How loud are you typically listening?


Typically 75 to 80dB.  Really loud is 90dB and I'm never over, and I mean never, 95dB.  I'm using a professional SPL meter, C weighted, slow response.  Just curious.
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I’m in that same 75 to 80dB range, testing with dB meter on my iPhone.

I've noticed that as I've grown older, I don't appreciate loud music any longer. 
Loud enough for the wife to have to raise her voice and yell “turn it dowwwwwwn!””

“ If it’s too loud , your too old”
Right now and usually, I listen at an average of 60dB.  Louder if no one is home, 60dB works for most of the acoustic works I listen too.
80db C weighted is pretty loud for me, I have the headroom to play much louder, depending on the recording, but rarely do so; in fact, much of my listening is done at even lower levels. But it takes some gain to energize the room, which is large. I worked pretty hard to get the "noise floor" low so that there is very little ambient noise from the system or room itself. Ambient noise of room averages a little over 30db- I could get it quieter by blocking the windows with heavier sound proofing material but don't usually bother with that. 
Around 75-80, but most music I have found does sound better at 90-95. Sadly I can’t handle loud for longer then a couple of songs, too many blasting concerts in my younger days and just normal aging.
I suggest turning the volume down not up. Set the volume listen carefully then turn it down a notch and see if it still sounds good. Use the least volume that is musically satisfying. Your ears will thank you. 
If you’re using a headphone amplifier + headphones  or an amp with speakers, there will be some variations in loudness between songs from different Artists.

Ideally, 60 db to 70 db is safe for several hours of listening. If you get listening fatigue and/or a headache in the first 5-10 minutes, you’re doing something wrong.

The only time you should listen a bit louder is when you are mixing/mastering something. Even then, for a short time - to ensure you can detect errors in the sound and fix them.
I listen at a very satisfyingly loud level most of the time. Sometimes a little to the low side of that. With the way the system is now I find when it is cranked up real loud instead of sounding real loud it sounds thrilling exhilarating loud. I mean like tingles your berries loud. Like the first time you go to a rock concert and it is not just loud but dynamically crystal clear Supertramp loud. Like that.

I have the Radio Shack SPL meter, the old school analog one you can set to read fast or slow average, and different weightings. Had it since like the 1990's. I got it out just now to check and sure enough I was right- satisfying, exhilarating, Supertramp- none of those are on there. Stupid meter.
I like listening at low levels most of the time. I reach realistic levels but to be honest i never bothered to measure it with my android.

G
Just checked. At the higher end right now. Meter app reads about 74 to 80dB with a few 87dB peaks.
Quieter for me would be 64-69 dB. Louder would be 69-75 dB.

One factor that I've just experienced in the last several years is that a acoustically "quieter" room allows for lower actual listening volumes for the same perceived sound level.
70 on the low end 90 on the high end. Using Iphone to measure db with internal mic so not sure how accurate that is. 
Yeah me neither 90 peak dbs in my room is cranked.  I hang mostly in the high 70 and mid 80 range.   
Checked with one, seems 55 are average low normal listening levels and 83 average high.
That represents 30-55 on preamp indicator volume scale (95 max) if it means anything.

G
70's. Low 80's when I'm feeling frisky.  For me, ahem, quality is more important than quantity.  
Average for me is 78-85DB.  I also use my trusty Radio Shack meter, bought in the 70’s.  It is more accurate than the one for the iPhone and iPad.  
I do a lot of my listening in the evening or night. My wife is usually in the living room or bedroom,so I try to keep it civilized. Right now I'm listening at approximately 65db. Later at night this will be turned down to 55-60. If I'm home alone,I'll pick up the pace to 75-80 db. 
Never checked till now.  Downloaded the app while listening to Stormwatch/Tull album on a Bose Mini II Soundlink located 8 feet away.
Gage read 69db average.  Higher than I would have guessed.  
My wife seems to usually come in to the main stereo room and say, "That sounds freakin; awesome.  Turn it up!!"  
Damn hippie relics, never wanna quit.   :>)  

Well, it depends on what I’m listening to. I listen to a lot of classical music, so the dynamic range and ‘loudness’ fluctuates quite a bit. But, one thing I’ve learned is to play music loud enough to be realistic to any particular music’s performance, (as in, how loud would it be ‘live’), not quieter, not louder. I live alone, so can crank it without issue. What bothers me is playing any music unrealistically loud, or quiet.

