I never considered mine to be a mind numbingly loud system.... But it was loud enough for me....
I never listen to anything that (truly) goes "thump, thump, thump" with the possible exception of the intro to "Straight On" by Heart. (sorry)
All in all, I'd say one of yer amp's toast... I told you guys... listening to that thumpy stuff is bad joo-joo all the way around.
I do like to turn it up fairly loud...For that reason I have noticed that our amps do "top out" before I cry uncle... But It's unfair to say that you can carry on a quiet conversation at full volume....
Example is that (with Lynette on board) having a normal conversation the volume is turned way down... She doesn't like it real loud in the car.... You have a malfunction in the power section, bro....
I had an old Chevy II Nova station wagon once.... 235, Straight 6 and 3 on the tree. It'd been spray can paintd a deep sea blue and had an aftermarket stereo in in that was so powerful.... mercy.... You get out of the car and you were actually dizzy from the volume..... We called it "The Shark"....
You could hear "Toussaint L'Overture" by Santana for miles coming out'a that car......
Good luck and happy listening..... on a (rare) live mobile remote direct from "The Shark".........on TADP-FM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJyvj7NCcXM
DjD