Relative Volume Question

asimmd

After me going on about not being able to have a cabinet for my new Mesa 5/25,i found something out today by accident.

I left my amp on that i listen to youtube etc through and i decided i would play my guitar.

Forgetting all about the amp off i go and to my surprise the sound through my near field monitors was excellent

and not too loud at all.

So the question is,would i achieve the same level through say a 1X12 as i do through the monitors,or should i just

put a mic in front of the monitors and record from there.

At least now i can hear what i really sound like and not the false sound i get from the phones.