How can I tell if I am overdriving the amp or the speakers?

@erik_squires 

I hope you understood what I was trying to say.  I probably should stop posting after bedtime.🙁

JD

So this morning after everyone left, I put on several different CD’s and cranked the volume.  I played some jazz and some rock and maybe it’s because it was morning (?) nothing distorted!  I pulled out the sound meter and I got well into the 90’s and the light flashed when I went over 100.

I’m going to try this a couple more times. Listen at night and listen again in the morning.

Maybe there’s nothing wrong with my equipment or my room. Wow, maybe it’s my ears? 

Mmmmmm

It's called "distortion," and you should turn it down until it doesn't hurt behind your ears--you know. That's how loud you can play it for now.

Next step is make an upgrade to lower the noise. Begin with cables.

Enjoy. It's fun!

@curiousjim  I think that is a serious possibility.

Some nights, nothing I listen to sounds what I would describe as great, and I attribute it to my mood fluctuations or maybe how tired I am.

Also, noting that you typed that the time of day affects what you hear, maybe it is the power coming into your house?  Although I would actually think the power should be "cleaner" in the evening.  Are you running any dedicated lines for your system?

@immatthewj,

I have pretty good power here, when it works. We’ve had seven transformers blow in the last fifteen months! I am a Audience AR6 power conditioner. 
 

Thanks for your thoughts.

JD