I'm curious. What is your "normal" listening volume?

I measure, sometimes out of curiosity and also when I do shoot-outs. Some records are cut "hotter" than others and the nominal level is higher, which may tilt the preference.

To add to the variables that @lewm mentioned, I find that every record has a playback level that seems "just right" for me--too loud and it sounds like the program is being "played at you" and too low a setting, and the room isn’t energized at the bottom end (assuming there are deeper fundamental notes with a double bass, piano, etc.).

Room size is important too. I’ve mentioned this elsewhere, but the ability of a system to "scale" in size and dynamics is an important part of replicating a concert experience. I’ve got a big dedicated room, but it simply won’t replicate the sound of a 2,800 seat hall.

I tend to listen at modest levels because I can "get it" without cranking it hard--due in part to extreme efficiency of the loudspeaker and the nature of SET amps.

I usually use a couple different meters- one, that could be calibrated but I didn’t go to the expense, another as part of a set of digital tools that are on an iPad. Both are pretty close at a "C" weighting and peaks are a little over 80db. Which means that I’m nominally listening at lower levels.

I think there are so many variables among each system, room, program material and listener preference that it’s hard to say what the norm is. We have friends that own a big club in town. I was hanging at the board several years ago, and even with ear protection in (I always wear Etymotics at live events), the sound seemed crazy loud- I asked the guy running the board (shouting)-- 104db. Brain death.

"Every record has a playback level that seems just right "

Now, that's true audiophile wisdom and experience.

I had never thought of it this way before I read what Bill said.

45-65db at my chair 8ft from speakers. I rarely feel the need to turn it up louder cause it just sounds right at those levels.

• Typical background music when working, reading, or being respectful of loudness levels - 40-60dB
• Comparison listening and when focusing on good sound - 60-80dB
• Occasionally rocking out - 80-95dB
• Temporary insanity - higher than above

Regular listening chair is 12 feet from speakers but I don’t always listen from the chair.

So far there have been exactly two posts that specify whether they are measuring with dBA or dBC.  Without specifying which standard you are using the numbers are meaningless.  Almost all contemporary music that has real bass will measure 10-15 dB higher if you are measuring with dBC than dBA.  10-15 dB is the difference between a reasonable listening level and hearing loss.  If you are listening to purely acoustic music without bass or drums the numbers will be much closer.

I typically listen at 78-83 dBC.  On bass heavy tracks that may go up to the high 80s dBC.  

Ambient noise levels in my room in the country at night is typically 36 dBC and dBA when the heat is off, the refrigerator is off, and neither the dog  nor I are within 4 feet of the mic.  Even normally unnoticeable levels of typical noise push that up to 43-48 dBC.  I am extremely skeptical of people who claim to enjoy listening at 40-50 dB.  Maybe they have bat ears or maybe they just don't actually enjoy hearing the music.  I promise they aren't hearing all the music that exists in the recording at those levels.