From a theoretical standpoint, you can get more volume out of a steel-stringed dreadnaught than a concert classical. There's an element of basic physics that can't be overcome- the steel string has more moving mass, thus more energy.
From a practical standpoint, my opinion is that the difference is not that great. A nylon stringed instrument can be built much more lightly, so that more of the string energy is converted into sound. Classical players tend to have more refined picking technique, and can squeeze more volume out of the instrument. And the purity of tone with nylon strings makes the apparent volume greater, because there's less overtones for the fundamental to compete with.
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1943 Gibson J-45
Martin Custom Shop 000-28 Authentic Aged 1937
Voyage Air VAOM-4
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