I want it loud enough that I go "damn!" and kinda wince backwards as I try to find the volume down button.
Not really though, that's my inner teenager speaking. But something between that and a system that is completely soundless when there's a pause in the music, but so much power that when the first guitar string is plucked, it hits you in the face and makes your arm hairs stand up.
I'll be the first to admit I lack sufficient knowledge with this stuff. And in this case, TFM for the Crown didn't help. I've wired up countless car stereos when I was a kid, so I learned a lot of bad habits.
Here's what I grew up with:
More speakers = louder
Bigger speakers = louder + bass
Bigger amp = way louder
and then all the other junk, like dropping your subs to 1 ohm, catching your amp on fire because it's not 1 ohm capable, using 12v power capacitors to save your alternator, the big 3 wiring, etc
TFM for the Crown IS almost useless but because they typically design and sell for the pro/commercial market, they're assuming some level of technical knowledge, so they leave out info that would be 'common knowledge' in the industries. How consumers interpret it isn't really at the top of their list of requirements. Also, the specs page shows 'Recommended for portable PA'.
Here's an example of the technical specs for a JBL speaker, which might be used with this type of amplifier- as you can see, it contains info that could be considered 'gibberish' to many people, but can be used in a quick review by someone who uses it for design purposes on a regular basis-
The next link has some additional info including "Voltage Gain- 31dB", which is what I was referring to when I mentioned that amplifier gain is fixed- the level controls are for achieving the needed output and noise levels, so max output would be reached at full rotation of the controls, but ONLY if the input level is .775V or 1.4V- sending more input voltage at either setting will result in more distortion, less headroom and will negatively affect the sound quality.
WRT "what you grew up with:
- More speakers=more sound, but only if the amplifier can handle the load. If not, more amplifiers are needed
- Bigger speakers=louder+more bass: not necessarily, if the speakers are less sensitive and are tuned to a higher frequency. Plenty of big speakers are almost useless for true low frequencies and they need to be in the correctly designed enclosure.
- Bigger amp=way louder: because we don't hear specific increases of power (double, triple, etc) as twice or three times as loud, you could increase the power output by 4 times and not hear it as 4 times as loud- to make it sound twice as loud, ten times as much power is needed and if the speakers can't handle it, they turn into smokey bits.
- "...using 12V power capacitors to save your alternator...": that only prevents voltage sag when the power amp(s) are cranking and the alternator can't maintain constant voltage. An alternator that can't handle more current will die early but another problem is the voltage regulator and the rectifier- often, alternator noise (AC ripple) can be seen if an oscilloscope is connected to the alternator's output post.
The car audio world is very different from the home/pro/commercial audio world in many ways but really, it's basically the same once you move past the power supply. However, the room vs the interior of a vehicle is another area where this is totally different- a vehicle is a confined small space and room size can vary greatly.
