Does loudness play a part in your appreciation?

Higher volumes can make things more involving, yes. Depending on the components in the system (I switch things around), they need more ooomph to get momentum, come into balance.

Regarding the idea that 70 db is loud, here’s a chart:

Environmental Noise

0dB   Weakest sound heard

30dB  Whisper Quiet Library at 6’

60-65dB Normal conversation at 3’

80dB  Telephone dial tone

85dB  City Traffic (inside 1  car)   

Sound Levels of Music

60 -70dB Normal piano practice

70dB    Fortissimo Singer, 3’

75 - 85dB Chamber music, small auditorium

84 - 103dB Piano Fortissimo

82 - 92dB  Violin

85 -111dB Cello

95-112dB Oboe

92 -103dB Flute

90 -106dB Piccolo

85 - 114dB Clarinet

90 - 106dB French horn

85 - 114dB Trombone

106dB   Tympani & bass drum

94dB    Walkman on 5/10

120 - 137dB Symphonic music peak

120dB   Amplifier, rock, 4-6’

150dB   Rock music peak

https://www.gcaudio.com/tips-tricks/decibel-loudness-comparison-chart/

It is important for me to be able to come close to live levels in my listening room although I don't often do it or really listen at those levels.  My room is 30ft. x 40ft x 25ft.  Playing something like Bonerama, Live in New York I've measured in excess of 130dB, eighteen feet in front of my speakers.  Having a system that can do that makes it much more enjoyable at more reasonable listening levels.  And yes, I wear my Walkers when testing at these levels for any length of time.

Measurement from a free phone app reads about 85dB at LP of 8'. That is about where my Magnepan 1.7i s really open up, load the 20'x30' room and sound great.

Probably my one grip about 1.7i s, lower volume <75db doesn't have the wow factor.

 

I think @hilde45’s post is the most enlightening in this thread. All this discussion of levels has been divorced from the reality of live music, which, IMO, is what we all should strive to emulate. And the idea of listening to anything but the softest passages at 75dB, whether A or C weighted, just can’t emulate live. 

I have a concept, which I didn’t develop on my own but read somewhere, that for every piece of recorded music there’s an optimal listening volume. Therefore, I find myself adjusting the level for just about every record or file. And generally, when I measure to satisfy my curiosity, I find the peaks usually range from 92 to 96dB-C, irrespective of genre. Interestingly, these levels are much softer than live music.  This also raises the question of the weighting we’re all using to measure the sound—A or C—and whether we’re reading peaks or average levels. Without knowing the answers, the numbers we’re quoting aren’t comparable. 

It absolutely 100% does. 
 

I want to be blown away at home like what happens at a well produced live event. 
 

Not all the time, but for serious listening yes. 
 

90 db is about my practical personal threshold for peaks.   That or lower should be considered the practical limit in general to avoid damage to the ears.  We don’t want that to happen!

 

Live events can easily exceed that limit.  Depends on venue and where you sit. I tend to avoid the closest 1/3 seats at most live performances.   Less risk of damage and a better “sweet spot”.