Volume Increase of decrease as system improves

Maybe you're getting older with declining hearing acuity.....

Distortion is interpreted as loudness so less distortion means louder will still sound good. You need a good recording without distortion as well as a large dynamic range to want to crank it and still find it engaging and enjoyable.

Some of the speakers being touted as neutral today are a lot brighter than neutral, so you'll have a tendency to keep the volume lower. Or so I think. :)

There's nothing wrong with tailoring a speaker to be played at lower volumes, in fact it can be quite useful! But I think that's a little part of it.

More neutral speakers may sound a little less bright at low volumes, so you want it up.

BTW, I don't personally care what you personally like... so long as you are happy. :) I'm only trying to explain a possible cause and effect.

Best,

Erik

Ineteresting question,I would say it is very much related to what i am playing so it varies ,but the dork I am I often grab my db meter in the drawer next to me when I feel its rockin and it is often 80-90db so i guess increase lol 

My listending level has gone down since my last upgrade. Bass is extended, more defined, the noise floor is lower. Music now flows from my speakers with ease.