I think it's interesting to think about how loud our systems play at their loudest - do we really know the db level? I know I don't - every once in a while, my house empties on a weekend night and I watch a rock concert DVD at (what feels like) rock concert levels. If I was the whole disc, my ears are ringing afterwards - a sure sign that I'm treating myself right. I have no idea what the db reading would be.
At one point, I was researching ATC active speakers and was talking to somebody (a dealer) who was saying that the 150's would do 120db, continuous, and that 120db was what a jet engine sounds like at close range. I've often wanted to walk around outside with my stereo up "loud" and see what, if anything, you could hear outside. The notion of going outside to see if you could hear the jet engine in my basement sounded good - I have to believe if I really had a jet engine going in my basement, that I'd be getting calls from my neighbors.
At one point, I was researching ATC active speakers and was talking to somebody (a dealer) who was saying that the 150's would do 120db, continuous, and that 120db was what a jet engine sounds like at close range. I've often wanted to walk around outside with my stereo up "loud" and see what, if anything, you could hear outside. The notion of going outside to see if you could hear the jet engine in my basement sounded good - I have to believe if I really had a jet engine going in my basement, that I'd be getting calls from my neighbors.