Experiment:
Room ambient: 54dB LZeq registers on the meter, 35.9 LAeq
Little Woman talks on Phone, 62dB Lzeq registers on the REW SPL meter.
Play TV (it's what's on right now here) at loudish levels, which might be selected for music listening.
View attachment 10384
Turn the TV down to -70dB with DSP.
Whatever remains is inaudible at the listening position (currently sitting in front of the PC behind and to the right of the sofa).
Bring the level to -60dB. All but inaudible. Occasional sound noted.
Bring the level to -50dB. Something audible, but unintelligible.
Bring the level to -40dB. Audible as someone talking, but still unintelligible. A few words come through, particularly if I turn around and add lip-reading.
Bring the level to -30dB. Intelligible unless there is some other noise (microwave in the kitchen drowns it out right now).
Bring the level to -20dB. Normal low level listening. Like you might choose to initiate a nap.
Bring the level to -10dB. Normal listening level for right-wing wacko and financial news.
Bring the level to -0dB. Waits for Little Woman to say "Too loud!"
Conclusion:
Assuming the high level stuff isn't too badly stuffed, it can "sound good", even if the low level goods are fugly.