J.B:

Unfortunately I do not have an SPL Meter to give you a good answer on the levels that I'm using.

I realize that the following will not be of much value but here goes:

My 65 watt tube amp's volume knob is Minimum at 7 o'clock & Maximum around to 5 o'clock. I run it between 10 & 11 o'clock depending on the source material which is about 30 to 40% of max. For instance, today I played Spiro Gyra 'Good to Go-Go' SACD starting at 11 o'clock but had to get up & turn it down to 10. Throughout this SACD that is recorded at high levels, there were many passages where the kick drum gently jiggled my couch from 8' away.

With that SACD at the 11 o'clock setting, normal conversation in the listening area would be most difficult. At 10 o'clock conversation would require elevated voices but not to the yelling stage.

Roughly comparing it to my Denon in my HT, I would guess that I'm running the tube amp at -15 Db or so.

Maybe I should get myself one of those SPL doodads.

TAM