paranoid listener-damaging speakers?

guys, i really appreciate your input so far. i am surmising that 1. i need an spl meter and 2. i am hearing the distortion in the tweeter so maybe i am clipping the amp a bit, although i thought 40 watts of tube power would be more than enough to drive this fairly simple two way. feel free to continue the discussion and advice.

Djwilbourn said: " although i thought 40 watts of tube power would be more than enough..."

That, my friend, is why you need a SPL meter. Everything is just conjecture and speculation until you get a solid reference point for your particular flavor of "loud."

If you're trying to push 110 dB of chest-thumping bass and window-rattling volume from speakers of currently unknown efficiency, the odds of that are not on your side with 40 watts.

If 85 or 90 dB meets your definition of "loud" then chances are a lot better that your power is sufficient if your speakers are medium efficiency or better.

You've been given a wealth of information to work with. But now the ball is in your court and you've got some legwork to do.

At the end of the day it's your ears that determine the level of loudness they can take although measurements can be taken with an SPL meter on the range of dB you are getting. Everybody's tolerance towards loudness may not be similar. I would concur with advice from several folks in protecting your ears from potential damage, more so since you mentioned you like to listen to your music at high volume levels. Prolonged exposure to loud music may lead to tinnitus. Your ears are more valuable than the speakers, so don't worry too much about damaging the speakers. Just listen at a comfortable zone -your ears should be able to let you know.

I used to be like you listening at high volume levels but have toned down a lot after visiting the ENT specialist last year due to suspected tinnitus(vibration to my right ear). Fortunately I was told that I may be suffering from hyperacusis which was caused by listening to music at insane levels, not tinnitus. I was advised not to listen to music at insane levels to prevent recurrence of this "vibration".

As someone else mentioned - get an spl meter. As to hearing loss due to acoustic trauma - again, get an spl meter and take a look at reputable medical/audiology sites as to the level and duration of exposure that is unhealthy in this regard. What is subjectively loud depends on a lot of things, distortion will sound loud and distortion comes into play as to what will damage your speakers. Conversly, distortion does not come into play with what will damage your hearing. Actually , the highly distorted sound will likely cause you to turn the volume down prior to any damage to your hearing. It isn't the perceived loudness that damages your hearing, it is the force of the sound wave hitting the anatomical structures.

"If it's too loud, you're too old!!"

No really, if there is no clipping/distortion you should be fine. I have a very large room and I have not idea what level's I listen at, but, I know we cannot talk to each other in the room while the music is on.

The louder, the better. Well, as long as you don't hurt your hearing.