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How loud in DB, Is "cranking it"

Gents;

i just just got a new amp and was Playing my 87 db efficient speakers( Thiel)

My speakers 8 ft apart and I sit 9ft back

I was just playing my amp at "30 watts class A" and I heard 97 db at listening seat.
I normally listen at 70-75 db

I was told the Xa30.5 might not have enough power! In my questions to Audiogon

To me it's WAY more than I need......no issues here. If my amp is considered underpowered, You guys must be nuts!!
lol

So; the question:. 

How loud is " crankin it" for you guys
and
How loud do you normally listen?

frozentundra
timlub
1,649 posts
 
Everyone has different tolerances,  I like listening to small jazz ensembles or symphony at what I would say are "live" levels.... The problem is what is that?  A live Rock concert can hit peaks of 124 db and 121 db is the normal threshold of pain... while going to a symphony, you may be lucky to hit 92 or 93 db. 
And no, I would never attempt to listen to anything in my home over that mid 90's db point.
Ok,  so what is cranking it?
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
How loud is cranking it???

Maybe this will help you understand how loud I normally listen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xgx4k83zzc
dekay's avatar
dekay
2,959 posts
 
Your amplifier is capable of over 150 watts @ 8 ohms as it has an additional 120 watts (class B) of headroom.

It would have even more headroom (> 150 watts) pushing your Thiels.

Depending on how fast the meter is you may not even notice the amp spiking into class B to cover transients.

I listen in the 70’s with peaks in the 80’s (higher dB’s trigger migraines).

I’m just getting over a headache that started yesterday afternoon (spent an hour waiting @ our local Apple Store for a tech to fix my wife’s iPod).
gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html

cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,606 posts
 
On a properly set up system, you can (and, I do) listen as high a volume level as you want.  I listen at concert levels and it is not deafening.  Nice, detailed, dynamic and definitely CRANKED but musical, not loud.  Noise is loud.  Loud, to me, is not a pleasant adjective.  
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