All that said, I think I average at about 75-85 db, depending. 
90 to 95 db is my average level because i do not react to low volume listening at all if i can not get the rush of music washing over me than why listen.
In a small apartment here and perforce I sit fairly close so 60-75db typically and that's plenty loud.
Average in the low 80's, but can hit peaks of >100 dB a couple to a few time per day.
50s to 70s. I wonder how many actually use a db meter on phone or otherwise.

@maxwave +2
70 to 75 db. For the last record of a session, may bring it up to 80 db. I developed tinnitus two summers ago at a Humphrey's McGee concert at Red Rocks that lasted 4 hours. Killer monster sound, but for too long. Have been careful ever since.
Usually in the mid/low 70's as understandable conversation can take place while the music is playing.

However, when I have  a migraine I sometimes listen @ much  louder levels when laying down on the sofa with the lights out.

Being in bed/dark quiet room with a migraine is the stupidest advice I've yet received from experts in the field as a distraction works wonders/sans major pain killers.

My distraction is music, which is often Motzart and/or The Who's Quadrophenia.

DeKay
I'm glad this came up.  I also had way too much fun with concerts and race cars when younger, so some tinnitus is definitely a reality.  For kicks this past weekend I downloaded the free NIOSH sound level app and turned it on with zero effort to calibrate or likely even point mic properly.  Bottom line is a good Saturday night jam session averaged 65-72db with 1-2 occasional peaks more like 78-80.  

Curious if anyone has consulted physicians about this topic.....my early google info says those numbers shouldn't do much harm but come Sunday I'm not sure I agree.  
50 to 65 ---which is really quiet compared to most!
But doesn't it depend on the ambient noise in the room?  E.g., I most likely listen louder in the car because the noise floor is much higher (but honestly I've never measured the sound level while driving :-)).

The ambient noise level in my room is around 25-30 according to my phone...my handheld meter shows 30-31 (but that is because it doesn't go below 30).  Above 30 my phone and handheld meter agree within 1-2 dbl so I'm inclined to believe they are both reasonably accurate.
Some of the newest sound level charts say below 70 db is the best way to avoid hearing damage. But there are many that will say 75 db, and some will even say up to 80 db is safe for up to 8 hrs. I figure 75 db is a good medium for safe hearing and yet enjoying a pretty full sound. 
  • Loud enough for the wife to have to raise her voice and yell “turn it down and Im in a separate building" but there is a certain volume where the sound just comes alive.
I don’t own an SPL meter. I just adjust the volume to whatever is comfortable and right for the kind of music I’m playing. 
Tip: Since high frequencies are more harmful to hearing than low ones, I found out that making my subs more prominent in my system helps in giving me a fuller sound.
Depends on mood and material.... whisper soft sessions (20-30dB average volume) in the late night / early hours are my favorite. I do get up at 3-4AM from time to time for these sessions.
During daytime, about 50dB average volumes on the average for the past 20 years.My system now allows to rock out yours truly. Mahler symphonies with 110dB peaks, or Prodigy and modern electronic music at volume where the air and reality seems to melt and your body feels as if about to go into shock (about 100dB sustained with 120+dB peaks). And include the subsonic region at that, in my room it's strong down to 14Hz, but there is action down to 11Hz. This is beyond addictive. I never had a chemical addiction, but electronic music like this is beyond addictive, I am SOOOO glad I did not have this sound when I was younger, would have been hopelessly addicted and wasted. Nowdays, I like to go through a couple hours of sessions like that, maybe twice a week, and then abstain for a week or two or three. Curiously, it does not hurt the ears, and no ringing next day. The distortion is vanishingly low, the ears do not signal that it's too much. However the subsonic bass takes a very high toll on the body, it feels next day as if I was in a car crash. (Audio Heavens bless my good neighbors... ; )
Lately I’ve been listening to jazz as I’ve been working on the new to me house, so it’s been 80+.  When I’m sitting listening, it’s normally 65-75db.

JD