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
I don't like to play games so for me normal level is 93db or so and a typical Fri/Sat night jam session runs up to 110-112db on peaks. I'd go higher if I thought I could get away with the neighbors not knocking on the door. They should probably be thankful I have not purchased a sub just for that reason.

I'm guessing that those who are able to enjoy listening at under 80db must have a very quiet noise floor in the room to begin with or have very sensitive hearing.

The noise floor in my room is quite high though in general. Using REW I measure a constant 50-55db at all times without a peep from anything else taking place. 116yr old house, no insulation, about 30ft off a a busy street.
Amplifier to speaker power is a lot more complicated than rated power output vs listening dB. The trick is amplifying the entire audio band. Even a low power consumer receiver will crank out 90 plus db but if you place a spectrum analyzer you will find the lower end of the Thiel's frequency band to be way lower than the spec'd +/-3dB.

Put a Krell or a Levinson monster on a Thiel and match the output and you will immediately hear a profound difference at the same listening dB as the lower frequencies are brought to life.
100db is cranking at my house and definatley ringing ears,which isnt good for an ole fart like me there already beat of from being a musician ..120 db is painful and very damaging like ac/dc front row next to the pa lol usually 60-80 ish  ...