[MatrixDweller]

It was my understanding that the THX certified peak level is 105dB. That would be the loudest anything will go in a THX certified theater. Maybe dialog and normal volume scenes might be at 85dB as people have stated.

Also most good amplifiers (including integrated A/V receivers) have some dynamic headroom. The watt rating given is usually for 2 channel continuous at a given distortion level. Most reputable manufacturers rate their amps at a non-clipped distortion level and the better ones try to rate the lowest THDs. A cheap HTIB however (like many Sony's) may rate their watts at super high or peak levels with high THDs of 10%. 140W/channel at 10% THD would probably be more like 15W/channel at 1% THD. Likewise a receiver rated at 120W/channel at .05% THD may have a dynamic output of over 380W at 1% THD. Good receivers may even alter a clipped output to protect your speakers during periods of high dynamic output (soft clipping).

Highwayman your Pioneer rated at 110W @ .7% THD would probably start clipping at higher volumes. It probably won't sound great much past -40dB on it's volume scale.

Q: Have you gone deaf yet Dionyz? I think your assumption of 105dB +20-30dB headroom is a little high. 130dB will cause your ears to hurt (damage), 135dB will make you go deaf in no time flat even if just in short peaks.