Is louder better?

Yes, the morning hours is when electric is cleanest, and the quiet is deafeningly awesome for audio listening. 
   Love listening critically from about 12-4 am. 

Yes, love it a bit on the loud side, band dependent of course....

    some music just does not have that “able to be played loud” thing.....


   as far as doing some room heating with my amps, some bands get a little more volume as the recording is good, and sounds great.          One straight off the top is Stevie wonders musiquarium 2cd set..
the sound and depth , the way it sounds , tight, great punchy fast deep bass, his voice, it is one of the best recordings put to cd,...for me, anyway. 

              

Again, louder does wonders for speakers output. 
   Raises bass, and sound.    I play a bit louder to make the speakers sound their best.