The rear
speaker cranked at 50% of amp's output made the bass tingle my nostrils

This part that you stated; was it measured by ear or by a meter or scope of
some sort. a common misunderstanding about audio potentiometers (your volume
knob) is that is you have it cranked halfway up you are using half of the
power the amp has to deliver. This is not correct. Thats why dB's are there.
every increase in volume by a knob designed for an audio application is not
linear. It essentially doubles the power for every increase in SPL. I.E. at
"2" on the knob you might be using .25W. at "3" on the knob you might be
using .5W. and so on ans so forth.

Not trying to start a flame or anything. just posting some facts to clarify
some misunderstanding that most people have in reference to the "volume
knob"

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