Does It have to be loud?

70dB isn’t  realistic. Kind of the level you would listen to the radio. If it doesn’t sound good any louder then there is something badly wrong with the setup.

Single musicians Average dB Peak dB
Violin/viola (near left ear) 85 - 105 116
Violin/viola 80 - 90 * 104
Cello 80 - 104 *. 112
Acoustic bass 70 - 94 * 98
Clarinet 68 - 82 * 112
Oboe 74 - 102 * 116
Saxophone 75 - 110 * 113
Flute 92 - 105 * 109
Flute (near right ear) 98 - 114 118
Piccolo 96 - 112 * 120
Piccolo (near right ear). 102 - 118* 126
French horn 92 - 104 * 107
Trombone 90 - 106 * 109
Trumpet. 88 - 108 * 113
Harp 90 111
Timpani and bass drum 74 - 94 * 106
Percussion (high-hat near left ear) 68 - 94 125
Percussion 90 - 105 123-134
Singer 70 - 85 * 94
Soprano 105 - 110 118
Choir 86 No data
Normal piano practice 60 - 90 * 105
Loud piano 70 - 105 * 110
Keyboards (electric) 60 - 110 * 118
Several musicians
Chamber music (classical) 70 - 92 * 99
Symphonic music 86 - 102 * 120 - 137
* at 3 m
Note: These representative noise levels are collated from a range of sources. They give an indication of the variety of noise levels and noise peaks that musicians and other workers can receive from the instruments concerned. This information can be helpful with estimating noise exposure and in identifying potential noise ’hot spots’. However, as shown, many of the instruments can exhibit a range of noise levels depending on how loudly they are played, for how long and under what circumstances (eg repertoire, venue, number of instruments concerned). Do not only use this information for a risk assessment but look at Sound Advice Note 3 ’Noise risk assessment and planning’and the relevant sector guide(s).

Han_n,

I tend to listen at lower levels like yourself. My system will get plenty loud (for me) but I don’t feel obliged to use it all.

What we are missing once again is individual differences. We all hear differently. Women have more sensitive hearing, so Elizabeth may hear at 70 dbs what it takes some of us 90 dbs to hear. And women are not the only ones who may have better hearing.

I don’t like loud music. Didn’t when I was a kid, still don’t. As I have moved up the audio ladder my system has become more transparent and more natural sounding without having to increase the volume.

If you’re doing a lot of listening at 80 - 100 dbs you’re damaging your ears. Try turning it down for a little while. You may find your ears adjust.

For dB meter.
I own a digital Radio Shack dB meter. I keep it set to "C" weighted.
I also have a smartphone app. Also set to 'C' weighted.  Comparing the two, they are very close all through the range.
(one additional problem with the RS meter is the range is 10dB, adjusted with a knob. So one has to know in advance approximately what range you are measuring, or all you get is 'high' or 'low'.
No such problem with the phone app.
The phone or meter are used at my usual seated listening position.
The difference from holding the meter or phone in my hand at a comfortable spot vs right at my ear is too small to bother about. (though for purists I would admit the ear position is about 1dB lower than just holding it (since it is another foot or so further back. But I prefer being able to SEE the meter while I am using it. LOL

The big plus with the phone app is it records the dB level over several minutes. That is something the RS meter cannot do.

Now neither one has been professionally calibrated. but are way way better than no meter...
As for "gimmicky phone app" I guess you never actually used one. No gimmicks, just a useful app. (I would say its usefulness may depend on the phone mic. But most ($800 or so) Smartphones have a decent mic.

@elizabeth

I have tried numerous phone apps with multiple phones and they all read about 6 to 8 db lower than my Extech meter. I’ve only encountered one app that allows a C-weighted measurement, but it doesn’t record peaks like the Extech. If you blow into the mic of a real meter you can easily register over 100db. Try doing it with a phone mic and you’ll max out around 90db.