Anyone else prefer listening to their system more than a concert?

A spl measure next to a transducer is a bit simplistic. The control volume that makes up a reverberant field is another... a pair of cans hugging/sealing a very small control volume (such as the ear canal) leaves very little room for error.

There are also countless types of sonic 'impulses'...in nature, instruments, urban areas, industrial environments, etc...they all don't affect the ear the same way...an spl meter alone is not the ultimate guide.

@larsman wrote

@deep_333 - I've got a headphone system in addition to a 2-channel one, and there's no reason headphones should cause any more hearing damage than speakers. Blast 'em over long periods and you can damage your hearing. Don't and you should be good. Isn't 80db 80db no matter the transducer?

Large venues with bad PA's and high distortion that leave your ears ringing afterwards 100% can damage your hearing. 

Fun discussion-Echoing some of the responses here, I don't think I am ready to give up live music. I am lucky enough to have a great system but it still can't match the intimacy and connection between a band playing in a smaller venue and its audience and watching the interaction between the musicians.  I go to approximately three jazz shows a month and there is nothing like that magic.... rock that's a different question but I went to two shows this year.  McCartney which was great and surprisingly had pretty decent sound even for a 40k person audience and feeling like I was in another county watching the show,  and another show where one band's sound mix was horrible and hard to listen to  and the main act was pretty good (red rocks). Sound systems are definitely better than they were 40 years ago (except for the Dead who had it nailed) 

(a) I don't have to drive anywhere, deal with parking, or rude audiences

(b) I have full control of volume to protect my (dwindling) hearing

(c) I've already paid for the media, so listening selection cost is $0

(d) I can pause to go pee whenever the urge hits

(e) Other than classical, all the artists I would have paid to hear are either dead or senile

@fatdaddy2 

Many thanks for all the polite responses.

Refreshing to read them without any disparaging remarks.

Civility is relaxing.