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I never worry about volume - because it makes zero difference when listening for defects: a mechanic doesn't move closer and further away from a car that's making a funny noise to "adjust the volume" - it's a yes/no decision as to whether there's a problem.
My gripe about so much of this testing is the use of the word "preference". To me, the sound is either 'right' or 'wrong', it's very clear cut - dud system A, dud system B, two unpleasantnesses - I would "prefer" to switch both off, and go outside ...
So you're a digital listener then. Everything is GOOD or BAD no in between. I guess you bypass all volume controls on all gear. The item is either on or off. Volume makes zero difference, there is either volume or no volume. I guess Fletcher_Munson doesn't apply to you. You can evaluate the relative frequency balance of a recording whether it is played back at 30 db or 130 db.
Your mechanic story is pretty funny too. I once worked on 24 cylinder methane powered engines. There were exhaust pipes, but in the building next to the engines it was around 115-120 db. If you simply listened to that even briefly you could hear nothing useful. Put on some ear muffs, knock that noise down 25 db, and you could hear details. You could hear a wrist pin making noise, or valves that needed adjusting or even that the timing was a bit off. So even your goofy mechanic example holds no water.