whats your idea of loud music.

I have Marantz Reference Sm-17 amps bridged for 200watts/channel running moderately sensitive PSB Stratus Bronzes. I have never turned them up much past 1/4 turn and try to run them below an SPL of 85 dB to preserve hearing, but that is usually plenty loud enough. I do like having the reserve power or headroom, though.
John

I agree, and years ago posted something here on realistic sound levels. My contention was based on a statement by a top-notch record producer (I think that's what he was, can’t remember his name) who said that for every recording there is only one correct volume level. From this I asked why a system had never been devised whereby some index would be put on recordings and the volume level adjusted to that level. This could be done automatically, so I guess it would require some sort of precise microphone at the listening position and some sort of circuitry in the equipment, to set it that level taking into account the room and the other associated equipment. Well you guessed it: the responses were unevenly split with most people who fancy themselves true audiophiles braying that this was a blatant objectivist's plot to take away their freedom to set the volume by ear and to their liking. Pointing out at the outset that the listener could override such a system did not seem to sway them. A number of people believed that my idea made sense. I still think it does, but with the almost total absence of standards for recording, it will be a very long while before we see anything like this. I know that most m/c video receivers do have something like that now, but, again, there is nothing indexing the correct volume level in the recording.

My other, often made point, is the very low level at which most high-end shops (the others simply like playing noises very loud to impress the general public) play music when demonstrating equipment. Historically, the prototypical demo of this kind was the Linn dealers of yore who, to a man, had an LP12, low powered amp (usually Naim) and small box speakers. Voice or very small ensembles were the featured musical fare, punctuated by snide remarks about Japanese equipment and power ratings to woever asked for the system to be played louder.

To this day I still wonder if a person with a limited budget should go for sensibly priced equipment with gumption, or the teeny-tiny-weenie school of audio systems.

BTW I hate acoustic guitars that sound like King Kong; I hate large ensembles that sound like you are listening from a balcony outside the venue through a small window.

So, I say, volume where necessary, but not necessarily volume!

For me it depends upon the type of music and the time of day. I can't stand louder more raucous music early in the morning. Maybe my ears just need to be warmed up first. I can also listen to smooth jazz louder than most other types of music. It might be the distortion/compression used in the engineering or broadcasting of the radio signal. My wife and I always have a volume knob battle because she likes music in the background and I like to actually listen to it. Dan

The Beatles.

my days of blasting my music to ear bleed levels are over, but I can still, every now and then, crank it. My 2 channel, though loud, cannot get to ear bleed levels, but my music room stereo, easily can do that. With only (Nad integrated) 50 watts per, Denon DVD 2910, and Definitive Technology speakers, I can humble my tympanics. How? Very small room with low ceiling and close proximity to speakers. Listened /viewed, for the second time in a week, Cream at Albert Hall-- powerful....High decibel level...