What is the ideal volume setting?

@jaybe 
Ah yes! The right answer!

Who is it that calls that knob "pleasure"? I'm doing that with the pre-amp I build. I like it loud enough that I worry my neighbors will call the cops. So far not one complaint! 

11

You raise some very good points.
Bottom line, I still have to adjust.

Thanks for the explanation; I understand.  I suppose it would be nice if levels were standardized on discs, but.....Do you always sit at the same distance from orchestras when in concert halls?  Be careful what you wish for.  Classical recordings are deliberately recorded with different perspectives; some to give a close to the orchestra perspective and some further back.  For concert hall realism, it seems to me one would have to adjust the volume for each recording anyway since the recording with a close-to-orchestra perspective would have to be listened to louder than one recorded further back for it to sound "correct".  

I find there is an ideal volume level where everything sounds as it does in a concert hall.  Every classical recording is different in that regard.
it isn’t so much that I can’t hear detail at a lower setting. I can.
There’s just an optimum level where everything sounds “right.”
I have modified Dalquist DQ 20 speakers, NuForce monoblock amplifiers, along with a CJ preamp.

I'm not sure I understand what the problem is.  As has been pointed out well recorded Classical music can have a very wide dynamic range; a good thing.  Live, the range is even wider.  Is the problem for you that you have to set the volume such that for the soft spots in the music to satisfy the volume is then excessive during the loud passages?  A common reason for this kind of dissatisfaction is that some speakers do not have good resolving capability in the area of micro-dynamics when played softly and "like" to be played louder than other speakers which do better in this area; or, need better amplifier matching.  When this problem is addressed properly low volume passages in the music will still have the proper musical impact so that the overall volume does not have to start so high that it becomes overbearing during the louder passages.  In my experience with my systems over the years Magneplanars have been particularly difficult in this particular area and Quads particularly good.  What are your speakers and amp?  

Example: 1. Turn on your SPL meter. 2. Play the Calibration Track. 3. Adjust your volume until it reaches the specified SPL. 4. Enjoy the music the way the artist intended.

Amen to that!

there should be a "calibration track" provided on the disk so we can set the "preferred listening level"

+1

That’s an idea.

It's easy enough to address this problem, but it will take some effort.  Rip each CD to a computer and use any one of the readily available audio programs to find the maximum recording level peak.  Set your volume for this peak level and mark each CD for future reference.  It should take less than 3 minutes per CD.

Talk about a "First World" problem!

You’re so right, lowrider57.
The worst part is by the time you’ve found the best setting you’re sometimes in the middle of the piece, so it’s best to start over to get the proper continuity.
And Since I have a vintage preamp, I don’t use a remote control.  
It’s good exercise though!

I’m sure you realise that with classical there is minimal compression as compared to other CD’s. Much better dynamic range, so a soft passage can build to an extremely loud crescendo. And then the closely miked brass can kick in.
So for me, I sometimes need to reset the VC.

I've always said that there should be a "calibration track" provided on the disk so we can set the "preferred listening level". I guess this is too hard for the recording industry.