recommendation is 83 dB SPL (C weighted). This is measured using pink noise with a single speaker. Subtract 3 dB if playing the pink noise through two speakers.
Another guidepost could be the THX Reference Level. This is set to 85 dB SPL (C) at the listening position as measured with pink noise. The equipment should be able to handle 20 dB peaks. So if you’ve been to a THX certified cinema, you’ll have a sense of how loud that is.
In any case, I recommend getting an SPL meter and measuring yourself. You might come away surprised.
Just for reference, here is a link to loudness levels that studios are recommended to calibrate to when monitoring. The relevant table is ’Room size vs Reference Level’ all the way at the bottom. Note that for the largest space, the recommendation is 83 dB SPL (C weighted). This is measured using pink noise with a single speaker. Subtract 3 dB if playing the pink noise through two speakers.
Another guidepost could be the THX Reference Level. This is set to 85 dB SPL (C) at the listening position as measured with pink noise. The equipment should be able to handle 20 dB peaks. So if you’ve been to a THX certified cinema, you’ll have a sense of how loud that is.
In any case, I recommend getting an SPL meter and measuring yourself. You might come away surprised.