How can I establish a reference level?

ADDENDUM:

After listening to a lot of music these past few months, I believe that -17dB as set on the preamp is closer to a true reference level.

Lots of music is really loud! I mean how many times can you listen to, say, Aretha singing RESPECT at a realistic level and not go deaf? Or take Aerosmith at full volume? No.

Trifonov playing "The Carnegie Recital" sounds very realistic at that level. Turn it down and it is just like moving further back in the hall. Same with Gould playing Contrapunctus 1-9 on Organ.  WOW!

As an aside, there was a Tip someone posted over in the Analog Forum for us old geezers about trimming our ear hair for better fidelity. And that reminded me that I need to cut my hair!

Happy Holidays!

Mike

UPDATE:

After pushing the 4367s around for awhile with the powerful SS amps (AHB2's in MONO configuration) i decided to try some lower power tube amps.

First in was a pair of CAD-300SE. They are 300B SET with 11W output. I found that I must be much closer to the speakers and keep the volume way down. First impression was they do a lot of what the AHB2's do but quieter. Then I thought "I guess I don't care what those singers are saying - it sounds so beautiful." Then a mechanical transformer hum became annoying, especially since the volume is down and I had to sit so close. Also, the tube amps are much more finicky WRT line voltage. A Variac was pressed into service for regulation. These amps need 117V not the 121V which is more usual here.

Next I put in the ARC Ref 75SE. That was a bust. V3 flamed with a runaway bias. I called ARC service and they are so backlogged that can't take the unit for 5 months. I am on a waiting list for the repair. Go figure. At least it didn't fry a speaker.

Next was a single AHB2 and it just has a little less jump than the pair of AHB2's.

Next is 25W of glory in the form of a Luxman MQ-88uC.   I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! It too needs the voltage down to 115V. Push Pull KT-88 in triode. Beautiful and relaxing sound on the JBL4367 with NO Fatigue! And just enough power to turn it up a bit.

On the way is a Pass Labs XA-25. I can't wait to hear how it plays with the big speakers.

As for reference level, Volumes equivalent to realistic levels are just to tiring though possible with these speakers and the AHB2's

So there you have it. I hope this is entertaining to some readers. It certainly is to me.

Yage- thank you for the link. I remember seeing that article awhile back and the reread was definitely worthwhile. To be clear, my room is small. The fatigue I speak of with levels 85dB+ has more to do with that than the equipment. Lots of room gain. I have done what I can to treat it but still, high levels are tiring. 

72dB is a good recommendation. Thank you for your response.

UPDATE:

In my post on 4/30 I mentioned there was a Pass Labs XA-25 OTW.

Well, it's here and has been up and running for about 3 months.

If you have speakers that SUCK power forget it, but for the JBL 4367s the amp is great. Compared to the AHB2s the XA-25 draws you in. At times with the AHB2s I felt I needed to put up the yellow caution tape, "Do Not Approach." Not so with the XA-25. If I want louder, moving from mid to near-field does the trick. Near-field with the AHB2s is a bit much.

But for a party on the back porch I can open the windows and turn it way up with the Benchmarks. They are more convincing at loud levels.

Update:

In house now is a ML No. 534. OMG!!!

This amp and speaker combo effortlessly produces the whole thing.

Like a tapestry.

Noticeable are the dynamics. Quiet and LOUD! 

The JBL 4367 and ML No. 534 play exceptionally well together.

UPDATE:

Having not had any parties on my porch for some time, I have switched back to the XA-25 in front of the JBL 4367. I'm glad I did. The 94dB JBLs get as loud as I want with the XA-25 and sound absolutely fantastic. The higher powered amps, ML534 and Benchmark AHB2, seem to prefer higher volumes and this is tiring. On the JBL 4367 the XA-25 gives me fatigue free listening and sounds more like music at all volumes.

Noticeable are the mid-bass textures and overall glare-free presentation. Those 15" woofers are handled with aplomb by the XA-25. It is amazing that 25W will do it, but these are a very special 25W. To paraphrase Dick Olsher, if the first watt is no good who wants the rest?

I forgot to mention,

Also noticeable with the change is the HUGE soundstage. With the right recordings I am immersed in a sound field that extendsr beyond the boundaries of the room. Be it Alan Lomax "Southern Journey" or Barbie "The Album" the effect is of being surrounded by sound.

UPDATE:

It is time for a correction. After playing around for a while with the low power amps I have come to the conclusion that they do not sound "more like music at all volumes." Instead each puts its own spin on the sound and gets to sound less like music at higher volumes.

Switching back to the Harmon duo, specifically the ML 534 paired with the JBL4367, noticeable are the MACRO dynamics and KICK. Back is the house filling sound!

So, if you don't feel too silly sitting near-field to these speakers the lower powered amps are fun... Unfortunately though, the first glorious watt (or 40 watts) may ultimately not be enough for the 4367.