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The more you crank it up, the more dynamic range you get, but also the more amplifier power you need

A typical listening room has a "noise floor" of around 40-50dB SPL. Just to get down to 40dB would require you to turn off all sources of noise in your house (including air-conditioning, fridges, dishwashers) plus an attempt at soundproofing your room. To give you an example, my own room measures just a tad below 50dB (but that's with my HTPC turned on to do the measurement!).

Most people listening at average levels between 70-90dSPL, which means the music peaks at around 90-110dBSPL.

which means usable dynamic range can be as low as 20dB or as high as 70dB.

You can get more dynamic range by going multi-channel, simply because you have more speakers, therefore overall volume is louder.

But a realistic maximum is around 120dB SPL, which is the threshold of pain.

I've calculated that my system could possibly reach a maximum of 119.7dB, but that's with ALL 7.1 channels at maximum level, and my amplifiers will be drawing almost 2000 watts from my dedicated 20A circuit. And even then, I won't be able to sustain this level for any length of time (even if my ears could withstand it!) - the amplifiers will be draining any reserve capacity in the choke regulated transformers.

As an aside, this analysis shows why DSD ultrasonic noise is irrelevant. Even if our ears can hear beyond 20kHz (which has never been proven), DSD ultrasonic noise reaches a maximum of -70dBFS at 50kHz, which as you can see is below the noise floor of most set ups. People who complain that they can "hear" DSD ultrasonic noise are more likely to be hearing artefacts generated by limitations in their equipment.

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