Is louder better?

I dunno... in my late 20’s I put together a car stereo featuring a 2700w amp driving a pair of extremely efficient 15” subs. Tended to make people sick to their stomachs, and no one wanted to ride with me twice. So... maybe not always?

https://boomspeaker.com/noise-level-chart-db-level-chart/

This is a solid resource I send to people.

On previous forums, I've seen posters siting 90db or something crazy like that. Above all, go see an audiologist and have your hearing tested. I've known folks who had terrible hearing and top notch systems. 

I'm surprised the elephant in the listening room hasn't been mentioned: loud cost more money. Doesn't everyone like loud once in awhile? Not a big believer in a "correct" listening level unique for every recording. That said, sure lots of speakers sound best at a certain level for THAT specific room. (Least appreciated factor when designing acoustical treatments for a room.)

Many less expense systems are as competent as others with the difference being the ability to play at concert levels. Cheap ribbons or cheap electrostatics beat cheap boxes any day of the week. As prices increase, things are't that simple.  (But this is another topic)

Low levels late night with big A$$ Tannoy concentric drivers driven by a class A Sugden being fed from a tubed Tavish Design phono preamp and Jensen MC 2rr SUT receiving a signal from a Hana EL mc with Alnico magnets on the end of a Pro-ject 9 inch carbon fiber /aluminum tonearm attached to a well isolated Pro-Ject The Classic belt driven turntable. Clean power courtesy of my AQ Niagara 1200 and AQ Thunder PC connected to my dedicated 12/2 20 Amp circuit provided by my AQ Edison receptacle, ahhh heaven....all Analog baby....oh and the volcano Lava lamp and the lights down low😁

Your question can be addressed in the same simplistic form asked or broken down into more details. Simple answer yes an no. I like different artists at different levels. It is easy to measure as I start an album at at set level and as the listening session goes on I find my self either turning it up or turning it down. Detailed answer has to breakdown the rig. SS class A class A/B, tubes in the chain, types of power source in the amp ( I don’t get caught up in watts per as in my mind this is and can be overrated) then speaker efficiency. Some speakers will sing at low to moderate levels with the right amp and others crave high current high power and high volume. This reminds me of college in the 80’s with my Bose 901’s running a Sansui 9090 amp. The power supply on this amp could double as a welder if needed. The 901’s only made acceptable sound at ear bleeding levels.
So is louder better yes and no.